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Rhinoceros Success
Success Is Difficult But ... tomorrow morning, you could wake up as a full grown rhinoceros and - * charge your way to success * use audacity to reach your goals * be happier than you've ever been before * make your life an exciting adventure * have the persistence and tenacity necessary for success * never worry again * succeed at the world's most profitable hobby * achieve more and have a better balance in the six major areas of your life: FINANCIAL, WORK, PHYSICAL, FAMILY, SOCIAL AND SPIRITUAL
Scott Alexander has discovered the REAL secret of success: becoming a rhinoceros. Read it and go rhino! That's all there is between you and everything you've ever wanted to do or become in your life. CHARGE!!
Scott Alexander has discovered the REAL secret of success: becoming a rhinoceros. Read it and go rhino! That's all there is between you and everything you've ever wanted to do or become in your life. CHARGE!!
123 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1980
266 people are currently reading
3338 people want to read
About the author
Scott Alexander
11 books18 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
Scott Robert Alexander is the author of three motivational books: Rhinoceros Success, Advanced Rhinocerology and Rhinocerotic Relativity.
Scott Robert Alexander is the author of three motivational books: Rhinoceros Success, Advanced Rhinocerology and Rhinocerotic Relativity.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 413 reviews
February 9, 2014
This book is terrible. I thought it would be fun, but I was wrong.
Self help by ordering you to connect with your inner rhinoceros, even though you're currently a cow. It's okay to be a cow if you want, we need cows, but you should know that cows suck.
You should shoot first and ask questions later, belittle those who are less successful, you should blow steam from your nostrils, and you should charge head first into anything. Oh, and you should believe in God. Like, a lot.
The worst that can happen is death, and that's not really a concern.
Essentially the book says that success starts with an attitude of success. But it doesn't say this, it says that you should be a rhinoceros (literally) and you will be successful. You should just be successful in the six main areas of your life (financial, work, family, physical, social, and spiritual) and then you will be successful in those areas.
"Have a happy family life. To do that, just be your rhinoceros self. Keeping a family together and happy takes a rhino."
It is written in a jovial and simple way and peppered with 'comedy'...
"Do you know how to make a rhinoceros float? Root bear, one scoop of vanilla ice cream and one scoop of rhinoceros! Remember this extremely funny, side-splitting, hilarious joke, because it will remind you to put rhinoceros into everything you do. Rhinoceros success comes from being a rhinoceros ALL the time."
I know, right? I almost wet myself.
But the real take home message comes on page 51, "You don't need to read 'Rhinoceros Success' or any other book to live your life successfully. All you really need is the Bible. Every answer is in there."
That's right, even the author doesn't think you should read this book.
Self help by ordering you to connect with your inner rhinoceros, even though you're currently a cow. It's okay to be a cow if you want, we need cows, but you should know that cows suck.
You should shoot first and ask questions later, belittle those who are less successful, you should blow steam from your nostrils, and you should charge head first into anything. Oh, and you should believe in God. Like, a lot.
The worst that can happen is death, and that's not really a concern.
Essentially the book says that success starts with an attitude of success. But it doesn't say this, it says that you should be a rhinoceros (literally) and you will be successful. You should just be successful in the six main areas of your life (financial, work, family, physical, social, and spiritual) and then you will be successful in those areas.
"Have a happy family life. To do that, just be your rhinoceros self. Keeping a family together and happy takes a rhino."
It is written in a jovial and simple way and peppered with 'comedy'...
"Do you know how to make a rhinoceros float? Root bear, one scoop of vanilla ice cream and one scoop of rhinoceros! Remember this extremely funny, side-splitting, hilarious joke, because it will remind you to put rhinoceros into everything you do. Rhinoceros success comes from being a rhinoceros ALL the time."
I know, right? I almost wet myself.
But the real take home message comes on page 51, "You don't need to read 'Rhinoceros Success' or any other book to live your life successfully. All you really need is the Bible. Every answer is in there."
