The Most Important Lessons in Economics and Finance: A Comprehensive Collection of Time-Tested Principles of Wealth Management

by Anthony M. Criniti IV

The Most Important Lessons in Economics and Finance: A Comprehensive Collection of Time-Tested Principles of Wealth Management represents the fruits of an audacious undertaking: the pursuit of the most effective economic and financial principles from the dawn of record keeping to the present day. Using everyday terms and readily grasped concepts, Dr. Anthony M. Criniti IV, a former financial consultant and current university-level finance professor, sets out to expand off the new paradigm of the economic and financial concepts introduced in his previous book, The Necessity of Finance; explore the most important lessons in economics and finance; provide a platform for economic and financial entities to be able to better manage their wealth; and create a foundation for future research studies on these subjects.

Dr. Criniti breaks down complex terminology and scholastic discoveries in economics and finance into layman’s terms, allowing readers of all levels of economic and financial acumen to put his powerful wealth management principles into practice. Starting with an introductory overview, moving forward to present the basic terminology necessary to understand the structure of this work, presenting in the process an elaboration on its scientific aspects, The Most Important Lessons in Economics and Finance will equip a variety of practitioners and students of these two sciences with vital information and a clear approach for continued study. This book is organized into a variety of categories of wealth management principles including: business, charity, debt, diversification, economics, ethics, financial psychology, health, human resources, international finance, investing, marketing, money, personal finance, planning, and saving.

Dr. Criniti’s lessons evolved from his many years of various experiences in the financial field. Aiming for objectivity, he links his practical knowledge to the works of leading historical and contemporary economic and financial scholars, producing a work that stands as one of the most accessible and comprehensive collections of wealth management principles in publication.

Mastering wealth management skills takes time and patience. With The Most Important Lessons in Economics and Finance, Dr. Criniti provides a foundation for this most essential task.

Genres: Business, Economics, Finance, Money, Nonfiction, Science

288 pages, Paperback

First published January 11, 2014

About the author

Dr. Anthony M. Criniti IV (aka “Dr. Finance®”) is the world's leading financial scientist and survivalist. A fifth generation native of Philadelphia, Dr. Criniti is a former finance professor at several universities, a former financial planner, an active investor in diverse marketplaces, an explorer, an international keynote speaker, and has traveled around the world studying various aspects of finance. He is an award winning author of three #1 international best-selling finance books: The Necessity of Finance (2013), The Most Important Lessons in Economics and Finance (2014), and The Survival of the Richest (2016). Dr. Criniti is also the host of the highly successful Dr. Finance® Live Podcast as well as one of the top hosts on Clubhouse. Dr. Criniti has started a grassroots movement that is changing the way that we think about economics and finance.

Learn more about him at DrFinance.Info.

Reviews

[Píaras Cíonnaoíth · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent resource tool regarding personal finances...

For anybody looking for a better understanding regarding their personal finances, The Most Important Lessons in Economics and Finance: A Comprehensive Collection of Time-Tested Principles of Wealth Management by Professor Anthony M. Criniti IV will demonstrate to be an important and valuable resource.

This book is a wealth management advisory service that encompasses key concepts underlying economic and financial behavior and financial portfolio planning catering to several different investors. Whether a person is already prosperous, a high-net-worth Individual, or a client seeking financial advice, The Most Important Lessons in Economics and Finance is the answer to specialized counsel and careful planning.

The book was easy to read and packed to the rafters with practical sound advice. Highly recommended.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great guide about economics and finance. It was a quick read but it was to the point and simple to follow. It read like a textbook but much shorter and, in some cases, easier to comprehend. This is a great guide whether you're going in blind or you're looking to boost your knowledge in this subject.

[Kristine D · Rating 4 out of 5]

First, I will state that I am in no way any sort of professional in the world of economics or finance. The author of this book is, though, and makes him a preeminent expert on the matter. With his credentials and experience, as well as the note he leaves in this front of this book, I was expecting a much higher level of information than what is contained. But that is not a bad thing at all. I found, quite pleasantly, that this book is accessible to the lay person, and that the author seems to be very interested in sharing his knowledge with any and all who seek it.

