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How to Become Rich: 12 Lessons I Learnt from Vedic and Puranic Stories
Lakshmi is worshipped as the goddess of wealth. Her arrival is considered auspicious, while her departure is bad and inauspicious. In temples, gods are bedecked with jewels; during festivals, our houses are decorated with flowers, lamps and Lakshmi’s footprints. Clearly, she is a much-desired goddess. Yet, some friends and relatives, even gurus, tell us not to be money-minded, or that it is wrong to equate Lakshmi with money because Lakshmi is spiritual and money is material. Why this mockery of money? Why are we driving Lakshmi out of India instead of inviting her lovingly into our lives? How to Become Rich is a simple retelling of the stories of Lakshmi found in the Vedas and Puranas. Devdutt Pattanaik deftly explains what Hinduism says about economics at a personal level as well as at the social level.
120 pages, paperback
Published October 11, 2019
326 people are currently reading
373 people want to read
About the author
Devdutt Pattanaik
287 books3,335 followersDr. Devdutt Pattanaik (born December 11, 1970) is an Indian physician turned leadership consultant, mythologist and author whose works focus largely on the areas of myth, mythology, and also management. He has written a number of books related to Hindu mythology, including Myth = Mithya: A Handbook of Hindu Mythology, a novel, The Pregnant King, and Jaya: An Illustrated Retelling of the Mahabharata (2010).
He is the Chief Belief Officer of Future Group, one of India’s largest retailers, bringing the wisdom of Indian mythology into Indian business, especifically in human resource management. He also writes a column for the newspaper MID DAY.
He has also written a novel based on a tale from the Mahabharata titled 'The Pregnant King' published by Penguin Books India
He is the Chief Belief Officer of Future Group, one of India’s largest retailers, bringing the wisdom of Indian mythology into Indian business, especifically in human resource management. He also writes a column for the newspaper MID DAY.
He has also written a novel based on a tale from the Mahabharata titled 'The Pregnant King' published by Penguin Books India
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
November 28, 2019
Book is good as far as mythological content goes but fails to justify its name . Book mainly contains short stories of gods, there mistakes, there fights arranged in 12 lessons. The stories are good but incapable of explaning the lessons and most of the time repeated. Author here tries real hard to connect mythology with business...which was not really needed.. If this book was pure lessons maybe it would have been better than this.. I would recommend reading Rich dad poor dad... And if you have just don't look at this book..
February 15, 2022
Help someone to become independent and dependable…. Not dependent
October 14, 2019
How To Become Rich.
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Thank you for the copy @rupa_publications.
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My first time reading Devdutt's work and I absolutely loved it. This is a small book of hardly 100 pages but it has been curated masterfully. I was a bit hesitant after reading the summary because I wasn't sure how well mythology and money matters would go hand-in-hand but to my pleasant surprise, it turned out to be wonderful. Coming from the finance background myself I haven't read any examples as realistic and simple as the ones in the book. Why don't you get a copy and see for yourself? :)
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This book comprises of 12 chapters which discuss in detail about the goddess of wealth, Lakshmi. Devdutt has splendidly connected Vedas and mythological stories while explaining how money works in the present day. It's not a simple read, mind you. But it does keep you engrossed. There are quite a few characters that one has to remember because that's how mythology works. But the flair with which he writes so effortlessly made me enjoy the read immensely. He addresses different topics in each chapter be it about taxes or savings, this book has it all. He narrates stories about Gods and Rakshasas, about sages and fair maidens. As you read it, you can't help but find it all so relatable.
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Money is a critical matter which many of us struggle to contain. It's fickle and has to be tended with care but how do we do that? Devdutt tells us how. What interested me was not the fact that we already know few things that he talks about but the way in which he puts it forward. He sounds like a patient economics teacher who loves teaching his students in a creative manner. I found no flaws in this book and rightly so. I highly recommend it.
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Rating - 5/5.
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Thank you for the copy @rupa_publications.
~
My first time reading Devdutt's work and I absolutely loved it. This is a small book of hardly 100 pages but it has been curated masterfully. I was a bit hesitant after reading the summary because I wasn't sure how well mythology and money matters would go hand-in-hand but to my pleasant surprise, it turned out to be wonderful. Coming from the finance background myself I haven't read any examples as realistic and simple as the ones in the book. Why don't you get a copy and see for yourself? :)
~
This book comprises of 12 chapters which discuss in detail about the goddess of wealth, Lakshmi. Devdutt has splendidly connected Vedas and mythological stories while explaining how money works in the present day. It's not a simple read, mind you. But it does keep you engrossed. There are quite a few characters that one has to remember because that's how mythology works. But the flair with which he writes so effortlessly made me enjoy the read immensely. He addresses different topics in each chapter be it about taxes or savings, this book has it all. He narrates stories about Gods and Rakshasas, about sages and fair maidens. As you read it, you can't help but find it all so relatable.
