Mac Anderson

While Marty is certainly a sweet, adorable old man who means well, I couldn't enjoy this book. It was given to me as a gift upon completing my first year of teaching, and I appreciate the gesture, but these motivational, heartwarming stories rarely jive with me. We're supposed to laud people like Marty because they represent the beauty of simple humanity. Marty's precepts help us cope with the stresses of everyday life. But to me, they are empty catch phrases.

My biggest problem with this book, which I will fully confess to be trivial, is the fact that Marty cared so much about Wal-Mart. He worked so hard to bring customers back to a company that didn't care enough about their employees to provide most of them a decent wage or decent health care. He was a great guy, supporting a horrible company. That really bothered me. It ruined the whole George Bailey/"It's a Wonderful Life analogy from which the book derives its name. George Bailey stood in direct opposition to Mr. Potter (the money-mongering slumlord of Bedford Falls); he was the champion of the 'little guy.' Marty was definitely a 'little guy,' but he also supported the bad guy (Wal-Mart). Ugh.

Reviews like these are why I will not receive copious amounts of get-well cards on my death bed, and no one will ever write a "Richest Man" book about me. But that's ok.… (more)