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Looking Out For #1
In page after page of this self-confidence and life-enhancing bible, bestselling author Robert Ringer guides you on the most exciting and rewarding journey of your life. This #1 bestseller will clearly demonstrate how to get from where you are now to where you want to be--with friends, lovers, finances, and all other areas of your personal world.
351 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1955
127 people are currently reading
522 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
May 26, 2010
I place this one on top of all other motivational books I had. Why not, Robert places common sense more than any other rah, rah that other authors are pitching. If you want a no-nonsense guide to life, love, and business, I recommend this one.
August 27, 2007
This book taught me that taking care of myself is not a sin but sacrificing one's self may be.
May 15, 2021
A great read about looking out for your interests so that you can be of use to others. A timeless book about care and respect for yourself. Yeah! It may be tricky, but it's very necessary.
Enjoy!
Enjoy!
July 24, 2023
Robert Ringer is an asshole.
He preaches openmindedness while hypocritically judging everybody that does not think the exact way he does. He literally puts “absolute moralists,” people he simply describes those who tell others they are acting immorally, in the same sentence as Nazis and terrorists. He’s vehemently against groups who aspire to create change, evidently hates young people and those with liberal political ideations, and ends the book with PAGES OF MEDIOCRE LOVE ADVICE. “There are plenty of fish in the sea” YEAH WE KNOW ROBERT. “The fear of rejection is something you should overcome” COOL YEAH GREAT IDEA. “My friend viciously cheated on his wife for years and I knew about it and did nothing about it whatsoever and use it as a joke story about how dedicated my buddy was to cheating on his wife” WAIT HOLD UP THATS PRETTY FUCKED UP ROBERT.
Honestly cannot believe I finished this thing.
He preaches openmindedness while hypocritically judging everybody that does not think the exact way he does. He literally puts “absolute moralists,” people he simply describes those who tell others they are acting immorally, in the same sentence as Nazis and terrorists. He’s vehemently against groups who aspire to create change, evidently hates young people and those with liberal political ideations, and ends the book with PAGES OF MEDIOCRE LOVE ADVICE. “There are plenty of fish in the sea” YEAH WE KNOW ROBERT. “The fear of rejection is something you should overcome” COOL YEAH GREAT IDEA. “My friend viciously cheated on his wife for years and I knew about it and did nothing about it whatsoever and use it as a joke story about how dedicated my buddy was to cheating on his wife” WAIT HOLD UP THATS PRETTY FUCKED UP ROBERT.
Honestly cannot believe I finished this thing.
June 24, 2019
I'd read self-help books in between my analysis of Marcosian propaganda because it allows me to refocus. Reading books that one needs to critique is enervating, and while it's also productive, critique tends to invite negativism: Kahneman argues that being analytical leads to one being more critical and negative, because it is necessary in analysis to predict everything that can happen, and this includes disasters. Conversely, happiness and positivity tend to inspire trust, because the lack of analysis whenever these occur prevent any deep thought and foresight regarding both positive and negative possibilities.
I like reading Dale Carnegie and Norman Vincent Peale books. They reinforce me when it comes to being a good person, and their books are written in formulae that are easy to follow and digest. But as an analytical personality, however, I tend to like books which posit facts and reality, as difficult to swallow they may be. I've been attracted to Manson's Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck because of its refreshing, grounded take on improving one's self: similarly, I loved this book because it may have been that book's father.
We're all going to die alone.
That's one of the book's main points. As difficult it is to accept, it is true. Because of this, the book's central corollary is:
Live a life of rational selfishness. Be rationally selfish.
What does rational selfishness mean? It's understanding that most relationships are quid pro quo. We get something for what we're giving. It's not comforting, but in light of reality, it's quite accurate.
The world won't give us shit. If we fail, we fail. But a lot of us expect that the world owes us something, and that's just not true. Great friendships are sustained by effort from both sides; great loves are also done in such a manner. Prioritizing oneself and understanding what one can get from one's effort will lead one to become an even better person: martyrdom only makes one bitter, and leads to being used by others, because one does not see one's own value.
