Book Club: The Wealth Choice by Dennis Kimbro
4 min read
The Wealth Choice is written by Dr Dennis Kimbro, a researcher, speaker, and author who has spent decades studying Black success and achievement in the United States. This book is the result of a multi year study of more than one thousand Black millionaires. He looks at how they think, how they work, and how they navigate a system that was not designed for them.
Instead of giving one “secret,” Kimbro looks at mindset, daily habits, and long-term planning. The focus is less on quick tricks and more on how these people think and move over years.
For creatives, that lens is useful. It pulls the conversation away from overnight success and toward consistency, clarity, and ownership.
Big Ideas Inside the Book
You can read The Wealth Choice cover to cover, but a few ideas come up again and again.
1. Clarity about what you are building
The people Kimbro studies are not vague about their goals. They have a clear picture of the life and work they are aiming for, and they organize decisions around that picture.
For a writer or artist, that might mean knowing whether you want a catalog of books, a studio practice, a small press, a teaching career, or some mix of all of the above. The point is to stop operating on autopilot.
2. Discipline beats drama
A recurring theme in the book is that steady habits outpace occasional bursts of effort. The millionaires Kimbro interviews usually have:
- Set times for focused work
- Regular learning or reading habits
- Basic systems for tracking money
Nothing here is glamorous, but that is the point. The “secret” often looks like doing simple things consistently.
3. Money is a skill, not a mystery
Kimbro treats money management as something you can learn. The people in the book know what they earn, what they owe, and what they are trying to build. They make plans based on real numbers, not vibes.
For creatives, this is a helpful reframe. You do not have to become a financial expert, but you do need a basic view of:
- What your projects cost you in time and money
- What actually brings in income
- How you want that income to grow over time
Takeaways For Writers and Creative Entrepreneurs
You do not have to be chasing millions to get something out of this book. A few practical takeaways translate well to the literary and arts world.
Treat your work like a real venture
If your writing, art, or publishing work brings in any money at all, it is more than a hobby. Seeing it that way changes how you make choices about time, pricing, and partnerships.
The Wealth Choice nudges you to:
- Put basic structure around your creative work
- Decide which projects are front and center
- Look at your calendar and bank statement as tools, not enemies
Build routines that protect your talent
The book highlights daily routines more than dramatic turning points. For creatives, a parallel might be:
- A regular writing or studio schedule
- A weekly finances check-in
- Dedicated time for reading, study, or skill building
The aim is not to become rigid. It is to reduce the amount of energy wasted deciding what to do next.
Think about ownership early
Kimbro returns often to the idea that owning your work and assets matters. Applied to a literary or arts career, this can mean:
- Understanding contracts before you sign them
- Knowing what rights you are giving up and why
- Creating your own products or platforms where it makes sense
You do not have to do everything yourself, but you should know what you control.
Where To Read It with Caution
Like most success books, The Wealth Choice leans heavily on mindset and discipline. Readers who are already stretched thin might find some sections a bit blunt.
A balanced way to approach it is:
- Take the practical parts that apply to your situation
- Ignore anything that feels disconnected from your reality
- Use it as a conversation starter with yourself, not a rigid rulebook
The value is in the questions it pushes you to ask: What do I actually want? How am I using my time? What am I avoiding when it comes to money?
Should It Be on Your Shelf?
If you are looking for a novel or a craft book, this is not that. The Wealth Choice sits firmly in the success and personal finance lane.
If you are:
- A writer, editor, or artist trying to get more intentional about money
- A small press or lit mag founder working to build something sustainable
- A creative who wants a nudge toward structure without losing your voice
then this book is worth a read.
You do not have to agree with every page for it to be useful. Even one or two mindset shifts, paired with a few concrete changes in how you work and plan, can make a real difference over time.
You can find The Wealth Choice: Success Secrets of Black Millionaires on Amazon here:
