Rich Dad, Poor Dad: What the Rich Teach Their Kids About Money--That the Poor and Middle Class Do Not! Reviews



Amazon.com Customer Reviews

An eye-opening experience - Review written on October 31, 2008
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Rating: 5 out of 5

The ideas in Rich Dad, Poor Dad have changed my way of thinking about money. Some of the things said in this book are shocking, but they make perfect logical sense after a bit of reflection. If you want to understand money, I'd recommend you buy this book for you and all of your friends.
Very Good - Review written on October 31, 2008
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Rating: 4 out of 5
1 customer found this review not to be helpful.
Item was received in a timely manner and in good condition as promised by seller.
Bad Advice! - Review written on October 30, 2008
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Rating: 1 out of 5
2 customers found this review helpful, 1 did not.

How do you become rich? Simple. Just write a book about how to become rich. I've see the author's face everywhere, and he unfortunately is a bit of an opportunist. Aside, from the self-aggrandization, his advice is just wrong, and even worse, it's harmful to the ill-informed. This book focuses on what people supposedly do wrong with their finances, but provides very little help for how to do things right, or more important, how to become "rich".

So what's "wrong"? Investing in a 401-K is wrong, he says. Saving cash in a savings account is wrong. His reasoning is that a 401-K locks in your money and a savings account stagnates. True, but at least you're saving something, as opposed to what he considers "right."

And what's "right"? Investing in the stock market is right. And buying real estate is right. Owning your own business is right. You need only glance at the past month's headlines to realize that this is really, really bad advice. High home foreclosures. The sharpest drop in the stock market ever. And businesses laying off record-numbers of employees and many shutting their doors.

Rich Dad, Poor Dad encourages everyone to be an entrepreneur, but neglects to mention the dramatic pitfalls that come along with it. Not everyone is an entrepreneur, nor should most people try to be. If you are supporting a family, you ideally try to minimize risk, not maximize it.

The premise of this book is intriguing--that a shift away from the financial beliefs you were raised with could precipitate wealth--but the book not only fails to provide sensible ideas, it actually teaches very damaging ones.
Taking Action - Review written on October 27, 2008
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Rating: 5 out of 5

I read this book back in college while I was studying engineering and it was quite inspirational. But after I graduated I ended up taking an engineering job for about a year and a half and realized that I wasn't getting paid what I was worth. I went back to read this book a few months ago and ended up quitting my job in hopes of doing something more. (Although I did apply for USC and got in to get my Master Degree while I was trying to do something else just in case things didn't work out) But anyways back in August I attended one the Rich Dad's free seminars and ended up paying for more advanced classes through them. So now I'm hoping that this could lead me to the financial independence that the book has motivated me to achieve.

[...]
Useful - Review written on October 23, 2008
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Rating: 4 out of 5

You will not get rich in one night, but you will learn how money works, the easy way. I found it useful because I learned how to see money with a different type of glasses. I began to change the way I invested my savings, no matter the economic times. How money works is not taught in college, you should find advise from the experienced and this is a good source.
just another pep talk - Review written on October 22, 2008
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Rating: 1 out of 5
1 customer found this review helpful.

This book is very overrated! Kiyosaki briefly mentions things like investing in tax liens, but he doesn't say how to do it. The book is 99% pep talk.
Reality Check - Review written on October 17, 2008
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Rating: 5 out of 5

Its true, we arent all taught the facts that are in this book. I was hooked from the very beginning.
Informative - Review written on October 13, 2008
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Rating: 4 out of 5

I found this book very informative. It really made me open my eyes and think.
Rich in other ways too! - Review written on October 07, 2008
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Rating: 5 out of 5

When I first purchased this book, it was for the simple purpose of trying to educate myself more on the concepts of how the millionaires create their success. While I was not disappointed in any way with the context, what surprised me was that many of the fundamentals written about how to attain prosperity are spiritually based. Robert has done a great job in explaining the "negative reality" his biological father had, as compared to his more trusting and "expecting success" friend's father. For me, the book is an easy to read and easily understood map towards pointing everyone in the right direction. Jim Fargiano, author of The Spoken Words of Spirit: Lessons From The Other Side
Tip Of The Iceberg - Review written on October 04, 2008
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Rating: 5 out of 5

For me this book started it all. My Mother-in-Law sent this book to my wife to read, I took it and consumed it in 1 day. I've never read a book so fast. This book changed the way I view money and business. I have read hundreds of business books since, but they all started with this one.
APPLY THIS TO YOUR LIFE! - Review written on October 01, 2008
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Rating: 5 out of 5

If you want to be rich, start by asking someone who is!

