The 5 Types of Wealth: A Transformative Guide to Design Your Dream Life

The author recounts how his parents made significant sacrifices to be together despite the disapproval of his father’s grandparents. Bloom never met his paternal grandparents. Although he was raised in a loving middle-class household, he envied his wealthy childhood friend, who enjoyed a more luxurious lifestyle. When Bloom’s dreams of a professional baseball career were ruined by an injury, Bloom took a job at an investment firm. He was initially thrilled by the huge salary, and by the age of 30, he had the fancy house, car, and belongings that he had always wanted. But inside he felt unhappy, and he was continually looking to the future and expecting something else to bring him satisfaction. He calls this mindset the “arrival fallacy” (6), as he always expected one more thing to make him feel like he had finally “arrived” at his destination.

The author laments the fact that as he pursued his demanding career, he neglected other areas of his life, such as his health, friendships, and family. Bloom resolved to become a “student of the human experience” (8), talking with people of all walks of life. Through these conversations, Bloom felt that everyone’s ideal futures revolved around the same core things: “time, people, purpose, health” (9).