Book Review: Playing with FIRE by Scott Rieckens
What if a happier life was only a few simple choices away?
A successful entrepreneur living in Southern California, Scott Rieckens had built a “dream life”: a happy marriage, a two-year-old daughter, a membership to a boat club, and a BMW in the driveway. But underneath the surface, Scott was creatively stifled, depressed, and overworked trying to help pay for his family’s beach-town lifestyle. Then one day, Scott listened to a podcast interview that changed everything. Five months later, he had quit his job, convinced his family to leave their home, and cut their expenses in half. Follow Scott and his family as they devote everything to FIRE (financial independence retire early), a subculture obsessed with maximizing wealth and happiness. Filled with inspiring case studies and powerful advice, Playing with FIRE is one family’s journey to acquire the one thing that money can’t a simpler — and happier — life.
The vibe
Transparent and informational. It reads like a beginner’s guide to a strange new financial cult…but in a way that’s actually vaguely helpful, not fear-mongering.
What it’s actually about
This book follows one guy’s crash course into the FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) movement, featuring case studies, interviews, and some personal finance 101. It’s not about retiring to a yacht. It’s about changing how you think about spending, saving, and what “enough” really means.
Also, the whole thing is framed around the author’s documentary… so if you’re allergic to being sold something while learning about it, fair warning.
What slapped
- Real, candid conversations about what people gave up—and what they didn’t—on their FIRE journey.
- A solid intro to FIRE concepts for someone new to the idea (hi, it me).
- Motivated me to rethink some big-picture family finances as part of prepping for…well, whatever fresh chaos is next.
What sucked
- It drips with privilege. Most of the people interviewed already had money or very high-earning potential. If you’re not starting with six figures, you may feel like you’re missing from the conversation.
- Oversimplified financial advice (just throw everything into this one index fund and vibe??) Felt a bit like marketing disguised as enlightenment.
- Constant reminder that the book is tied to a documentary made it feel less like a personal journey and more like a branded pitch.
Who this book is for
People just discovering FIRE who want a casual intro. Not spreadsheets and side hustle cults. If you’ve ever side-eyed your grocery bill and wondered, “Wait, how much of this is actually necessary?” then you might find something useful here too.
Who this book isn’t for
If you’re already frugal as hell or allergic to stories about rich people saving more money, skip it. Same if you’re looking for deep financial strategy. This is the kiddie pool.
One solid takeaway
If you want to get serious about financial resilience, start by examining your food, housing, and transportation costs. Small shifts there can have outsized impacts.
Buy, borrow, or skip it?
Borrow it. Worth a skim for new ideas, but you don’t need to own it. And we didn’t bother with the documentary here but that’s your call.
