The Memo: Five Rules for Your Economic Liberation

The Memo: Five Rules for Your Economic Liberation by John Hope Bryant           Hardback Book:  160 pages              Genre:  Adult Non-Fiction            Financial Advice

John Hope Bryant tells the reader that true power comes from being financially wise, staying out of debt but unfortunately the poor in society always seem to have too much month left at the end of their money.    Mr. Bryant is the founder and CEO of Operation HOPE whose purpose is to work with anyone willing to learn how to manage their finances thereby making their lives better because why schools teach a lot of things they don’t teach people how to control their money and to do well in life.    The poor didn’t get the memo so Mr. Bryant is here to make sure they do.    Mr. Bryant explains that the poor are basically invisible in society.   Having grown up in those same circumstances himself he too didn’t get the memo but he self-taught himself how to rise above one’s current circumstances and to become successful and financially comfortable in the process.    Here he offers his plan sharing his rules to achieve financial freedom: inner capital - mindset, relationships, knowledge, and spirit and outer capital financial wealth and property.    Once a person learns how to achieve their inner capital they will never be poor again but, if a person won’t buckle down and achieve the knowledge he describes as inner capital then no amount of money will set you free.    Bryant walks the reader through his process explaining how to achieve financial knowledge - the basics, nothing too difficult to understand –he takes big hard information and makes it understandable for the layman.    He informs the reader the how tos of investing for your future, and talks about networking to find the relationships you need to pursue to aid you in gaining the knowledge that will allow you to get out of debt and be able to save money.      He describes poverty as having more to do with your head than your wallet.   Once a person gets the mindset they want do better financially and have more cash for their families instead of living hand to mouth, paycheck to paycheck –get that thought settled in your mind then begin putting action behind that thought to achieve your goals.    First you have to take care of your NEEDs food, shelter, clothing then work toward your goals to prosper.      And always plan for something bad to happen that way you are prepared in advance when it happens and he says believe it something bad will happen, sometimes lots of bad, prepare in advance and you are a step up the financial ladder.    He brought up an interesting concept – We are more powerful than we believe which is why we don’t advance as fast as we should.   He says we are the CEOS of our own lives.     His teachings really make sense and are doable.    He also offers the reader extra help by contacting him and/or Operation HOPE.    Good, quick read.    Like the coach in any athletic competition pumping you up for what you are about to face.   This man is good and has everyone’s best interest at heart.    Good book, yes, definetly recommend this one to teens on up.   You can’t learn these skills and the information and teachings he imparts here, too soon.    Start early and learn to save big.    This book would be a good present for young people and a good book for Middle and Highschool curriculums.

 - Shirley J.