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This blog is the work of an educated civilian, not of an expert in the fields discussed.

Friday, November 30, 2012

The Legend of the Monk and the Merchant : Twelve Keys for Successful Living

I received this book free from Book Sneeze in return for a review.  Any opinions here are of the writer alone.

This is the latest version of this book with a forward provided by Dave Ramsey.  The message of this book is that business and making money is not inherently evil and that this is a misguided approach to take, including if you follow biblical commands.  The true moral, biblical path here is different and the book provides twelve keys for successful living, that is, living a good life that honor's God's path.  This reminds me of Jesus' parable where someone was criticized for simply, to him sensibly, just in effect "safely" keeping his money under the proverbial mattress.  This "no risk, no reward" approach was rejected.  What would Jesus' ministry lead to, after all, if no risks were taken, just playing it safe?

The reference to a parable is appropriate, since this book uses a similar approach: a story of a monk and merchant taking place in the Renaissance is used to provide lessons, the reader informed while being entertained by a good story.  The book provides the parable and then a "study guide" that provides a commentary that guides the reader. 

This all is done in under two hundred pages, so it is both entertaining and an overall quick read.  Besides being enjoyable and morally satisfying, it is an attractive volume with a pretty cover.