Great post! Love the point that “it is common middle class myth that you can work your way up the corporate ladder to the top”. Seems it is a mindset problem with middle class there. It would be interesting to elaborate on the ways to change the mindset and jump out of the middle class trap.
Ultimately, the only way out is to get rich. But there do exist books that can help point you in this direction. If you only had time to read one book I would recommend:
The 4-Hour Workweek by Tim Ferris
To stare deeper into the void you can add:
Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad
Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell
anything written by Chuck Palahniuk
To assemble an entrepreneur mindset out of what’s left of your mind you can read:
How to Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big: Kind of the Story of My Life by Scott Adams
Built, Not Born: A Self-Made Billionaire’s No-Nonsense Guide for Entrepreneurs by Tom Golisano and Mike Wicks
Thanks Isusr for the book recommendations! Look like a great list, I’ve only seen Paul Graham’s essays.
I am have a pretty comfortable job and decent savings don’t have to worry about living in a few years. I am thinking about creating my own business instead of working for other people, but haven’t make the jump. I have a family and child, part of me worried they won’t be taken good care of if I risk leaving my job and what if I didn’t do well. I think this is the feeling for most middle class.
When middle class have some extra money like get promoted in the job, they tends to improve our life style, better car, bigger house etc. This turns back to increase the cost of living and more reliance on the job, and decrease the willingness to take risks. I am trying to be aware of this and not stretch the life style too much to have more savings and investments. Looking forward to find more insights from those books!
Great post! Love the point that “it is common middle class myth that you can work your way up the corporate ladder to the top”. Seems it is a mindset problem with middle class there. It would be interesting to elaborate on the ways to change the mindset and jump out of the middle class trap.
Ultimately, the only way out is to get rich. But there do exist books that can help point you in this direction. If you only had time to read one book I would recommend:
The 4-Hour Workweek by Tim Ferris
To stare deeper into the void you can add:
Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad
Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell
anything written by Chuck Palahniuk
To assemble an entrepreneur mindset out of what’s left of your mind you can read:
How to Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big: Kind of the Story of My Life by Scott Adams
Built, Not Born: A Self-Made Billionaire’s No-Nonsense Guide for Entrepreneurs by Tom Golisano and Mike Wicks
Paul Graham’s writings
Of course, it’s not enough just to read books. Reading books and talking about books—without doing things—is a middle class behavior.
Thanks Isusr for the book recommendations! Look like a great list, I’ve only seen Paul Graham’s essays.
I am have a pretty comfortable job and decent savings don’t have to worry about living in a few years. I am thinking about creating my own business instead of working for other people, but haven’t make the jump. I have a family and child, part of me worried they won’t be taken good care of if I risk leaving my job and what if I didn’t do well. I think this is the feeling for most middle class.
When middle class have some extra money like get promoted in the job, they tends to improve our life style, better car, bigger house etc. This turns back to increase the cost of living and more reliance on the job, and decrease the willingness to take risks. I am trying to be aware of this and not stretch the life style too much to have more savings and investments. Looking forward to find more insights from those books!
I would also add Naval Ravikant’s tweetstorm on how to get rich as required reading for anyone aspiring towards the upper class.