The Woke Salaryman Crash Course on Capitalism & Money: Lessons from the World's Most Expensive City

by The Woke Salaryman

Learn the rules of the game of capitalism so you can play to win and build wealth

Crash Course on Capitalism and Lessons from the World's Most Expensive City is not your typical personal finance guide. Written by the founders of the top personal finance blog in Singapore, this book acknowledges the frustrations many young people feel as they enter the world of money, and it shows you how to develop the mindset necessary to thrive for the rest of your life. Through visual storytelling, Crash Course on Capitalism and Money melds personal finance, economics, sociology, and psychology to create a book that shows you the path to financial success. If you're ready to rise above discontentment, accept the reality you find yourself in, and put in the work it takes to survive, then thrive in today's world—then this is the book for you.

In this book, you'll find a collection of the most popular comics by The Woke Salaryman. The stories are accompanied by commentaries that offer additional context on how each story fits within the bigger framework of approaching the daunting challenge of navigating money, life and purpose in these times.

Why you should get the

It's a guided tour from the perspective of the disillusioned youth who feel like the game is rigged and the odds are stacked against their favor. The comics and illustrated essays make the technical and boring aspects of personal finance more accessible and interesting. Actionable step-by-step tips on how to make your first steps after graduation. The point is not just to make as much money as possible, but rather to think about personal finance as an important strategic aspect in your life, from which you can then achieve your life goals. For young people just beginning their personal finance journeys, as well as anyone who wants to make better financial and life choices while navigating the rules of capitalism and wealth, Crash Course on Capitalism and Money is a fun and enlightening read.

Genres: Nonfiction, Finance, Personal Finance, Money, Economics, Self Help, Graphic Novels

353 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 21, 2024

Reviews

[Μιχάλης · Rating 1 out of 5]

Pretty disappointing and left me with the feeling that I just got ripped off.
The authors just stitched together a few of their already published stories, wrote a few lines to narrate and made them a book. Overall a very poor job that doesn't reflect the quality that we got used by following their page, and definitely the value it delivers doesn't meet the expectations and justify the cost.
Lack of inspiration and very poor in content which you can realise very fast by those oversized images that consume a page each. They could easily fit 4 or 6 in each page but then they should have doubled the content to justify a book.
Also, who publishes a book that has not been proof read? Another sign of how sloppy of a job this was.
And that title is not at all representative of the content.
Sorry Woke Salaryman.

[Puty · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Reasons I love TWS and give this book 5 stars:
1. TWS can explain pretty complicated things easy to understand for almost everyone. Which brings me to write #2.
2. If you're a parent, you can use this book to talk about money (and everything else it covers) with your children.
3. It totally resonates with me as upper middle-class living in a SEA big city and social media world.
4. TWS is honest and... realistic.
5. A lot of its contents are practical.

5 Possible Reasons You Disagree with Me and This Book is Not for You:
1. You're already expert on money, financial planning, and macro economy. This book will feel... very very simple.
2. It is quite expensive (and SGD-IDR conversion rate these days makes it worse... I guess?)
3. You feel that buying a book containing what once were 'free' contents from social media is a rip-off
4. You don't resonate with their values and POV.
5. You hate Lee Kuan Yew for saying this, "Equality is an aspiration. It is not reality; it is not practical."

[Wilson Ang · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable read. This is an amalgamation of all their past work and putting into contact or broad frame so appreciate how one can better look at the current trend and manage one’s own finances. For anyone who hasn’t read their work before, this is good book to keep and it’s helps put things in a more organised manner. In terms of content, I do enjoy that they offer opinion and perspectives instead of absolute answers authors appreciates context and everyone is different. I enjoyed it as it allows me to reflect.

[Angel Garcia Lopez de Haro · Rating 1 out of 5]

I feel very sorry for giving such a poor review to these authors, whom I’ve been following on social media for years now. However, paying ~20 usd for this book is just a joke.

