The Paradox of Investment and Life — Between Numbers, Usable Money, and Social Structure
This book examines the contradiction between wealth as numbers and wealth as money that truly shapes life. Index funds and mutual funds may grow on paper, but unless sold, gains remain abstract. By contrast, dividends and income assets provide cash that can be spent immediately, turning growth into real experiences such as family dinners or travel.
It also explores the mirror of debt, where credit cards and loans enable lifestyles beyond true means. Borrowers may appear wealthy yet remain fragile, while savers who live modestly often enjoy greater stability. This paradox reflects the deeper structure of modern economies.
Cultural contrasts sharpen the picture: in the U.S., credit drives growth; in Japan, savings dominate; in emerging economies, expanding credit reshapes consumption. The book argues that money’s purpose is not just growth but use—wisely and with values—so that numbers become lived wealth, funding security, experience, and legacy.