One of the best self help books out there. Robert Ringer speaks forwardly, honestly, and intelligently. I learned much from reading this book. My life changed because I shattered the many misconceptions I assumed from my interactions with individuals and media. 90% of the information you and I receive is pure bull! I learned everyone acts selfishly. Yes, everyone! Whew, what a load off my mind. Another: we all define words differently. No wonder I see so many people argue... cause they talk about different things using the same words. These are just a few of the many wonderful ideas he wrote about and all from his personal experience. It's all common sense, but sometimes things so easy, so logical, get clouded inside all the goop from the outside. The major idea from Robert's book that I found attractive is his concept of freedom. The more I pursue self-help and just plain 'ol wisdom in general the more I realize how wonderful and colorful freedom really is. Check out this book; make it a permanent addition to your collection. It's like a Junior Woodchuck Manual for your life.

I had this book since 1987, and I have read it at least three times.

Ever wish someone had been honest enough to tell you what life was really all about and some simple rules for survival in all areas of life. Mr Ringer takes you on a humorus trip through the ups and downs of his life with some life saving tips that can put you 100 miles ahead of the next guy and save you a lot of pain in the process. This is a must. Once you read it you will refer back to it countless times and say, "this man was right on."

This tape basically covers what is in Ringer's book MILLION DOLLAR HABITS, but it does have informative and entertaining anecdotes that HABITS doesn't. It is well worth listening to.

A lot in this book is very helpful. Ringer says the habits are simple. Well, if they are so simple, how come everbody doesn't follow them? But then I read the founder of Gateway (or was it Dell) Computer's quote when he was listed on the "Forbes 400". He was on that list as a billionaire. He said, "Business is simple. It's not easy, but it's simple." And it made me think of this book. Losing weight is simple. Even Forrest Gump could comprehend that to lose weight, you need to eat less than you burn off. But then 54% of the USA is overweight-to-obese, despite how simple it is to lose weight (it's just not easy). Well, same with this book. The rules related are simple, but not easy. And one thing that makes Ringer's advice something worth listening to is, he has messed up a lot. He made and lost a fortune twice, and was $1/2 a million in debt after the second time. But climbed his way back to wealth a third time. So that suggests his rules work. A lot of people get rich through luck. But if they went broke, they'd stay broke (as some do). But if Ringer can become rich three seperate times, maybe so can the rest of us. He messed up, but learned not to mess up, so maybe we can learn too.(He relates some of this in the "financial hurdle" chapter in his book LOOKING OUT FOR NUMBER 1).

Million Dollar Habits is a book which will make you think about success and what it all means. The habits such as: simplicity, attitude, perspective, morality, human relations, drain people habit,present living, self discipline, and the action habit are habits that people face everyday. The book is packed with a lot of commonsense practical ideas which can only help anyone improve. The present living questions such as what do you enjoy? are an excellent way of oneself reflecting on what one wants. The perspective habit where Ringer goes to mexico with his pregnant wife and lands himself into some tricky situations is a moving experience. One of my best chapters is the human relations habit there are list of qualities which may be achieved with God in a persons life. They may be simple like compassion, discretion, genuineness, graciousness, refinement, responsibility, tactfulness, tolerance these are not your everyday TV qualities. There are many excellent examples where these ideals have shown the author that they are important. Reading Million Dollar Habits is worth more than the price paid. This is one of my best books the insightful ideas have inspired me to grow especially the action habit. I am surprised that this book was not put in audio form; furthermore all of Ringers books have not been released in audio. Their are blind people around who can only hear; moreover it is common for authors to use audio format. There was 'living without limits' which I have which has Million Dollar Habits ideas in it. Which is a great audio programme. Ringer is an excellent speaker one of the best I have ever heard. His new book 'Use Your head to Get what you want' will be interesting to read and I hope that is in audioform. I want to mention ' Thank you '

Starting in 1983, I read every success manual I could get my hands on. Think and Grow Rich. How To Get Control of Your TIme and Your Life. Laws of Success. But my life never permanently changed and I couldn't figure out why. Then, about a year ago (2000)I reached a low point and started making some real changes. The way I saw things in my life, in other people, got away from people who sucked the life out of me, etc. Things have continued to get better and better than ever! As I reflected on why my life started to change, I came across my old yellow copy of "Million Dollar Habits." (Complete with stuff written in the margins that I can't even relate to anymore!) As I read through the table of contents and began re-reading the book, I realized what I did last year was I started living each and every habit listed in the book! Now, I am buying myself a new copy and rereading it again. I am also giving it to my teenage daughter for her birthday and my best friend. If you read, believe and put into practice each and every habit (the order in which they are given is not random, it is the order of importance) you will be amazed at the changes that take place in your life. This book should be taught in every school.

