The Richest Man in Babylon - George Samuel Clason The Richest Man in Babylon dispenses financial advice through a collection of parables set in ancient Babylon.  Through their experiences in business and managing household finance, the characters in the parables learn simple lessons in financial wisdom.  By basing these parables in ancient times, but involving situations that modern people can understand and identify with, the author presents these lessons as timeless wisdom that is as relevant today as it was back then.The book began in 1926 as a series of informational pamphlets.  Banks and insurance companies began to distribute these pamphlets, and the most popular ones were eventually compiled into this book.  It was most recently reprinted by Signet in 2004, and an updated version (using modern English instead of King James language) was issued by BN Publishing in March 2007.  According to the 2002 edition book cover, more than two million copies have been sold.