Liabilities to Assets, a book review

 

LIABIITIES TO ASSETS
Written by Raphael Uzor
A book review by Jim “Gymbeaux” Brown, October 25, 2026

Liabilities to Assets
A Book That WILL Change Your Life!

I have a personal quote that I often use:

“YOU and read…for a change! Or YOU can read…for a CHANGE!”

Gymbeaux

The meaning is simple. Too many people rarely, if ever, read nonfiction books. They miss opportunities to gain experience, grow, and make meaningful changes in their lives. Some people need to change, whether they realize it or not. Others know they need to make changes but may not know where to begin.

Reading can open the door to both possibilities. Liabilities to Assets is a book that should make you think seriously about the changes you could—and should—make in your life.

Have you ever imagined sitting on your front porch in your eighties, having a conversation with your 20-year-old self?

Picture the two of you sharing eight decades of life lessons. You explain the mistakes you made, the opportunities you missed, the decisions you wish you had made differently, and the lessons you learned along the way. All the while, you are hoping and praying that your younger self is listening carefully and taking notes.

Why? Because some of the most valuable lessons you learned came too late to benefit you when you needed them most. But they are NOT too late for your 20-year-old self!

That is precisely why I believe Liabilities to Assets, by Raphael Uzor, is such a valuable book.

There is hardly a page that does not contain information that could benefit your younger self—and, quite frankly, your present self as well. The book addresses the kinds of decisions that shape our lives, often in ways we do not fully appreciate until years later. Chapter Twelve may be particularly important, but every chapter offers lessons that can help readers recognize and navigate the obstacles of life placed in their path.

One of the book's greatest strengths is the author's use of true stories to illustrate and reinforce the lessons presented. These stories make the concepts more relatable and help bring the message home.

The central idea is both simple and powerful: You can evaluate every aspect of your life in terms of whether it is an asset or a liability.

This applies far more than money. It includes relationships, investments, friendships, and the many other choices we make throughout our lives.

The author also provides questions that encourage readers to think critically about their decisions. Is this an asset or a liability? Will it remain that way over time? Could something that appears to be an asset today become a liability tomorrow—or vice versa?

These are important questions. Learning to ask them, and honestly evaluating the answers, can influence the direction of your life.

Who should read this book?

EVERYONE!

However, if I could put this book into the hands of one age group, I would choose young people between the ages of thirteen and twenty-four.

Why? Because there is enormous value in learning to think about your future before your future becomes your present. The earlier you develop the habit of evaluating your choices, the more opportunities you have to make decisions that benefit you over the long term.

Starting young, you can pay dividends for decades. Waiting until later in life means you may have to learn some lessons the hard way. Some lessons, unfortunately, come with a price you cannot recover.

Of course, you do not have to be young to benefit from this book. It is never too late to learn, reassess your choices, and make changes that improve your life.

Would I read this book again?

Absolutely—but with one important distinction.

You do not necessarily need to read a book twice unless you want to reinforce the lessons it contains. If I were young, I would not simply read Liabilities to Assets once and put it on a shelf. I would STUDY it. I would revisit its lessons, think carefully about how they applied to my life, and make a conscious effort to incorporate them into my daily decisions.

This is the kind of book you should keep within reach and return to as you move through the different stages of your life. The lessons may take on new meaning as your circumstances and priorities change.

Would I give this book as a gift?

ABSOLUTELY! And I plan to do exactly that this Christmas.

I intend to give copies to my children and grandchildren because I cannot think of a better gift than the gift of knowledge that can help them make wiser decisions, avoid unnecessary mistakes, and build more rewarding lives.

Material gifts may bring happiness for a time. But a valuable lesson, learned early enough and applied wisely, can benefit someone for a lifetime.

That brings me back to my personal quote:

“YOU and read…for a change! Or YOU can read…for a CHANGE!”

If you are looking for a book that encourages you to think differently about your choices, your relationships, your financial decisions, and your future, I encourage you to read Liabilities to Assets.

And if you have children or grandchildren who are just beginning their journeys through life, consider giving them a copy.

You cannot go back and change the decisions you made when you were twenty. But you may be able to help someone you love to make better decisions when they are twenty.

This book is worth reading—and worth sharing.