When Ringer approaches general conduct, he gives good advice. But when he approaches certain scientific areas, he goes off the rails! He compares the old probablity example of "could a million chimps at typewriters randomly type the great works of literature over a billion years? No," as an argument for why evolution could not randomly occur. Well, evolution did NOT randomly occur. Molecular structures can result from basic rules of inanimate matter that set the foundations for organic matter to evolve (such as carbon molecules). Ringer also makes the claim that "there are no intermediary stages between species in the fossil record" as further evidence that evolution may not have occurred. But there ARE intermediary stages in the fossil record. I'd point you to intelligent websites that shows this, but Amazon.com doesn't allow--understandably--other webite addresses in these reviews. Okay, the other bit of silliness of Ringer's is when he tells of a doctor who could find a cure for a disease with a special "alternative medicine" diet, and the American Medical Association barred him from promoting his discoveries because he was a "threat" to doctors. Well, this guy was obviously a quack, and the doctors were just ignoring his research because it had a flimsly scientific basis. The doctors weren't some conspiracy to bury this guy's useful findings, because he was a threat to them. How could he be a threat? They could have just adopted his discoveries and cured their patients with it, charging fees. He wasn't a "threat" to them. So, anyway, when Ringer steps into the realm of science, he is hardly "rational", even though the whole point of this book is to promote rational thought. But the rest of the book, as I said, is a decent tome of common sense advice. When he gives advice on how to run a business, etc., he knows what he's talking about.

I have read every book Robert J. Ringer has written, and found great value in them all. His latest book, "Getting What You Want," is no exception. Ringer, who was influenced by the writings and philosophy of Ayn Rand, expounds again on Rand/Ringer principles for living: being grounded in reality, giving value for value in business and personal relationships, adhering to a code of honesty, ethics, and self-discipline. To this he adds his own Ringer philosophy of avoiding people, encumbrances and causes that drain your time and energy without contributing to your major goals. These are themes he has explored before, in "Looking Out For Number One" and "Million Dollar Habits"; but they are worth reading again, especially when reinforced by some new examples and perspectives, e.g., Ringer's experiences with his new employees in New Zealand. Some new issues that Ringer brings to "Getting What You Want" are getting rid of major encumbrances, in the form of a bad job, too much debt or an unhappy marriage, and how to move on with life following a bad break, such as the loss of a job or suffering an injustice.

Ringer's writing is full of good advice on how to succeed in life, but it is not only the advice that keeps me buying his books. As a writer, he is just plain interesting. His expositions are invariably illustrated by his own personal foibles, missteps and screw-ups, which are sometimes funny, sometimes touching, and always effective. In this book, he tells how he allowed himself to be pushed into acting "intimidating" on the "Tonight" television show, even though it misrepresented the real message of his first book, and how he wasted time in a trivial lawsuit until he realized that it was more about his injured pride than about money. Ringer also discusses three personal friends who suffered terrible personal setbacks (one was confined to a wheelchair following a traffic accident), but who were determined to succeed in spite of it, and did. Ringer's point: life is full of injustice, and the best thing to do is to learn from it what you can, and move on.

In "Getting What You Want," Ringer brings back his alter-ego, the tortoise, a comically drawn character who often illustrates his books. I have always liked the tortoise metaphor and the message it brings, that the race is not always to the swift, that persistence and perseverance can often win the contest even though one is not the fastest runner afoot. Ringer himself personifies this, as he has no special higher degrees or training; he is the self-made man, the legendary "little guy" who succeeds against all odds and obstacles, including government bureaucrats, hostile attorneys and deals that go bad. Perhaps that is why so many of his readers, including this one, find him so compelling.

Ringer ends this book with a delicious slice of philosophizing that I always enjoy from him. He has a fine mind, one that is open and willing to explore the cosmic "what-ifs." In the final chapter, "Afterword: the Endgame" Ringer discusses what happiness is, and some ways of achieving it. He touches on the concept of God, the existence of good and evil, and puts forth some interesting insights. Finally, he describes some examples of what mystics call "the mystical experience," including his own, a sudden burst of cosmic insight that can inspire joy and a sense of heightened awareness. The titles of Ringer's books always sound as if they were focused on amassing material wealth. Take it from me, there is a lot more to Robert Ringer than that.

I must say I found this to be a wonderful book, but I may have found it more wonderful than you will, because I was literally pondering some of the questions in life that Ringer addresses in this book. I was frankly appalled at so many people shrugging off O.J. Simpson getting away with murder, and shrugging off the rape allegations of Juanita Broaddrick against Bill Clinton. And Ringer addresses this problem (using, incidentally, Clinton and Simpson as illustrations) with going through life seeing immoral people get away with murder. There is much much more in this book, also things I'd been thinking about. If you take what he says to heart, you'll make your life, and those around you, better.

