Pathfinders: Extraordinary Stories of People Like You on the Quest for Financial Independence—And How to Join Them

by J.L. Collins

From “The Godfather of FI”, a follow-up to his international bestselling personal finance sensation The Simple Path to Wealth!

Pathfinders brings together scores of amazing and insightful real-life stories from real people on the journey to financial independence—providing practical encouragement and inspiration for anyone who wants to join them.

Lighting the way in the real world to The Simple Path to Wealth, these are fascinating, heartfelt, often surprising
- of struggles overcome and the rewards that followed
- of enterprising solutions to unexpected problems
- of sacrifices made and the kindness of strangers
- of surprisingly simple steps—and the amazing places they can take you
and much, much more.

Author JL Collins accompanies these readers’ stories with reflections on his “rules for the road”—as well as a candid conversation about the journey to financial freedom with his daughter, the inspiration for his original international bestseller.

Pathfinders is the ultimate companion for your own journey to financial freedom—and the true and lasting wealth that lies at the end.

Genres: Finance, Nonfiction, Personal Finance, Money, Self Help, Business, Personal Development

321 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 31, 2023

Reviews

[Love to Read · Rating 3 out of 5]

First and foremost: praise be to Papa Collins. If you can only read one nonfiction book, let it be The Simple Path to Wealth. Thank you for guiding me to the light. Amen.

This is an interesting book with micro-stories from about 100 people who are on the simple path. Some of the stories are a little bit ridiculous in the current times, a lot of them are very similar to one another, a few are gems. I like that there are many different perspectives and I like that we see people on different stages of their path. Ultimately, however, if you are a follower of the simple path, this might serve as a comfort read, but you're not going to see anything you haven't seen before.

[Lyssa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to like this book, but there just wasn't much here. This is not the book for the basics of FIRE. It's also not the book of unique tips, advice, encouragement etc that I hoped it would be. There are a ton of anecdotes and they are generally too short to make much of an impact.

I agreed with JL that the stories I found most interesting were those from Russia and Ukraine. And I found the interview with his daughter at the end interesting as well, if nothing else.

I would pass on this book. I feel like you could get the same experience reading the comment section on his blog posts (except perhaps better, since you might have the chance to interact with people and ask questions).

[Louise Hindal · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have a lot of strong feelings having read this. I'm not sure if that is because it is about money or if it is because of the format of the book. My experience was also colored by two things: 1. I have not read Simple Path to Wealth; I also reserved it at the library at the same time, but it has taken longer to be ready. 2. My husband has, at times of his life, consumed lots of FI content. That being said...

This felt 100% like a lightly curated fan website comment section, and I don't say that in a good way. It was complete with:
- Contributions that mostly just seemed to worship the religion of The Path. There was lots of "and then I found THE PATH" (cue the heavenly choir).
- Contributions that contained questionably bad advice that didn't seem to fully fit with The Path (why include a story, Optimizing the Debt-Reduction Process, pg. 57-60, that bragged about paying off 0% loans first‽‽‽ That seems like BAD advice to spread to the masses. Maybe it made sense for that person, but the story doesn't convince me that even that was the case).
- Mediocre writing
- Too many stories, including ones that were one paragraph. Why? What did we learn from that idol-worship?
- Jargon that I didn't really understand because it was some part of the The Path that wasn't covered in the short chapter summaries
- Contributions from very naive sounding people who seemed to think they had it all figured out (Minimum Wage by Maximum Freedom, pg. 32-34, "If or when I have a partner, my socializing costs will go down - especially if I have kids"... ummm why do you think that's a reliable bet? Also, might there be other costs that you haven't considered‽‽ Or lifestyle changes that might necessitate additional spending... like maybe you don't want your future family to share a house with 5+ additional roommates?)
- Little to no science, data, evidence, etc.