I enjoyed Robert's book and recommand it to anyone who wants to get their finances straight and start accumulating wealth. It's a simple concept that most of us know-but we sometimes need that "ah hah moment" for us to start doing it.

This book is great for anyone that doesn't like the "boring" statistical business/investing books, because it explains the ideas through a story. Robert references the book, Richest Man in Babylon-which is a great book to pair with Rich Dad,Poor Dad because it identifies the strategy of "paying yourself first".

In this book the phrase, "Everyone wants to go to heaven, but know one wants to die", was used to reference how everyone says they want to be rich but no one wants to do what they have to become rich-they want it handed to them. We all know that doesn't happen! This phrase really connected to me and I applied it to more than just my finances but really my life and how important it is to go after what you want. So often we put things off in our life "until we have the money",(kids, marriage, school, business). In most cases you have to take a "little risk to get a gain", or it passes by us.

I highly recommend this to anyone that might need that little extra push. Have a plan and go for it!

Enjoy the book!
A gift for you and your kids! - Review written on September 30, 2008
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Rating: 5 out of 5

I had heard of this book before, but "assumed" it was a book on working hard, saving and being financially responsible, blah, blah. I was so wrong and so pleasantly surprised that it was nothing like that! It was much better than I thought and I'm so glad to have read it! I discovered I'm a mix of rich dad and poor dad, but definitely now have a better idea of what it takes to become a rich dad and have already started down this path. Having two teens to share this with over time is going to be fun and rewarding too. I've already offered my son (19) $3k if he researches and opens a stock trading account. That's when he said "yeah, I'd like that. Did I tell you I finished 3rd in my HS class in the stock trading contest last year?" And my daughter is doing the same stock trading contest this year in her HS class and she told me on Sunday that she's "short" a stock considering the market. Wow!! This book is just the spark that I needed to confirm what I need to continue doing working toward being a rich dad and also how to encourage and support my kids in their efforts. I just bought the next book...cash flow quadrants...can't wait to dig in!!
Dangerous book based on a lie - Review written on September 27, 2008
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Rating: 1 out of 5
6 customers found this review helpful, 1 did not.

Kiyosaki made up the character "Rich Dad", he never existed period.

Kiyosaki is a failed businessowner who excels is lying and exploiting peoples dreams of becoming rich.

This book WON'T make you rich, it contains no guides on how to become rich, just general advice that's been around for decades.

His advice to speculate on real estate may very well been the cause of the financial crisis US is currently in, Kiyosaki effectively fueled the housing bubble the taxpayers are now paying for in trillions of dollars.

This book is so irresponsible, wrong and full of lies that it sickens me. If you want someone to blame for all those foreclosures and subprime disasters, Kiyosaki is your best bet.
This guy knows what he's talking about - Review written on September 26, 2008
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Rating: 5 out of 5

I wont go into the details of this book since Im sure that by reading the thousands of reviews on here your either by now interested or not. With that said, Robert Kiyosaki has predicted everything that is happening right now many many years ago with the financial crisis from Wall St to Real Estate crashes, everything. This guy knows what he is talking about.
Now he is on a mad crusade speaking in cities on how you can benefit in this type of market.
Good, Bad, Dangerous - Review written on September 11, 2008
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Rating: 2 out of 5
5 customers found this review helpful.

RK's Rich Dad Poor Dad was a real eye-opener for me when I first read it. Upon initially reading the book, I thought it was pure genius. Now, skimming the book a decade later, I now realize what a joke much of RK's book is. At the risk of confusing this book with his others, this is a man who condemns "speculators" while then proceeding to brag about his glorious options and short sell maneuvers (none of which would constitute "investing" by RK's own standards). He brags about hedge funds available to "the rich" who are sophisticated enough to understand them, but not to the unsophisticated poor and middle class (btw, I haven't seen any WSJ articles lately about poor and middle class folks suing hedge funds for being misled). He talks about how so-called "sophisticated" investors have endless opportunities in markets like Phoenix, where he bragged about being heavily invested. I wonder if he's still bragging now that the Phoenix real estate market has dropped nearly a quarter. He calls people who invest for capital gains speculators, while turning around and patting himself and other "rich" investors for re-investing dividends into their portfolios so that the principle can grow (which is arguably the same thing, if not worse because you have to pay taxes on the dividends whereas you wouldn't on unrealized capital gains). Finally, and what turns me off the most about RK, is that he has the audacity to encourage people to have the creativity and optimism to take chances, and then call those people suckers, or "the poor," etc, on Larry King Live when discussing the market opportunities in these tumultuous times available for "the rich" like himself. In my opinion, today's market woes are, at least in part, because too many people listened to RK's advice (and those like RK) and took speculative risks in the real estate market like he has. The fact is, RK is a hell of a salesman - he sells his books. Follow his model of optimism and creativity if you like. However, if you want advice on actual investing, stick to the advice of "level 4 investors" like Warren Buffett (RK's own words in Cashflow Quadrant), and leave the advise of "level 5 capitalists" like RK for others to heed. Skip being fooled by RK.
Think Assets, Newly Defined - Review written on September 11, 2008
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Rating: 4 out of 5
1 customer found this review helpful.

