Book SummaryThe Science of Getting Rich, by Wallace D. Wattles

1-Page Summary1-Page Book Summary of The Science of Getting Rich

There’s a science to getting rich. According to Wallace D. Wattles, its methods have been tested and it’s guaranteed to work because it harnesses the natural workings of the universe. In The Science of Getting Rich, Wattles shares practical tips based on his experience.

Wattles was an American New Thought writer. He closely studied the ideas of such philosophers as Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel and Ralph Waldo Emerson, developed his own principles, and tested them in his own life. The Science of Getting Rich was published in 1910, and Rhonda Byrne said that it inspired her 2006 book (and film) The Secret. Wattles died in 1911.

Our guide presents Wattles’ ideas in three sections: his beliefs about the universe, Wattles’ three-step process to getting rich called the “Certain Way,” and universal enrichment.

How the Universe Works

In this section, we’ll cover what Wattles describes as fundamental concepts about the universe.

Wattles says that everything in the universe—you, your house, the planets—is made out of the same stuff, “Original Substance.” Original Substance is God. It’s alive and intelligent, and it manifests thoughts into tangible forms. For example, when the Original Substance thought of planets, physical planets formed.

By nature, Original Substance favors the advancement and improvement of every intelligent being, from oak trees to dolphins to you. As a result, it’s natural, even responsible, for you to pursue wealth. You need money to buy the resources that will help you improve yourself. Your advancement is Original Substance expressing itself vicariously through you. You need to be rich in the same way a seed needs to grow into a flower. If you’re not rich, you’ll never have enough access to resources, and you’ll never achieve a full and successful life.

Advancing Yourself

Wattles identifies three main aspects of our existence, all of them equally important, and all of which require money to develop:

• Mind. You develop your mind by appreciating art, studying books, and traveling.
• Body. You take care of your body by sheltering it, clothing it, feeding and watering it, and resting.
• Soul. You develop your soul through love. The best way to express love is to give other people material gifts.

For example, if you want to paint something beautiful, and therefore develop your mind, you’ll need an easel, paints, and other art supplies, which require money to purchase.

The Myth of Resource Limitation

God isn’t done. He didn’t create the world and then step away, leaving the planet with limited resources. Because life is always advancing, and everything is made up of limitless Original Substance, resource limitation is a myth.

There are plenty of resources for everyone, and if the planet ever did run out of something, Original Substance could simply create more. If there are existing channels for creation, Original Substance will work through these. For example, diamonds are formed by applying heat and pressure to carbon, and Original Substance works through this existing process to create diamonds. If there’s no existing method for creating something, the Original Substance creates it from its own substance.

Competition vs. Creation

Because everything in the world is made of Original Substance, and Original Substance is infinite, the universe will never run out of resources. There’s more than enough to go around so no one has to compete with anyone else to be rich. In fact, competition is an unfavorable method for becoming rich. The Original Substance will never give you things by taking them away from others. Instead of competing with someone for something, focus on creation. Original Substance will favor you with opportunities.

Cultivating Your Relationship With the Original Substance: Being Grateful

Wattle writes that the best way to strengthen your connection with Original Substance is through gratitude. If you strongly and gratefully reach out toward the Original Substance, it will respond to you in equal measure. The more grateful you are, the faster and more often you’ll receive responses from Original Substance.

In addition to improving your connection to the Original Substance, gratitude keeps you from becoming dissatisfied with your current state. If you’re grateful, you’re always focused on positivity. If you’re continually...

The Science of Getting Rich Summary Introduction: The Science of Getting Rich

There is a guaranteed method—a science—to getting rich. By nature, God and the universe want you to be rich, so all you have to do is:

1. Learn some fundamental truths about the workings of the universe (covered in Chapter 1).
2. Harness what you’ve learned and work in harmony with the universe’s natural processes...

The Science of Getting Rich Summary Chapter 1: Why It’s Important to Be Rich and Other Truths About the Universe

Chapter 1 will cover some fundamental concepts and myths about the universe. We need to understand how the universe works before we can understand how to become rich.

Original Substance

Everything in the universe—you, your house, the planets—is made out of the same stuff, “Original Substance.” Original Substance is God. It is alive and intelligent. It manifests thoughts into tangible forms. For example, when the Original Substance thought of planets, physical planets formed.

By nature, Original Substance and God favor the advancement and improvement of every intelligent being, from oak trees to dolphins to you. As a result, it’s perfectly natural, even dutiful, for you to pursue wealth. You need money to buy the resources that will help you improve yourself. Your advancement is Original Substance expressing itself vicariously through you. You need to be rich in the same way a seed needs to grow into a flower. If you’re not rich, you’ll never have enough access to resources, and you’ll never achieve a full and successful life.

Advancing Yourself

There are three main aspects of our existence, all of them equally important, and all of which require money to...

Shortform Exercise: Cultivate Gratitude

You can strengthen your connection with Original Substance by working on your gratitude.

What are some positive things in your life that you’re grateful for? Why are you grateful for them?

The Science of Getting Rich Summary Chapter 2: The Certain Way

In Chapter 1, we learned how the universe works. In Chapter 2, we’ll learn how to use this understanding to become rich.

If the Original Substance favors everyone, and resources are infinite, why isn’t everyone already rich? Why aren’t you rich?

You might think it has something to do with your environment, industry, talent, thriftiness, or innovativeness. In fact, these aren’t critical factors, merely considerations. You can tell that these factors aren’t critical because the world isn’t full of cities composed entirely of rich people, or industries in which everyone is poor. All sorts of people get rich—smart people, stupid people, strong people, weak people.

There is one reason why you aren’t rich—you’re doing things wrong. To be rich, you need to do things in the “Certain Way.” Acting in the Certain Way guarantees that you will become rich, and anyone who follows the Certain Way, regardless of circumstance, will get rich. The Certain Way is the only natural, fundamental way to get rich. God will help you if you act in the Certain Way because it’s in his own nature.

Why don’t people act in the Certain Way?

• Ignorance. People don’t know about the existence...

Shortform Exercise: Follow the Certain Way

The Certain Way has three steps: think, will, and act.

Think: What is a physical possession that you want? For example, consider a house or a car. Describe it in detail. Write down both what it would look like and how you would feel while using it.

The Science of Getting Rich Summary Chapter 3: Universal Enrichment

In Chapter 2, we learned how to become rich. Chapter 3 explains how our personal wealth will contribute to enrichment on a global scale.

There are some entrenched myths about the financial situation of the global population:

• Myth #1: The only way for everyone to become rich is to overhaul government and social systems. This is not the case. If populations act in the Certain Way, no system is going to be able to stop them from becoming rich. Systems may change in response to the Certain Way, but they don’t have to change in advance of...