~
Money is a critical matter which many of us struggle to contain. It's fickle and has to be tended with care but how do we do that? Devdutt tells us how. What interested me was not the fact that we already know few things that he talks about but the way in which he puts it forward. He sounds like a patient economics teacher who loves teaching his students in a creative manner. I found no flaws in this book and rightly so. I highly recommend it.
~
Rating - 5/5.
December 22, 2019
There comes a time in life when you realize what a few things mean.
Growing up I used to always hear my Nani say that Ma Lakhhi is Chanchala, which means she is someone who moves a lot and I mean me thought it meant that I am supposed to save and pinch penny, but reading this book made me realize my mistake.
Loved the way book is written, he after all is one of my all time favorite writer.
Growing up I used to always hear my Nani say that Ma Lakhhi is Chanchala, which means she is someone who moves a lot and I mean me thought it meant that I am supposed to save and pinch penny, but reading this book made me realize my mistake.
Loved the way book is written, he after all is one of my all time favorite writer.
November 26, 2019
A book that tells about the 12 lessons that he learned from Vedic and puranic stories.
It has stories of various gods and devtas. The mistakes they made, their beliefs and a lot more. There are certain examples and exercises that will make you think about how you are spending your wealth. Each chapter has a unique message for the readers. The author gave some amazing examples of Gods, some stories which we never knew. The illustrations make this book more interesting. The way the message is conveyed through illustrations is astounding.
The narration of the book is crisp and interesting keeping the reader hooked throughout. The way the author explained each and every concept is commendable. The writing style of the author is flawless. Loved how the author keeps the reader engaged throughout. It's a quick read with some interesting stories.
check https://www.instagram.com/p/B5UvY7GAOe4/
It has stories of various gods and devtas. The mistakes they made, their beliefs and a lot more. There are certain examples and exercises that will make you think about how you are spending your wealth. Each chapter has a unique message for the readers. The author gave some amazing examples of Gods, some stories which we never knew. The illustrations make this book more interesting. The way the message is conveyed through illustrations is astounding.
The narration of the book is crisp and interesting keeping the reader hooked throughout. The way the author explained each and every concept is commendable. The writing style of the author is flawless. Loved how the author keeps the reader engaged throughout. It's a quick read with some interesting stories.
check https://www.instagram.com/p/B5UvY7GAOe4/
January 16, 2020
A good piece of work - about interpreting Hindu vedas and purans and the financial concepts in those.
As a self-help personal finance book for a beginner? Won't be very beneficial.
As a self-help personal finance book for a beginner? Won't be very beneficial.
September 14, 2023
No, just no !
November 15, 2019
I picked up this book as definitely Devdutt Pattanaik is one of my favourite author. I loved all of his previous work, and every time he has something new to offer. The book is about 12 lessons from Vedic and Puranic Stories. The book is basically about explanation of money flow and it’s cycle. That has been explained with vedic and puranic stories. I really enjoyed reading those stories. Few stories I knew hazily and few I didn’t know but I realised enjoyed reading and I never knew the explanation behind it. I like the story of Atapi- Vatapi, Indra, Brahma, Shiva and Laxmi. I loved the concept and all the aspects are covered like is wanting to be rich is normal? About money managers and taxes etc. I liked the words of wisdom or tips given at the end of each chapters as well as book. The author has explained all the concepts well. The author has used amazing language and vocabulary. The narration style is too beautiful that grabs our interest till the end. Overall I loved it and it is a must read. Recommended from my side.
Click the link below to read detailed reviews
https://drruchipatel.wordpress.com/20...
Click the link below to read detailed reviews
https://drruchipatel.wordpress.com/20...
January 6, 2020
Devdutt Pattanaik is known for his simple yet pragmatic approach towards mythology. His derivations and logical explanations have often amazed me! In his new book ‘How to Become Rich’, he deciphers the role of Vedic scriptures in helping us understand the management of finances. Learning from the stories of Ganesha, Kubera, Hanuman, Brahma, Vishnu and several other prominent characters of mythology, the author gleans information and strategies and encourages the readers to use those methods for efficient management of money.
Read the complete review here: https://aliveshadow.com/category-book...
Read the complete review here: https://aliveshadow.com/category-book...
April 2, 2021
Like the narration of the mythological stories, always love reading how Devdutt Pattanaik takes us through these stories.