That's right, even the author doesn't think you should read this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 9, 2018
This book simultaneously energized and terrified me! On one hand, I love the rhinoceros mentality - charge ahead towards your goals, without fear of failure while also embracing the reality that you will experience setbacks is good advice. On the other hand, there were enough self-serving and idol-building mantras mixed in with the "good stuff", that this book could be really dangerous to a young person who believes the world is their playground and everyone else should play by their rules. I'm not sure if this summary makes sense, and I guess that's my problem with this book - it's difficult to make sense of - to distinguish the helpful from the destructive, the selfish from the generous and the Christian from the capitalist.
May 29, 2012
Some snobby readers might find the simplicity of this book to be below them. Not I. It is literally one of the most influential books of my life. I love analogies to life, and that is all this author does, but with animals to people. Amazing concepts to life if you will just pay attention.
The life of a rhinocerous is a happy and exciting one.
The life of a rhinocerous is a happy and exciting one.
October 5, 2025
A super motivational book that I first read decades ago and was so impressed that I made the Rhino our corporate symbol. Achievement awards were designed around becoming a Rhino. Used and gave out all 3 of the books in this series to each of our facilities. They are short and easy to read, with many illustrations.
May 30, 2012
Be a Rhino and charge after what you want in life; don't be a cow and let each day just pass by you. "Rhinoceros Success" gives tips and encouragement to motivate the readers to get up and get moving. We all want something out of life, but it is not going to come to us in a brand new car. We have to charge forward like a rhino might and work hard to get where/what we want. Alexander teaches his readers to be rhinos as they tackle diverse areas of life such as financial, social and physical. This book was quite motivating and a quick and enjoyable read. However, it seemed to lack much Biblical content. Alexander does encourage his readers to try God and to read the Bible (in secret if they need to), but stops short of fully endorsing a life surrendered to following Christ and what that might look like for a rhino. He does include some scripture quotations in "Rhinoceros Success", but again, this booked lacked the spiritually deep content that would have made it great. For type A personalities, this book would be very encouraging. For the rest of the population it might spur them to charge forward as rhino, or it might simply highlight how much they are not like a rhino and be discouraging.
January 20, 2018
A colleague recommended this book to me. What a load of garbage! The author is so condescending and egotistical. There is no solid advice, just page upon page of useless drivel. For instance, when he was in debt, he started giving 10% to a church and then his money troubles were over. What?? How did that happen? There was no explanation as to how he got himself out of debt. Did giving to others help him to manage his budget better? To put his spending into perspective? There is no meat in this rhinoceros sandwich! And I've never read a book with so many exclamation points! Does this type of book actually inspire some people to action?
January 28, 2019
Wow that was a lot of words for a very simple concept. I think the concept was good though? I mean... not all the way through. There's truth and goodness in the rhino mentality, but also truth to the "find peace where you are" mentality too. I guess maybe the middle comes somewhere where you are intentional with your peaceful evenings and you make a point to order your charging priorities properly.
September 11, 2024
I had the unfortunate luck of buying this book by mistake; and although it was clear by the second page it was not what I had expected I found myself on with no other available reading material and so finished it.
No mincing words here, it’s capital H Horrible. A grab bag of cornball self help cliches wrapped in an inane African wildlife motif; how it ever made print is astounding.
Imagine, if you will, a third-rate motivational speaker, high on the most toxic variant of a wealth-obsessed prosperity gospel. Now give said person approximately 45 minutes to write a book, and this is the output you might expect.
Nothing is safe as the author attempts to enlighten on every aspect of the human experience. Divorce, friendship, reading the Bible, inflation, no topic is safe from a sloppy exhortation in 2-3 sentences.
A few examples:
* Your wallet: Always carry a 100 dollar bill with you to remind yourself when you open your wallet that money is true power!
* Driving: When stopped at a light try to have a staring contest with any drivers next to you; thereby proving your dominance and “rhino” status!
Worse than a simply a waste of time, it’s my assertion that the stupidity of this book may actively demotivate and harm the reader’s existing chance of financial success.