Rational selfishness allows one to see one's value for what it is. It defogs the rose-colored lenses with regard to our view to the world, and this idea reminds me of the Husserlian epoche, or bracketing in phenomenology. Before asking philosophical questions, one must define what one is asking about, and the object of what one is asking about. Similarly, before trying to deal with problems in one's life, one must focus on understanding who the "I" is.
Further, Ringer's love advice is actually doubling down on one's personality and self and advertising oneself as who he or she really is. Putting one's best foot forward is just a form of lying, and he quips that it's hard maintaining relationships even when one's being authentic, so lying just makes it just that much harder.
The book is a painful, but necessary ablution. A lot of people won't take to this book kindly, because it calls out the reader's bullshit - that includes mine.
Make the first step, damn it!
It's unsettling. But precisely because it is unsettling, it becomes thought-provoking and is thus one of the best self-help books I've read.
I like reading Dale Carnegie and Norman Vincent Peale books. They reinforce me when it comes to being a good person, and their books are written in formulae that are easy to follow and digest. But as an analytical personality, however, I tend to like books which posit facts and reality, as difficult to swallow they may be. I've been attracted to Manson's Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck because of its refreshing, grounded take on improving one's self: similarly, I loved this book because it may have been that book's father.
We're all going to die alone.
That's one of the book's main points. As difficult it is to accept, it is true. Because of this, the book's central corollary is:
Live a life of rational selfishness. Be rationally selfish.
What does rational selfishness mean? It's understanding that most relationships are quid pro quo. We get something for what we're giving. It's not comforting, but in light of reality, it's quite accurate.
The world won't give us shit. If we fail, we fail. But a lot of us expect that the world owes us something, and that's just not true. Great friendships are sustained by effort from both sides; great loves are also done in such a manner. Prioritizing oneself and understanding what one can get from one's effort will lead one to become an even better person: martyrdom only makes one bitter, and leads to being used by others, because one does not see one's own value.
Rational selfishness allows one to see one's value for what it is. It defogs the rose-colored lenses with regard to our view to the world, and this idea reminds me of the Husserlian epoche, or bracketing in phenomenology. Before asking philosophical questions, one must define what one is asking about, and the object of what one is asking about. Similarly, before trying to deal with problems in one's life, one must focus on understanding who the "I" is.
Further, Ringer's love advice is actually doubling down on one's personality and self and advertising oneself as who he or she really is. Putting one's best foot forward is just a form of lying, and he quips that it's hard maintaining relationships even when one's being authentic, so lying just makes it just that much harder.
The book is a painful, but necessary ablution. A lot of people won't take to this book kindly, because it calls out the reader's bullshit - that includes mine.
Make the first step, damn it!
It's unsettling. But precisely because it is unsettling, it becomes thought-provoking and is thus one of the best self-help books I've read.
April 30, 2022
I loved this book so much that I actually bought two more copies of it. Rationality, in spite of my personality, is still something that I have to remind myself of time and again. This book has it in spades.
I've sent screenshots of pages to close friends of mine, and have been occasionally surprised with the relevance of the text, even though I've read it before. One of the book's admonitions is against group action, which makes sense: the true movers of this world move by themselves. The concept of group action is unrealistic because collective action helps you avoid personal responsibility.
There are a lot of other gems in this book. I've already listed a few in my previous review. It remains to be a gem, and like Kahneman's Thinking, Fast and Slow, I'll probably revisit it time and again.
I've sent screenshots of pages to close friends of mine, and have been occasionally surprised with the relevance of the text, even though I've read it before. One of the book's admonitions is against group action, which makes sense: the true movers of this world move by themselves. The concept of group action is unrealistic because collective action helps you avoid personal responsibility.
There are a lot of other gems in this book. I've already listed a few in my previous review. It remains to be a gem, and like Kahneman's Thinking, Fast and Slow, I'll probably revisit it time and again.
