How do people get rich? Surely no one has worn out more pairs of shoes in the effort to track down the answer to this eternal question than Mr. D'Agostino who, after generating a list of 50, rich, American zipcodes, sets out upon a door-to-door odyssey to learn the truths of acquired wealth. From I.T. Seattle to old-money Connecticut, from gentrified Atlanta to booming Houston, Mr. D'Agostino pounds the pavement of some of the country's most exclusive neighborhoods, working a mixture of charm and flattery to solicit from the successful a few helpful tidbits on the acquisition of wealth. Though his necessarily condensed account of his experiences leaves the reader with no conception of how often he was urned away, his subjects, on balance, seem quite willing to talk to him about their triumphs. But then, as Mr. D'Agostino points out, who wouldn't want to brag a little about conquering the game of life, at least as it's defined by contemporary America?
Though Rich Like Them has enough informational nuggets to satisfy readers looking for tips on getting rich, it is primarily a collection of cleverly told life stories, some hilarious, some fascinating, that do much more to enlighten us on the nature of the successful than the means of their success. Sure, some of the characters here are simply in the right place at the right time, but others exhibit a set of basic skills admirably and doggedly applied. Some get ahead through simply being kind while others advance by unhesitatingly seizing an opportunity. And while there's no universal tactic described here, there does seem to be a core decency to all of Mr. D'Agostino's subjects which, while not excluding ruthlessness, offers a hopeful view of the nature of human success.
Rich Like Them is as charming as its subjects. Mr. D'Agostino strikes a wonderful balance between enthusiasm for his innovative project and introspection concerning the nature of wealth and the people who have claimed it. Though his account benefits from his riveting subjects, the piece would be much the worse without his own dogged determination to give earnest thought to the questions he's posed. Not exactly the kind of piece that wins Pulitzers; nonetheless, a valuable and worthwhile read for both the thoughtful and the ambitious. (4/5 Stars)
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