The information laid out in this book is nothing new. Any person who is interested in pursuing owning their own business should know the time-tested principles the author delivers. I’m not even sure if this information has ever been amalgamated in publications prior to this one, but I will say this is the most comprehensive collection of experience and wisdom on the subject that I have ever come across. I like that the author has drawn from works outside of economics and finance as well. This makes this book well-rounded and easily applied.

The beginning of this book feels a little strange, though. The author discusses in detail what his research methods were, how he designed the book for use, and makes a somewhat philosophical proclamation on how he believes the information in the book should be consumed. This is all front loaded into part one of the book, and has very little to do with the “meat and potatoes” of why one might be reading the book. Further still, the author himself allows that if the reader is simply not interested in these things, they may skip ahead to section two. If the author is suggesting that an entire section of the book may not be necessary, I’m not sure why they would make it the first thing a reader sees. It is my opinion that this optional section be put in an appendix at the end of the book.

If you’re looking for a book on economics and finance, this is certainly one of the more reliable and honest resources that I’ve found. There are no false promises or “get rich quick” schemes in here. It is solid advice from a person passionate about the field and excited to share his wisdom.

[Brian Aird · Rating 5 out of 5]

Financial Wisdom to Live By

The Most Important Lessons in Economics: A Comprehensive Collection of Time-Tested Principles of Wealth Management by Dr. Anthony M. Criniti IV is a powerful and thought-provoking writing regarding the sciences of economics and finance.

All aspects of the book are powerful and designed to, in the words of the author, an "Attempt to capture the most important lessons from the sciences of economics and finance. Learning these lessons better prepares you to manage your wealth to maximize it."

The book is divided into three parts.

The first part part addresses Terminology, Rules, Lessons, Principles, Literature Review, About Categories Devised, Methodology and Future Research, Limitations. Some of the topics include: Business, Charity, Debt, Diversification, Ethics, Investing, Personal Finance, etc.

These principles are dynamic statements of truth regarding the various topics addressed. The author then expounds on the principles and provides further illumination and definition to add to their impact.

These principles are truly gold financial nuggets. The suggestion of the author is to dwell on one of the principles each day with the intent of internalizing the wisdom.

Part III of the book are the concluding thoughts of the author gifted to the reader.

The Most Important Lessons in Economics: A Comprehensive Collection of Time-Tested Principles of Wealth Management by Dr. Anthony M. Criniti IV is compilation of powerful economic and financial wisdom that will probably set the reader to thinking and rethinking their thoughts and attitudes towards finances.

It seems that if these enriched morsels of illumination on finances are absorbed and re-read on a frequent basis that they will revolutionize the readers approach and thinking of their economics and finances.

Adding to the writing is an extensive bibliography which includes resources from such writers as Stephen Covey, Dale Carnegie, J. Paul Getty, Napoleon Hill to name a few.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dr. Anthony M. Criniti IV’s book, The Most Important Lessons in Economics and Finance, is a true study of financial principles that money gurus and the financially-unwise can follow. He breaks down this book into three sections: one to explain the research methodologies and financial vocabulary, one for his 218 principles, and one for conclusions. Most of the principles are great reminders of logical ideas, like "How much money you make is not as important as how much money you keep," and "You don’t need to be academically intelligent to become wealthy." The author may want to reassess his 2014 positive view of Trump, who is quoted on page 55. Trump has many positive business ventures but his ethics go against much of what this book is trying to teach. On page 85, for example, Dr. Criniti writes, "Unethical behavior may sometimes create large short-term wealth but always destroys most or all of long-term wealth." The amount of lawsuits Trump is involved with should eradicate his name from this otherwise excellent book.

The conclusion section is a great summary of the first two sections, in which Dr. Criniti admits these principles won’t be 100% perfect for every situation forever, but instead should be viewed as a constant work in progress. Overall, this book touches on an absolutely impressive amount of facets in the financial world without requiring any financial savviness to understand.

