Product Description

Praise for THOU SHALL PROSPER

"Rabbi Daniel Lapin's wisdom has helped untold numbers of people, including me, grow in our business, family, and spiritual lives. In Thou Shall Prosper, Rabbi Lapin has done it again. This book tells it like it is in a helpful, honest, hopeful, informative way. He offers valid, useful information based on ancient wisdom and modern experience."
-Zig Ziglar, author and motivational teacher

"Is it practical to apply spiritual lessons to the hardheaded world of business? In this potentially life-changing book, Rabbi Daniel Lapin proves that it's impractical not to use those lessons-and to bring ancient, timeless wisdom to contemporary problems. This unique approach provides an organized, supremely useful view of the world, combining common sense and unexpected, even startling insight. No matter how successful or sophisticated you may be, this remarkable work will enrich your understanding of the important, exciting process of building wealth."
-Michael Medved, nationally syndicated radio host and author of Hollywood vs. America

"Rabbi Daniel Lapin is a light unto the nations. A risk-taking rabbi of immense wisdom, his books have already influenced countless Jews and non-Jews with the eternal truths of the Hebrew Bible. Now, in this highly insightful and controversial new book, Rabbi Lapin unearths the golden nuggets of Jewish business genius. By emphasizing the unique talents of the Jewish way of life, Rabbi Lapin demonstrates how Judaism's spiritual regimen can be translated into tangible material rewards, with the bottom line being directly affected. A thoroughly engaging, enriching, and thought-provoking book."
-Rabbi Shmuley Boteach, author of Kosher Sex and Judaism for Everyone

"Rabbi Lapin is an unorthodox Orthodox rabbi. He understands the Biblical nature of economic freedom as well as he understands the Bible: uniquely well. Prosperity must have a purpose and Rabbi Lapin explores the wellsprings of the Judeo-Christian heritage to elucidate those purposes. In so doing, he also illuminates the road to greater prosperity for all. I really enjoyed this book and I heartily recommend it to people of all faiths."
-The Honorable Jack Kemp

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #5542 in Books
• Published on: 2008-07-15
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 368 pages

From Publishers Weekly
Combining pop psychology, snippets of Jewish lore, homespun homilies and quotations from a daunting variety of sources, Lapin offers a manual on how to make money by succeeding in business. Lapin, a super-conservative Orthodox rabbi and talk show host, insists that everyone is in business "unless you are a Supreme Court judge [sic] or a tenured university professor." (Excluding professors fits with Lapin's devaluation of them, since he believes that higher education doesn't prepare for "real life.") The material is organized into 10 chapters of advice, beginning with the notion that "business is moral, noble and worthy," and ending with the admonition not to retire. Throughout, Lapin urges behavior that will produce more business and, thus, more money. For example, he unabashedly recommends attending synagogue or church services in order to make business contacts. Similarly, he encourages giving charity to an organization that has members who "are in the best position to advance your business objectives." Lapin justifies these dubious actions by interpreting the fifth commandment ("Honor thy father and thy mother") as a mandate to form relationships for business purposes. His struggle to ground his financial advice in Jewish tradition is abandoned as he expounds an anti-environmentalist stance. He digresses still further from both Judaism and wealth-building when he gives tips for public speaking based on what his father taught him (talking without a manuscript or notes and not grasping the rostrum). Lapin's book may appeal to patient readers who share his conservative political and economic views.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Book Info
Author offers valid, useful information based on ancient wisdom and modern experience. He demonstrates how Judaism's spiritual regimen can be translated into tangible material rewards, with the bottom line being directly affected.

From the Inside Flap
The ups and downs of the economy prove the principle that the more things change, the greater the need for ideas that never change. There's no better source for both practical and spiritual financial wisdom than the time-tested knowledge found in the ancient Jewish faith and culture. In Thou Shall Prosper: Ten Commandments for Making Money, Rabbi Daniel Lapin offers a practical approach to creating wealth based on the established principles of Jewish tradition. A renowned business consultant and biblical scholar, Rabbi Lapin uncovers a mother lode of wisdom and guidance in Jewish scripture and practice that will increase your potential for creating wealth, no matter what your faith or background may be.

Outlining ten fundamental "commandments" relating to business and money, Thou Shall Prosper explores the economic and philosophic vision of business that has been part of the Jewish culture for centuries. By blending contemporary business stories and his own business experiences with the wisdom of the Torah, Talmudic prescriptions, and even examples from the Zohar (the Jewish book of mysticism), Rabbi Lapin explains the essence of each "commandment" and shows you how to use this knowledge to financially prosper. Commandments include: Believe in the Dignity and Morality of Business, Do Not Pursue Perfection, and Know Your Money. Rabbi Lapin helps you understand such concepts as "being in business for yourself"; avoiding the trappings of a "wage slave"; learning to become a leader; changing with the times; and much more. So that you can apply each principle to your life, Rabbi Lapin suggests engaging and accessible action steps to start you immediately on the path to prosperity.

The principles discussed in Thou Shall Prosper may stem from Jewish culture and religion, but the desire to create wealth is universal. Anyone can learn these principles, apply them, and prosper. In following these ten money-making commandments, not only will you improve your life, you will also discover how business is the best way to "do good" while doing well and how you are in business regardless of how you earn your living. Thou Shall Prosper will change your views of money as well as attitudes towards yourself, and help you identify the critical steps that make success possible.

Customer Reviews

Some good points but difficult to read...
While this author has some good points and wisdom to share it is a very difficult read because it is horribly wordy. The author seems to go on and on and on about each topic/point. I found it very boring and difficult to read (and I love to read self-help books and have quite a collection of them). I think that the author should have either hired a ghost writer or the editor should have done a better job of cutting the wordiness out of the text. I finally started reading the summaries at the end of the chapters instead of the chapters itself. This had the potential to be a good book if it had been written in an easy read format. It would have been a much shorter book, though.

A Treasury of Spiritual Wisdom Related to Wealth
Rabbi Lapin begins by debunking the myths of why Jews are disproportionately successful in business. He then provides a powerful set of principles - the 10 commandments of making money - that can be applied by anyone. What is particularly powerful about the presentation are the spiritual links that Lapin provides from the Torah and the Talmud, as well as a sprinkling of teachings from the Kaballah. After reading this book, you have a strong understanding why business and making money are fundamentally spiritual undertakings. There also interesting and revealing teachings, especially for non-Jews, about the role of Hebrew in the Jewish faith, the meaning of the Star of David, and much more. If you want to grow financially and spiritually, read this book.

The Culture of Wealth
This is a wonderful book about human culture and the beliefs, attitudes and culture of wealth and prosperity. The book is full of basic wisdom and is an enjoyable and educational read for anyone, regardless of race, creed or national origin. I purchased several copies and gave them as gifts with enthusiastic responses all around.

I believe the world is a better place if we all prosper, and according to this book, we can.