I've never come across a better definition of an ASSET and LIABILITY than the one Robert Kiyosaki gives : An asset is any item (tangible or otherwise) which generates income and a liability is one which creates expenses.

That's it.

So whatever it is you own, regardless of what it's labelled in an accounting textbook, if it is not generating income, it's not an asset. Worse still, if it's leading you to spend more, then it's a liability.

E.g. your car. Tradtionally, one would call it an 'asset'. But RK'd slot it under a 'liability' because it's taking up fuel costs, insurance fees, road taxes, maintenance, etc. (RK also spends lots of pages trying to convince his readers that their houses are also liabilities, given the amount of debt one gets into via the purchase).

The message of Rich Dad, Poor Dad, if I could cull it all into one sentence, is : Spend your money buying things which generate income i.e. buy assets.

The more assets you have, the more income you'll get, leading to even more assets, more income, ad infinitum. That, according to RK, is what the rich do and teach their kids. The opposite - i.e. spending on liabilities and getting stuck with ever-growing expenses - is what the 'middle-class and poor' folks do (ouch).

So when you get that bonus, instead of blowing it all on clothes or a new watch (all liabilities because they don't generate income), think about putting it into any one of the following:

a) Your Own Business (this could be anything from a worldwide conglomerate to a personal Web-page)

b) Stocks, Equities and Bonds (high-risk so do diversify, hedge, read more, get advice, etc.)

c) Mutual Funds and Unit Trusts (less aggressive but over the long-term the amounts can be substantial)

d) I.Ps', Patents and Copyrights (for the inventor/author types, or if you can afford it, buy one)

e) Rental Income (which tends to pay for and exceed the purchasing loan in the first place)

Money put into these items end up 'working for you' because time brings about the 'compounding effect'. Until one day you can quit your job because the income generated from your assets can pay for all your expenses and liabilities.

And thus, thou art truly wealthy. When your (newly defined) assets run the show for you even after you leave your 9 to 5.
The lack of money is the root of all evil - Review written on September 08, 2008
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Rating: 4 out of 5
1 customer found this review helpful.

This book tells the story of Kiyosaki and a friend who were taunted about being poor which motivated them to learn how to be rich from their "rich dad". Two dads are presented in the book: one is socialist and poor; the other is capitalist and rich. Their thinking creates their wealth or lack of it.

This is a book that explains simply how the three classes handle and think about money. By learning how the rich create money, a reader may be able to leave the rat race. It really depends on the reader whether he can overcome his fear of taking risks so he can have a chance of becoming rich. For instance, L and K mention that one would be wise to get used to what one hates doing, rather than solely doing what you love to do. So you should do sales to learn how to overcome your fear of rejection and learn how to communicate better. You should learn many different fields of business to become more successful in general. Don't get stuck solely doing a job you like for limited income.

One should learn to invest in real estate and high risk/high reward investments to become rich. You need to put more effort in making money than just doing a job and saving money every month. You need to learn to take risks and learn how to keep failing until you succeed. You should read about investing voraciously to become financially literate.

Schools don't teach you how to make money. They teach you how to be an employee of an employer that you are making rich. Employees are soft-core slaves with the mentality of servants or slaves. This book teaches you the mentality of the master of money, the king of pentacles. It shows the mindset of the poor and middle class that keep them in their places.

I particularly liked the idea of asking the question "How can I afford what I want?" instead of saying "I can't afford it." The question unleashes the creative power of the mind that creates wealth, the other statement shuts it down. Or you should ask yourself, "How can I get out of the rat race?

