A NEW WAY TO WEALTH

A nonfiction book offers a Benjamin Franklin–inspired plea to embrace frugality in all aspects of life.

This work uses Franklin’s book The Way to Wealth as both an inspiration and a framing device. Piasecki encourages readers to pursue “competitive frugality,” improving outcomes by doing more with less on both the personal and global levels. Each chapter opens with a Franklin quotation that introduces the concept Piasecki explores in essays that often deliver intriguing asides, both in footnotes and in the main text, before returning to their central themes. The book explores the current state of business, the environment, and human interaction. It shows how each is affected by embracing a sense of frugality and common purpose, which the author contrasts with the “stupid” behavior of “knuckleheads” whose actions are often self-defeating and always unsustainable. The volume celebrates companies pursuing sustainable growth, particularly Unilever, and each chapter ends with a list of highlights and suggestions for contemplation and discussion. Piasecki takes a broad view of what frugality means, encompassing everything from living within one’s means to operating an efficient workplace to appreciating small moments of joy. (One example of the last category, a story about the author’s encounter with musician Dizzy Gillespie, is particularly delightful.) The closing chapters look toward the future, focusing on the current generation of children and how it can benefit from people in positions of authority thinking about the long-term repercussions of their decisions. The book concludes with a list of recommended resources for further reading.

Piasecki’s passion for his subject is evident throughout, and it is clear that he has put a lot of thought into how the world can achieve sustainability. With its wide-ranging subject matter, examining everything from the functions of global cities and hockey games to Bruce Springsteen, the volume encompasses the author’s broad interests and experiences. Business book connoisseurs will enjoy the work’s assessment of the similarities and differences between its observations on management and those of Jim Collins in Good to Great (2001). Piasecki highlights little-known leaders who embody his concept of competitive frugality, with plenty of details provided as they are held up as examples. The author’s cautious optimism about humanity’s ability to curb climate change pairs well with his frequent reminders to readers that the necessary modifications are both achievable and desirable, resulting in an upbeat look at a challenging topic. Piasecki has a gift for phrasing his key points concisely (“What is sound competition and what is simply stupid competitiveness?”), making the book an easy read that covers a remarkable amount of territory in under 200 pages. The many asides and digressions, while generally intriguing, can leave readers wondering where a chapter is going at times. But for the most part, the author successfully connects his conclusions to the preceding paragraphs, no matter how much he meanders along the way. There is a valedictory sensibility to the volume, with references to Piasecki’s earlier works and his long career, which adds weight to its arguments in favor of protecting the future.

An impassioned and engaging call to make life and work more sustainable.