Uncle Eric Talks About Personal, Career, and Financial Security
by Richard J. Maybury
Reviewed by Martha Robinson
Purchase details: Uncle Eric Talks About Personal, Career, and Financial Security (Second Edition) by Richard J. Maybury. Paperback, 192 pages, $14.95. Building a Personal Model for Success by Jane A. Williams. Paperback, 48 pages, $10.95. Published by Bluestocking Press. Please support HomeschoolChristian.com by buying this book from our Amazon affiliate link.
Richard Maybury shares some of the wisdom and knowledge he has gained during his long career as a writer, magazine editor, geopolitical analyst, and businessman in this first book of the "Uncle Eric" series, Uncle Eric Talks About Personal, Career, and Financial Security. Mr. Maybury comments that he would have been prosperous twenty years earlier if someone had given him this advice when he was young.
The first portion of the book explains the concept of models. Providing many real world examples, Mr. Maybury explains that models are a "mental picture of how the world works." Humans are very reluctant to forsake a model once it has been accepted, but when they do decide to change the model, one says they have made a paradigm shift. Mr. Maybury suggests that readers should learn about two crucial models, Austrian economics and British common law, covered in his later books. Bringing in bits of history, he further discusses how flaws in reasoning may affect models and lead individuals and governments to incorrect conclusions and corruption.
Having a good grasp of models in the world will allow a person to build a model for personal success, the topic of the second part of the book. Earlier in the twentieth century Americans could find success through the entrepreneurial model (business ownership) or the "prosperous employee model" (working for a good company); however, because taxes increased dramatically throughout the 1900's, the prosperous employee model has largely disappeared. "By the year 2000, one parent worked to support the family, and the other worked to support the government." The only way to get ahead, in Mr. Maybury's opinion, is to own a business.
"Uncle Eric" continues by making suggestions as to how to start and succeed as an entrepreneur. He recommends internships and studying many different topics such as sales, algebra, photography, advertising, accounting, public speaking, and geopolitics. Financial concerns regarding debt, investment, real estate ventures, social security, and interest rates are also covered. A number of additional resources, books, videos, and Web sites, are listed for further study.
Building a Personal Model for Success, A Bluestocking Guide
The study guide for Uncle Eric's book has short answer and true/false sections to help cement the material covered, but the guide is particularly valuable because of its discussion/essay questions. These thought-provoking questions are extremely important for parents to consider as much as for the young person studying the book, because they will open new avenues that may never have been explored. A final exam is provided, and all answers are in the back of the guide.
Recommendation: "Listen, my sons, to a father's instruction; pay attention and gain understanding." Proverbs 4:1 Homeschooling parents and children can gain much from the wisdom of Mr. Maybury. Uncle Eric Talks About Personal, Career, and Financial Security will help young people get started on a more prosperous life, and it will help their parents see where improvements can be made in their own lives. This outstanding book is just a starting point for study with its many recommended additional resources. Begin with it and move through the Uncle Eric series for an interesting study of economics, government, business, "life skills," and current events.
HomeschoolChristian.com resources related to this review:
Interview with Richard Maybury, author of the Uncle Eric books
Review of Economics, A Free Market Reader by Richard Maybury
Review of Whatever Happened to Penny Candy? by Richard Maybury
Review of The Clipper Ship Strategy by Richard Maybury
Review of The Money Mystery by Richard Maybury
Review of Evaluating Books, What Would Thomas Jefferson Think About This? by Richard Maybury
Review of Ancient Rome, How It Affects You Today
Review of Uncle Eric History books by Richard Maybury
Review of Whatever Happened to Justice? by Richard Maybury
Review of Are You Liberal, Conservative, or Confused? by Richard Maybury
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