Bees? No, Let's Talk About Dollars And Cents By Ben Stein

Over the past several decades, individuals have began building capital at an early age. People do not want to be stuck in a financial bind every month. They do not want to stress about how they are supposed to pay their rent next month, or how they are supposed to put a meal on the table for their children. Young adults have started to develop both financial and human capital early on in their lives in order to ensure a stable future for themselves and their family. Ben Stein's letter, "Birds and Bees? No, Let's Talk About Dollars and Cents," discusses the importance of developing both kinds of capital early on in life. Through his use of personal anecdotes, pathos, and repetition, Stein effectively informs his audience that they must start

For instance, Stein says, "My grandfather… accumulated no capital to speak of, in terms of finance, and too little in terms of education to allow him to make a decent living." Stein also said, "He was unemployed for a large part of the Great Depression." When reading this reference to Stein's grandfather and how he lived during the Great Depression, the reader can infer that people need both the financial and human capital, both of which are discussed in Stein's letter, in order to have something to fall back on when times get rough. Stein states this in his letter as well. He says, "When you have these, you gradually make yourself secure. You are impervious to economic ups and downs, except for very large downs." Stein's grandfather did not think about developing capital when he was young; therefore, when times got rough, Stein's grandfather was unable to make a living. However, if he had started early on in his life, his life during the Great Depression may have been slightly different. By including this short and personal life reference, Stein has effectively captured the audience's attention by connecting with them on a personal level. If Stein had not used any personal anecdotes throughout his letter, the letter would lose it's intimate