But the financial aspect was not getting that well correlated. It felt like a book with 2 columns, one of Hindu mythology and second one on some birdseyeview on concepts of economics.
But the financial aspect was not getting that well correlated. It felt like a book with 2 columns, one of Hindu mythology and second one on some birdseyeview on concepts of economics.
October 6, 2019
It is a concise read.And, certain examples cited from Puranas and Vedas are interesting. People well versed with Hindu mythology can understand it better. It is perfect mixture of financial lessons with mythological examples.
October 20, 2019
The book doesn't justify the title. It's a loose collection of mythological tales being fit into a larger narrative of fiscal responsibility at best. The book squandered the huge potential it had in terms of scope and scale.
December 25, 2019
A short read which primarily focuses on snippets from Indian mythology. Good for understanding linkage between wealth and concepts from mythology, though, would not recommend to those looking for quick day to day tips on wealth creation
February 18, 2020
Good for the storytelling part, but was not able to connect those stories to the concept of becoming rich. Maybe "Money Lessons" would be a more apt title for this book?
June 7, 2020
Review : How To Become Rich.
.
Genre : Non-fiction/Self-help.
No. of pages : 108
'How To Become Rich' is my first Devdutt Pattanaik's read. There are twelve mythological stories in the book through which he taught us how to deal with money in life. At the end of each story, there's a lesson that we can learn. The beautiful illustrations by the author himself is another attraction of the book. In each story he introduces the readers about the differences between various mythological terms like Daan, Bhiksha, Dakshina and so on and so forth. It's a fast read but a fascinating one. The map of becoming rich at the end of book joins the mythological era and the modern era in a exhilarating fashion. Though the book claims as a non-fiction/self-help but mythology lovers will also love it. I wanted to explore the book as a self-help but at the end I enjoyed the mythology part. Now, I'm planning to read other mythological books of Devdutt Pattanaik.
.
Genre : Non-fiction/Self-help.
No. of pages : 108
'How To Become Rich' is my first Devdutt Pattanaik's read. There are twelve mythological stories in the book through which he taught us how to deal with money in life. At the end of each story, there's a lesson that we can learn. The beautiful illustrations by the author himself is another attraction of the book. In each story he introduces the readers about the differences between various mythological terms like Daan, Bhiksha, Dakshina and so on and so forth. It's a fast read but a fascinating one. The map of becoming rich at the end of book joins the mythological era and the modern era in a exhilarating fashion. Though the book claims as a non-fiction/self-help but mythology lovers will also love it. I wanted to explore the book as a self-help but at the end I enjoyed the mythology part. Now, I'm planning to read other mythological books of Devdutt Pattanaik.
September 8, 2021
Devdutt Pattanaik is a person I personally idealise. He has been the teacher that every mythology reader should have. I have been fascinated whole my life about the answers to questions that no one answers. People would follow rituals without knowing their reasons, and if you are the one then this person is at your rescue.
This is one book from his den which is dedicated to wealth seekers and stories that are related to that in indian mythology.
This book contains all the stories from our old age god's era, Wealth related Stories in hindu mythology and their reasons.
Seeking wealth is not a negative perspective that most people see it as. It is practically need of life and it has always been that even in our old age days. You will find stories here that makes sense when reading. You will find much needed content on this topic here.
This is one book from his den which is dedicated to wealth seekers and stories that are related to that in indian mythology.
This book contains all the stories from our old age god's era, Wealth related Stories in hindu mythology and their reasons.
Seeking wealth is not a negative perspective that most people see it as. It is practically need of life and it has always been that even in our old age days. You will find stories here that makes sense when reading. You will find much needed content on this topic here.
January 6, 2022
📚 How To Become Rich ; 12 Lessons I Learnt From Vedic And Puranic Stories✨📖 𝐛𝐲 Devdutt Pattnaik📚
✨"Lakshmi (wealth) and Saraswati (knowledge) argue until we discover Vidya- Lakshmi (knowledge of circulating wealth)"✨
🔖 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: Spirituality| Indian Mythology
🔖 Synopsis:Money is a critical matter which many of us struggle to contain. It's fickle and has to be tended with care but how do we do that? Devdutt Pattnaik tells us how.
12 chapters which discuss in detail about the goddess of wealth, Lakshmi. Devdutt has splendidly connected Vedas and mythological stories while explaining how money works in the present day.
