Overall Summary
The Science of Getting Rich is not a book about luck, ruthless competition, or complex financial schemes. Instead, Wattles presents the act of acquiring wealth as a exact science, similar to mathematics or chemistry. He argues that if you follow certain laws and principles in a certain way, the result (becoming rich) is inevitable.
The core premise is that everything in the universe is made from a single, formless “thinking substance” (which many interpret as God, the Universe, or Source Energy). This substance is responsive to human thought. Your thoughts, when combined with purposeful action and a mindset of gratitude, impress upon this substance and bring your desires into physical reality.
The book is built on a foundation of monistic idealism—the idea that everything is fundamentally mental and thought is the primary creative force. Therefore, getting rich is a mental process first, followed by a specific kind of action.
Wattles fiercely argues against the zero-sum mindset (the idea that someone must lose for you to gain). He promotes a philosophy of creation, not competition. You don’t need to take wealth away from others; you can create new wealth for yourself and in doing so, enrich everyone around you.
The Core Methods & Principles Suggested by the Book
Wattles outlines a precise system for applying this “science.” The methods are interconnected and must be practiced together.
1. The Foundational Mindset Shift
- Adopt a Certain Way of Thinking: This is the most critical step. You must hold, with unwavering faith, the belief that you are already in the process of becoming rich. You think from this future reality, not of it. This “certain way” is one of absolute faith and gratitude.
- Eliminate Competitive Thought: Stop seeing the world as a pie of limited size. Believe that there is more than enough for everyone. Your path to wealth is through creating value, not by fighting, scheming, or undercutting others to take what they have.
- Cultivate Gratitude: Be profoundly grateful for what you already have and for the wealth that is on its way to you. Wattles states that gratitude connects you to the creative energy of the universe and fosters a positive mental attitude essential for receiving more.
2. The Creative Process: Think, Visualize, Believe
- Form a Clear Mental Image: You must have a crystal-clear, definite vision of what you want. You cannot create something vague. You must know exactly what you want to have, do, and be. Hold this image in your mind constantly.
- Impress Your Thought upon the Formless Substance: Through focused thought and unwavering belief, you transmit your mental image into the “formless substance,” which then begins to organize people, circumstances, and events to bring that image into physical form.
- Act with Unwavering Faith: You must have complete and absolute faith that what you envision is already yours and is coming to you. Doubt is the primary obstacle. Your faith is the power that sets the creative forces in motion.
3. The Principle of Efficient Action
- Act Now: You must not wait for the “perfect opportunity.” Begin immediately with the tools, resources, and environment you currently have.
- Act in the “Certain Way”: Your actions must be efficient and purposeful. Every action should be a step toward making your mental image a reality. Avoid frantic, unfocused activity. Do not act from a place of fear or lack.
- Do All You Can Do Today: Give every day and every task your very best effort. Be supremely efficient in your present role, no matter how small it may seem. This demonstrates your readiness to receive more and puts you in the path of opportunity.
- Advance Life for All: The driving purpose behind your actions should not be pure selfishness. Your goal should be to get rich so you can live a more abundant life and, in doing so, help others live more abundantly (e.g., by providing excellent products, services, or employment).
4. The Power of Will
- Use Your Will on Yourself, Not Others: A crucial distinction. Do not try to use your willpower to force other people to do what you want. This is competitive and destructive. Instead, use your will to command yourself to hold onto your mental image, maintain your faith, and follow through with efficient action.
5. Getting into the Right Business
- Follow Your Talent and Opportunity: Wattles advises that you will find the greatest success in a business that aligns with your natural talents and inclinations, and that is suited to your current environment. You don’t have to be in a specific “get-rich” industry; you can apply the science to any honest trade.
In a Nutshell: The Formula
- Decide exactly what you want (be specific).
- Believe with absolute certainty that it is already yours.
- Hold that mental image in your mind with gratitude and faith.
- Take efficient, purposeful action every day in your current role to bring that image into reality.
- Refuse to entertain doubts or fears about the outcome.
Wattles’ work is a foundational text in the New Thought movement and has heavily influenced many modern self-development and “law of attraction” teachings, most notably Rhonda Byrne’s The Secret. However, The Science of Getting Rich places a much stronger emphasis on the necessity of immediate and efficient action alongside positive thinking.