The Art of Money Getting; or, Golden Rules for Making Money by P.T. Barnum is a classic book on wealth, work ethic, and integrity. Barnum, a famous entrepreneur and showman, provides practical advice on building and preserving fortune. His rules combine common sense, prudence, and morality. Written in simple words, the book offers timeless lessons for anyone seeking financial security.
Table of Contents
Who May Benefit from the Book
- Young professionals searching for financial discipline and guidance
- Entrepreneurs aiming to grow their businesses wisely
- Students seeking direction in career choices
- Readers interested in wealth-building and character development
- Anyone struggling with debt or financial mismanagement
Top 3 Key Insights
- True economy means spending less than you earn, not being miserly.
- Perseverance and self-reliance are essential for lasting success.
- Integrity and honesty are the strongest foundations for wealth and reputation.
4 More Lessons and Takeaways
- Choosing the right vocation and location matters as much as effort. Success follows when skill meets demand.
- Debt is a dangerous form of slavery. Living within means keeps a man free and respected.
- Business requires focus. Dividing attention across too many ventures brings failure.
- Politeness, charity, and fairness to customers and workers increase goodwill, which ensures long-term profit and legacy.
The Book in 1 Sentence
Barnum teaches that financial success is built on economy, persistence, integrity, wise choices, and respect for others.
The Book Summary in 1 Minute
P.T. Barnum’s The Art of Money Getting delivers practical rules for earning and keeping wealth. He stresses economy, health, honesty, and self-reliance as essential foundations. Barnum warns against debt, vanity, and scattering energy across too many ventures. He emphasizes choosing the right career, working diligently, and treating customers with kindness. Integrity, charity, and systematic work are highlighted as keys to financial and personal fulfillment.
The Book Summary in 7 Minutes
Barnum opens his book with a reminder that wealth without health is meaningless. Good health is the foundation of success. He argues that in America, opportunities are abundant, and the road to wealth is plain: spend less than you earn.
Economy and Financial Discipline
True economy, Barnum explains, is often misunderstood. It is not meanness but wise spending. A man may ruin himself by saving pennies in the wrong place and wasting dollars elsewhere. Vanity and the desire to impress others cause many to live beyond their means. To Barnum, real independence comes only when income exceeds expenses.
Choosing the Right Vocation
Every person has natural abilities. A mechanic who hates machinery or a lawyer without a gift for law will struggle. Barnum urges young people to select vocations that align with their talents. Parents must not impose careers on children against their nature, as forcing one’s hand leads to lifelong dissatisfaction.
Selecting the Right Location
After vocation, location is the next key. A skilled person in the wrong place will fail. Opening a business in a village without demand or growth prospects is a recipe for ruin. Barnum highlights that sometimes relocation is necessary, and a bold move can save a failing career.
The Dangers of Debt
Debt enslaves and destroys character. A debtor loses self-respect and constantly fears creditors. Barnum condemns borrowing for consumption, calling it “money working against you.” His maxim is simple: pay as you go. Debt-free living ensures peace of mind and builds credibility.
Perseverance and Self-Reliance
Barnum insists that perseverance is the key difference between success and failure. Many people give up just before reaching their goals. Perseverance must be paired with self-reliance, as depending too much on others weakens resolve. Determination and pluck separate the successful from the defeated.
Work with All Your Might
Success comes only to those who throw themselves fully into their work. Half-hearted effort brings mediocrity. Barnum urges diligence, early and late labor, and refusal to procrastinate. Luck is not real; instead, success follows consistent effort and sound methods.
Using the Best Tools and People
Employers should hire workers who use both hands and heads. Skilled, thoughtful employees are valuable assets. Barnum warns against overpaying those who think themselves indispensable but encourages rewarding loyalty and ability. The best results come from personal supervision combined with skilled helpers.
Stay Grounded in Business
Barnum cautions against starting business with unearned wealth or lottery luck. True success is built gradually, through patience, economy, and effort. He observes that poor boys often grow rich, while sons of the rich grow poor due to inexperience.
Learn Something Useful
Life is uncertain, and fortunes change. Barnum advises everyone to learn a trade or skill to fall back upon in case of failure. A practical skill ensures security in times of trouble.
Avoiding Visionary Schemes
Many men remain poor because they chase visionary projects and scatter their energies. Barnum warns against pursuing too many ventures at once. Concentration on a single line of work brings mastery and success.
Be Systematic
System saves time and energy. Barnum recommends doing tasks promptly, keeping order, and avoiding careless habits. Yet he warns against excessive formality, which leads to inefficiency. Balanced order brings productivity and leisure.
The Importance of Newspapers
In an age of rapid change, businessmen must stay informed. Newspapers provide valuable knowledge of markets, inventions, and trends. A man without news is cut off from progress.
Beware of Outside Operations
Barnum warns successful men against risky investments outside their field. Speculation in unknown areas often leads to ruin. Staying with what one knows is safer than gambling on uncertain promises.
Caution with Endorsements
He advises never to endorse notes or loans without security. Even for family, one should only risk what can be lost without regret. Careless endorsements have ruined many.
Advertising and Publicity
For merchants and showmen alike, advertising is vital. Good products must be advertised consistently until the public is fully aware. Clever, memorable advertisements attract customers, but spurious goods will fail regardless of promotion.
Politeness and Customer Care
Courtesy pays better than rudeness. Customers return to polite sellers and avoid those who cheat or act harshly. Barnum stresses that treating customers well is an investment in future profit.
Charity and Generosity
Generosity brings goodwill and prosperity. Barnum promotes thoughtful charity, given to those willing to help themselves. Miserly men are shunned, while liberal men earn respect and patronage.
Guarding Secrets
Sharing business secrets, hopes, or losses damages reputation and invites harm. Barnum warns against careless talk or letters that reveal too much. Silence protects business interests.
Integrity Above All
The book closes with integrity as the supreme rule. Dishonesty leads to prison and disgrace, while honesty commands trust and opportunity. For Barnum, honesty is the best policy and the surest path to lasting wealth.
About the Author
Phineas Taylor Barnum (1810–1891) was an American showman, businessman, and politician, best known for founding the Barnum & Bailey Circus. He earned fame for his exhibitions of curiosities and entertainment enterprises. Despite controversy, Barnum built a reputation as one of the most successful entrepreneurs of the 19th century. Beyond show business, he wrote extensively on money, character, and industry, blending practical wisdom with moral lessons. His influence extended to philanthropy, education, and civic life, where he advocated for perseverance, honesty, and innovation.
How to get the best of the Book
Read one chapter at a time, then reflect on how the lesson applies to your personal or business life. Keep notes and revisit them often.
Conclusion
Barnum’s The Art of Money Getting offers timeless wisdom for wealth and character. His simple yet powerful rules stress economy, honesty, and perseverance. For modern readers, his guidance remains as relevant as in his day: success is not luck but discipline, integrity, and effort.