November Classic of the Month: The Art of Money-Getting by P. T. Barnum

As the holiday season quickly approaches, money, budgeting, and overspending will likely be on many minds. The Art of Money-Getting by P. T. Barnum, our November Classic of the Month, can help guide you through this gifting season, savings account intact!

First published in 1880 by P.T. Barnum, The Art of Money-Getting is a short book encouraging the general public to aspire to wealth through proper economic means: building a savings, collecting on interest, operating business with integrity, learning the true value of money, working for what you earn, and foregoing extravagances in order to live a more modest lifestyle where saving money is the goal.

Based on P.T. Barnum's own experiences as a showman and businessman, he outlines a way of life rather than a get-rich-quick scheme. Despite its 19th-century publication date, his advice is remarkably relevant, and will be of interest to young and old readers alike who desire to be more responsible with their finances.

Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at Cosimo!

About the Author
Phineas Taylor ("P.T.") Barnum (1810-1891) is one of the most peculiarly famous personalities in American history. A consummate showman and entrepreneur, Barnum was famous for bringing both high and low culture to American audiences. From the melodious opera singer Jenny Lind to the bizarre hoax of the Feejee Mermaid, from the clever and quite diminutive Tom Thumb to Jumbo the Elephant, Barnum's oddities, spectacles, galas, extravaganzas, and events tickled the fancies of Americans of all ages.

Happy Tax Day!

Wether you are paying the government some overdue taxes or are anxiously awaiting your refund, we at Cosimo are celebrating Tax Day with some awesome classics about that little bit of green that is so important to us. Read these books and learn more on how to manage your money.

On the Origin of Money by Carl Menger

On the Origins of Money is a discussion of the history of money and currency, from its crudest form as cowrie shells, animal pelts, and salt in early societies to the coin and paper money we use today. Rather than focusing on the type or shape of the money, author and economist Carl Menger looks at the reasons behind monetary exchange and why money is so valuable (or where it gets its inherent value). His argument centers on the "saleableness" of the goods or commodities being sold-in other words, the more "saleable" (or valuable or in demand) an item is, the more money it is worth. Hence, money gets its value from the objects it pays for. This short work is an insightful look into the history and value of money for any student or professional economist.

The Purchasing Power of Money by Irving Fisher

Perhaps America's first celebrated economist, Irving Fisher — for whom the Fisher equation, the Fisher hypothesis, and the Fisher separation theorem are named — staked an early claim to fame with his revival, in this 1912 book, of the "quantity theory of money." An important work of 20th-century economics, this work explores: the circulation of money against goods, the various circulating media, the mystery of circulating credit, how a rise in prices generates a further rise, influence of foreign trade on the quantity of money, the problem of monetary reform, and much more.

The ABC of Money by Benjamin Franklin

From the days of farmer's bartering for bushels of corn to establishing the concept of credit, this practical guide gets at the root of the subject of money: why it exists and, more importantly, what money really is. The ABC of Money is an undiscovered gem offering a wealth of knowledge and Carnegie's shrewd philosophies on the subject — a fascinating look at the history of "debased coin" and "greenbacks," and the value of currency from one of the great American industrialists.

Making Money Happily by Herbert N. Casson

Do your job a little better than expected. Learn all you can from those above you. Waste no time on little things. Back yourself to win. The business advice in this handy little book, first published in 1926, are the bricks that build solid foundations for success, but they're ones that far too many who strive for success forget along the way. Casson, a business journalist, knows wherefrom he speaks: he met and interviewed many of the biggest successes of the early 20th century, and the knowledge and wisdom he gleaned from those meetings is still pertinent today. 