🔖𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬:⭐⭐⭐⭐
🔖𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐞: 🦋Author appreciation: Thank you for a read with crisp and intersting narration (with self- explanatory doodles ✨) With elevating a mythological story with precise "Bhav-arth and Shabda-artha" ( Metamorphical and Literal meaning respectively) changing the perspective towards it in an intriguing manner ✨
First book from the author, I'm gonna give all the other bestsellers a try definitely!🌸
🦋Book appreciation: Highly recommend this book to everyone especially for children, with a stories narrated in a language easy to grasp and as mentioned above instructive doodles with literally around 100 pages, the cherry on top is the moral given below with a brilliant twist of real world based application!✨ Brownie points for the "Flow Chart To Become Rich" 🌟🦋
✨"Lakshmi (wealth) and Saraswati (knowledge) argue until we discover Vidya- Lakshmi (knowledge of circulating wealth)"✨
🔖 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: Spirituality| Indian Mythology
🔖 Synopsis:Money is a critical matter which many of us struggle to contain. It's fickle and has to be tended with care but how do we do that? Devdutt Pattnaik tells us how.
12 chapters which discuss in detail about the goddess of wealth, Lakshmi. Devdutt has splendidly connected Vedas and mythological stories while explaining how money works in the present day.
🔖𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬:⭐⭐⭐⭐
🔖𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐞: 🦋Author appreciation: Thank you for a read with crisp and intersting narration (with self- explanatory doodles ✨) With elevating a mythological story with precise "Bhav-arth and Shabda-artha" ( Metamorphical and Literal meaning respectively) changing the perspective towards it in an intriguing manner ✨
First book from the author, I'm gonna give all the other bestsellers a try definitely!🌸
🦋Book appreciation: Highly recommend this book to everyone especially for children, with a stories narrated in a language easy to grasp and as mentioned above instructive doodles with literally around 100 pages, the cherry on top is the moral given below with a brilliant twist of real world based application!✨ Brownie points for the "Flow Chart To Become Rich" 🌟🦋
November 22, 2020
This book is interesting than any other mythological books I have ever read. This book is not based on 1 single story but rather on multiple individual once. Main thing you should know is this is not a book about business, this book is about the mentality of a individual person who want to become rich. Trying to connect mentality with myth is bravery that one can do, but still lags on concepts of business. There are more interesting book in market like Rich dad Poor dad, F.U. money, Think and Grow rich, The 4 hour work week etc.., that you can read rather than this. Finally this is not a kind of book that you SHOULD by and read but you can get something out this.
The best thing i got from this book is the flow chart to become rich has blown my mind.
The best thing i got from this book is the flow chart to become rich has blown my mind.
January 20, 2023
1) Overall ok kind of book
2) Not sure whether we can learn really deeply learn about financials
3) But we can learn many things around our ancient culture and Hindu religious related stories
4) I came to know many things like why they exist or how do they came
5) Definitely simple book but I would say just ready 1 chapter a day, just to see what is there I am not saying it is very deep knowledgeable book but the approach is new so take time to understand it.
6) Some books may not connect with us immediately, so I am planning to re-read after a gap(Because when u read some books it will tell different things in different timings, which Ideally it shouldn't because books are of static content with static message only our situation and our personal experience differs)
2) Not sure whether we can learn really deeply learn about financials
3) But we can learn many things around our ancient culture and Hindu religious related stories
4) I came to know many things like why they exist or how do they came
5) Definitely simple book but I would say just ready 1 chapter a day, just to see what is there I am not saying it is very deep knowledgeable book but the approach is new so take time to understand it.
6) Some books may not connect with us immediately, so I am planning to re-read after a gap(Because when u read some books it will tell different things in different timings, which Ideally it shouldn't because books are of static content with static message only our situation and our personal experience differs)
June 25, 2023
‘How to Become Rich’ is a book that teaches you the fundamental principles of money through short stories. The book explains how money works and how to deal with common myths and misconceptions about it. You will learn how to earn, manage and spend money wisely. The book covers topics such as whether getting rich is natural, how to create value, and whether taxes are necessary or not.
The book is ideal for anyone who wants to get a quick and clear overview of the basics of money. However, the book does not go into much depth or detail on each topic. It may not be suitable for those who are looking for more advanced or practical advice. The book is more of a fun and informative read than a comprehensive guide.
The book is ideal for anyone who wants to get a quick and clear overview of the basics of money. However, the book does not go into much depth or detail on each topic. It may not be suitable for those who are looking for more advanced or practical advice. The book is more of a fun and informative read than a comprehensive guide.
July 13, 2024
Devdutt Pattanaik uses metaphorical tales in his book "How To Become Rich" to explain the fundamental ideas of the Vedas and Puranas. These teachings can be applied daily to develop moral ethics and financial literacy.
