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Way to wealth
First published 1758 · 181 pages
A brisk, folksy masterclass in personal responsibility and the timeless virtues of thrift and industry.
What it feels like
Reading this foundational piece of American philosophy feels like sitting by the fire with a shrewd, grandfatherly mentor who has seen it all. The text moves at a brisk, aphoristic clip, delivering punchy, memorable maxims that have woven themselves into the cultural consciousness. It is steeped in a grounded, industrious mood, replacing abstract economic theory with folksy, pragmatic wisdom about time management, frugality, and self-reliance. The prose is sharp and witty, balancing earnest moral instruction with a wry, knowing tone. It delights readers who appreciate classic, no-nonsense self-improvement and historical wisdom, offering an empowering emotional arc that shifts the focus from external complaints to internal, actionable resolve.
- Mood
- industrious
- grounded
- optimistic
- no-nonsense
- Tone
- didactic
- folksy
- pragmatic
- wry
- earnest
- Pace
- brisk
- Themes
- self-reliance · financial prudence · the virtue of labor · personal responsibility · time management
- The writing
- Punchy, aphoristic, and highly quotable, blending eighteenth-century formality with colloquial wit.
- The arc
- Shifts from a shared sense of economic frustration to an empowering, individualistic resolve to take control of one's destiny.
- Who it's for
- Fans of foundational self-help and practical philosophy who appreciate timeless, no-nonsense advice delivered with a grandfatherly wink.
About the book
A collection of the sayings of Poor Richard, presented in the form of a speech, and variously known as Father Abraham's speech, The way to wealth, and La science du Bonhomme Richard. First published as the introduction to Poor Richard's almanac for 1758.
Signed on p. 16: Richard Saunders.
The frontispiece, printed on the folded leaf, depicts "Father Abraham in his study" and is dated '1760' in the upper corner. On either side and below are verses addressed to Father Abraham. Below is the imprint: Printed by Benjamin Mecom, at the new printing-office, (near the Town-House, in Boston) where books are sold, and printing-work done, cheap.
Signatures: [A]þ́ Bþ́.
Evans, in recording the first edition, printed by Mecom in 1758, mistakenly gives a description of this, the second edition.
Shipton & Mooney 41122.
Microfiche. [New York: Readex Microprint, 1985] 11 x 15 cm. (Early American imprints. First series; no. 41122)
Description from Open Library.
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