October 27, 2012
That I rated this book with more than one star does not imply agreement; it reflects the book's status as an artifact of the individualist, anti-government ideology that took root in the United States during the Reagan era. As such, it can be considered among the seminal texts in the canon of the Tea Party movement.
August 30, 2015
If your benchmark for success is becoming a self centered egomaniac then this is the book for you narcissists of the world rejoice! your bible is here!
Read
October 19, 2022"Never be so afraid of truth that you refuse to acknowledge it. How are you to deal effectively with the facts if you deny their existence?" (30).
"Never forget that in your life, you are the main event" (34).
"Learn to say no politely and pleasantly, but immediately and firmly" (43).
"If your Weight-and-Balance Happiness Scale is receiving sound data from you, it will present you with rational answers; i.e., answers that are in your long-term interest. When your scale is functioning properly, it will remind you that you have only one life to live and that it makes no sense to waste that one precious life doing things you don't enjoy" (80).
"Next, don’t waste time sitting around and daydreaming about the way you wish things would be. Instead, acknowledge how they really are, then focus on ways to turn those realities into opportunities. Make an honest evaluation of your present circumstances and ask yourself if you’re satisfied with your lot in life. If the answer is affirmative, then stay put, stop complaining, and enjoy yourself.
But if you don’t feel good about where you are financially, it’s up to you to make a commitment to change things — whether it’s your job, your profession, or your business. The one thing you do not want to do is spend the rest of your life drowning in regret. Continually remind yourself that change is hard but not impossible. Looking out for number one requires conscious, rational decisions, and it’s simply not rational to spend the rest of your life being disappointed and unhappy" (81).
"A frenetic life only succeeds in cluttering your mind, and a cluttered mind is self-defeating. Profit is directly related to the number of uncluttered, creative hours one is able to carve out of his daily schedule" (100).
"Do yourself a favor and don't expect others in the industry of your choice to help you get started....Never forget that no one owes you anything, and rest assured they know it" (102).
"Facts can best be ascertained when your intellect, rather than your emotions, is in control. During periods of relaxed solitude, when there is nothing to distract your thoughts, you should think about the philosophical issues that most affect your life. Then have enough confidence in your analysis to remain loyal to your predetermined code of behavior when inevitable encounters with irrational people occur. Make a written-in-stone commitment, well in advance, not to allow your emotions to sway you in your time of need" (140).
"Beware of the person who overstates his case. He’s sending you a message, but you have to be alert to hear it. And should you ever you find yourself trying too hard to impress a listener, best you reexamine the facts — as well as your motives — because there’s a good chance you may be acting irrationally" (142-3).
"Remember: People will bother you until you no longer allow them to" (148).
"You are on your way to clearing the People Hurdle when you become proficient at redirecting the energy you once used for hassling with neurotic people to finding ways to attract rational people who can add value to your life" (148).
"You must be willing to make a serious commitment to do whatever it takes to set your life on a winning course. You must be willing to pay the price of trying unique experiences, some of which will cause you pain. Others, however, will lead to pleasures beyond anything you may have imagined" (188).
"Never forget that in your life, you are the main event" (34).
"Learn to say no politely and pleasantly, but immediately and firmly" (43).
"If your Weight-and-Balance Happiness Scale is receiving sound data from you, it will present you with rational answers; i.e., answers that are in your long-term interest. When your scale is functioning properly, it will remind you that you have only one life to live and that it makes no sense to waste that one precious life doing things you don't enjoy" (80).
"Next, don’t waste time sitting around and daydreaming about the way you wish things would be. Instead, acknowledge how they really are, then focus on ways to turn those realities into opportunities. Make an honest evaluation of your present circumstances and ask yourself if you’re satisfied with your lot in life. If the answer is affirmative, then stay put, stop complaining, and enjoy yourself.
But if you don’t feel good about where you are financially, it’s up to you to make a commitment to change things — whether it’s your job, your profession, or your business. The one thing you do not want to do is spend the rest of your life drowning in regret. Continually remind yourself that change is hard but not impossible. Looking out for number one requires conscious, rational decisions, and it’s simply not rational to spend the rest of your life being disappointed and unhappy" (81).