My only positive? A mercifully short read time hastened by the authors love of short sentences and gratuitous use of spacing and illustration.
No mincing words here, it’s capital H Horrible. A grab bag of cornball self help cliches wrapped in an inane African wildlife motif; how it ever made print is astounding.
Imagine, if you will, a third-rate motivational speaker, high on the most toxic variant of a wealth-obsessed prosperity gospel. Now give said person approximately 45 minutes to write a book, and this is the output you might expect.
Nothing is safe as the author attempts to enlighten on every aspect of the human experience. Divorce, friendship, reading the Bible, inflation, no topic is safe from a sloppy exhortation in 2-3 sentences.
A few examples:
* Your wallet: Always carry a 100 dollar bill with you to remind yourself when you open your wallet that money is true power!
* Driving: When stopped at a light try to have a staring contest with any drivers next to you; thereby proving your dominance and “rhino” status!
Worse than a simply a waste of time, it’s my assertion that the stupidity of this book may actively demotivate and harm the reader’s existing chance of financial success.
My only positive? A mercifully short read time hastened by the authors love of short sentences and gratuitous use of spacing and illustration.
June 21, 2016
This is a fantastic book, with all the lifestyle advice you could possibly consider. In fact, every single page offers something that you can use to improve your life to become successful in every way, not just financially or materially, as some people consider success defined as such. This is one of the books that lives up to all the hype. It's short and simple and each and every sentence is useful. Don't miss out on it...And once you buy it, read it often! You're a Rhinoceros! I'm a rhinoceros! I charge at something until its completed. I succeed in everything I do! (Eventually....because we always have to remember, failure is a part of success. It will get you where you need to be. So try not to fail too much but expect to do it more than you ever imagined. And don't put yourself down as a result, if you do. It's just not worth it and it may cause you to give up. and when you give up, you're giving up just prior to that much desired success that was coming next.
April 21, 2019
Simplistic. Condescending. Downright offensive. Full of God and Bible references. In summary, Rhinos and Cows are Winners and Losers. Money is everything. Sure, I know the author tries to distinguish between money and loving money, but the whole message is about be a Winner (Rhino), drive a Rolls Royce, and enjoy your view of the lazy Cows (Losers) as you pass them by. This quote will give you a taste of the condescension and disdain for others throughout the pages “Delight in the fact you pay more in taxes each year than the cows earn all year long!” Disgusting attitude, if you ask me, and it says A LOT of what’s wrong with this world. I don’t think Jesus would approve, Scott.
June 13, 2023
It has a good message, but is a greasier in its metaphor. Personally, I found it repetitive to a bit, and once pulling the key notes out grew tired of reading it.
May 27, 2022
Had to read for work and although I appreciated the “go get ‘em!” attitude, the author seemed to be trying a bit to hard for us to accept his analogy as the epitome of lifestyle comparison. I found the book almost childish, like the author was begging for us to “be rhinos”. He makes good suggestions but gives no real evidence for how to adapt our lifestyle to the rhino plan. A short, fun book but I was not able to take it as seriously as I would like.
June 30, 2012
Rhinoceros Success is a nice, quick read for a bit of motivation and inspiration to pursue your dreams. It's a simple book (occasionally, over simplistic) with a great message from an obviously passionate author.
Alexander does a nice job of uplifting you and cheering you on, but the book does not provide any deep, life-changing insight or in-depth information or explanations. However, I don't believe the book was ever intended to do so. Alexander wants to encourage you and help you recognize that techniques and strategies are overrated. The single most important thing you can do is simply begin doing something, anything to move toward your dreams; and if you push past enough obstacles, you'll eventually get there.
Alexander does a nice job of uplifting you and cheering you on, but the book does not provide any deep, life-changing insight or in-depth information or explanations. However, I don't believe the book was ever intended to do so. Alexander wants to encourage you and help you recognize that techniques and strategies are overrated. The single most important thing you can do is simply begin doing something, anything to move toward your dreams; and if you push past enough obstacles, you'll eventually get there.
