The American Dream

An optimistic, inspiring look at America's capitalist system―and how to use it to achieve your most important goals In The American Dream: Why It's Still Alive...And How to Achieve It, author Alexander Green extols America's exceptionalism, underscoring its unmatched economic dominance, technological innovation, and cultural influence, and highlights the importance of American ideals and the nation's capacity to provide upward mobility and prosperity to its citizens.  He stresses that economic success in the U.S. is attainable through education, hard work, saving, and investing and provides an action plan for achieving financial independence, with information on maximizing income, reducing expenses, saving, and investing wisely. In this book, readers will find detailed insights on: Motivating economic trends, such as the fact that the percentage of U.S. households earning more than $100K has increased significantly since 1980 Why the U.S. remains a land of opportunity due to a robust economy, leading global companies, and significant contributions to science and technology The life-enhancing value of embracing “Radical Responsibility” Why we are living in a new “Golden Age” for investors How to shorten the road to financial independence by embracing "The World's Simplest Investment Portfolio" The American Dream: Why It's Still Alive...And How to Achieve It earns a well-deserved spot on the bookshelves of all ambitious individuals seeking long-term financial prosperity―and to experience the ultimate feeling of earned success.

Introduction 1 Part 1 Proof That the American Dream Is Alive and Well 13 Chapter 1: The American Dream Defined 15 Chapter 2: What’s So Great About America 23 Chapter 3: Things Aren’t What They Used to Be and That’s a Good Thing 33 Chapter 4: Time Prices and the American Dream 37 Chapter 5: The Future Is Better Than You Imagine 49 Chapter 6: The Founders’ Ideal of Happiness 61 Chapter 7: Why Economic Inequality Is a Bogus Issue 69 Chapter 8: The Enemies of the American Dream 91 Part 2 How to Achieve the American Dream 107 Chapter 9: Why the United States Has a Record Number of Millionaires 109 Chapter 10: How Wealth Is Created 119 Chapter 11: The Key to the American Dream: Personal Responsibility 127 Chapter 12: How to Make Success a Habit 135 Chapter 13: Part of the American Dream: Home Sweet Home 149 Chapter 14: Savings: The Seed Corn of the American Dream 157 Chapter 15: Investing: How to Sow What You’ll Reap 169 Chapter 16: The World’s Simplest Investment System 185 Chapter 17: Staying the Course to Achieve the Dream 201 Part 3 How to Enjoy and Preserve the American Dream 209 Chapter 18: The Power of Optimism to Attain the American Dream 211 Chapter 19: To Live Fully Aim to “Die with Zero” 219 Chapter 20: There Is No True Wealth Without Health 229 Chapter 21: Paying the American Dream Forward 245 Chapter 22: Developing an Attitude of Gratitude 253 Acknowledgments 263 Index 267