[James W · Rating 5 out of 5]

An Invaluable Resource for Anyone Looking to Obtain a Better Grasp on Their Personal Finances

The Most Important Lessons in Economics and Finance: A Comprehensive Collection of Time-Tested Principles of Wealth Management, written by finance professor Dr. Anthony M. Criniti IV, is an invaluable resource for anyone looking to obtain a better grasp on their personal finances.

Dr. Criniti draws heavily from his days as a financial consultant, offering readers lessons and insight culled from years of experience. After a brief overview, Dr. Criniti offers advice on everything from ethics and psychology to international finance, breaking down a myriad of topics into over two hundred ‘principals’, each of which begins with a summary and is then followed by a brief (but typically poignant) anecdote.

Criniti’s lessons are informative yet accessible, presented in a friendly, conversational tone, and thanks to the book’s intuitive layout, the information it contains is both easily digested and can be easily referenced at a later date.

Anyone looking to broaden their understanding of economics, be it managing debt, long-term investing, retirement, or even tackling the ever-so-tricky topic of saving for a ‘rainy day’, will find value in Dr. Criniti’s The Most Important Lessons in Economics and Finance.

[Ed Malaker · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Most Important Lessons in Economics and Finance is a follow up to another fantastic book titled The Necessity of Finance, and both books provide a wealth of detailed information about managing and improving your wealth and finances. It contains great information for beginners as well as advanced ideas for the more seasoned students of economics in a nice easy to read format. If you run a business or are struggling to pay bills, this book can really help change the way you look at things to increase income.

It takes a few minutes to get going, as the first six chapters are devoted to explaining everything about the information you will be reading, including what the author feels are its limitations. It goes fast and makes sense, but I did find myself wanting to get to the information the book was promising.

The next part of the book is amazing, and features 218 principles that I believe will change you for the better. Each one makes perfect sense and reminds me of Star Trek’s Ferengi “Rules of Acquisition,” only for humans and real life.

I’m going to read one of these principles every day when I wake up and apply it to my life.

I couldn't recommend this book more!

[Kaitlyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Most Important Lessons in Economics and Finance by Dr. Anthony M. Criniti IV is a follow up to his book The Necessity of Finance. This book is an extremely thorough collection of the principles of finance.It is based on the Pennsylvanian author’s 15 years of working in the field as a financial consultant and finance professor.

The book is broken into three parts: the first covers an introduction, common terminology, and methodology.

The second delves into the principles of economics and finance. Dr. Criniti IV talks about the foundations of business and how to create lasting success. “It can take a lifetime to build a solid business and moments to destroy it,” he writes.

He also touches on debt, diversification, charity, marketing, and saving, among other topics. The third section is the conclusion.

I liked how the author broke down the sections to make it easily referable and well organized. While some information is advanced for seasoned finance professionals, there is advice geared toward beginners. If you want a better understanding of finances, this is a superb choice.

[Evelyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Most Important Lessons in Economics and Finance is written by the Pennsylvania author Dr. Anthony M. Criniti who is known because he is top-notch in financial and business services.
I have been searching for a book like this for months. The information that it contains has been presented to me many times, but never in such a digestible and simple format. This piece of work is amazing, incredibly easy to understand and follow. The promising author takes complex finance topics and turns them into a child's game. It is a must read for every business student, businessman, or financial professional but if you are not into these groups of people you can understand it anyways because it is really accessible.
Anthony guides the readers through the 288 pages where he explains the essential principles of finance to apply universally. I found myself learning so many things about economy that I’m grateful to the author. This is the first time I read a book from him, but it will certainly not be the last one.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Best for beginners, although some information would be good for midlevel’s to review, this book gives you the reader all the lessons that are the most important in economics and finance (As the title implies). Distilled into manageable bouts of information, the author relies upon his extensive background and expertise to write this informative book. Giving basic description of common and uncommon terms, the principles of various wealth management, as well as historical and more modern takes on finance and economics.
While there was a dearth of information in the book, I found it to be a bit dry and old fashioned. There were no true modern financial pioneers looked at, rather, the lessons were all centered around the highlights of Capitalism and not much else. I also would have liked to see more influential women in economics quoted, such as Anna Schwartz or even Carmen Reinhart. This book was certainly not the greatest, however, it was not the worst financial book I’ve read either.