As it is mentioned in some reviews, this book is a copy-paste of stories they already published on their social media. I get it, recycling good content makes sense, but they should’ve added more value to it. The layout of the book, with each page featuring just a single drawing, really says it all. It seems like there wasn’t much effort put in beyond repurposing what they’ve already posted online for another round of profit.

Still, it is a good read if you want to learn a bit more about the “rules of the game” and the economic trends of the 2020s. And following the Woke Salaryman on LinkedIn will always be a good move. Stay woke, salaryman (and please actually put some extra work on your next book).

[Andy Chan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read for those starting out. It covers several different topics, and is not investment-focused.

[Ali · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've enjoyed some TWS webcomics but this is a pretty surface-level book, and also I hate it when webcomics don't add substantial content to their print endeavors.

[Teoh Zi Yang · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book for those who are new to the topic of money and capitalism, small head start for those trying to get on the hype of investing in ETFs as well as a peak into the perspective of a Singaporean. I’d say it’s probably the best book for smn to build the habit of reading as it’s mostly comics.

[Ken Ooi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really easy read that manages to distill some relatively complex concepts accurately into a comic and short description. Bravo to the authors, I’m sure this book will be helpful for a young person navigating their finances and living in Singapore.

[Pairody · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy to read, and very concise.
Topics are pretty heavy, but the narrative(and the illustration) is brilliant making it much easier to understand.

I also thought about recommending it to friends who are working in the same industry many times during the reading session.

[J.M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very informative and entertaining! Hope I could apply the things I learned in real life.

[Minh Hiền · Rating 3 out of 5]

gần gũi, dễ hiểu, k có thuật ngữ chuyên ngành, đa sôs là các kiến thức nền mà mình đã biết, đọc khá vui

[Vu Phuong · Rating 4 out of 5]

Financial literacy is definitely an important skill to teach & to learn at young age. I always feel that there is so much to learn from surrounding people & friends eps. when moving to Singapore. The book from Goh Wei Choon, Singaporean author/artist, capture simple, interesting ideas about the topic, and a big plus point - fun comic format!
The book also cover some tips on investment but for sure its only the surface. Recommend “The intelligent investor” for this purpose.
Much appreciate to my friend who has asked me help buy this book in Singapore that I have a chance to read it!

[Aquila M · Rating 3 out of 5]

Crash Course on Capitalism & Money is a cutely illustrated book on the mindsets we can adopt in a capitalistic society and how we can live more satisfactorily while being financially independent 💵.

The comics are entertaining and the concepts accessible. I wished there were more things I could learn from this book, as the concepts mentioned were quite general and not in-depth. Nonetheless, it’s a fun read by the Singapore-based webcomic and blog, The Woke Salaryman.

My rating: 3.25/5

[Apollos Michio · Rating 3 out of 5]

Crash Course on Capitalism & Money by The Woke Salaryman is what its title states: a book that summarises timely lessons about the economy and finance, through comics that are accessible and entertaining. 💰

Targeted mainly at millennials who are trying to achieve financial freedom, this book may not be as relevant for everyone, which, to be fair, is acknowledged in the book itself. As it is a ‘crash course’, the ideas shared are cursory and not in-depth, which befits the book’s format. Read it if you want to learn more about personal finance in an engaging and lighthearted way! 💸

3.5/5

P.S. I am slightly disturbed by the few glaring errors (missing/repeated words) and wonder if the comics were edited properly? 😯

[First Sutham · Rating 5 out of 5]

love this book so much

I love this book, it told the untold and forbidden story 😂 at least, in the asian society, we think it’s okay and it is the way to live but it is not and this book just told the truth!

I was born in Thailand, from country side, study in Bangkok, now works in Helsinki, Finland as an expat. I was like every one that was mentioned in the book and I feel them! The struggle they have, the privilege they have and what they feel. This book helps me that what I thought by myself, wasn’t just me thinking the same. And the problem is here, in front of us.

