Navigating the Dark Side of Wealth: A Life Guide for Inheritors

Based on her own experiences and those of her clients with the Dark Side of wealth, Thayer Willis shines a light into an area seldom thought about, let alone addressed, in our materialistic culture.

In Navigating the Dark Side of Wealth, Ms. Willis details the pitfalls that great wealth can lead people into: the morally corrupting and emotionally stunting effects that having material riches can cause, and the pain and heartache that ensue. More importantly, within these pages she provides the needed guidance that, if taken to heart, can lead troubled inheritors to more balanced and fulfilling relationships.

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All Customer Reviews
Average Customer Review:
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:

Great Insight, 2008-06-24
Working with financial planers, who are preparing my family to receive a cash out of the family business. This book helps to put things into perspective. I enjoy that she is able to write from experience, not only being an inheritor herself, but counseling with those who are having difficulties of receiving an inheritance. I've always loved reading real life stories, because they seem to pack a bigger, better punch, and really get the point across. I was really helpful and easy to read.


1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

Comfort for guilty heirs, but not much else., 2008-02-21
I bought this book after I saw the author and a Realtor on a TV show, talking about many of the pitfalls that can happen when a wealthy relative dies and their heirs cause trouble for everyone. As this family dynamic is something I anticipate may happen in my family at some point, even if none of us will become wealthy, I was interested in what the author said. Unfortunately, the book contained little of the conversation I heard on TV.

Mainly this book is for those lucky few who are suddenly bestowed with wealth above their peers through no effort of their own, and feel guilty about it. It also has some tips for how to deal with friends and changing relationships, but very little to nothing about how to deal with families gone bad when a wealthy (or more wealthy than you, anyway) relative dies and everyone in the family bares their fangs. That's what I bought it for, so I could prepare for what often becomes a family melee as everyone looks out for him or herself, and hopefully I could help create a more positive and equitable outcome for all involved. If you can relate to this situation, I recommend looking elsewhere for help.


2 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

News flash: "money doesn't buy happiness" isn't news, 2008-01-11
The "editorial review" breathlessly states:

"Thayer Willis shines a light into an area seldom thought about, let alone addressed, in our materialistic culture.

In 'Navigating the Dark Side of Wealth,' Ms. Willis details the pitfalls that great wealth can lead people into: the morally corrupting and emotionally stunting effects that having material riches can cause, and the pain and heartache that ensue."

Huh? What planet is this "editorial" reviewer from? Wealth might mot be a ticket to happiness (or satisfaction, or peace, or whatever) but how silly to say this is "seldom thought about." In fact, quite the opposite. The assumption almost ALWAYS is that wealth is corrupting and empty.

I'd like to see a book that says "I'm rich, and it's great!!"

Now THAT would be "an area seldom thought about."



0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:

A Financial Planner's Review of this Book, 2008-01-05
This book is one of the best books I have ever read covering the issue of how money plays such a huge role in how we live our lives. Not because one has more than another but how we "play the game of life" when money gets in our way verses how we play the game of life (and enjoy it) when we use money just like any other tool, such as talent, and motivation. As a financial planner I have known many of the same people Thayer describes in her book and I now know of a book I can give to them to get them started on the path of living life fully "in spite of their silver spoon".


3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

Not just for the wealthy, 2007-05-18
Not just for the wealthy, Willis accurately describes the situation of young middle-class Americans born into a society of abundance. Her description of the Agression - Assertiveness - Passivity continuum and struggle we middle-classers' seem to have with entitlement was worth the book alone.

Willis case-study style makes each chapter enjoyable and easy to read.

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