One of our favorite characters in all of TV land is Alex P. Keaton, the preternaturally conservative son of bohemian parents on the old show “Family Ties.”

keatonOne enterprising author, Alvin Hall, has created a colorful how-to-guide for such aspiring capitalists. The book, “Show Me the Money,” came to Deal Journal this week courtesy of the publisher, DK. Hall’s book, which aims to get ‘em while they are young, explains all the major concepts surrounding money and is surprisingly detailed, tackling everything from the free market and the global economy to futures, puts, calls, fair trade, the environment and–most importantly–how to become a billionaire.

We think the book, with its colorful cartoons and Lego-like illustrations of efficient people, isn’t just a handy guide for tomorrow’s little acquirers; its reminders could help a few adults, too. (As long as they can overlook laughably kid-friendly prices like the illustration of a $12,000 Mercedes.) It plainly exhorts the virtues of capitalism: “Money is magical. People dream about it, worry about it, fight over it, and nobody ever seems to feel that they have enough of it. Money…is a reward for hard work, the gift of freedom from worry, the key to a life of luxury, a way to get an education, earn respect, or even change the world. Money is potential.”

Nor does Hall shy away from the fact that today’s young’uns will probably be tethered by BlackBerrys pretty soon; he features a picture of a beachgoer working on a laptop and a little calendar that assumes tomorrow’s workers will spend their time jetting to China and India after they finish tying their shoelaces.

showmethemoneyConsider this trenchant advice that many acquiring companies would do well to consider about the nature of price and how it compares to value (Are you listening, Microsoft?): “Although the clothes on sale are cheaper they normally sell for, that doesn’t automatically make them worth buying….Do you really need new clothes? Are they similar to items you already own? Will you really wear them or do you just think you might because they’re on sale?”

Or Citigroup–which never sleeps–has to nod wearily at the truth of this statement: “Money makes the world go round. But work gets people up in the morning (and sometimes keeps them awake at night).”

Hall illustrates the four seasons of the economic cycle–expansion, prosperity, recession and recovery–while adding a tart reminder: “They always occur in the same order, but, unlike nature’s seasons the length of the economic seasons are not the same, and cannot even be predicted–although economists often try.” (The italics are his.) So much for Ben Bernanke.

Perhaps the best advice in the book comes toward the end: how to become a billionaire. Step 1, “Have a brilliant idea,” encourages readers to invent something, like the paper cup; do something better than everyone else, like the pop-up toaster; take your product to new customers, like an enterprising scooter seller; forge good relationships with other businesses, like Microsoft and Intel; create a memorable brand, like Google; and keep control of your brand, like Coca Cola.

It is all sound advice–talk to your employees, treat your customers really well, keep track of your expenses and keep them as low as possible, motivate your employees, enjoy your successes and don’t be too upset about your failures and follow your passion, ignore what other people think.

Deal Journal readers, we welcome your contribution. What advice would you give aspiring capitalists?