The Simple Path to Wealth

 JL Collins

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 
Genre: Nonfiction

I heard a lot of good things about this book, and one of my friends insisted that I should give it a try. One of the things that fascinated me about the book is how the author manages to make investing such an interesting subject without getting into the fine details and complicating it. The writing is accessible and very simple. It doesn’t require you to be an expert in financial terms or have a degree in finance to understand what he is talking about. 

I particularly liked a lot the uplifting nature of the writing. Collins is not only telling you how to save and invest, but he is actively encouraging you to do so and take control of your financial future and do something about it that can be life-changing. He calls that wealth the “F-You Money” that will bring you freedom and independence. Of course, there is something very motivating about having this kind of financial freedom to walk away from a job.

Another idea that I really appreciated that the author made is that investing doesn’t need to be complicated to be successful and get you where you desire. He clearly asserts that the constant chase of opportunities or making bold decisions makes things unnecessarily complicated and might produce adverse results. 

In my opinion, the biggest drawback of the book is that it is heavily geared towards American readers and the US market. While the underlying principles are relevant regardless of where you live, many of the specific investment options, retirement accounts, and financial arrangements discussed simply aren't available or applicable elsewhere. International readers can still take plenty away from the book, but they'll likely need to do some additional research to figure out how to put those lessons into practice within their own countries. Still, that's more of a limitation in its practical application than in the overall message. I came away enjoying the book and appreciating its encouragement to take charge of my financial future.

Key Themes

• Savings
• Investments
• Freedom
• Wealth