The Richest Man in Babylon

Sharru Nada rides through the desert from Damascus with his caravan and many guards. He is an elderly “merchant prince” from Babylon with expensive taste (83). Traveling with Sharru is the young Hadan Gula, the grandson of a friend. Sharru invites Hadan along on the trip to help him break away from his father, who mishandled the family’s finances and inheritance. Hadan asks Sharru why he always works so hard since Hadan says if he were wealthy, he would never work and enjoy spending his money on clothing and jewelry. Hadan admits that he and his father do not have his grandfather’s talent for handling money and that they are in difficult circumstances.

Passing by a field, Sharru sees three men working with their oxen and is convinced that he saw the same men working the same field decades ago. This prompts him to think about the late Arad Gula, Hadan’s grandfather. He feels he owes it Arad to try to help Hadan learn some financial skills. Sharru asks him if he would like to learn how his grandfather became so wealthy. He tells Hadan that he was enslaved after being sold into slavery by his widowed stepmother. The men plowing the field mocked him as he was marched past them in chains to work as a brick carrier. Some of the other slaves debated whether they should work hard to try to earn respect or try to slack off to spare themselves more suffering. Sharru was terrified of being sold into brickmaking, as these men were often beaten and died working; a guard advised him to say he was a hard worker in the hopes that a more merciful owner would buy him before they reached the city gates.

When a baker, Nana-naid, comes to the slave market, Sharru persuades him that he is a hard worker and will do his best to learn baking skills. The man agrees and purchases him for the slave seller. Sharru works hard for Nana-Naid and eventually persuades him to allow him the chance to sell his own cakes on the streets, promising to share the profits with Nana-Naid. The baker agrees and Sharru begins to earn his own income. This ongoing side business is successful, and one day Sharru met Arad on the street. Arad praises Sharru’s initiative and tells him he will be successful, and Sharru is grateful for his validation. Sharru continues to expand his business, and as he ventures further from home, he is disturbed to see his old acquaintance Zabado enslaved as a brick worker by the city gates.

One day, Arad asks what Sharru would do if he is freed. Sharru shares that he wants to become a merchant. Arad admits that he was also a slave and worked in “partnership” with his slave master (90). Hadan is deeply offended that Sharru says his grandfather was a slave, but Sharru assures him that Arad did well and rose from enslavement to freedom and success.

With Sharru’s encouragement, Arad continues to pursue his rug-making business and, after obtaining his freedom, decides to move to a new city with his wife. Unfortunately, Sharru’s boss loses money gambling and, as payment for his debts, one of his creditors claims Sharru, taking him away from the bakery. Sharru buries his saved money in a pit and is forced to work in brutal conditions building a canal. He considers slacking off or rebelling but thinks of the awful consequences each could have. Instead, he decides to work as hard as he can. One day, Sharru is removed from the worksite and taken back to the city where he is reunited with his old friend Arad. Arad explains that he has been looking for Sharru and is determined to buy his freedom. He offers his friend a chance to be his business partner, which Sharru happily accepts.

Hadan realizes that work was the “secret key” (93) that helped his grandfather become happy, wealthy, and well-connected. Sharru shares that he loves to work, and it is one of the great pleasures of his life. Hadan feels “determined” to emulate his grandfather and thanks Sharru for showing him “the true key to his success” (94). Hadan removes his jewelry and rides behind Sharru to show his respect for him.