I’m glad that you’ve finally accepted that the issue I had with the book is the title, rather than the content. And yes, like I stressed before, my opinions *are* on the title because I feel it’s misleading at best and dishonest at worst. I’ve already emphasized the reasoning for my opinions several times above in various perspectives so should you ever wish to address it I won’t repeat it here.

I really don’t think I took quotes out of context. In fact, they’re quite self-explanatory.

Take Lori’s quote for instance: “Contrary to the title, the book has nothing to do with gaining financial freedom. John and Tim instead lead readers to question what “rich and happy”—the old cliché—really means to them.” Do you disagree with this statement? What part is out of context?

Incidentally, I’m only addressing my questions to you because you’re the one here talking to me. If it was John who wrote the post then I suppose I would be addressing it to John. I don’t have a personal vendetta against you if that’s what you’re worried about. I only heard about your blog today.

And to answer your final question, I’ve said before that I’m a mere lowly customer, without a blog/website/product to promote, which is why there’s no link or real name. I have nothing to gain from this conversation more than to stand up for something I believe in.

All of those 3 reviews categorically endorsed the book and Lori and Johnny have been rapid supporters (see Loris comment above).

The reason you haven’t read the negative reviews is because to the best of my knowledge there aren’t any. If you can find one or more, feel free to paste the link.

The reviews you see are the only ones I know about.

And one other thing, you keep talking about ME. John had already started the book and I asked if I could come on board. The title was already in place and I thought I could add some value.

Maybe he should have said I wasn’t worthy because I wasn’t as rich as him!

You have an agenda brought on by the title of a book rather than the substance. Doesn’t make much sense to me, but hey, go for it if you wish.

BTW, who are you, how come no real name or link?

Thanks for the quick reply– you didn’t like what I wrote, naturally, and I certainly don’t fault you for that. You could have ignored, deleted, or laughed at me, you didn’t, and for that I thank you. You take your readers opinions seriously, so I wanted to return the courtesy and give weight to what you said. I read/watched the reviews. Every single one of them, actually, and I took notes in some of them.

And unfortunately, it didn’t change my opinions very dramatically. Like I said before, I’ve never read your book so I’m not going to question the content. I’m sure should I ever read the book I’ll find that it’s an excellent resource, and in turn promote it as your reviewers did. However, again, that really isn’t my point.

My issue largely revolved around the title, which as I expressed, doesn’t seem like it’s perfectly honest. Again, the content (and it seems like there’s quite a bit) might be the best thing since sliced bread in the self-help world, but the title is “How to be rich and happy”, meaning that I, a mere unimportant potential customer, will read it and go “well I’d like to be happy and I’d like to be rich– this will tell me how.” Imagine my disappointment when I discover that the author isn’t rich, only to have him tell me that I don’t know what being rich MEANS! (Well, I’m not all that disappointed since I haven’t heard of the book prior to this post, but you know.)

And this is something that even the great reviews you provided has addressed! Just a few that I tagged for examples:

“Contrary to the title, the book has nothing to do with gaining financial freedom. John and Tim instead lead readers to question what “rich and happy”—the old cliché—really means to them.”

-Lori Deschene

“I want to be clear about something before I give my review of How to be Rich and Happy by Tim Brownson and John P. Strelecky. And it’s this: This book will not make you rich and happy.”

-johnnybtruant.com

“That is rather a bold claim to be made by any book and I have to admit I started reading it with more than a little skepticism…. The authors define Rich and Happy as the ability to do whatever you want, whenever you want. Once again, I see that as a rather bold claim and it sets up a lot of expectations for the book. Did the book meet those expectations? In a word, no.”

-Stephen Mills

And these are the positive reviews that you, the author, provided me. I won’t even bother looking at the negative reviews. If I were to meet Tony Robbins and discover he lives a half-dead existence, meet Allen Carr and discover he’s a chain-smoker, meet the trainers from The Biggest Loser to find that they put on 80lbs when the cameras stopped rolling, how would I feel? They could justify to me that it’s not about the promise, it’s about the truth behind the promise all they like, but ultimately they are selling a promise.

Contrary to your interpretations, I didn’t discount the entire life coach industry– quite the opposite, I’m a vocal defender of it. It is also through my passion of the industry, of a group of individuals who seek to help others, that I will sit here and type this long a message against your title. Because the industry is facing a battle, isn’t it? When even the Simpsons have jumped on board to lampoon positive thinking, it’s a good sign that there’s something we need to start looking at from within the industry– and one of those things is bold statements that require further disclaimers to be justifiable– The statement that You will teach me to be rich, but only if I understand what being rich means.

@ smpx – Is that comment meant to be taken seriously?