I used to be curious about the meaning behind different traditions and ceremonies. This book uses stories to answer my questions. I now view the Vedas and Puranas in a new light.
This work, in my opinion, is suitable for readers from all backgrounds. It's the most effective approach to learn about both finance and traditional Indian culture. This book can help Generation Z comprehend the true meaning of wealth and the importance of our Vedas and Puranas.
I used to be curious about the meaning behind different traditions and ceremonies. This book uses stories to answer my questions. I now view the Vedas and Puranas in a new light.
This work, in my opinion, is suitable for readers from all backgrounds. It's the most effective approach to learn about both finance and traditional Indian culture. This book can help Generation Z comprehend the true meaning of wealth and the importance of our Vedas and Puranas.
July 2, 2021
The first book, I read of devdutt pattanaik, this book tells us that how to become rich from mythology lessons because money is a crucial part of our life. We learn from this book is how to earn money to how to grow money more. The favorite lesson of mine in this book is we need to 10% or 20% save the money from what we earn because today we can save money and that money decides our future. The best line from this book is "Wanting to become rich means wanting to enjoy and share a comfortable life. And that is perfectly normal. :)
November 24, 2021
💸 This was the book of 20 years research by author . 12 lessons from Vedas and Puranas which was learnt by author himself and he explained in so well written manner with perfect examples , exercises and illustrations . Stories of god's and devatas and their beliefs , ups and downs .
💸 Book was super light and deep message which helps us to keep track our wealth and happiness . The language is very very smooth and easy to read and learn something new which we haven't read before . It was mythological as well as self-help I can say .
💸 Book was super light and deep message which helps us to keep track our wealth and happiness . The language is very very smooth and easy to read and learn something new which we haven't read before . It was mythological as well as self-help I can say .
April 20, 2021
Like Business Sutra or any other book written by Devdutt, this book also explains some fundamentals of Indian rituals, practices and how it can help get humankind get closer to Lakshmi. Lakshmi a phenomena which is not only about money rather explains the concept about wealth. Some simple methods are explained through storytelling which makes every chapter interesting. Completed this book in two days.
June 28, 2023
The book is a well-written and informative read that offers some practical advice on how to attain wealth. The book is based on Hindu teachings, but the lessons are universal and can be applied to anyone's life.
Some of the key lessons from the book include:
- The importance of hard work and perseverance.
- The need to be generous and charitable.
- The importance of living a balanced life.
- The need to be humble and grateful.
Some of the key lessons from the book include:
- The importance of hard work and perseverance.
- The need to be generous and charitable.
- The importance of living a balanced life.
- The need to be humble and grateful.
July 1, 2025
1/5
I usually enjoy Hindu mythology books and stories that truly inform you about incidents, lessons and life skills. This book was a bit of a waste. Did not really give the reader any insights on the ‘ how to become rich’ or manage wealth aspect at all. It was a slew of random, poorly written, at times childish text on hindu gods and asuras and views. Disconnected, and a string of forced message that was not informative at all. Luckily this was a quick 90 pages.
I usually enjoy Hindu mythology books and stories that truly inform you about incidents, lessons and life skills. This book was a bit of a waste. Did not really give the reader any insights on the ‘ how to become rich’ or manage wealth aspect at all. It was a slew of random, poorly written, at times childish text on hindu gods and asuras and views. Disconnected, and a string of forced message that was not informative at all. Luckily this was a quick 90 pages.
December 3, 2022
The book gives and entirely different approach towards purans and its connects with finance. Learnt about many hidden meanings that our puranic stories related the current financial environment. Really astonished finding the authors deep understandings and the skill of correlating stories with the present finance.
June 19, 2025
Amazing story telling
Amazing story telling encompassing the basics of financial education. Thoroughly enjoyed reading it and found it very motivating. For those who find finance topics boring or are not able to substantiate with examples , this book is a great way to learn the basics.
Amazing story telling encompassing the basics of financial education. Thoroughly enjoyed reading it and found it very motivating. For those who find finance topics boring or are not able to substantiate with examples , this book is a great way to learn the basics.
October 27, 2020
This was small read but good one. I knew of most of the concepts but chose this book to learn from Vedas and Puranas. And it doesn’t disappoints. Actually was surprised to learn financial management are teachings of vedas and Puranas.
November 29, 2020
Very Basic but important lessons everyone misses.
The book seems very basic. But, I think it is important to not miss even a single lesson. We definitely miss a few and then miss the life of being in freedom (moksha).
The book seems very basic. But, I think it is important to not miss even a single lesson. We definitely miss a few and then miss the life of being in freedom (moksha).
Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews