The Art of Money Getting

I’ll admit, I side-eyed the idea of taking financial advice from a guy who famously exhibited a ‘Feejee Mermaid.’ But *The Art of Money Getting* surprised me—not because it’s profound (though some bits are), but because it’s *useful* in a way that’s almost aggressive. Barnum’s rules aren’t about stock tips or side hustles; they’re about psychological warfare against your own bad habits. ‘Don’t mistake your vocation’? That’s just a fancy way of saying *stop wasting time on crap you’re bad at*. ‘Advertise shamelessly’? He’s not wrong. Roberts’ narration sells it: his pacing is brisk but never rushed, and he nails Barnum’s mix of charm and menace—like a mentor who might also pickpocket you. That said, this isn’t for everyone. The advice skews *very* individualist (Barnum would’ve scoffed at student loans and avocado toast alike), and some bits haven’t aged gracefully—his take on ‘women’s roles’ in business is, well, *1880*. The audio quality is clean but unremarkable; no immersive soundscapes here, just Roberts�� voice and Barnum’s brass. Still, as a shot of adrenaline for the financially complacent, it’s hard to beat. Pair it with a modern counterpart (I’d suggest *The Psychology of Money*) and you’ve got a one-two punch of timeless and timely.