[Rachel Kester · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dr. Anthony M. Criniti IV takes readers on an intriguing journey into the world of finances and economics. As a former financial consultant, Criniti has first-hand experience in this field and provides readers with a unique perspective. The book is broken up into three parts. The first part dives into common terms, research, and limitations. The second part identifies the most important principles in economics and finances. The last section contains a helpful questionnaire readers can use.

Keep in mind that this book is geared toward those who already have experience in this field. Because of this, it might be difficult for beginners to understand or enjoy. Despite being for advanced readers, Criniti writes with a professional yet easy-to-read style which makes understanding these often difficult topics simple.

At 288 pages, you’ll need to invest some time into it. However, the author includes plenty of useful information making it a worthwhile read.

[Hannah Barry · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third book by Dr. Anthony Criniti IV that I have read and I must reiterate how comprehensive and accessible his books truly are. These books are packed with knowledge and he does not shy away from letting the reader know that you must go slow and it won't be a quick snap to retain and apply all of the knowledge and skills he lays before us. Even still, Criniti goes to great lengths to set his readers up for success with a bibliography, appendices, using common terms and clearly defining the ones that may be new, constant affirmation of the reader's abilities, and a clear and articulate format that helps us continue to access and navigate the world of economics and finance even after we've finished the books.

Once again, Criniti has shown us his skills and knowledge and shares it with us as a genuine hand to hold through matters notorious for confusing and confounding. Truly a triumph and a success.

[Carolina Solano · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Most Important Lessons in Economics and Finance, written By Dr. Anthony M. Criniti IV, is a necessary tool to improve anyone's finances these days. He presented another point of view in that complex world, and with simple examples,I was able to expand my knowledge.
Although there are countless finance books out there, this one stands out, not only because of Dr. Criniti's vast experience, but also because by putting his advice and recommendations into practice, my finances have improved dramatically. It's a long way to go, but this guide is essential for success.
The book is divided into three fundamental and necessary parts; the organization of the narrative is impeccable and very well arranged. The text is clear and beyond the data it provides, it does not have unnecessary technicalities and that helps make it a quick and pleasant reading.
I definitely recommend this book; it has totally changed the way I think about my finances.

[Stephen R. · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Most Important Lessons in Economics and Finance: A Comprehensive Collection of Time-Tested Principles of Wealth Management is a non-fiction book that explains the various principles relating to economics and finance. The principles are written in a simple manner, which allows readers to understand them easily.

In this non-fiction book, you will read about the experiences of the author as a university professor and financial consultant. He had done a great job breaking down the jargon and terminology in the business and finance sector. Plus, he provided examples. Through this, the readers can easily relate to his insights and ideas.

Overall, this non-fiction book offers powerful lessons and ground-breaking insights that will guide readers in managing their finances. It is a highly recommended book for those who want to understand the principles behind finance and economics. Additionally, people who are interested in wealth management should also check this amazing book.

[S Tyty · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a former financial consultant and current university-level finance professor, Dr. Anthony M. Criniti IV knows what he is talking about. He has been able to craft a gem in economics and finance.
In this book, Criniti proposes 218 principles of economics and finance that he finds to be both essential and universally applicable for readers. They are all like small and informative lessons to put into practice if you want to increase your knowledge on money and finance.
These topics always seem to be explained with difficult terminology, but this is not the case of this book. The narrative is simple to follow and the language and vocabulary employed are easy for any type of readr, whether they have knowledge on this topic or not.
Totally recommended if you want to explore the world of finance, to improve your financial prospects and also to those who run a business.