August 1, 2021
With a ton of books out there on setting goals and achieving success, what better way to get the point across then by visualizing yourself as a charging rhino with 2-inch thick skin. If a rhino can do it, then you can too! Intensely motivating read. Recommended reading for anyone who wants to overcome procrastination. At less than 100 pages, there is no excuse not to read it right now. Really enjoyable.
August 27, 2017
Recommended at a conference I listened to the audio on the way home. I can say this book was repetitive, redundant and supplies a very simple message. The intro was written by Dave Ramsey and was the best part of the book. At first I thought the message would be fun, but it was written on a hammer and pounded it in beyond the point of fun.
January 12, 2021
Go do stuff.
May 13, 2023
Or, “Animal Farm 2: Animal Gold’s Gym”
This book was really silly and cheesy. Think, Tony Robbins plus Dave Ramsey, with this anthropological animal theme throughout. And yet…will I also incorporate the phrase “rhino” in my inner dialogue? Possibly.
Here’s the deal: if this was the only book someone ever read and decided just to put most of it in action, I don’t know how well it would go. I think a more mature person digests the right nuggets from this without taking the logic of it to the extreme. It is kinda inspiring, even if you’re rolling your eyes a bit while reading it! I’ll be honest - what got me to read this book is that Dave Ramsey has everyone that joins his company as an employee read this in the first 90 days. I’d LOVE to know more of what those discussions around this book look like!
“You now know that the secret of success is being a rhinoceros. The secret of success is the overcoming of inertia. The secret of success is charging. The secret of success is to activate yourself. Get a burning going inside of you that makes you want to run. Nothing will happen until you do! Think rhinoceros and ACT rhinoceros! There is no other way….Dreams are only dreams, unless you become a rhinoceros and charge at them!”
This book was really silly and cheesy. Think, Tony Robbins plus Dave Ramsey, with this anthropological animal theme throughout. And yet…will I also incorporate the phrase “rhino” in my inner dialogue? Possibly.
Here’s the deal: if this was the only book someone ever read and decided just to put most of it in action, I don’t know how well it would go. I think a more mature person digests the right nuggets from this without taking the logic of it to the extreme. It is kinda inspiring, even if you’re rolling your eyes a bit while reading it! I’ll be honest - what got me to read this book is that Dave Ramsey has everyone that joins his company as an employee read this in the first 90 days. I’d LOVE to know more of what those discussions around this book look like!
“You now know that the secret of success is being a rhinoceros. The secret of success is the overcoming of inertia. The secret of success is charging. The secret of success is to activate yourself. Get a burning going inside of you that makes you want to run. Nothing will happen until you do! Think rhinoceros and ACT rhinoceros! There is no other way….Dreams are only dreams, unless you become a rhinoceros and charge at them!”
November 10, 2018
A good premise, poorly executed.
It's fun, even silly, which is fine. In fact, that's all it has going for it really. But it has nearly zero depth. It's incredibly short, but still far too long. Rip out the copious fluff forcibly added to make it into a book and tone down the religiosity which adds nothing (and comes across, to be frank, more than a bit creepy) and this becomes a 5 to 10 page solid essay. I suspect the follow-on books add some depth, but after this... I'm just not going to waste my time.
It's fun, even silly, which is fine. In fact, that's all it has going for it really. But it has nearly zero depth. It's incredibly short, but still far too long. Rip out the copious fluff forcibly added to make it into a book and tone down the religiosity which adds nothing (and comes across, to be frank, more than a bit creepy) and this becomes a 5 to 10 page solid essay. I suspect the follow-on books add some depth, but after this... I'm just not going to waste my time.
March 25, 2021
Realmente me gustó el enfoque que le da a buscar el éxito como un rinoceronte, ayuda mucho a identificar la actitud a tomar, pero me encanta que podré ponerlo en práctica con toda mi familia!!!