"A frenetic life only succeeds in cluttering your mind, and a cluttered mind is self-defeating. Profit is directly related to the number of uncluttered, creative hours one is able to carve out of his daily schedule" (100).
"Do yourself a favor and don't expect others in the industry of your choice to help you get started....Never forget that no one owes you anything, and rest assured they know it" (102).
"Facts can best be ascertained when your intellect, rather than your emotions, is in control. During periods of relaxed solitude, when there is nothing to distract your thoughts, you should think about the philosophical issues that most affect your life. Then have enough confidence in your analysis to remain loyal to your predetermined code of behavior when inevitable encounters with irrational people occur. Make a written-in-stone commitment, well in advance, not to allow your emotions to sway you in your time of need" (140).
"Beware of the person who overstates his case. He’s sending you a message, but you have to be alert to hear it. And should you ever you find yourself trying too hard to impress a listener, best you reexamine the facts — as well as your motives — because there’s a good chance you may be acting irrationally" (142-3).
"Remember: People will bother you until you no longer allow them to" (148).
"You are on your way to clearing the People Hurdle when you become proficient at redirecting the energy you once used for hassling with neurotic people to finding ways to attract rational people who can add value to your life" (148).
"You must be willing to make a serious commitment to do whatever it takes to set your life on a winning course. You must be willing to pay the price of trying unique experiences, some of which will cause you pain. Others, however, will lead to pleasures beyond anything you may have imagined" (188).
September 1, 2018
Talks about life hurdles: reality, intimidation, crusade, financial, people, friendship, and love. I found some points to be egotistical and the choice of using masculine pronouns throughout (which he noted) added to the aggressive and chauvinistic tone. Making oneself happy through selfish focus is a societal paradigm that's got us into materialism rather than minimalism, and capitalism rather than holism. The points made are oftentimes coming from a privileged person, not an aware individual. The advice is slightly skewed.
September 23, 2017
What can I say, I'm on a Robert Ringer kick as of late. I've been reading a lot of financial analysis books and Ringer's writing is a breath of fresh air. I don't feel like writing an in-depth review, I'll just say that this book reinforces what we already know from people like Adam Smith, which is that when you look out for #1, everyone wins. One man acting out of honest self-interest will do more good for the world than a 1,000 politicians.
December 27, 2014
One of my all-time favorite books. I'm so glad to know that it is still available. When I read it (from the library) I didn't think the book was still in print. Now, it's available on Kindle.
The book is a funny but serious take on why and how everyone is really only looking out for themselves. But, in turn, it helps the world and people get along.
The book is a funny but serious take on why and how everyone is really only looking out for themselves. But, in turn, it helps the world and people get along.
August 9, 2011
Extremely compelling control belief: everything we do is self-interested, from selfish through sacrificial behaviors.
I disagree with this book on moral grounds, but I am unable to prove its bold thesis false.
I disagree with this book on moral grounds, but I am unable to prove its bold thesis false.
November 19, 2012
A must read for every American.
July 21, 2017
Unfortunately, a game changer toward narcissism.
December 1, 2019
This book is straight to the point. Just like this review.
September 24, 2020
shows how looking out for number one is the conscious, rational effort to spend as much time as possible doing those things which bring the greatest amount of pleasure and less time doing whatever causes pain.
“Reality isn't the way you wish things to be, nor the way they appear to be, but the way they actually are. Either you acknowledge reality and use it to your benefit, or it will automatically work against you.”
“Perhaps the most important reason of all for taking action now is that time is finite. No matter how proficient you are, you can only accomplish so much in a lifetime. Every second that's wasted reduces the totality of what you can accomplish by one second”
"Life-complication Theory: Given a choice between an easy solution and a complicated one, the loser will usually opt to travel the complicated path. Don't ignore a solution just because it's simple!"
"Assumption Theory: The only safe assumption in life is that the person who assures you that everything is all right is all wrong."