This is a good introduction to Libertarianism. In fact, I first read it when I was 18, just before I was to register to vote. And because of it, I registered as a Libertarian. I'm still a Libertartian. But I wouldn't register as a Libertarian if I were to register again. I'm in my 30's now, and my faith in humanity in the years in-between has diminished considerably. You really have to have faith in humanity to think that giving people free, laissez-faire, reign is a good idea. A lot of freedom is the way to go, absolutely. But there has to be some control. Anyway, whatever your political stance, RESTORING THE AMERICAN DREAM is worthwhile reading.

I read this book when it was first written, and found it to be an excellent introduction to libertarian principles, one that gets across the important principles in a non-academic way. It's an easy read, while being quite convincing.

This book finally convinced me to become a libertarian, or, more appropriately, made me realise I already am one. The basic premise is that nothing is more precious than individual rights. Freedom is more important than equality (the two ideals are actually antithetical and incompatible), more important than the "social safety net," even more important than "love of country." I urge anyone who feels our freedoms are being taken away from us to read this book ASAP. It's very much a rallying cry to return to limited government and individual liberty.

When I tried reading this book in college, I really couldn't relate. After a few years in the "jungle" (in my case NYC, financial difficulty, relationship problems), I felt that this book, unlike others which focus almost exclusively on positive, optimistic, and goal-seeking attitudes as answers to life, was on the money.

Robert writes about value-for-value relationships (akin to the law of kharma/psychological reciprocity), and how this concept determines the outcome and rewards of relationships, whether love, friendship or employer.

I have studied psychology, and have read more than twenty self-help books, and though this might be a little surprising (in the sense that people might find it cynical to an extent), I think there's so much truth to it. And because of the title, I found myself telling people "it's a good message - it's not about stepping on others." In fact, when one looks out for him/herself, that's when he can give or provide to someone else if he/she wants, and what he or she can give. So, it's also a message of independence. I've seen it happen where people help and give, sometimes giving what they cannot, and they end up frustrated, and things are worse than where they begin.

Though the book might seem a bit cynical, I think it is on the money, and Robert was an author who could come forth and talk about reality (though I think we all need to escape it once in a while, or not focus on the negativity).

I can related to a lot of what is in this book, though sometimes I do not want to believe in all of it - but it's reality. And I've found myself losing touch with it at the wrong times, and this book gives me a great message that will prepare me for future situations.

Good job Robert.

Ringer's book has literally changed my life. I often find myself thinking back to the words I had read, or flipping through pages of specific sections to remind me of his philosophies. Especially when I am dealing with difficult people. This book provided the words and methods on how to conduct oneself in order to fulfill whatever goals you set for yourself.

I do NOT consider myself a follower of everything the book spews at me. And I don't particularly agree with EVERYTHING the book states either. The beauty of this publication is that you are always free to disagree with certain positions that Ringer takes, and yet still benefit from the rest of his literature.

Anyone who I have encountered who dissed the book, I later end up finding out, never actually read it. The title does scare people away. Luckily it scares the "wrong" people away anyway. I strongly recommend this book to anyone who is struggling with the inner conflict of what they want or need to do for themselves vs. what they feel they should do.

Although, slightly dated in its refrences, this book has undone years worth of damage I have suffered in the education system (I am about to start my second Masters degree) and has also given me the rational to deal with turbulant personalities, whether they be family, friends, or business associates.

I bought this book for 33 1/3 cents in a used book store, and knowing now what it has offered me in the area of betterment in my life, I would gladly have paid 30 or 40 dollars. You simply can't make a better investment in a life altering book!

Recently I was asked if I could meet anybody in the world, who would it be. I say it would be Ringer, for nothing more that to say thank-you for putting his thoughts in writing.

Again, I stress that I absolutely do NOT agree with everything the man says, but I still have to give it my full thumbs up. And for me, thats says alot.

Some people might misinterpret the title of this book as`How To Screw People And Get Away With It',but nothing could be further from the truth! Robert shows how being an independent-thinking person who strives to fulfill his own rational self-interest not only leads to a more rewarding life but makes you less of a burden on those around you.Author and philosopher Ayn Rand,who Ringer lists as a source of inspiration,demonstrated the concept of rational self-interest through her fictional heroes-noble,dignified,purposeful characters such as Jon Galt and Howard Roark in `Atlas Shrugged' and `The Fountainhead'.In `Looking Out For No.1',Ringer provides an effective, down-to-earth,practical guide for enacting this concept in real-life.An entertaining read,Ringer provides many examples from his personal experience,some of which are quite humorous.Many of the characters he lists in the section on the `People Hurdle' will no doubt sound familiar to most readers.I enjoyed this one so much I have ordered two more of Robert's books!

