This might be the first book published describing how to FIRE

[ThatGuy]

I came across this article about a book published in 1960.  The ideas are very similar to what is preached in FIRE blogs.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/nextavenue/2017/09/03/5-ways-to-retire-without-money/amp/

BTW it is available on Amazon but it's kind of pricey.

[Dee]

What a neat find! I'd never heard of that book or author before.

[Linea_Norway]

Great article/book. Funny to see that the book already use the term "rat race". So that is not new to our time.

His principles are the same as we see on the MMM site.

[Classical_Liberal]

Nice find!

[wageslave23]

Good thing he retired early since he ended up dying at 65! 

[cerat0n1a]

I found a scan of the book through the search bar at the online books page

https://onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu/

It's quite amusingly written and I'd say very much in line with MMM principles.

[ThatGuy]

I found a scan of the book through the search bar at the online books page

https://onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu/

It's quite amusingly written and I'd say very much in line with MMM principles.

Thanks!  I didn't know that search site existed.

[cerat0n1a]

I found a scan of the book through the search bar at the online books page

https://onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu/

It's quite amusingly written and I'd say very much in line with MMM principles.

Thanks!  I didn't know that search site existed.

Neither did I until I searched for the above book!

[Rosy]

I do remember reading this one a long time ago. Flipping the adobe houses was an interesting idea.
I'll have to look it up again.
Thanks.

[Mtngrl]

I am enjoying reading this. Of course, the $$ figures he mentions are mind-boggling to me. COL was much, much lower then (though I'm sure, so were wages.)

[LaineyAZ]

Another early writer:  Ernest Callenbach, author of Living Poor with Style, published in 1972.  (title later changed to Living Cheaply with Style). 
https://www.amazon.com/Living-Poor-Style-Ernest-Callenbach/dp/B0012X5QDK/ref=sr_1_7?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1548341123&sr=1-7&keywords=ernest+callenbach

A personal favorite, and one I stumbled on in college.

[aceyou]

Good thing he retired early since he ended up dying at 65! 

Eh, that was pretty normal at that time, right?  Everyone smoked, and pretty much any heart condition or cancer meant game over.  But yes, point well taken, he got to enjoy many years he wouldn't of otherwise had.

Great find OP!  Seemed like a pretty forward thinker!

[cerat0n1a]

I am enjoying reading this. Of course, the $$ figures he mentions are mind-boggling to me. COL was much, much lower then (though I'm sure, so were wages.)

I like the bit where he suggests Monte Carlo and St. Tropez as cheap places to live on the French Riviera. Also where he talks about importing Dutch girls to the US to work as servants. Times have definitely changed.

[RetiredAt63]

Bob Belmont was Mack Reynolds (or I suppose vice versa) - his SF was interesting and a lot of it is now on Gutenberg, if anyone wants to see how his mind worked.

[RetiredAt63]

These are recurring themes, MMM is nothing new.

https://www.amazon.com/How-Survive-Without-Salary-Conserver/dp/1895629683/ref=sr_1_7?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1548614438&sr=1-7&keywords=Charles+Long

[Dicey]

Good thing he retired early since he ended up dying at 65!

I felt the same way about Joe Dominguez when he died at 58.

[soccerluvof4]

When you really think about it its really just common sense. Unfortunately to many people dont have any. He spelled it out though for anyone to understand and so long ago. Cool!