So! It’s a great book so far of my 2024 bookshelf

The financial part is help me realize I am in the right track and it was the same as the book told, 4 years with global ETF index fund, it grows every years stably. So, nothing news for someone who invested for sometime already but recommend for every first jobber or someone have no experience with investing.

[Susana Rebelo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perhaps my familiarity with the author’s previous work raised my expectations for the depth of content in this book. Nevertheless, it effectively addresses the key topics and thoughtfully includes a section offering pragmatic investment advice, which is particularly beneficial for readers looking to apply the concepts practically. Still, I really enjoy the authors work so having a physical copy and with a curated order is preferable to me as I like to share books with family and friends.

[Devina Gunawan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is one of the best things in my library right now. I have read it three times, and bought four extra copies to gift to friends and family. Though I foresee that I’m going to buy a few more since this book makes a wonderful gift.

It is a completely different journey to TWS instagram posts. I love how the chapters are very real - from the very first chapter to those that hit a little hard (thank you for the reality check), and the whole thing comes together beautifully in the end. It’s an easy read, and worth every minute and every penny.

A while ago, I had the privilege of meeting TWS team, and they are the kindest, most genuine people, who love sharing and educating, in their own - incredibly fun and artistic - way. This book, as well as their empire, is a good example of effective communication; they break down financial lectures in a way that most people, even those who aren’t fond of reading, can follow. And it’s impressive as heck. It’s also a lot of work and dedication. Which, their audience can see in the comics.

So this is a masterpiece I’ll recommend to a lot of people. I’ll probably reread it again - because it’s got good reminders and encouraging bits that someone like me might need. And of course, we should always share good things to the world.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simple, no-nonsense guide to managing money in Singapore.

About the Book
This book is a collection of posts from The Woke Salaryman published between 2022 and 2023. It explores the experience of growing up in a developed country, discussing the risks and rewards of modern life, and offering practical advice on how to build a healthy relationship with your money in the Singapore context.

What I Like About the Book
> After reading many finance books focused on the U.S., I'm glad this one talks about money management right here at home in Singapore. 🇸🇬
> The cartoon strips are fantastic! They make it much easier to see and understand complicated financial ideas.
> It's a fast read, taking only about an hour to finish.
> The best part is how it highlights the specific challenges of growing up in a developed Asian country.

What I Don't Like About the Book
Nothing!

Should You Read The Book?
If you have spent a significant amount of time in Singapore, you should absolutely read this book.

[Marta · Rating 4 out of 5]

I discovered this book on booktok and I was immediately hooked on the illustrations.

I really enjoyed reading this - it's a smart and lightweight (~ 1,5h reading) reading on the economic state of the world (inflation, house prices, should we hustle more or simply accept the fate of our personal finances, gentrification, etc.) which I personally enjoyed a lot.

I would appreciate that some topics were more explored, hence the 4 stars.

If the authors decided to explore some topics a little bit further (instead of only using illustrations), I would definitely be pointing towards the 5 stars.

My review is also completely unbiased by the blog the authors have, I never read it, but it seems to be a showcase of some comics they have already in there - it might not be worth the reading for those who are already familiar with the blog.

[Shawn Seah · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was initially very excited to read this book by The Woke Salaryman, but to my grave disappointment found that it was not worth the money I had forked out; consisted largely of existing (free) public material; and did not add additional perspectives or new insights. (I hasten to add that usually The Woke Salaryman does give useful insights, which is why I was disappointed.)

While I understand that this was intended as a crash course, it was very basic and simple. Each page could also be better utilised and more value given.

In a sense, the book did achieve what it said on the label: it does give an expensive crash course on how not to waste your money.

However, I am confident that The Woke Salaryman will do better in future, because after all this is just the first, debut work. Here's to much, much better books in future.

