After nearly 20 years spent building his fortune abroad, Norwegian expat Ronnie Eide is hoping to impart the life lessons of his success onto other foreign thrill-seekers.

Eide’s new book, How to Live Rich Anywhere in the World: The Ultimate Guide to Living Abroad, is informed by his years living and working in Sweden and Thailand.

Since arriving in Phnom Penh last September, the entrepreneur and author has been keenly aware of the city’s potential for those wanting to strike it rich – or even those from the West yearning for a more spiritually content life.

“What’s happening now in Cambodia is what was happening when I first arrived in Thailand,” Eide says. “I see a lot of opportunity, as well as a lot of opportunity to help local people.”

Alongside many of the familiar tropes of self-help books, such as instruction in goal-setting and a discourse on the virtues of meditation, Eide has written extensively on how people can find a foreign locale to suit their ambitions and their temperament.

The book’s best value, however, comes from a meticulous catalogue of the components for a successful life outside of one’s country.

Everything from ensuring job security and timely payment, to starting a business, to planning for retirement is discussed at length.

Most importantly, Eide’s book stresses the need to give back to the country in which foreigners decide to settle.

The spiritual rewards of charity and volunteer work are a constant refrain in How to Live Rich – a philosophy the author is putting into practice with plans to construct a school in Kampong Cham.

Despite his success as an entrepreneur, Eide stresses that material wealth is not a prerequisite for a rich life.

In the author’s estimation, it is more important for a foreigner abroad to discover what they yearn for and pursue it if they are to live in a contented manner.

“The title can mean different things. Some people don’t need a lot of money to lead a rich life. I think that comes out in the book as well. And of course, some people want to do things with a lot of money as well, you know,” he laughs.

How to Live Rich is available at local bookstores like Monument and PBC, and can be purchased in electronic or Kindle versions on Amazon.com or directly from the author’s website.

To contact the reporter on this story: Sean Gleeson at [email protected]