"Theory is good for the intellect, but action is good for the soul. It's also good for your mental health, your physical health, and your pocketbook."
"One of the biggest mistakes that most people make is clinging to the excuse that the time isn't quite right to take action. Well, let me tell you something: In my experience, conditions are never right at the right time. The timing is always wrong. So if you're waiting for everything to be perfect before taking action, you have a foolproof excuse for never taking action."
"Success is a matter of understanding and religiously practicing specific, simple habits that always lead to success."
"Everything changes for the better when you take ownership of your own problems."
"In South Africa, they dig for diamonds. Tons of earth are moved to find a little pebble not as large as a little fingernail. The miners are looking for the diamonds, not the dirt. They are willing to lift all the dirt in order to find the jewels. In daily life, people forget this principle and become pessimists because there is more dirt than diamonds. When trouble comes, don’t be frightened by the negatives. Look for the positives and dig them out. They are so valuable it doesn't matter if you have to handle tons of dirt."
People say they love truth, but in reality they want to believe that which they love is true.
“Reality isn't the way you wish things to be, nor the way they appear to be, but the way they actually are. Either you acknowledge reality and use it to your benefit, or it will automatically work against you.”
“Perhaps the most important reason of all for taking action now is that time is finite. No matter how proficient you are, you can only accomplish so much in a lifetime. Every second that's wasted reduces the totality of what you can accomplish by one second”
"Life-complication Theory: Given a choice between an easy solution and a complicated one, the loser will usually opt to travel the complicated path. Don't ignore a solution just because it's simple!"
"Assumption Theory: The only safe assumption in life is that the person who assures you that everything is all right is all wrong."
"Theory is good for the intellect, but action is good for the soul. It's also good for your mental health, your physical health, and your pocketbook."
"One of the biggest mistakes that most people make is clinging to the excuse that the time isn't quite right to take action. Well, let me tell you something: In my experience, conditions are never right at the right time. The timing is always wrong. So if you're waiting for everything to be perfect before taking action, you have a foolproof excuse for never taking action."
"Success is a matter of understanding and religiously practicing specific, simple habits that always lead to success."
"Everything changes for the better when you take ownership of your own problems."
"In South Africa, they dig for diamonds. Tons of earth are moved to find a little pebble not as large as a little fingernail. The miners are looking for the diamonds, not the dirt. They are willing to lift all the dirt in order to find the jewels. In daily life, people forget this principle and become pessimists because there is more dirt than diamonds. When trouble comes, don’t be frightened by the negatives. Look for the positives and dig them out. They are so valuable it doesn't matter if you have to handle tons of dirt."
People say they love truth, but in reality they want to believe that which they love is true.
March 16, 2025
This book has fantastic insights (particularly the Reality chapter, the foundation of the philosophy). Don't be misled by the title; those who look out for #1 the best are those who are the most giving. Though first published in 1977, this book is timeless; its contents apply from the beginning of mankind to the end of mankind. Here's one bizarre insight this reviewer (me) was able to extrapolate to ALL life forms--absolutely ALL life forms act with self-interest. Grass, flowers, bushes, weeds-grow roots and soak up nutrients, viruses invade cells and replicate, mutate for survival, bacteria has its own self-interested behavior. Self-interest begins at conception, and continues until death. (The cells multiply and grow, and feed off nutrients available to it).
September 1, 2020
I didn't finish it because I got the point by 60% of the way through. In saying that, the unconventional beliefs and values weaves into this book are worth weighing into. "What do you really want?" "what do you really believe?" "what will actually help you?" "what's worth spending your energy on?" - some questions people might do well asking themselves. Ringer throws "should"s out the window and welcomes you to build your self from your own experiences and reason, arguably a sooner route to truth.
February 19, 2024
Not as good/useful as "Winning Through Intimidation", this book has more of a focus on personal life than business applications. There are certainly worthy parts, such as a section on placing truth and reality above a desire for your dreams to be true and a focus on long-term happiness and success over the short-term. The long-term is just a series of short-terms strung together after all.
