Die with Zero by Bill Perkins: My Honest Review (Is It For Normal People?)

I finished Die with Zero at 10:33pm and I confess I was on my couch. My legs were up on the pillow. I had 2 cold slices of pizza on the table. I started at 8pm. I said 20 pages only. I read 200 pages. I texted my mom at midnight. I said mom, should I give you money now not when I die? She said are you drunk? I was not. I was thinking.

I started reading Die with Zero on the train. 40 minutes waiting and riding. I hate finance books that say save save save. I already save. I never live. This book is by Bill Perkins. He is a trader, a poker guy, super rich. Book came out 2020 but in 2026 it blew up again. 90 trillion dollars will be passed to kids in next 20 years. He says that is not money. That is unlived life. He says you should die with zero. Not zero broke. Zero regrets. Use your money while you can. I was on the train. Thinking about my dad. He saved all his life. He never traveled. He is 71 now. Health is not good. I missed my stop. Had to walk back 15 minutes. I did not care. I kept reading.

The Main Doubt Everyone Has: Does Die With Zero Mean Die Broke?

Look, this is the #1 doubt in every comment. People think this book says spend everything and die broke. That is not what it says, you know? I thought that too.

Die with Zero says you have time, money, health. When you are young you have time and health but no money. When you are middle you have money and health but no time. When you are old you have time and money but no health. So you have to time your spending.

He says give money to your kids when they are 30, not 60. When they need house, kids. Not when you die at 90 and they are 60 already. He calls inheritance the three Rs: random amounts at random time to random people. I laughed. I was on my couch. Thinking about that. It is true. My grandma left money when she died. My mom was 58. She did not need it then. She needed it at 32 when she bought her house.

Second doubt: what if I live too long and run out of money? He says use annuities, save for medical, but spend on experiences now. Buy time when you are middle. Pay someone to clean, to cook, so you have time to live. And use time buckets. Split life in 5-10 year buckets. What do you want at 30-40? 40-50? Do it then. Don't wait. Don't save for beach at 80 when your knees hurt.

I tried time bucketing on paper at 11pm. I wrote I want to see Japan at 35-40, not 70. I want to give my mom money at 40, not when she is gone.

My Unpopular Opinion That Will Make People Mad

Here is my hot take that will get me hate. I think Die with Zero is way too repetitive and it is only for rich people. Yes, I said it. The book is 200 pages but the idea fits in 20 pages. He repeats same story 5 times. The ant and the grasshopper story, he tells it 5 times. I was on my bed reading. Thinking about lunch. I skipped 20 pages at the end. Did not miss anything.

And to be honest, girl, this book is dangerous for normal people. Bill Perkins is a multimillionaire. He says don't oversave. But median retirement in US is $64k. People think they need $1.26 million. Most people are not oversaving. They are undersaving. If you earn normal salary, saving is hard. If you follow this book and spend all, you will be broke at 80. I think the book should say: this is for overworked rich guys who never live. Not for you who works 2 jobs. I saw comments on Bogleheads saying same. Savers say "this is wrong, terrible things happen". Spenders say "yes, I will spend". Both are wrong. I think Bill forgot he is rich. He says indigent don't have luxury to balance work and play. But that is 95% of people. Not just indigent.

Also, his points system is dumb. He says rate experiences: Everest 100 points, kids 500 points. How do you rate life? You cannot. I love unplanned things. That pizza on my couch was 1000 points and it was not planned.

Scorecard: My Honest Numbers

Plot / Ideas: 5/5 - Die with Zero has one big idea: spend money on memories, not on bank number. It made me think about my dad, my mom, my time. I will remember that idea forever. It hit me harder than any investing book.

Characters / Stories: 3/5 - Not really characters, but stories about Bill, his friends dying, his dad. Some good, some braggy. He talks about poker, yachts. I could not relate. I liked story about giving money to his dad while alive more than yacht story.

Writing: 3.5/5 - Simple English, short chapters, easy. But too long, repetitive. He says same thing again and again. I finished Die with Zero in 2 days but last 30 pages I skimmed. Could be 100 pages shorter.

Pacing: 3/5 - First 80 pages 5/5, fast, mind blown. Middle 100 pages 2.5/5, drags, repeats ant story. Last 30 pages 3/5, boring with annuities talk. Average 3. But first part worth it.

My Verdict on Die with Zero

If you are rich, overworked, saving too much, always saying later, this is the best book for you. If you are normal person earning normal salary, struggling to save $64k, read it but don't follow all. Take 30% of it. Spend more on experiences now, give to kids now, time bucket your life. Don't follow die with zero literally.

I give Die with Zero 4 stars. Not 5 because it is repetitive and only for rich, but idea changed how I think. I will give my mom money next month, not in my will. I will go to Japan at 36, not 70. And I will not be richest person in graveyard.

Would I read again? No, but I will keep first chapter. Would I tell my friend? I already told 2. One loved, one said "this guy is rich, easy for him".

So, what team are you? Team Die With Zero, the people who say spend now, give now, memories over money, or Team Save Forever, the people who say save, you will live to 90 and need money and this book is dangerous?

Tell me in comments if you think this book is for normal people or only for millionaires like Bill.

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