This book, "Same as Ever," can be viewed as an extension of the author's previous bestseller, "The Psychology of Money.” The title indicates the author's unconventional approach to life: instead of forecasting a specific event in the future, the focus should be on things that never change.
"Same as Ever" explores numerous enduring human traits, including greed, conformity, fear, uncertainty, doubt, and risk-taking etc. It emphasizes how certain patterns, such as the economic cycle, continually repeat themselves. This cycle, driven by fluctuating public sentiment, from pessimism to acceptance, from over-optimism to over-investment, inevitably leads to downfall, only to repeat itself.
One appealing concept in the book is that everything happens for a reason. The last chapter, "Wounds Heal, Scars Last", uses the 9/11 disaster as an example. While the city appears to have healed, the heightened subway security near Ground Zero reveals a lingering sense of unease. This is something that people born post 9/11 might never fully grasp.
The book also reflects on the universal desire for wealth. Ironically, it suggests that wealth is not the solution, a concept that is often not fully understood until one achieves wealth. Referencing a quote by Jim Carrey: I think everybody should get rich and famous and do everything they ever dreamed of so they can see that it's not the answer. The book suggests that the pursuit of wealth can be endless. When wealth is achieved, the goalpost often moves, leading to a chase for even greater wealth. While wealth may seem to be the solution to all problems, the book argues that it fails to significantly alter our circumstances. Wealthy individuals face the same issues as everyone else.
While some of the content may seem cliché, the author skillfully uses short stories to convey timeless truths and wisdom, suggesting that understanding these may be a better life strategy.