June 11, 2021
This is a good book to get you going and for you to understand that you just need to charge, get up and going! Look around, what needs to change! Realize it and charge!
October 23, 2022
I really enjoyed this book. It makes me really want to go after my goals and dreams.
September 16, 2023
I adored this book! It’s one of the few self help books I’ve enjoyed, and it has encouraged me to go on and become a rhinoceros! Funny and easy read on how to achieve success.
December 4, 2019
Excelente lectura!!!
Para leerla mínimo una vez al año...
Para leerla mínimo una vez al año...
July 8, 2020
Cheesy yet motivating. This was a short little read all about becoming a "rhinoceros" - basically someone who charges full speed ahead in life, chasing their goals and dreams and striving to become the best version of themselves. It was odd to find both curse words and Bible verses spread throughout it's pages. The Christianity portrayed in the book was very shallow at best.
March 13, 2025
Háganse un favor y NO LO LEAN.
July 28, 2025
Great quick, short read/listen to light a fire under your butt.
November 22, 2022
Um... I can't recall why I added this book to. My to read list.
But as Dave Ramsey says in the forward. This is a silly book.
I got annoyed with the extended metaphors and illogical references that don't make sense. But that's just me.
Also the Bible verse references aren't my cup of tea. And I don't understand what's up with fundamentalist Christians insisting on quoting the King James Bible. Sigh.
So if you like superficial pump you up nonsense. Go for it. Otherwise give it Skip.
But as Dave Ramsey says in the forward. This is a silly book.
I got annoyed with the extended metaphors and illogical references that don't make sense. But that's just me.
Also the Bible verse references aren't my cup of tea. And I don't understand what's up with fundamentalist Christians insisting on quoting the King James Bible. Sigh.
So if you like superficial pump you up nonsense. Go for it. Otherwise give it Skip.
January 5, 2012
"Success Is Difficult But ... tomorrow morning, you could wake up as a full grown rhinoceros and
* charge your way to success
* use audacity to reach your goals
* be happier than you've ever been before
* make your life an exciting adventure
* have the persistence and tenacity necessary for success
* never worry again
* succeed at the world's most profitable hobby
* achieve more and have a better balance in the six major areas of your life: FINANCIAL, WORK, PHYSICAL, FAMILY, SOCIAL AND SPIRITUAL
Scott Alexander has discovered the REAL secret of success: becoming a rhinoceros. Read it and go rhino! That's all there is between you and everything you've ever wanted to do or become in your life. CHARGE!"
~~back cover
I'm still puzzled about how this book wound up in my TBR pile. Did I really think it was about rhinoceroses?
It's a very simplistic book -- and the "secret of success" is based on a lot of advice that has already been given by countless other gurus, time and time again. What's different about this one is the exhortation to become single-minded, ruthless, over-the-top enthusiastic, and let nothing deter you from reaching your goal. It does make sense, but seems odd to me: on the one hand, you are constantly getting the rah rah treatment to use every shred of your energy and time to pursue your goal, but then you are also cautioned to pursue success only as a hobby, and to take care of yourself physically and mentally, etc. The two seem conflicting to me.
The only value to be gotten out of this book, imho, is to learn to change your attitude about how to acquire what you want from life. And you probably already knew that.
* charge your way to success
* use audacity to reach your goals
* be happier than you've ever been before
* make your life an exciting adventure
* have the persistence and tenacity necessary for success
* never worry again
* succeed at the world's most profitable hobby
* achieve more and have a better balance in the six major areas of your life: FINANCIAL, WORK, PHYSICAL, FAMILY, SOCIAL AND SPIRITUAL
Scott Alexander has discovered the REAL secret of success: becoming a rhinoceros. Read it and go rhino! That's all there is between you and everything you've ever wanted to do or become in your life. CHARGE!"
~~back cover
I'm still puzzled about how this book wound up in my TBR pile. Did I really think it was about rhinoceroses?
