Review by Myra Salzer
Truth be told, I received this book by Diana Chambers without purchasing it; it just came in the mail and sat on my desk for many months. I even remember questioning how long I would look at the book before I passed it along without reading it. I’ve known Diana superficially for several years: never worked with her, never collaborated with her, never even really had a deep conversation with her at industry gatherings. And then, this summer, I saw her at a NEXUS Global Summit. She was facilitating a session and, more truth be told, she did a great job! I was intrigued and told myself her book might be worth reading. Again, several months passed before I finally picked it up.
The book is just what the title says – a compilation of letters to Diana, with Diana’s responding letter, not dissimilar from Dear Abby questions and responses (but a whole lot classier). All the letters are related to money and wealth and the problems and challenges that go hand in hand with money and wealth. The letter writers were all facing a wealth-related challenge, but the challenges were quite varied. The letter writers were also varied in age and location. It was especially interesting since Diana lives in Switzerland and has lived in many locations. Her perspective is multinational, and her letter writers were also. There were letters about how to blend in (in a work environment), and how to communicate a legacy to children and grandchildren, and how to fix the planet and all the evil in it, and how to have a relationship with someone whose financial circumstances and background are quite different – just to name a few. While the responses were formulaic, Diana’s method worked. She always started her response with acknowledging the accomplishments of the letter writer. Her responses showed the depth of her knowledge regarding money, finances, philosophy, and/or life. She is clearly extremely well read, and thoughtful, and caring, and that comes through in her writing.
While there are too many well-placed quotes to mention, I will include a couple:
“Many wealthy people are little more than janitors of their possessions.” – Frank Lloyd Wright
“Good people treat others as they would like to be treated.
Generous people treat others better than they would like to be treated.
Wise people do not indulge in being either good or generous. Instead they treat people as they need to be treated.” – Sufi proverb
Because each chapter is a letter in and of itself, it’s easy to pick up and put down. Very readable. Very well done. Thank you, Diana, for sending it to me!