Acres of Diamonds
Acres of Diamonds originated as a speech which Conwell delivered over 6,000 times around the world; it was eventually published as delivered in Conwell’s home town, Philadelphia.
The central idea of the work is that one need not look elsewhere for opportunity, achievement, or fortune — the resources to achieve all good things are present in your own community. This theme is developed by an introductory anecdote, told to Conwell by an Arab guide, about a man who wanted to find diamonds so badly that he sold his property and went off in futile search for them; the new owner of his home discovered that a rich diamond mine was located right there on the property. Conwell elaborates on the theme through examples of success, genius, service, or other virtues involving ordinary Americans contemporary to his audience: “dig in your own back-yard!”.
User Ratings and Reviews
1 Stars Dull and flawed
The message of this book, akin to Dorothy’s final words in Oz to Glinda the good witch, is that the wealth you seek is right in your own backyard. This homily could be delivered in a single page and hardly merits even the relatively few pages of this work. The rest of the book is made of anecdotes of people who sold their farms to go seek diamonds or oil or the like, only to have the new owners find the very thing they were looking for, right on the farm they sold. Anecdotes are great for illustrating a point but are hardly firm foundation for making the point. He could just as well have written an alternate book full of anecdotes (of which history provides many) about people who sold their farms and went seeking elsewhere for riches and found them. What a con! It proves that all you have to do is pander to what people want to hear. It’s a “feel good” book with a foundation of wet sand.
5 Stars Regular People Can Accomplish Great Things
At 64 pages from cover-to-cover, “Acres of Diamonds” is probably the shortest book I’ve read in a long time. Written by Baptist minister and founder of Temple University, Russell H. Conwell, this book originated as one of his sermons, which was so popular that it was published as a book.
“Acres of Diamonds” is based on a parable told to Conwell by an Arab guide during a trip to the Middle East. The parable tells the story of a man who sells his farm to search the world for diamonds. The man dies in poverty and wretchedness far from his home, not knowing that his farm sat on the richest diamond mine in the world.
It is easy to think that great things are only accomplished by other people in faraway places. Conwell argues that we can all accomplish great things wherever we are. He gives many examples of regular people who accomplished great things. After all, he says, even a great man like Abraham Lincoln was just “Abe” to his neighbors.
I believe this book was first published in the early 1900s, so the writing style is kind of old-fashioned and Conwell refers to people and products that were prominent during his time, but have less meaning to people today. There are no chapters or other structure to the book (of course it’s only 64 pages long).
Despite these minor complaints, the book has a great message. You can accomplish great things where you are right now. You don’t have to move to New York, Los Angeles, or Paris. Whether you’re in Milwaukee, Philadelphia, Portland or Shreveport, there are “acres of diamonds” below your feet.
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Michael Mihalik is the author of Debt is Slavery: and 9 Other Things I Wish My Dad Had Taught Me About Money. Learn how to gain control of your finances, pay off your debt, and create financial security!
5 Stars Acres of Diamonds
Timeless wisdom. Proves once again the principles of success do not need to be re-invented. Everything needed to be successful in life has already been written, and is available to all of us! Excellent
5 Stars Acres if Diamonds, All I can say is Awesom!!!
This book is highly Recommended! Very Inspiring!
It reveals to the reader the treasure that is within, if you would but search a little deeper instead of looking else where or to others. It causes you to really think and tap into the hidden gifts and potential that is on the inside of oneself. 5 KUDOS!!!
Lanesa Stubbs
4 Stars Acres of Intellectual Riches
The speech is inspiring and motivational. It would be rousing to hear. As a book, be prepared to know that it’s slight. The message is you don’t have to go searching the world for the success that awaits you wherever you are. Great point. The stories at the beginning are delicious irony of people who went far and wide but missed the obvious.
The second half rambles far and wide from the main points, going into politics, and they go right to points you pretty much anticipate. Although enough can never be said about the vital need for character and savy over a mindset that thinks greatness will adorn a man’s void of effort.
Everyone should read the speech. But if you’re reading this, you can easily google the text in PDF or html, and read the Acres speech before you could get delivery of a hard-copy book. Acres of Diamonds are literally at your fingertips, so you don’t need to search far and wide to get a published edition. In fact, I just downloaded one free 2 seconds ago. The read takes less than 30 minutes.
Enjoy!
Filed under: Jack Canfield Book Reviews