Much like Alan Weiss and Dan Kennedy, Ringer has some rather strong views about government and personal accountability that are easily ignored in order to get to the useful stuff.
Much like Alan Weiss and Dan Kennedy, Ringer has some rather strong views about government and personal accountability that are easily ignored in order to get to the useful stuff.
November 24, 2017
Robert Ringer redefines self-interest. He sees that thinking about self-interest is not related with narcissism and selfishness, but it helps the individual to live the life in consistent with his goals without harming others. He also states that caring about self-interest may help even others not just the individual.
January 4, 2024
Generic self help book. Although I do want to rate it higher to make up for the fact some people are lying about the book promoting selfishness. It pro.otes ethical egoism which usually means you behave in an ethical way towards others
September 30, 2017
winning through intimidation author writes another outstanding book.
October 25, 2017
I guess in 1955 this was groundbreaking self development gold.. a book that contains ALL knowledge one needs to operate on this planet, lol
September 6, 2018
I really enjoyed this book. Although advice is not necessarily unique, he speaks in a prose that delivers the message well and includes interesting stories to illustrate his points. I loved the section on Crusades, and it really hit home for me and gave me a new perspective. I think this book is an essential for anyone and helps to remind us of what we should focus on within our control and to become more aware of our perspectives.
October 7, 2023
This is a pretty decent motivational book that highlights what is and isn’t healthy in our relationships. I learned that is healthy to take care of our own needs, not just the needs of others.
Read
August 8, 2025Nothing new
It simply wasnt as good as some of the other books Ringer has written.Big disappointment and a let down.Didnt really add anything new or Earth shattering.
It simply wasnt as good as some of the other books Ringer has written.Big disappointment and a let down.Didnt really add anything new or Earth shattering.
May 1, 2020
One man's opinion about taking care of number one. Written in 1977 (some of this might have been shocking then)
February 9, 2022
Increíble,debería ser un libro clasico.Robert da un resumen de absolutamente todo lo que necesitas en la vida para ser exitoso. Te habla del amor,dinero,perspectiva,mentalidad,etc.Nunca leí algo tan completo y perfecto.Tienen que leerlo para darse cuenta que no exagero.Desde ya les adelanto que no es fácil de leer, es más para estudiarlo lentamente y con un diccionario al costado.
February 17, 2024
Although hard to swallow or not entirely agreeable at times, this book contains hard realities and truths about the world we live in today - whether we like it or not - with the urgent wisdom required to survive and navigate it - in relation to different aspects to our lives from business to relationships and more - highly recommended read!
To Our Continued Success!
Seemy
Waseem.tv/Blog
👆🏼 P.S -
If you found this review helpful - I’d like to invite you to discover more on our blog. Where the community share some of our most important insights to level up each others knowledge 💡- from experience in studying books like this, training programs, podcasts and much more - visit the blog link above to find out more.
P.P.S 😅 - You probably noticed from my profile that I’ve reviewed a LOT of books over the years now - if you love seeking knowledge like me I’d love to connect with you further as a like minded person (send me a friend invite! 😀) - Also if you are curious - here is my preferred and recommended resource for seeking timeless wisdom - Check it out via the website invite link below 👇🏼 (You’ll be able to claim some awesome books for free 📚)
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To Our Continued Success!
Seemy
Waseem.tv/Blog
👆🏼 P.S -
If you found this review helpful - I’d like to invite you to discover more on our blog. Where the community share some of our most important insights to level up each others knowledge 💡- from experience in studying books like this, training programs, podcasts and much more - visit the blog link above to find out more.
P.P.S 😅 - You probably noticed from my profile that I’ve reviewed a LOT of books over the years now - if you love seeking knowledge like me I’d love to connect with you further as a like minded person (send me a friend invite! 😀) - Also if you are curious - here is my preferred and recommended resource for seeking timeless wisdom - Check it out via the website invite link below 👇🏼 (You’ll be able to claim some awesome books for free 📚)
https://Waseem.tv/GoodReadsBookInvite
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