[T. Vand · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third book I've read by this author. I enjoyed this one. While it still comes off as more of a textbook style book, it wasn't as hard to get through as one of the others. The format and flow were better in this book and some of the concepts and ideas transcend just being about economics as they can relate to other aspects of life. This book also was more meaningful as it was something I felt I could pull pieces out of and apply to my life directly such as principles about retirement and debt. I would highly recommend this book. If you read the Necessity of Finance, which was tedious for me to get through, this book was much easier and felt more personalized in a way as you could easily start putting things into practice and the ways the author explains the topics were much easier to understand.

[Brittni · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Most Important Lessons in Economics and Finance: A Comprehensive Collection of Time-Tested Principles of Wealth Management offers an amazing and easy-to-understand guide to learn basic economics. It’s a must-have if you are someone that struggles with mastering personal finance. Dr. Anthony M Criniti IV has an impressive mind. He is exactly the kind of person you want to be going to with all of your financial needs. This is much more than some random finance book – Dr. Criniti is a leading mind in the field that give you the kind of insight you actually learn something from.
This is actually the second book of his that I have read and I continue to be impressed with the level of quality and clarity of how his books are written. He really knows how to make a “dry” topic engaging and I hope to have time to read more of his work.

[Cecelia Isaac · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read a lot of finance books, but this one wasn't for me. I appreciated the author's mission to collect knowledge that is valuable "2000 years in the past and 2000 years in the future." However, I soon found this meant the content was a collection of generalized axioms. Some were valuable, a lot were common sense. I did feel the author was successful introducing these concepts in an accessible way though.
That being said, the author had some obvious blind spots. Capitalism was exalted, race and gender as economic factors were ignored, Trump was called a "great investor" multiple times. Not a single female finance writer/economist/financial manager was quoted. All this makes me question the true universal nature of the book.

[Aishwarya J · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick read, Dr. Anthony M. Criniti’s collection of wealth management tips and advice is an invaluable resource for a novice looking to learn about finance and wealth. This book contains timeless wisdom on businesses, investing, gambling, and I would say life. Some of the lessons are intuitive and commonsensical, but they definitely bear reminding. Dr Criniti manages to deliver tremendous financial advice in the form of interesting, accessible, bite-sized lessons.

Enjoyed the description of Donald Trump as a “great investor”. :)

I recommend reading this book if you are looking to invest, start a business, or understand the psychology of finance. The lessons are short, to-the-point and fun to read.

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every time a friend recommends an economics book to me, I buy it. I think we should all be interested in the economy, not only to improve the personal wealth, but also to know more about general culture. I inherited my passion for the economy from my father, he always talked to me about this topic.
In this book called “The Most Important Lessons in Economics and Finance”, Dr. A. Criniti not only teaches us some principles to take into account when increasing our wealth, but he also teaches us some terms that can be confusing in the field of economics.
I really liked the approach the author gave to this book and I believe that the principles presented in it are the basis of a good economy.

[Susel · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a business woman I was looking for a way to improve the way I manage my finances and with this book I learned some great wealth management principles that I could instantly put into practice.
This wonderful book was written by Dr. Anthony M. Criniti IV, a former financial consultant and current university-level finance professor. This author did a great job putting in simple words the principles of economics and finances, so that anyone, with or without previous knowledge, can learn his lessons. What is great about this book is that his lessons come from his own experience in the financial field and that is why I would definitely recommend it to anyone looking to smartly improve their finances!

[Emerson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Most Important Lessons in Economics and Finance is a clear, informative, and quick read that will give you a good set of basics to your understanding. The book is primarily written as a set of 2018 principles. They are about half a page each and go over the basics about a theme or idea. I found some of the principles more helpful than others but there are so many of them that there are sure to be some that any reader will find helpful and informative. I also found it very helpful that Dr. Anthony M. Criniti IV provided a bibliography at the back of the book so that you can continue to build your understanding and knowledge. The book is written in easy to read language and helps answer some questions and clarify ideas related to finance.

