Head to head How to Get Rich vs How to Fail
Two radically different approaches to success: Felix Dennis's brutal wealth playbook vs Scott Adams's systems-over-goals philosophy.
Rating
5 / 5
5 / 5
By
Felix Dennis
Scott Adams
Category
Books
Books
Love it
- Brutally honest about what wealth-building actually requires
- Written by someone who actually built a fortune from nothing
- No sugarcoating or motivational fluff
- Reframes failure as a system, not a setback
- Practical systems-over-goals framework you can apply immediately
- Funny and self-deprecating writing style
Fair warning
- Can feel harsh or cynical at times
- Some advice is UK-specific and dated
- Some chapters feel like tangents
- Diet and fitness advice is outdated
My take
“The most brutally honest book on wealth I've ever read. No BS.”
“Systems over goals. This book changed how I approach everything.”
My verdict
Read both, but start with "How to Fail" — it gives you the operating system (systems thinking) that makes everything else work. Then read "How to Get Rich" for the raw, unfiltered truth about wealth. Dennis tells you what the destination looks like; Adams gives you the vehicle to get there.