
Millionaire at 25, yet miserable: Steven Bartlett's raw manifesto exposes why success left him empty. Endorsed by Impact Theory's Tom Bilyeu as "life-changing," this 4.14-rated Goodreads hit challenges toxic social media culture and redefines what truly creates fulfillment beyond wealth.
Feel the book through the author's voice
Turn knowledge into engaging, example-rich insights
Capture key ideas in a flash for fast learning
Enjoy the book in a fun and engaging way
Picture a 25-year-old multi-millionaire sitting in his luxury apartment, staring at an old diary entry from seven years ago. He's achieved every single goal he set for himself: the wealth, the Range Rover, the sculpted body, the beautiful partners. His company is valued at $200 million. Millions follow him online. By every conventional measure, he's won at life. So why does he feel exactly the same as when he was stealing food as a broke teenager? This jarring disconnect forms the heart of a revelation that challenges everything we've been sold about happiness and success. The uncomfortable truth is that we've been chasing mirages-convinced that happiness lives somewhere in the future, waiting to be unlocked by the right achievement, relationship, or bank balance. But what if happiness isn't something to pursue at all? What if the very act of chasing it guarantees we'll never catch it? Growing up poor in a middle-class English neighborhood created a constant sense of inadequacy. There was the flamboyant African mother who sometimes picked him up from school in her underwear, the dilapidated house too embarrassing to show friends, the slouching low in his father's run-down van praying traffic lights would turn red far from school. By 12, the pattern seemed clear: money caused both social inadequacy and parental screaming matches. By 14, the solution seemed obvious: become a millionaire. But here's the fundamental error in thinking: treating life like a finite game with a winning condition. Football has a final whistle. Poker has a last hand. But life? Life is the only infinite game-designed not to be won but to be played until you're no longer in the game. Yet most of us operate with an imaginary scoreboard, accumulating points through success, wealth, fame, and accomplishment, waiting for confetti that never rains down, a podium that never appears. According to transformational therapist Marisa Peer, everyone from movie stars to Olympic athletes to drug addicts shares the same core problem: they don't believe they're enough. This belief doesn't create complacency when corrected-quite the opposite. Knowing you're enough doesn't mean settling; it means pursuing goals from self-worth rather than insecurity. It's the difference between needing something to fill a void versus deserving something based on your inherent value. Until you abandon the idea that happiness exists somewhere else-in a new relationship, promotion, dress size, or sports car-it will never be where you are.
Break down key ideas from Happy Sexy Millionaire into bite-sized takeaways to understand how innovative teams create, collaborate, and grow.
Distill Happy Sexy Millionaire into rapid-fire memory cues that highlight Pixar’s principles of candor, teamwork, and creative resilience.

Experience Happy Sexy Millionaire through vivid storytelling that turns Pixar’s innovation lessons into moments you’ll remember and apply.
Ask anything, pick the voice, and co-create insights that truly resonate with you.

From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco

Get the Happy Sexy Millionaire summary as a free PDF or EPUB. Print it or read offline anytime.