In this book you will meet three dozen impatient people. People who weren’t satisfied with the slow, plodding, money-saving route to financial security, the safe route that most of us feel stuck with. They wanted instant wealth — and they got it.

The instant millionaires featured in this book are a richly varied lot. Bestselling author of the fabled money bestseller The Zurich Axioms Max Gunther opens with a few dazzling millionaire legends, such as the man who invented Monopoly. You'll then meet fascinating characters such as: Harvey Shuster, who beat the stock market; Howard Brown, who decided to be rich and became a multi-millionaire within three years; and a group of men who made fast fortunes on fads such as the Hula Hoop and the Frisbee.

1. Originality and inventiveness

2. Opportunism: the readiness to reach out and grab a good chance when it drifts into view

3. Audacity: the pluck to do what others around are too timid to do

4. Follow through: a common factor among all instant success stories

5. Market sensitivity: the ability to sense what people will want to buy.

These terrific true stories illustrate that the dream of quick money isn't such a ridiculous dream at all. They also highlight that there are many routes to instant millions, methods you too can use, apply and profit from. So, come, read these tales — and maybe you'll find your inspiration to instant millions!

Max Gunther (1926-1998), born in England, went to the United States when he was 11 years old, attended schools in New Jersey and received his BA from Princeton University in 1949. He served in the US Army in 1950 and 1951 and was a staff member of Business Week from 1951 to 1955. Mr Gunther then served as a contributing editor of Time for two years. From 1956 he published articles in several magazines, including Playboy. Among his other books are The Zurich Axioms, The Luck Factor, Instant Millionaires, Wall Street & Witchcraft and How to Get Lucky.

Mr Gunther lived in Ridgefield, Connecticut, where his wife was a real-estate broker. They had three children. The author said that his diversions included surfing and skating, carving chess sets and playing chess, and painting.