You Deserve to Be Rich: Master the Inner Game of Wealth and Claim Your Future

After hearing the Earn Your Leisure guys for months, I finally grabbed their book and it’s a game-changer for anyone tired of the scarcity mindset. Rashad and Troy don’t just talk about numbers; they talk about the psychological impact of growing up without resources. They breakdown how to respect your capital and start seeing yourself as an investor rather than just a consumer. I loved the focus on community wealth because it feels more inclusive than the usual "every man for himself" Wall Street vibe. Some of the goals are high—like living on 55% of your income—but the ambition is the point. It’s about shifting your horizon. This is first-hand knowledge delivered in a way that feels like a conversation with friends. Highly recommended for the culture.

This book provides a masterclass in respecting money while building community wealth, which is exactly the kind of energy we need right now. I’ve seen some critics complain about the "tithe 10%" or the "55% rule," but you have to look at the intention behind it. They are trying to push us toward a level of discipline that creates real, generational legacy. The real-world examples are grounded in the Black experience, which makes the advice feel much more attainable than a standard textbook. They touch on everything from vineyards to real estate, showing that the path to being wealthy isn't just a straight line through an index fund. If you want to break the cycle of scarcity, this is the blueprint.

Truth is, I’ve read a lot of finance books, but Bilal and Millings bring a unique flavor that focuses as much on emotional intelligence as it does on stocks. They don't just tell you to save; they explain why we feel the need to spend "excessively" when we don't have a plan. The section on relationships and money was particularly eye-opening for me and my partner. We’ve started having much more healthy conversations about our long-term legacy because of the prompts in this book. It’s empowering to see people who look like us talking about high-level investing in such an accessible way. It goes beyond the basics and challenges you to think bigger.

Picked this up during a low point and found the real-world examples incredibly empowering for Black and Brown professionals trying to navigate a rigged system. The authors really understand the concept of financial trauma and how it affects our decision-making. I’ve never seen a finance book tackle the emotional side of money so effectively while still providing technical terms like the Treynor ratio. It’s a comprehensive guide that respects the reader's intelligence. Whether you’re learning about option contracts or just trying to get your first budget on paper, there is something here for you. It’s about more than just being "rich"—it’s about having the freedom to own your time and build something that lasts.

Wow. This isn't just a guide on saving; it’s a blueprint for anyone who wants to understand how to actually make their money work via multiple income streams. The authors make a compelling case that we all deserve to be wealthy and that the first step is changing our internal narrative about scarcity. I loved the practical content on things like setting up automatic payments and the breakdown of why certain stocks are better for long-term growth. It’s written in plain terms that don't make you feel dumb for not knowing the lingo. This book is an absolute must-read for the next generation of investors. It’s time we all start earning our leisure.

The chapter on financial trauma really hit home for me because it's a conversation most finance experts completely ignore. It’s not just about the math; it’s about why we spend the way we do. Frankly, the authors provide a lot of solid advice on things like paying down high-interest debt and the importance of diversification. I did find the "Jay-Z dinner" debate a bit cliché, and I’m not sure I’d choose a conversation over half a million dollars, regardless of the networking potential! Also, some of the advanced metrics like the Treynor ratio might go over a beginner's head. Still, the core message of building multiple income streams is vital in today’s economy. It’s a great investment in your own education.

Ever wonder why you're stuck in the same financial cycle even when you're working hard? This book attempts to answer that by blending financial literacy with high-level emotional intelligence. I appreciated the straightforward advice on things like CAGR and the need for more than one income stream. "One income is too close to no income" is a mantra I’ll be repeating to myself from now on. My only gripe is that some strategies, like flipping houses or starting food trucks, require a level of initial capital that the average person simply doesn't have. It feels a bit out of reach for someone making a teacher's salary. However, the mindset shift alone makes it worth the read.

Not what I expected from a standard 'get rich' book, as it dives deep into legacy building and the psychological barriers that keep us from investing. I really enjoyed the EYL podcast influence here; you can hear their voices in the writing. The advice on diversification is solid, and I appreciate them bringing up less traditional paths like entrepreneurship. I do think they oversimplify how easy it is to manage multiple income properties, though. Being a landlord isn't "passive" income! But overall, the blend of motivational content and financial strategy is well-balanced. It’s a great tool for anyone looking to step up from "just getting by" to actually building wealth.

To be fair, there's some decent mindset stuff here, but the math on the tax brackets felt a bit sloppy and the 55% budget rule is totally unrealistic for most people. If you’re making $75,000 after tax, sure, you can probably save a ton, but for the average person using public transportation, these examples feel a bit out of touch. I also wasn't a fan of the Bitcoin recommendation given how volatile it is for someone just starting out. The authors have a lot of charisma and their podcast is great, but the book feels like it's trying to do too much at once. It’s a mix of basic budgeting and very high-risk entrepreneurship advice. It’s okay, but take the specific investment tips with a grain of salt.

Look, I wanted to love this, but suggesting that a reader should use ChatGPT to build an investment portfolio is dangerously irresponsible. AI hallucinates constantly, and following its "advice" for your life savings is a recipe for disaster. I also noticed some pretty basic errors regarding how marginal tax brackets work—you aren't taxed a flat rate on your entire income! For a book that claims to be a guide to wealth, these technical oversights are hard to ignore. They also suggest using a HELOC to pay off credit cards, which just moves debt around without fixing the underlying behavior. It’s flashy, sure, but the fundamentals are shaky. Run toward Dave Ramsey or the Budgetnista instead if you need actual debt help.