Additionally, there were parts of The Path that I'm just not totally convinced by:
- This might not be part of the path, but there seemed to be a lot of "work hard now to be lazy later" vibe. I don’t really buy that that is going to work, and personally it doesn’t appeal to me. First of all, I feel like it just would cause burn out (See The Happiness Quest, pg. 103-109). Second, why not enjoy life for all of the journey? Working hard now to have fun later just seems like the traditional “retirement is going to be great” philosophy. But what if you (unfortunately) never get to retirement? Or what if, even if you retire young, you no longer are physically able to do all the things you could do when you were even younger. I want to enjoy now and later. Also, I want to enjoy my work now (and probably later too). I don’t want to do every possible side gig now (paraphrasing pg. 74) and have nothing to structure my days later. Why not work a little less hard, a little longer, doing something you enjoy and do those side gigs later? Third, some of this seems like “I’m going to pinch pennies now to live large later”. But if you’re working towards an FI goal that is based on your current (penny-pinching) budget, you will need to continue to pinch pennies later to live off that same budget if that’s what the goal is based off of - that doesn't sound lazy to me.
- Again, I might not be perfectly grasping The Path, but calculating your FI number from your currently monthly living costs with no wiggle room seems like a recipe for disaster. Case in point, The Happiness Quest, pg. 103-109. Why was he so surprised that his expenses kept growing? That happens! Unlike what Minimum Wage by Maximum Freedom, pg. 32-34, suggests, maybe we can’t predict every expense and how they will change. Case in point 2 - When Disability Strikes, pg 220 - 226 - we just can’t predict things like this. I want more wiggle room than predicting everything off my current monthly expenses.
- Debt is not all bad. Loans with good interest rates can make you more money than paying for something in cash because you can invest that money and it can continue to grow. I feel like if they were looking for a simple rule, don’t take on more debt than your current wealth would be a much better rule. It killed me that there were multiple people talking about paying off 0% loans.
- “Adding complexity for a theoretically better result is unlikely to work over time in the real world” (pg. 201) - I guess I buy this as advice for most people, myself included, but it seems pretty dismissive with no evidence. Why won’t it work if you set up a good system? I bet it WILL work better for some people!

Additional thoughts:
- I like the chapter on FU money the best. I can get behind saving for the sake of flexibility.
- This book has made me think a lot more about money. It has made me think maybe I should set more concrete goals.
- The first story made me think about the value of my time in a new way. It actually didn't seem super "The Path"-y, but I liked the concept that doing things that aren't maximizing your earnings might be maximizing something else - learning, happiness, satisfaction, etc. It's a more flexible view than I'd thought of before when thinking about the very number-centric question of "What is my time worth?"

[Vincent · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars
🌕🌕🌕

Thanks NetGalley, Harriman House publisher and the authors for a great advance copy of the book in exchange for my honest review!

I like the overall structure of the book; how every chapter starts with the author's point of view and ends with other people's stories on the topic.

Although the book was neat and nicely structured, I can't really recommend it for people like me who grabbed it and hoped that it would give some clear advices on how a person can gain financial independence. After reading the book, nothing lingered in me. The first reason is because I grew up learning The Simple Path already from my parents. For me, the concept is too much of a common sense. Maybe in the US, the lifestyle is based too much on loan, people are not really aware of this. Secondly, I think the book is mainly for the folks in the US. Since I'm now living in Europe, the advices are not really relevant. Thirdly, I think this book is a means for advertising the author's old book more than introducing new concepts or sending out applicable advices. Last but not least, it really feels to me that the book has a very naive perspective when it comes to savings or the salary and the living cost in the US is too different compared to Europe. I think in Europe, many people can't afford to put aside 50% of their salary for savings. Not including the fact that some people have to help their family as well.

All in all, I can't recommend this book. At the beginning of the book I had a very high hope because the author seems to have a mindset of a person who is not the typical "privilege" person. However, the more I read, the more I feel that he is one. The book only scratches the surface of the topic, and I think I didn't really get anything out of it at the end. I give 3 stars for the fact that the author is a bit different than the typical authors who write this kind of book, and he seems to be genuine.

[Erik · Rating 3 out of 5]

As life changing as the Simple Path was for me, this books feels like a waste of time. It feels like a collection of braggy stories swiped from a finance blog comment section Also, for trying to say financial independence is accessible to everyone, there are A LOT of examples from high salaried people in tech that bought cheap homes at an opportune if not outright lucky time.