[loracolor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading this felt like having a conversation with a beloved professor from my university. It’s basically a refresher on economics, politics, and especially sociology, my 2nd major back then. Ruiming and Choon are excellent educators—they made personal finance easily digestible with witty symbolism through their caricatures—as this is actually beginner-friendly but not limited to that level. Although they disclaimed that the chapters on investment were the most boring, those were what i appreciated the most. I hope their second book centres on investment for yuppies. Also, it was really nice to meet the authors today.

[AnnoraXPP · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bought this book as I saw it being advertised on their IG stories, but it was basically just a summary of the best IG posts. I didn't like how each comic image took up an entire page, especially since the comic design is simple. Finished the entire book in 15 minutes. It'll probably be nice for hardcore fans or people who just enjoy reading the comic in physical form, but I felt that it was a waste of money and could have been condensed with a lot more information. However, it was a really easy read and could be a nice book to gift to a friend if you wanna intro them into money concepts.

[areej. · Rating 4 out of 5]

i can’t believe linkedin influenced me to read a book and it’s actually good

this is like the first finance book i’ve ever read that actually acknowledges privilege, also first finance book i’ve read that’s applicable to asia since it’s singapore based

really enjoyed this read, it had pretty practical advice and also i was surprised by how “woke” it was, acknowledging a lot of systemic poverty and privilege

it’s a good intro to personal finance!!! not too dense, since it’s a bunch of comics stitched together

[Shelley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked how the author was able to simplify many confusing topics within capitalism, like investing, globalization, disparities between generations, and many more. I think that some articles were more relevant to me than others, but I still enjoyed the book overall. It had a great, cohesive sense of humor and the drawings were cute and super helpful to fully realize the information presented. I think Chapter 2 was my favorite since that one was the most relevant to me. But I would still recommend people to read the entire book as it only took me an hour to read the whole thing anyway.

[Chocolate & Book Addict · Rating 3 out of 5]

it's a short book, so i finished it quickly

the narrative is short and concise, concepts are explained clearly with analogies

i've been following their IG for a few years now, so the comics they selected to place in the book are familiar to me

overall i find it a pretty light and easy read, especially for beginners to personal finance. more financially-savvy people can skip it, as i don't think it will provide much value

[Zane Illingworth · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book explains many fundamental ideas in modern society at a level which is understandable to all readers (including the causes of inequality, investment etc). I enjoyed the cartoons, and the analogies throughout the book, yet I thought the book failed to raise deep thoughts or pose questions I have not come across elsewhere.
Overall good entertainment value and an easy read, but a bit disjointed with the collections of multiple pieces of work into one.

[Asha Arif · Rating 3 out of 5]

Berisi 5 chapter, buku ini banyak ngasih insight terkait karir dan investing dengan gaya bahasa yang membumi dan relatable (kecuali bagian tentang bagaimana culture dan government di Singapura, yang meskipun cukup dikritisi di buku ini, tapi seenggaknya rasanya jauh lebih baik dari certain gov). Ringan tapi bermakna, termasuk mengingatkan kita apa tujuan dan konsekuensi dari pilihan2 karir dan investasi selama ini.

[Varsha · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Woke Salaryman comics and articles are informative and fun, and this book is no different. It is a collection of some of their best stories and is a total page-turner. Although the content might appeal more to millennials and Gen-Z, it offers interesting perspectives and ideas for others too. Grab a copy, especially if you enjoy reading articles related to finance without complicated jargon.

[Ria Chia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this easily digestible book. It's not a how-to book on personal finance, but it does promise entertainment, a basic understanding of capitalism, a dose of reality, and some inspiration for those fresh out of school and needing some guidance. I would definitely get this book for my nephew when he's older.

If they do, however, publish a second book, I hope they could take a page out of the "Cartoon Introduction to Philosophy" book. More complex content without worrying it would get quote, "...dry and technical".

[Alex T. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Been a big fan of @thewokesalaryman for a while, so I was super thrilled to pick up this book from @torontolibrary.

These personal finance lessons are relevant wherever I go and even more so in this fast-paced world. Key takeaway appears to be simple: to focus on what we CAN control, among others.