Book Review: Die With Zero by Bill Perkins

Die with Zero encourages readers to re-evaluate their goals and prioritize experiences that bring them the most joy and fulfillment. To do this instead of focusing on accumulating wealth or leaving a financial legacy for their heirs. I'll admit that I think a lot about the legacy I will leave for my son, and this book didn't really convince me otherwise. The book advocates for the idea that we should aim to die with both zero regrets and zero money by living life to the fullest and making the most of our time and resources. I do agree with the sentiment that we all need to 'stop and smell the roses' from time to time, but I tend to have a more pessimistic worldview than the author. I might agree if I thought the underpinnings of society and the economy were stable, but I am far from that conclusion. I just don't believe that my son will have the same opportunities that I had when he hits adulthood. It is possible that things could change by the time he reaches my age, but if I can help him bridge the cap I will. In any case, I intend to leave a financial legacy for him despite this book. I also intend to involve him (hopefully) long before I die, such as establishing a family trust and making him a board member. I'm not sure if that is in line with the concept of giving your money to your heirs while you are still alive that this book lays out, but I think it's a much better way to go than giving them a lump of cash. I do agree that if you simply write a will that pays your heirs and charities after you die, you are not being generous. Dead people are not capable of being generous. The Giving Pledge, while a net positive for the world, is a total copout. If these uber rich people were truly generous they would give away their money while they were still alive.

In sum, the book did convince me that I need to seek out more experiences now while I still can, but I refuse to do so at the expense of building a better future and enduring legacy for my son.

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