[Danielle Kim · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars. this was way too long and a mixed bag. i would caution anyone excited or shocked by any of these stories that they should do their own due diligence and read some opposing literature vs drinking the kool-aid or hopping to any conclusions. the primary takeaway is that everyone’s situation is different.

i constantly felt like i didn’t have enough information. i wish JL had done the actual work of analyzing these stories - either anthropologically or sociologically or statistically - anything! or even just as a journalist. there was no investigation - i was expected to take everyone at their word and buy their version of their story.

i do think this book suggests that most FI-ers are either single introverts or married frugalists. lol.

[Piotr Manasterski · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5

[Paula · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good stories but if you want more detailed nuts and bolts you need The Simple Path

[Adrienne · Rating 1 out of 5]

I admittedly came this book with some skepticism and it pretty much lived up to my low expectations. The problem with the concept of The Path is that it really only hangs together as a philosophy/movement if it’s super strict. Once you start incorporating tons of flexibility, which is what these stories often reflect, that’s just following some common sense principles. In other words, I think most people with any sense would tell you to try to avoid spending more than you earn, save money when you can, avoid unsustainable or unwise debts, and don’t bother trying to game the stock market. This is literally what my parents did and taught me and it wasn’t through some magical alchemy. JL Collins says that the “RE” part of “FIRE” isn’t important but without the RE, how is this even distinguishable from just a “good” retirement in the traditional sense? Then we get to the specific stories. A bunch barely count as a story, much less an “extraordinary” one, all I learned was that the person thinks they are on the Path and are happy about it. A bunch are written by really young people who can’t possibly know what the future will hold for them. A bunch are people who, for various reasons, ended up at FI at a normal retirement age so I’m not sure what the lesson there is. The stories I most enjoyed were of people who made adjustments to their goals as life events and circumstances required and that is, again, moving more in a following common sense direction. Only a handful of people adhere to the Path religiously and they do not seem a joy to be around. At the end of the day, it kills me that I basically do most of things Collins tells people to do but I don’t run around telling people that “I’m on the Path” because that kind of sounds like being in a cult. Last thought: lol at all the people promoting their personal website or LinkedIn at the beginning of their stories, way to hustle.

[a! reader! · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have mixed feelings about this book. On the one hand, I could see how it might be inspirational for others to read (specifically those who are relatively new to personal finance).

But on the other hand, it felt like I was just reading a bunch of comments to a Reddit post with the title “tell me about your FIRE journey in 5 paragraphs or less.” Except the Reddit post might have been even more interesting than this book!

[Paul M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Technically should have started with The Simple Path to Wealth, as this is the sequel that comes after said book, wherein JLC has gathered all the stories from people all over the world that have taken the Path.
It can be read without having read the origin story because the lessons taught are repeated and are very simple to understand and apply.

What I loved the most about this book was getting lessons from people that are on the actual path and seeing the stories of how their lives have changed through simple but consistent actions.

I made a lot of notes and highlights throughout the book, which may come from both JL and the people who shared their perspectives. Here are some of them:

• Save(invest) 50% of your income

• it is mot about how much you make but how much you get to keep.

• Do not sell your ETF’s in a bear market, buy more!

• Don’t try to keep up with the neighbours.

• Avoid debt, live on less than you make, and invest the rest in broad based, low-cost index funds.

• The ratio between your income and expenses is what will make you feel wealthy.

• The Canadian equivalent to the American IRA(Individual Retirement Account) is an RRSP (Registered Retirement Savings Plan), where contributions are tax deductible, meaning you can subtract them from your total income to lower the amount of income that is subject to tax. By reducing your taxable income, the amount of tax you ultimately owe is decreased.
The Growth in this type of account is tax deferred, meaning you postpone paying taxes on them until a future date.
The withdrawals in these accounts are taxed as income, which is self-explanatory.
This account is usually used for retirement.

• The Canadian equivalent to the American Roth IRA
is the TFSA(Tax Free Savings Account), where the contributions are not tax deductible, meaning they are made after tax.
The growth in this type of account is tax free and so are the withdrawals. It can be used for any savings goal.