It's a very simplistic book -- and the "secret of success" is based on a lot of advice that has already been given by countless other gurus, time and time again. What's different about this one is the exhortation to become single-minded, ruthless, over-the-top enthusiastic, and let nothing deter you from reaching your goal. It does make sense, but seems odd to me: on the one hand, you are constantly getting the rah rah treatment to use every shred of your energy and time to pursue your goal, but then you are also cautioned to pursue success only as a hobby, and to take care of yourself physically and mentally, etc. The two seem conflicting to me.
The only value to be gotten out of this book, imho, is to learn to change your attitude about how to acquire what you want from life. And you probably already knew that.
Read
October 11, 2013Rhinoceros Success by Scott Alexander
4 star
This book fits into your own choice on the bingo board.
It's is a book that help you charge head on into any obstacles that may be in your way. You have to think like a rhino, be like a rhino, charge like a rhino in life and this concept is what is taught in this book. This book is inspirational and positive and it relays the message 'get off your butt and do something with your life' very well. The main aim of this book is about success. The way to succeed is to charge like a rhino, head on like a rhino. I think that charging is a very clever way to explain how to succeed and that is what got me hooked on this book.
I really enjoyed this book as it helped me to understand how to get through problems that would come my way. I want to be a professional footballer and doing that will take a lot of sacrifice with a lot of setbacks. When these setbacks arise I will remember The Rhinoceros Success and think that I need to get up and charge again.
This book was great.I would recommend it to everyone as everyone has problems or setbacks in their lives. This means that I would recommend it to everyone because everyone has setbacks in their lives whether they are major or minor.
Overall i really enjoyed this book.
9Gib Jimmy Banks
4 star
This book fits into your own choice on the bingo board.
It's is a book that help you charge head on into any obstacles that may be in your way. You have to think like a rhino, be like a rhino, charge like a rhino in life and this concept is what is taught in this book. This book is inspirational and positive and it relays the message 'get off your butt and do something with your life' very well. The main aim of this book is about success. The way to succeed is to charge like a rhino, head on like a rhino. I think that charging is a very clever way to explain how to succeed and that is what got me hooked on this book.
I really enjoyed this book as it helped me to understand how to get through problems that would come my way. I want to be a professional footballer and doing that will take a lot of sacrifice with a lot of setbacks. When these setbacks arise I will remember The Rhinoceros Success and think that I need to get up and charge again.
This book was great.I would recommend it to everyone as everyone has problems or setbacks in their lives. This means that I would recommend it to everyone because everyone has setbacks in their lives whether they are major or minor.
Overall i really enjoyed this book.
9Gib Jimmy Banks
May 15, 2013
I first read Rhinoceros Success in 1976, when I was 22 years old.
I has not only stuck with me, but I've reread it a few more times and have since read the other Rhino books by Scott Alexander.
I can say that the ideas and way of being has changed the course of my life and today, I proudly call my self Shakil Rhino.
How powerful is this book?
Well let me put it this way.
I am a straight laced businessman always have been. I do not/ have not liked tattoos or piercings, during my scuba diving days, I almost came close to getting an ear pierced but didn't.
I am now seriously thinking of getting a tattoo. It would be the image of the Rhino in the book, the comical, easy going, relaxing in my armchair by the beach Rhino 'working' and living an abundant life, a lot in part thanks to these books.
Thank you Scott my Rhino friend.
I has not only stuck with me, but I've reread it a few more times and have since read the other Rhino books by Scott Alexander.
I can say that the ideas and way of being has changed the course of my life and today, I proudly call my self Shakil Rhino.
How powerful is this book?
Well let me put it this way.
I am a straight laced businessman always have been. I do not/ have not liked tattoos or piercings, during my scuba diving days, I almost came close to getting an ear pierced but didn't.
I am now seriously thinking of getting a tattoo. It would be the image of the Rhino in the book, the comical, easy going, relaxing in my armchair by the beach Rhino 'working' and living an abundant life, a lot in part thanks to these books.
Thank you Scott my Rhino friend.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 413 reviews