Rating: 
Summary: All Common Sense, nothing you don't already know
Review: In the first chapter, the author makes a point on how vague early get-rich books are so he assures I am holding the manual that will teach me how to be a "billionaire". He also stresses how autobiographies/biographies are merely stories and lack the emphasis of key principles that are essential to becoming a "billionaire". After reading this book, I realized the author is a complete hypocrite. What's more, he works at a paper-pushing job at an investment bank...hardly a credible author for this type of subject! Not only is this book vague, but it is just a compilation of short biographies. The chapters are organized into the key principles that the author believes are necessary for becoming a "billionaire". But this is misleading. Each chapter just goes about telling stories of one or two billionaires without any in-depth discussion on the principle. This is horribly, unfocused writing. The style of writing makes it hard to digest also. Most of the principles are pretty commonsense, too. For example, one principle is "Dominate Your Market". Duh! Now, if you tell me how to do that, I will gladly do it! Another one is "Invest in Political Influence". Most of us would not have the money to do that and if we did, we probably do it without anyone telling us to. In the end, the author tells us to think rich, inspire yourself, take action, enjoy life, and don't give up. This is acceptable if I wanted to read one of those inspirational self-help books, but I wanted to know how to be a billionaire.
Rating: 
Summary: An Excellent Starting Point!
Review: Mr. Fridson has clearly dissected for us all the possible ways of achieving a net worth beyond a billion. The book is written in a clear, concise manner. It's almost like a tree diagram, if you will. Meaning the goals are like the nodes of the tree and the pathways to get to the goals are like the interconnections in a tree diagram. He has backed up each section and node with examples of individuals who have travelled those paths such as H.L. Hunt, Ross Perot, Sam Walton, John D. Rockefeller, Bill Gates, Paul Getty, and Warren Buffet just to name a few. This book is an extremely good starting point if you would like to reach the top ranks in net worth. As the author correctly points out, we are lucky to have such a book in existence today, since even a decade ago people were not lucky enough to have a powerful source of information at their disposal. A word of caution for the individuals in the investment field: Mr. Fridson points out and proves that to amass billions just by mere investments is not possible. He proves that to achieve billions in the investment field, one must acquire a substantial stake in a company and control the management and the direction of the company as a whole. This is precisely what Warren Buffett has accomplished (in despite of the common myth that he is just an investor). The book is concluded in what I would say the most beautiful chapter. This is where we realize that tenacity and perseverence are traits ascribed to the great fortune builders. More than loving the money, self-made billionaires love the pursuit of money. We learn here that ordinary efforts and conventional approaches do not produce extraordinary results. One needs to do things differently and persistently to outmanage the competition. To sum up, this is the greatest book (if not the only one) to teach us the pathways to amass billions and leaves the choices to us as to which path we like to follow to get there. Good Luck! Steve.
Rating:
Summary: I have decided to become a Billionaire!
Review: Mr. Fridson makes it very clear that to become a Billionaire one must set it as a goal! I have just sold my first business, a rapid-product-development company called STYLES RPD, to a Japanese organisation in a multi-million pound deal. In 1992 I set the goal to become a Millionaire, finally in 2000 I have achieved it (thanks to Brian Tracey, Tom Peters et al). I am British and it is not in the British character to be bullish about much at all, but after reading Mr. Fridson's 'manual' I am inspired to set a new public goal. I am a Billionaire in the year 2015. (SMART Goal? ) I know now that I will require an enormous amount of luck, will have to work with phenomenal focus and energy, and become almost obsessive in my zeal as an entrepreneur - so what's new! I only hope that I can combine a wonderful home/private life at the same time - Richard Branson seems to have. I think the most wonderful revelation (Sam Walton) is that copying rather than 'pure' innovation is more fruitful - I totally agree. I think that this book also says a lot about Mr. Fridson and Merrill Lynch. The man must be revered for his knowledge of business, and the company for its culture in allowing Mr. Fridson the time to assemble the book. Excellent! Here's to becoming a Billionaire.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Book....How timely!
Review: Nowadays being a millionaire is much like being well dressed at the prom: "you look good but you're not really special." Billionaires however have attained a level of wealth that truly sets them apart. "How to be a Billionaire" recognizes this and masterfully tells the story of today's most famous titans of wealth such as Bill Gates, Ross Perot and older money like H.L. Hunt and John D. Rockfeller. The Book is organized along priniciples such as "Copy don't Innovate" and utilizes the highly specific examples of wealthy industrialists like Gates to clearly explain these kernels of wisdom. Great Book. Read Think and Grow Rich if you want motivation and to feel empowered. But if you want to make "Billions" read this book.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Book....How timely!