For more books on money, history of currency, wealth, and government reports, be sure to check out our economics page on cosimobooks.com 

February Quote of the Month - The greatest victory is that which requires no battle - Sun Tzu

A new month, and new inspiration: we selected our monthly inspirational  quote again from one of Cosimo's classics authors:

"The greatest victory is that which requires no battle"
- Sun Tzu in The Art of War (5th Century BC)

The Art of War was written by a Chinese general, Sun Tzu, and this book became a classic almost instantly 2,500 years ago: initially offering Chinese emperors and military leaders military and strategic advice. This later expanded to military leaders around the world, including being recommended reading in U.S. military libraries. In more modern times, its insights and wisdom have been used in legal negotiations, business strategies, political debates and even sports. It's said that Super Bowl winning coach of the New England Patriots, Bill Belichick, read this book and applied its lessons to the world of American Football.

This month's quote, one of many in this truly classic book, is a reminder that being a great winner is someone who uses smart tactics, rather than just fightning one's opponent. A message, which hopefully resonates in the world's great capitals from Moscow to Brussels, from Beijing to Washington DC, and from Teheran to Jerusalem.

Cosimo is proud to offer this book in its original English translation by Lionel Giles in paperback & hardcover.  In order to truly absorb the lessons of this classical text, we also recommend listening to the audio version on Librivox.

Spotlight on Darwin Gillett and Building Noble Corporate Enterprises

"...This book is about how to make a business far more successful by paying attention to the inner power of people and organizations catalyzed by working toward higher, more inspiring goals and working together in a spirit of unity and connection." - Darwin Gillett's Introduction to Noble Enterprise

Darwin Gillett in action

Since its publication in 2008, Darwin Gillett's Noble Enterprise: The Commonsense Guide to Uplifting People and Profits continues to inspire corporate entities to strengthen their organizations by focusing on human capital, harnessing (and nurturing) the human spirit to create vital and thriving businesses. This revolutionary work asks people to imagine a business model centered around a "new consciousness."

Gillett argues that people crave meaningful and rewarding work, and that customers desire to do business with people and organizations of higher ethics, thus "nobility" must be added to the business world and its strategies because nobility can attract and inspire people and drive "positive change and business performance." In other words, Noble Enterprise suggests that corporate entities can be both ethical and highly successful by awakening and activating the "rich array of human energy, wisdom, passion, and purpose" of those within their organization. Noble business strategies are, in short, a means to yield both monetary and spiritual returns.

Noble Enterprise has been embraced by academics and business strategists alike; it has been used in MBA courses and executive programs at Boston College, Fordham University, and Washington University of St. Louis, and remains a "Top Business Book" pick by business thought leader and consultant John Spence. Indeed, Spence's list of the "Top 50 Business Books of All-Time" was created at the behest of Spence's MIT students, and Spence has recently stated that Noble Business is in his personal Top 10 of business books, as it gets "to the heart and soul of what it takes to run a truly successful business in modern times," providing "actionable ideas to help the reader" create a business that "uplifts people, delights customers and creates sustainable profitability and success."

Gillett continues to inspire the integration of nobility into business strategy through his consulting business, publications, and speaking engagements. Gillett speaks to corporations and organizations about topics such as improving leadership, creating sustainable competitive advantage, managing human capital and socially-responsive businesses.

The Western business world is so Mind-centered and Action oriented, that it does not even see the Heart, steadily at work building and fueling great companies.

 Last year Mr. Gillett spoke at an international business conference on "Profits and Social Values: Closing the Gap," sponsored by Fundação Dom Cabral, a renowned Brazilian business school. This year Gillett published "The INVISIBLE HEART: Want Great Performance? Then Call Forth the Great Hidden Resource in Business - the Human Heart" in the school's management magazine. "The INVISIBLE HEART" details Gillett's discovery that when "heart" is integrated into business practices great results follow. The article also shows how businesses and individuals can integrate heart into their lives.

 Gillett is currently working with colleagues Ken Bardach, Bill Catucci, and Karen Jeisi to create a "Leadership Guidebook" for Noble Leaders. You can learn more about Noble Enterprise at the Noble Advisors website, where you can find information about Gillett's speaking engagements, Noble publications, and consulting. Noble Enterprise is available in paperback and for Kindle at Amazon & Barnes & Noble online.