[Ivana S. · Rating 5 out of 5]

“The Most Important Lessons in Economics and Finance” was the perfect starting point for me because I am not very immersed in this topic and I did not want a technical explanation of economics and how economies work. This economics book applies that principle to common scenarios that are easy to understand. Also, it gives real-life examples along the way so it was really easy for me to relate them with my present situation. It offers a relatable context about how the economy operates and how it affects the people who live within it.

Overall, this book was a great choice for building my economics knowledge base and it was really easy to digest because of the everyday vocabulary that the author uses. I highly recommend it!

[Willow Moon Greymoor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quality financial advice!

Beginners and novices could find this book by author Dr. Anthony Criniti IV offers a wealth of knowledge from Criniti’s career as a financial consultant and university professor of finance.

An array of topics were covered in this book ranging from business, charity, debt, diversification, ethics, financial psychology, investing, marketing, personal finance, planning, and saving. Each section presented is easy-follow- and gives concrete financial advice coupled with Criniti’s words of wisdom from both his career and life experience.

I suggest this book for anyone wanting to improve their financial situation.

[Mark Smith · Rating 1 out of 5]

Dr. Anthony M. Criniti IV newest book follows the same path as his previous works. He fails to deliver on his grandiose promises. The introduction on his book’s merchant page claims the book “represents the fruits of an audacious undertaking: the pursuit of the most effective economic and financial principles from the dawn of record keeping to the present day.” This in itself is an unachievable goal. However, Criniti does try to focus on the most important aspects of wealth management and the importance of economics. His language usage has improved, and readers will more easily follow his writings that in earlier works. But Criniti still has a long way to go as an author.

[ELISABET · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book that everyone should read, it is definitely useful. The most remarkable thing is that huge and important information is provided in a simple and unquestionably clear way. This is the reason why it is not necessary to have a college degree or specific studies on the topic to understand the content of this literary work; every principle is explained with examples of daily life and they can be put into practice promptly. Also, it is very helpful that the principles are structured in major subjects. In some aspects, it reminds me of the famous book “The art of war”, written by Sun Tzu. I would recommend this read because I found it to be really interesting.

[CarlitasFox · Rating 4 out of 5]

A must-read!
Whenever I want to learn more about a specific topic, I like to find everything in books. That´s why, this time I decided to read “The most Important Lessons in Economics and Finance”, written by Dr. Anthony M. Criniti IV. With the help of this reading, I was able to understand key concepts regarding economics. I learned a lot from it.
It goes without saying that Anthony has a vast knowledge in this field and everything is explained perfectly well. Every example helps to understand his main points. I thoroughly recommend it because I was able to figure out, to a certain point, what I should implement in my ordinary finance.

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dr. Criniti managed to write a book about economics and finance that pretty much anyone can read and understand even though it is not an easy thing to do.

Terminology or concepts surrounding these themes can get quite confusing. The author did an excellent job bringing all the finance world into a book that everyone can read and really comprehend what he is trying to communicate. What helped me understand everything I was reading, was the examples and experiences Dr. Criniti added, making it more relatable.

To sum up, I think every person should have a decent amount of grip in this area to succeed in life. As a famous quote says “knowledge is power”.

[Kourtney Bradley · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's never too early in life to start working towards achieving financial goals for retirement and success. My career involves finance and accounting, so before reading this book, I had already most of the basic knowledge that was explained, but I liked that the author breaks this information down in a way that it's easy to understand while still not making readers feel like their knowledge may be less-than. The information and suggestions are practical and something that people from all over the wealth spectrum can benefit from. There were a few instances that it reads like a textbook, so I'd put it away for a while and then come back, as to not feel drowning in the subject.

[Donna Costello · Rating 4 out of 5]

Being very new to the world of finance I found this book an excellent guide when it came to considering my personal wealth.

This book was easy to read and very informative. Despite the author’s knowledge I did not feel like I was being talked down to and found the language used very accessible. It has the ability to appeal to both newbies and to people who already have an understanding of the subjects covered.

If you are looking to improve your financial prospects, I seriously recommend you give this a read.