Review: Nowadays being a millionaire is much like being well dressed at the prom: "you look good but you're not really special." Billionaires however have attained a level of wealth that truly sets them apart. "How to be a Billionaire" recognizes this and masterfully tells the story of today's most famous titans of wealth such as Bill Gates, Ross Perot and older money like H.L. Hunt and John D. Rockfeller. The Book is organized along priniciples such as "Copy don't Innovate" and utilizes the highly specific examples of wealthy industrialists like Gates to clearly explain these kernels of wisdom. Great Book. Read Think and Grow Rich if you want motivation and to feel empowered. But if you want to make "Billions" read this book.
Rating:
Summary: Rich in insight
Review: The author has gotten inside the minds and hearts of some of America's richest and most powerful business builders. Seeing the world through the eyes of Sam Walton or John D. Rockefeller is a unique and interesting experience. A thought provoking read - really well done.
Rating: 
Summary: It won't hurt investing time reading this book
Review: The biography's rehashed what many of us already know about the most well known Billionaires and how they built their fortunes, but the author does extract some key points that are supposed to help you get started on your own path, and helps you realize one doesn't haven't to be a genius since there's Sam Walton who basically copied the best of the competition and Ross Perot who just figured a better way of doing something than IBM; something within reach of most of our ablities. This books seems to me better for those who already own some type of medium size company who can readily apply some of the basic billionaire advice and start growing it bigger, however, for those like me whom don't have that vantage, it inspires us to seek a business that has larger growth potential (unless you're using it for a way to learn about business, such as Ross Perot and his successful paper route), but that can be one large step that this book glosses over. Still a good book that will help you destroy some myths, build your confidence in tackling those who say you can't, and most of all show that it is possible to become a Billionaire using simple techniques explained in the book, and don't require large amounts of brilliance.
Rating: 
Summary: Not What You Are Thinking
Review: The book, How to Be a Billionaire, is not a how to book as the title suggests. I got more out of how to become rich by reading books such as think and grow rich.
Rating:
Summary: Don't waste your Money on this book...
Review: THIS BOOK DOES NOT TELL YOU HOW TO BE A BILLIONAIRE. The title does not live up to the writing at all. Most of this book is what I refer to as just "bio-fluff", the same short profiles that have been hashed out about these famous businessmen in so many other books already (someone please collectively notify these authors to stop already). An Excerpt:
Fundamental Strategies 1.Dominate Your Market
2.Do business in a New Way
3.Take Monumental Risks
4.Consolidate an Industry 5.Thrive on Deals Does the author really consider this worthy of print for aspiring billionaires? Or could the above just be instructions to my son on how to take his lemonade stand to the next level?
I'm giving this book only 1 star because it has a title that is misleading and should be titled
"Billionaire Profiles: Inspiration From the Titans of Wealth". The one good thing about this book is the flashy gold cover.
I expected more from Fridson, a director at Merrill Lynch, but
now realize that high-level finance guys don't always make good authors...which is the case here. I recommend "Rich Dad, Poor Dad: What the Rich Teach" by Robert Kiyosaki, which has more sensible, practical advice on creating wealth...NOT PIE IN THE SKY GENERAL INFO.
Rating:
Summary: Don't waste your Money on this book...
Review: THIS BOOK DOES NOT TELL YOU HOW TO BE A BILLIONAIRE. The title does not live up to the writing at all. Most of this book is what I refer to as just "bio-fluff", the same short profiles that have been hashed out about these famous businessmen in so many other books already (someone please collectively notify these authors to stop already). An Excerpt:
Fundamental Strategies 1.Dominate Your Market
2.Do business in a New Way
3.Take Monumental Risks
4.Consolidate an Industry 5.Thrive on Deals Does the author really consider this worthy of print for aspiring billionaires? Or could the above just be instructions to my son on how to take his lemonade stand to the next level?
I'm giving this book only 1 star because it has a title that is misleading and should be titled
"Billionaire Profiles: Inspiration From the Titans of Wealth". The one good thing about this book is the flashy gold cover.
I expected more from Fridson, a director at Merrill Lynch, but
now realize that high-level finance guys don't always make good authors...which is the case here. I recommend "Rich Dad, Poor Dad: What the Rich Teach" by Robert Kiyosaki, which has more sensible, practical advice on creating wealth...NOT PIE IN THE SKY GENERAL INFO.
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