How to Get Filthy Rich in Rising Asia is a dual purpose novel that talks about how to get rich, but teaches a moral lesson as well. It is a story of a man’s life who has a lot to live for, but thinks money can strengthen his happiness even more, but turns out stripping everything away from him. In the end I think that he realizes what it takes to be happy and never needed any of the cray things he did or have.
We’ve read, talked about and learned about many theories and philosophers in this class. The main philosopher I agrees most with was Aristotle. Aristotle is also the one I think connects to this book the best. Aristotle talked a lot about being happy. His philosophy was that the ultimate goal in life is happiness. I feel as though the mans goal in life in this book was to be happy. However his ideas on being happy were not the right ones. He thought that being rich and having a lot of friends, and getting what he wants would make him very happy. In reality this man did become rich, but eventually looses all his money, his friends, his marriage, and end up in the hospital. Unfortunately this man dies, with out any of the things he once enjoyed. I don’t think he died unhappy because in the end I think he realizes what it actually takes to be happy.
To be honest I do not read many books, unless I am required to. This book was definitely different than the other books I have read. The characters were known as nouns rather than names like in most books. Also I found it hard to follow the story line at some points, and felt as though the author did a bad job in connecting things as well. This book was hard for me to read. The main reason is because if I do not like a book by the first few chapters I won’t keep reading. I get very impatient with books. If they do not keep me connected and engaged I will not finish them. I wanted to stop reading many times in this book and felt as though it dragged on a lot.
How to Get Filthy Rich in Rising Asia reiterated what I think some people think is happiness, when in reality it is the complete opposite. Money cannot buy happiness, money connot buy friends and family in life, which ninety nine percent of the time is what brings you happiness in life.
Situations
Caring for his family, taking care of his mother, and then father after his mother passes (morally right)
The Manager taking care of his workers and employees above and beyond (morally right)
His ex-wife footing his medical bills even though they were not together (morally right)
Stealing DVDs (morally wrong)
Numerous amounts of lying (morally wrong)
Leaving the man to die on the ground (morally wrong)
Thinking about other women while being married (morally wrong)
Characters
The Ex-wife (virtuous) Stayed with ex-husband even when no longer together
The Parents (virtuous) Giving children all they can
The Matriarch (virtuous) Paying for medical bills
The Man (not virtuous) Stealing
Marketing Manager (not virtuous) Fooling the pretty girl
Actions
Making a lot of money (pleasurable)
Getting married (pleasurable)
Having children (pleasurable)
Being divorced (sufferable)
Being sick in the hospital (sufferable)
Loosing everything you once had (sufferable
How to Get Filthy Rich in Rising Asia by Mohsin Hamid isn’t my favorite type of book, and probably wouldn’t run back to read it again or another one like it. However Mohsin Hamid does make good points, and there are some things to learn and take out of the book. I do see why the assignment is to read a book like this, because it ties together the lesson we have been talking and reading about all semester. It all goes back to thinking happiness can be found in being very rich and wealthy, but a lot of the times ends up not being the case. Even though I am not a fan of these type of books, it is good to read about this boys life and pull a life lesson out of it. I thought the author did a good job of including the romance, religion and politics with out diving into them too much. The book really makes you stop and think about life in ways most normally wouldn’t. The book really shows that there is so much more in life than money and being wealthy, and thats the one part I did like about it.
ptrsnjrd 