How to Become Rich: A Treatise on Phrenology, Choice of Professions and Matrimony

Drawn from a series of public lectures given in the late 19th century, this work attempts to map the contours of the skull onto pathways of personal prosperity. Its author, a self‑styled phrenologist, argues that the brain is a form of capital and that knowing one’s mental topography can guide choices in work and marriage. Written in the brisk, didactic voice of a Victorian professor, the text blends the scientific language of the day with practical advice for ordinary readers.

The treatise then turns to concrete applications: assessing suitability for various trades, selecting a life partner, and even interpreting criminal tendencies. It offers illustrative case studies, measurements taken from photographs and skulls, and occasional remarks on contemporary politics. Though modern science has abandoned phrenology, the book provides a vivid snapshot of Victorian attempts to quantify character and ambition. Listeners will hear the earnest conviction of a man who believed that reading the mind’s landscape could unlock wealth and happiness.