I have no issue with people calling me out, but stuff like this is just poorly thought out nonsense.

It isn’t dishonest to call a book ‘How To Be Rich and Happy’ It’s a process that takes time. It’s a how to, ok? We don’t guarantee anything unless you work through the book carefully and methodically.

I’m sure it’ll come to no surprise to him that every person who encounters the title of his book will assume that the word “rich” does not mean “fulfilled” (which is what he’s insinuating is his *real* meaning).

Yeh it will come as a a surprise because it’s complete bollocks. Not EVERY person will think that at all and most that have bought to date didn’t. Every reviewer has pointed this out, as do we on our website. We’re not trying to hide this you know.

He, like some other “life coaches” I’ve met, promises happiness and wealth, amongst other things, but has not only not acquired it for themselves yet, justifies their lack of success to their followers as “misinterpretations of success”.

Well lets rip an entire industry because you have met some Life Coaches. You know, people that are actually out there trying to help others. I have no idea what you are talking about with “misinterpretations of success” I’m happy, and that to me is success.

And no life coach I’ve worked with has ever PROMISED happiness and wealth. I go to great pains to tell clients I can’t guarantee a thing because it’s them that has to do the work.

And finally, we wont be changing the name because it will do what we say if you follow it of that I have zero doubt.

And of course we offer a full no quibble refund for anybody that buys the book and doesn’t think it does what we say it can do. That guarantee lasts 12 months which should give people time to work out its value.

Thanks for confirming what I said in the post about the naysayers being people who haven’t the book. I’ll tell the people that have e-mailed me to say thanks and given positive feedback they’re wrong.

Here are the reviews that I know of to date. If you’re open minded I feel sure you’ll check some out at random.

Tracys Review – http://ihatemymessageboard.com/reviews/how-to-be-rich-and-happy/

Tracys interview – http://ihatemymessageboard.com/reviews/an-interview-with-tim-brownson-and-john-strelecky/

Steve’s review – http://mywifequitherjob.com/book-review-how-to-be-rich-and-happy-by-tim-brownson-and-john-strelecky/

Johnnys review – http://johnnybtruant.com/what-tim-and-john-have-to-do-with-pie-and-why-you-should-check-them-out/

Debs review – http://debowen.typepad.com/8hours/2009/10/berichandhappy.html

Vlads review – http://vladdolezal.com/blog/2009/how-to-be-rich-and-happy/

Hunters interview – http://hunternuttall.com/blog/2009/10/how-to-be-rich-and-happy/

Christines review – http://www.adifferentkindofwork.com/2009/10/04/how-to-be-rich-and-happy-a-book-review/

Glens review – http://www.pluginid.com/how-i-operate-online/

Alis review – http://www.aliventures.com/review-rich-and-happy/

Loris review – http://seeinggood.com/how-to-be-rich-and-happy-book-review/

Daphnes review – http://daphneanddonald.blogspot.com/2009/10/final-review-of-how-to-be-rich-and.html

George Angus review – http://tumblemoose.com/how-to-be-rich-and-happy-a-book-review/

Bob Poole review http://www.pooleswatercooler.com/bob_pooles_blog/2009/10/chicken-soup-scotch-and-happiness.html

Mikes video review http://www.mikeslife.org/content/book-review-how-be-rich-and-happy

Stephens review http://www.ratracetrap.com/the-rat-race-trap/how-to-be-rich-and-happy.html

Jenny’s review http://jennymannion.com/healpain/2009/10/healing-body-mind-spirit/

Daynes review http://www.thehappyself.com/review-how-to-be-rich-and-happy

I’m sure it’ll come to no surprise to him that every person who encounters the title of his book will assume that the word “rich” does not mean “fulfilled” (which is what he’s insinuating is his *real* meaning). He, like some other “life coaches” I’ve met, promises happiness and wealth, amongst other things, but has not only not acquired it for themselves yet, justifies their lack of success to their followers as “misinterpretations of success”. I would say that many of your students might encounter your book and think “hey, this might teach me to make money” rather than “hey, this might shift my subjective views on financial accomplishments as being a series of growths along the way rather than a set determined amount.”

I’m not saying that what you’re teaching has no validity, but this is much like a 300 lb man writing a book on weight loss, then when confronted about his own weight, informs the world that he wishes to teach the importance of “feeling thin”. Again, I don’t have a problem with your message– it’s a good message, and materialism should not be quantified as being the ultimate measure of success, but I wish you would rename your book to honestly reflect what you mean.

The fact that one of my followers on Twitter said it wasn’t very impressive summed up a lot of peoples attitudes. She pointed out that if I’d made $500,000 she’d have been really impressed. I think she may have taken offense when I said she was easily impressed.