Robert Ringer is a masterful student of human nature. Most people who criticize this book have never taken the time to read it. You may not agree with the author's view on various subject matters but it's hard to ignore his theories which happen to prove themselves over and over again. In my opinion, Mr Ringer is a negative thinker but is not a pessimist. If you surround yourself with nothing but positive thinkers, you are setting yourself up for subtle long term failure.

What is the purpose of life? It's for the individual to get what he/she wants from life. This book underscores the basic, underlying principle of all success - self preservation is the first law of nature. Looking out for number one is such a philosophy. I rate this book excellent because of it's humor. Although this book wasn't intended to be a work of humor, it inadvertantly accomplishes this task.

Robert Ringer's book is excellent. His philosophy, which dictates that all people should look out for themselves is one of the interesting ideas ever to permeate the self-help movement. While other concepts exist such as altruism and theocratic belief systems, his is a very vital idea. It is true that we are all responsible for the outcome of our lives. Looking out for number one will help you-the-reader focus on one of the most important belief systems this time-period has ever known - self-centered-ness.

His book also helps people to resist being influenced into other people's guilt-trips.

I really enjoyed this book... at first. I got the impression that this book was just about not letting others intimidate you, but on further reading, it became very apparent that his focus was on turning the tables. It was like, screw you before you screw me. The book did a great job of defining the three types of intimidators, and how to avoid being intimidated by them, but focused only on the authors experiences. Long before reading this book, I read 'Million Dollar Habits', also by Robert J. Ringer. That book was fantastic. This book didn't measure up, it was mean-spirited and vengeful in comparison. It was a good book on dealing with dishonest businessmen, and is a good book for anybody in the business world.

Many people seeing the title of this book would think that it teaches you to succeed by being boorish and overbearing. But that is not what the author means.

Ringer was just getting started in real estate when he discovered that bankers and property owners would not treat him with respect, despite the value of his services, because he was "only a broker." So he set out to present himself and what he did in a different light. He became the "mysterious expert from afar," amazing lenders and principals with his well trained staff, detailed presentations, calm manner, refusal to accept last-minute fee reductions, use of an attorney at closings, and, eventually, his own Lear jet.

He was still the same person, offering the same services. But suddenly, fewer people were attempting to defraud him of the fees he had earned for his services, or otherwise treat him dishonestly.

Ringer realized that these lessons learned in real estate could apply to many business situations and, indeed, to any situation in life where you have to deal with others.

He offered the book to several publishers, most of whom would not touch it, so he finally published it himself, and it became a runaway best seller.

"Winning Through Intimidation" may seem amoral to some, but read closely, it is really an interesting account of a "little guy's" successful effort to make the "big guys" take him seriously and treat him honorably in their dealings with him. It is well worth reading and its lessons should be pondered.

Robert Ringer wrote 3 books that I have read and that were the start of the section of my library called "Business Classics" Million Dollar Habbits is brilliant, well rounded and has a lot of ideas that will make your participation in business more thrill and less danger.
"Winning Through Intimidation" teaches you how to use images and stories on yourself to make the proper preperation and careful execution of any job meaty and palletable.
"Looking Out For Number one" is Karate for the salesman or businessman. Great ethicle well written book.
Anytime a lecturer or author puts down one of Ringers books as being self serving or immoral you can count on that person not having done their homework. Sort of an I.Q. test.
Add these books to your own business library. You'll read them more than once and they will save your fanny more than once.

This book is an overly pessimistic view of America's declining moral values, and the consequences that we will all have to suffer. While I agree that moral values have declined (increased drug use and the # of teen-aged single mothers, etc.), I don't agree that the consequences will be so severe so soon. (In fact, most of what is predicted in this book should have happened by now.) In fact, Robert Ringer himself must not think much of this book now. If you look at the list of books he's authored in his other books printed since then, he does not include HOW TO FIND HAPPINESS... in that list. I think this is partly because he sees he was a bit too alarmist in the book, but also because he cannibalized large sections of HOW TO FIND... for his subsequent book MILLION DOLLAR HABITS. Many of the points and stories in that book are in this one (The Battle of Little Big Pie for one). I mainly like this book because many of the points and stories I like in MILLION DOLLAR HABITS are flushed out more fully in this one. So this book is a mixed bag that only the most loyal students of Ringer's need read.

Robert Ringer himself in his most recent book GETTING WHAT YOU WANT, lamented how he got this book out to late, since Microsoft had moved onto a more advanced version of Word by the time this was published.