Each of the 218 lessons spread over 233 pages in Dr. Anthony M. Criniti’s THE MOST IMPORTANT LESSONS IN ECONOMICS AND FINANCE is accompanied by a few explanatory paragraphs. “There is no other work that attempts to scientifically capture the best lessons of wealth management throughout history in the way presented here,” he writes. He gives his own somewhat idiosyncratic definitions of laws, rules, lessons, and principles and explains why he decided to use the term “lessons” in his book title.
He provides his literature review, assuring the reader that “every major economic and financial work” informs the book. Yet his bibliography totals a mere eighteen writers (including himself) with four or five more in the Index. Missing in action are Peter Drucker, founder of management theory, as well as Michael Porter, whose financial policy ideas have changed how governments approach economic development. Criniti then outlines the different categories of the book – there are 17, ranging from business to charity to financial psychology. He explains his methodology and how other people can do future research based on his ideas. He also admits the limitations of his lessons: nothing can be absolutely certain, he writes, but his principles are in the top one percent of all the ideas he’s encountered and would have been valid 1,000 years ago and so are likely to be valid for another 1,000 years.
Criniti’s principles range from the profound to the obvious to the trivial. He observes that “The greater they are, the harder they failed”; “Ownership of vacation homes should be avoided unless you can really afford it”; and that “Certificates and store credits should be used as soon as possible.” He recommends that readers read no more than five principles a day, and preferably only one as soon as they wake up, so they can spend the rest of the day thinking about it. This may not be the most productive way for any business person to spend their time, but Criniti’s book does have warnings and advice they may not have considered.
For those thinking of going into business and those still growing their venture, THE MOST IMPORTANT LESSONS IN ECONOMICS AND FINANCE by financial consultant and professor Dr. Anthony M. Criniti IV contains many useful cautionary principles.
~Kevin Baldeosingh for IndieReader