•Financial Independence means having enough money invested so that the money it earns is enough to support you, plus a bit more. This is what some people refer to as a “nest egg”.

• “F-you money” refers to six months worth of your salary saved up, also known as an emergency fund.

• When you move from spender to investor, your money will start to build wealth thanks to compound interest.

• If anything, remember this from the book, spend less than you earn and invest the rest!

• Markets crash from time to time, but enduring this is the price we pay for the long-term wealth building gains it provides.

• Social capital is as important as financial capital, so make time for friends and family.

• The stock market is an incredible wealth building tool

• Making money is one thing, it does not guarantee independence, but choosing what to do with it is everything!

• Money is something you can master, the sooner you understand this, the more control you have over your life!

• A fulfilled life means knowing what you want, setting goals and doing the work to turn your priorities into reality!

• Seeing what you can potentially gain from retiring early instead of what you are technically losing will change your perspective.

• Both the journey and end goal of financial freedom often unlocks the best version of ourselves.

• Try as hard as you can to reach FI as soon as you can. It is not like entering paradise, but it is worth it. You will have the time and money to spend on what is important to you, and makes you happy, and the money to acquire it.

• The less you think about your investments, the less you are to tinker with them.

• Financial independence is about the power and security to do what you want, when you want to do it.

•If you are going to invest in the stock market, downturns, crashes and corrections are a perfect normal part of the process and they never last forever, just like blizzards and hurricanes don’t.


Will read The Simple Path to Wealth next, but all in all, great book, inspiring anecdotes and practical wisdom!

[Andy Marr · Rating 4 out of 5]

An easy and quick read. Not as mind-blowing as his previous book, The Simple Path to Wealth (which I do think you need to read before this one). This is more just a reflection on TSPTW book and letters from followers who are on the path or completed it, which reinforces the value of the "Path" and has interesting examples.

[Jessica Gerski · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one took me 4 months to read and the short stories of other people may motivate some people but not for me. I appreciate the concept of the simple path.

[Hannah Moenyan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very mixed feelings about this book — on the one hand, I appreciate a lot of the practical advice that JC Collins gives, and I do like how he keeps things simple. In that sense, the book is a very easy read. No complicated formula’s or fancy calculation tools needed to follow his advice. However, I do have serious concerns about his dismissal of the reality that most people live in and the way he seems to blame almost if not all personal financial failure on individuals making poor choices while failing to acknowledge that the systems which allowed him to get to where he’s at today are the same systems keeping so many people locked out of financial freedom. His approach is really only helpful for people already making significantly above minimum wage, but he doesn’t seem to acknowledge this fact.

The closest I found to him addressing this was on pg 233 where he states in passing: “We all must play the cards we are dealt. To be sure, there are people whose cards are so bad that The Simple Path described here is not possible. But if you are able to read this book, that’s not you. You are perfectly capable of following this Path”. Not only is this insulting the intelligence of plenty of people, it also appears to chalk all bad financial situations up to bad luck, ignoring the broken economic systems in our society that lock people into poverty and the fact that many of the best paying jobs (which allow those individuals to reach financial independence) only exist *because* of pushing people into debt and overconsumption, etc.

Finally, as many other reviewers have noted, this book is more or less a tool to sell his previous book, with each chapter reading like a brief blog post with the comment section included. Except he only includes the comments (aka stories) shared by five-star reviewers.

Read if you prefer skimming through a book with a one-sided perspective vs skimming through the full comments section of a blog.

[Bennjamin · Rating 5 out of 5]

JL Collins' newest book is encouraging for the personal investor pursuing a path to financial independence (FI). Coming several years after the resounding success of "A Simple Path to Wealth", readers that are familiar with with prior work, will find comfort in the dozens of stories in "Pathfinders". As the title suggests, JL has compiled a host of stories from readers around the globe who are all pursuing financial independence.

JL Collins, in his book "The Simple Path to Wealth," serves as a guiding light for readers seeking financial independence. He advocates for a mindset shift towards intentional spending, emphasizing the importance of trimming unnecessary expenses while consciously allocating resources to meaningful luxuries. Collins underscores the significance of investing wisely in vehicles like VTSAX, a broad-based index fund, as a means of securing future financial freedom. By advocating for a simple, yet disciplined approach—minimizing costs, prioritizing value, and investing in robust, low-cost index funds—he empowers readers to pave their own path towards long-term financial stability and independence. His work resonates with those seeking a sustainable and pragmatic approach to wealth accumulation, focusing not just on amassing riches but on creating a life of purpose and freedom through mindful financial choices.

A testament to how JL has become the Godfather of the FIRE movement. While many readers struggle to find people in their day to day life willing to walk the Path, "Pathfinders" helps buttress investors in knowing that saving dollars today will bring about freedom tomorrow.

Easy to read, short vignettes from all continents. Read it in one sitting!

[pimplebookeyz2 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very informative and surprisingly entertaining. Managed to make personal finance an interesting topic to me w good simple writing and more of a lean towards the philosophical lens rather than the technical one. would recommend. slayyy.

[J Tele · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Pathfinders" by JL Collins is a must-read for anyone seeking financial independence and control over their money. Collins simplifies complex financial concepts, offering a clear and practical roadmap. Using real-life stories, he demonstrates that financial security is attainable for all, regardless of background or income. The book's logical progression, from setting goals to conquering debt and making sound investments, makes it accessible to all. Collins emphasizes the freedom that comes with financial independence, making this book a powerful tool for achieving one's dreams. "Pathfinders" encapsulates the essence of financial wisdom and empowerment.

[Claire Walraven · Rating 2 out of 5]

Of all the personal finance books I've read lately, this was my least favourite. It's mostly a compilation of stories submitted by people following his method. It's intended to show you that anyone and everyone can adopt this lifestyle, but I found I skimmed a lot of their stories. You can get the basics of what he's suggesting through listening to podcasts where he's been a guest (I first heard him on the Money with Katie show), or the introduction to the book.

Basically: save a high percentage of your earnings (ie 50%+), invest in low cost index ETFs, stay the course.

[Beth Melillo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short vignettes from many people on the FI journey; all kinds of examples. I appreciated the diversity of experiences and how people were positive about when they learned about FI, and the approach. Some learned about it early on, and were able to FI in their 30s, other in their late 50's; but no one seemed bitter or overly regretful on lost time.

[Kurt Anderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fine for what it is. But the format is not for me.

I’m not totally sure who this book is for: people who are interested enough in FIRE to buy and read a (sequel) book of the genre but who aren’t yet convinced that it’s possible? Seems like a Venn diagram with very little overlap.

[Giorgia Wessels · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. This book wasn’t too bad, there are some nice stories and useful nuggets, but I found it wasn’t diving deep enough into the stories - many of them being from the US. I loved JL’s intros to the chapters, but the stories almost read like reviews sometimes and got a tad boring.

[Michael Sardone · Rating 3 out of 5]

The stories were a nice addition. No new information from his prior books. I did enjoy the stories, but would have liked a more developed story, maybe having each story have a passage that flowed to each new chapter.

[Paul Taylor · Rating 1 out of 5]

As a big fan of SPTW, I was excited for some more JL Collins’ content. I found this collection uninteresting, poorly written and not particularly helpful especially for those who have read SPTW. I would not recommend.

[Amber Field · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good source of inspiration for those on their FI journey. It's not as good as JL's first book (what could be??).

[Dylan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I know money is important. I just don't want to spend my life thinking about it. — Jess Collins

And thanks to that (very sane) attitude, we now have the Simple Path to Wealth laid out before us. Cheers, Jess.

I've kind of been blursed with the opposite sentiment. My parents indirectly taught me how to be responsible with money, forgoing allowances in exchange for a dollar on every 100% I scored on a test and thinking twice, three times, or more on things I wanted to buy. But unlike Jess, I started to think more and more about money as time went on, and it became a small obsession.

Now, graduated from college and figuring out what to do with a steady income, I'm glad I stumbled upon the Simple Path to Wealth so early on. The Simple Path favors those not-so-interested in money, as they'll be less likely to tinker. I'll have to be more disciplined to do the same.

In this book, J.L. Collins collects around 100 stories of fellow travelers walking the Path. He's absolutely right in that people love stories. It's one of our most effective tools to learn about others and the world. When I first found Collins's blog about the Path, I devoured it because his writing is so accessible and enjoyable. It took much of the fear and confusion out of investing and put the power of money back into my hands.

Learning about the Path has equipped me with the new goal of Financial Independence. I was so used to the clear objectives of schooling that I was feeling a bit lost once I left that behind me. Things are now more vague, more distant, and the only one holding me accountable is myself. FI gives me something a little more concrete to shoot for.

There's a comforting confidence in reading about others' tales on this journey. When they found the path, detours they've taken, things they regret, optimism about the road ahead, it's all wonderful info that you can adapt and apply to your own journey. Perhaps most importantly, they help you from feeling alone on the Path, which can help give you the resolve you need to stick to it, ride the rollercoaster, and stock up when things go "on sale."

Here's to winning our time back, and earning our freedom.

[NICODESO · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC copy.
Sequel to the 2016 bestseller, "The Simple Path to Wealth" (SPW), Pathfinders comprises dozens of stories from readers who were inspired by SPW and who managed to achieve some level of financial independence (FI) and maybe retire early (FIRE). Brace yourself for short forms "SPW", "FI", and "FIRE" throughout the book.
Collins' voice appears at the beginning of each chapter with his own reflections.
While most accounts are from American readers, there are a few from Russian, Japan, Taiwan, and Nigeria too.
Admittedly the book was a bit of a culture shock because I grew up in a place where student debt upward of $100,000 is just unheard of. Also piling on credit card debt to live beyond one's means is considered reckless and foolish. Loan recovery sharks are a real thing in some parts of the world. That said, I liked Pathfinders and found the precepts quite universal.

Right from the word go, you'll come across words like "exchange-traded fund," "backdoor conversions," "dollar cost averaging," etc. Don't worry if you don't know what they mean - read on like I did! The stories are interesting and there are some useful life lessons in here: don't be shackled to your job to keep that money coming in, learn new skills to save hiring costs, save more, spend less, hustle if you must, and remember that financial advisors have their interests first, not yours. Self-education is paramount.

The book closes with an insightful Q&A session with the author and his daughter. Overall, I'll give Pathfinders a 4* rating because I'm convinced that sound financial knowledge and planning can offset the volatility of life.

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[JT · Rating 4 out of 5]

Financial Independence and early retirement are the buzzwords of today. FIRE (Financially Independent and Retire Early) is a go to mantra for today’s generation. This book brings forth the real life stories of ordinary people who have achieved FI following a Simple path.

Through Pathfinders , JL Collins has described a path towards achieving this goal realistically. He has defined it as the “THE SIMPLE PATH”. Along with the concepts are the inspiring stories of real life people who have followed these principles to achieve financial stability for themselves.

Distributed in 7 parts , the book deals with Freedom , Debt , Saving, Lifestyle Inflation , Investing etc. In each chapter , he postulates important concepts related to the topic.
For instance , in the first chapter he correlates money and freedom and emphasizes that money can buy freedom of time , of life. Following this are a series of stories of people who practiced these principles and achieved their goal by weighing their time against money.
These stores are truly inspiring and award a reliability to the concepts taught in the book.

However , for readers of finance management books, some concepts will sound repetitive. Also the concepts take up less space than the stories which makes it somewhat an anecdotal read.

The standout points of the book is the comprehensive coverage of topics and the easy manner of explaining the fundamentals of finance. It does not overwhelm a new reader of the field.

This is an uncomplicated guide for accomplishing your finance goals and onboarding on a path towards FI.

[Firsh · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's funny to me how I reached fire without knowing what it was. And I only listen to these books after the fact. It's even part of my nickname. And it's like reading the manual of an electronic device that you have bought and already played with and figured out how it works. And in that sense the manual is not very useful. I'm not saying it's boring, but it really doesn't change much anymore. However, the definition of different types of fire was new information.

This one was at least full of stories that I'm slowly growing to appreciate and especially the first or the second one was quite good. I mean some went fully head-on against the "wisdom" that Millionaire Next Door or other books like that try to convey. That you're supposed to pay for all kinds of services like gardening and repairing stuff, instead of doing them yourself, if you want to be a millionaire. The opposite is true for me, as I try to do everything myself because I can just listen to books like this while I'm doing those tasks and they are interesting and are a learning opportunity and/or can be considered a workout. And when it comes to gardening or repairing the house or something like that, one that doesn't require too specialized contractor tools, I can simply do them better than some "pro" who runs off with my money (happened too many times).

I smiled when I found something in common with the people that I've listened to. I have to give kudos to people who managed to live off on a more stringent "student" budget in the US of all places. The book sort of, kind of, covered geoarbitrage but none of these books straight up suggest that if you go to the university in the US you may be eternally bound by the country. Cause you need to work there for the high salaries only available there to pay that off, and after a while there is no going away, everything else will be inferior. While you could just learn abroad if you managed to get a visa, or stay in Europe or Eastern Europe or something like that while working on an international business, you would be far better off regarding your financial situation and you could even retire on a couple of hundred thousands of dollars if you were not living in the States. This kind of advice is hardly ever in this kind of book but would be the most important (as it works).

Overall, I like the cover design and there is a prequel called The Simple Path to Wealth that I intend to listen as well.

[Virve Fredman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tykkäsin tästä kirjasta TODELLA paljon!

JL Collinsin (jonka "etunimen" tarinan muuten haluaisin kuulla, koska hän tosiaan itse kirjoittaa etunimensä kirjassaankin JL ilman mitään välimerkkejä) aiempi teos The Simple Path to Wealth puhutteli minua todenteolla, kun muistaakseni kohta neljä vuotta sitten luin sen. Kirja teki ihanan helpoksi ja mahdolliseksi taloudellisen vapauden saavuttamisen ja vaikka tykkään lukea ja oppia aiheesta lisää sekä imeä vaikutteita monilta, on Collinsin kirja silti ollut se, jonka oppeihin oma taloudellisen vapauteni tie on perustunut.

Tältä pohjalta olikin mukavaa lukea tämä uusi, vasta julkaistu teos, joka esitteli eri puolilta maailmaa ja eri taustoilta tulevien ihmisten matkaa kohti taloudellista vapautta ja elämää taloudellisesti vapaana – varsinkin, kun kirjaa oltiin alettu koota 2022 pandemian jälkimainingeissa. Kirja oli loistava muistutus siitä, että vaikka taloudellisen vapauden saavuttamisen käytännön vaiheet ovat periaatteessa samat kaikille yksinkertaisuudessaan, näyttää jokaisen taival silti erilaiselta. Olikin mahtavaa sekä saada vahvistusta siihen, että toimii juuri kuten pitääkin että myös inspiroitua muiden tarinoista.

Suosittelen tätä ja Collinsin aiempaa teosta ehdottomasti kaikille, joita kiinnostaa taloudellinen vapaus tai vähintäänkin varmuus siitä, ettei elämässä ole rahahuolia ja esimerkiksi työhön liittyvät valinnat voi tehdä sydämellä eikä tarvitse pysyä jossakin vain rahan takia.

[Jen Juenke · Rating 3 out of 5]

As being part of the FIRE movement, the author is well known. He is probably like the grandfather of the FIRE movement.

I read his previous book, A Simple Path to Wealth and I dived head first into this book.

The magic wasn't there.

In this book there is an introduction written by Mr. Collins for each chapter and then stories from other people relating to the introduction of that chapter.

here is where things broke down for me. Some of the "stories" were 2 paragraphs long. Some were so generic it was hard to even fathom why they were included.

There was just 2 stories that stuck out to me, the cop who went for detective and then began to question whether more money equaled more happiness (the burrito).
AND
The Canadian lady diagnosed with PLS. She really was truly a light on how to live within your means while living with a disability.

Maybe it was because these two stories were longer then most in the book, but they really hit home for me.

Overall, if you are starting out in the FIRE movement, just skip this book. Read the blogs, join the facebook groups, you will get better "stories" then what is in this book.

Thank you to the author and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for this honest review.