Unshakeable – food for the mind, the wallet and the millions

Tony Robbinis Unshakable

He did it again. I do not think there is much in this book that he had not discussed (extensively) in Money Master the Game.

But, as opposed to Money, this book is more concise (which is not much of an achievement; I wrote about this earlier here; Unshakeable is a revelation of briefness compared to Money).

The book is very clear on where not to lose money: taxes, fund fees, and services that add no value. It is also evident where to invest in a diversified portfolio of low-cost index trackers, bonds, and real estate. Do not invest in gold or so.

And a very important thing to learn is to stay calm. Stock markets dive every so many years. When this happens, stay in your seat and do not move. Because as often as they fall, they rise again. Losses are made by people who get nervous. These are the opportunities for calm.

If there is one conclusion from this book in one sentence: get conscious about your investments otherwise the financial institutions will get away with your savings.
That’s the conclusion, so if you want to read more, go ahead. The book’s proceeds go to the noble cause of feeding the world (Tony feeds millions/billions, when not on the phone with presidents and multibillionaires all the time), so if not good for your wallet, the investment in this is good for your mental well-being.
But expect lots of words for not so many ideas. These are good ideas, but conciseness and humility are not Tony’s forte.

Tony Robbins, an abundance of words

Money Master the Game

Tony Robbins, Money Master the Game. A big book on personal finance from a big hyperactive guy. A 600-page book that could have been 60 pages.

First Impressions

I first saw Robbins at TED. Schwarzenegger on fast-forward. That voice scared me.

Then Tim Ferriss interviewed him. The podcast promised simple rules for investing. I wanted those rules. I bought the book.

The Problem

The introduction is endless. Page after page of “I did this, I talked to that billionaire, I discovered this secret.” Full of himself.

Then I read he does this on purpose. The repetition, the long-windedness—it’s his method. To make things stick.

It does make the book readable. Lively, even. But it never stops.

The Good Parts

Strip away the self-promotion and repetition, and there’s solid advice:

Investment basics:

  • Avoid complicated products
  • Use cheap index funds
  • Diversify: domestic stocks, international stocks, real estate, treasuries

Savings hacks:

  • Save salary increases instead of spending them
  • Cut costs where it doesn’t hurt
  • Understand compound interest (10% annual growth doubles money in 7.2 years)

The secret Robbins drags you through multiple chapters is simple: diversify your portfolio. That’s it. Something you can learn in one paragraph.

The US Problem

Halfway through, the book becomes very American. 401(k) rules, US tax codes, American investment products. Useless if you’re not American.

I started skipping pages.

A sort of verdict

Robbins’ abundance of words is both the book’s strength and weakness. The repetition makes concepts stick. But information density is so low that reading becomes nauseating.

The math is basic. The advice is solid. The delivery is exhausting.

A 600-page book with 60 pages of content. We need a European version. But please, make it concise.

What I Learned (Despite the Word Count)

  1. Index funds beat actively managed funds – Lower costs, better returns
  2. Diversification works – Spread risk across asset classes
  3. Compound interest is powerful – Start early, be consistent
  4. Save increases, not income – Lifestyle inflation is the enemy
  5. Simple beats complex – The simplest investment strategy usually wins

The irony: Robbins’ book proves his own point backwards. More isn’t better. Less is.