There is an interesting explanation about how businesses are different from governments. Business owners consider employees liabilities since they increase labor costs and investors do not like to see increased costs on the balance sheet of the business owner. The strategy is to hire as a few employees as possible at the lowest cost so that the business can make a profit. The system is one of employees working just enough not to get fired and employers paying just enough to employees so they will not quit. Government does the opposite. Agencies spend all their budget and hire more employees to keep the agency growing. Taxpayers foot the bill for the expansion of government. That is why the cost of government tends to rise as time goes by.

At one time, there was no income tax in America, but the tax was implemented by using class envy against the rich. Eventually the income tax reached into the pockets of poorer citizens to pay for the cost of expanding government. The rich use corporations to reduce their income tax burden, the poorer citizens do not. Taxes are our biggest expense nowadays. We work from January to May to pay off our tax burden. L and K do not like the immoral story of Robin Hood who steals from the rich to give to the poor. It is wrong to forcibly take money from anyone, no matter how rich they are. This book advocates a republican view of economics. Everyone is ultimately responsible for making their own money and no one should be taxed to give to someone else.

The authors remind us of our cruel capitalist system by mentioning a pension planner's response about what employees who are not at the top will get for a pension plan. The smiling reply was a "silver bullet" that they could kill themselves with once their money was gone. In other words, people cannot depend on the government or business to take care of them, especially after the unstable dollar is no longer linked to the gold standard and only has "fiat" value, which will lead us to financial disaster. They do not care and they may not have the money available to take care of you. You will have to increase your financial intelligence to get money for retirement in the future.

There is more on investment strategy. One needs to buy assets such as stocks, bonds, tax liens, and real estate for investment to get rich. It is a good idea to ask attorneys and banks whether they have any foreclosure deals. Houses that you live in are considered a liability because of taxes, maintenance costs, and insurance costs. This is a good book for getting someone to think differently about money. It does not go into detail about buying real estate, stocks, foreclosure deals, tax liens, or bonds. One can go slow and safe and put money in a 401k but you better start at 20 because it will take a long time to become well off. This book is for those who want to take greater risks to possibly reap more rewards and riches.

Like most of these money gurus, they offer their knowledge for a price to cure the world's poverty problems and the increasing gap between rich and poor. Lest you think that the authors are solely vulture capitalists, they do emphasize the idea of giving to receive without expecting return. The book gives good advice as long as you are strong enough to change and follow it. Not many will be able to. Like most self-help gurus, they believe people can change.
Not received - Review written on September 06, 2008
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Rating: 1 out of 5
1 customer found this review not to be helpful.
I have yet to receive the book. Please help me get this book in my hands since I've already paid for it.
Great Book! - Review written on September 04, 2008
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Rating: 5 out of 5
1 customer found this review not to be helpful.
Our accountant recommended this book, and I am sure glad he did. I read it in just a few days because it was so interesting. This isn't a typical "get rich" book since I found that the author was definitely trying to teach the reader how to rethink the way he or she views money. Some people might think that he is holding back by not going more into detail about how he made his millions, but trust me, if you read between the lines and really pay attention, he does give you some hints on how he got started. He does reinforce a lot of his information, but he is a teacher, and teachers I find are usually repetitive to make sure that they get their points across. This is a great starter book for anyone looking to make their money work for them. And for those of you with children, this book (or Rich Dad for Teens) will help get them on the right track.
Financial Intelligence? What's That? - Review written on August 30, 2008
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Rating: 4 out of 5
1 customer found this review helpful.

I started really late in the game. Employed in dead-end jobs for the most part, it was only in my mid-thirties that I really began to get serious about money. If you're like me and don't know anyone to talk to about the matter, Kiyosaki's book is an adequate start, if only to help you rewire your brain into that zone of financial consciousness.

While Rich Dad, Poor Dad doesn't have all the answers and, as other reviewers have cited, may arguably contain disputable advice, the book has successfully encouraged me to learn more about financial education. And for that, four stars.
Complete and utter drivel selling hope, NOT wisdom! - Review written on August 22, 2008
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Rating: 1 out of 5
4 customers found this review helpful.

Ok, let's skip the fact that by Kiyosaki's own admission, both dads were to a great extent fabricated.

Let's skip the fact that many of the experiences in this book were either embellished or outright fabricated.

Let's skip the fact that much of what he speaks of is in generalities without specific details.

What remains are pleasant-sounding platitudes, lacking in the real-life specifics that most people need. To say that "The poor work for their money, while the rich have their moeny work for them" sounds nice, but is of very little help to someone lacking a compass.

About the only thing that I agree with Kiyosaki on is the fact that our schools (at all levels) lack any kind of personal finance educational curriculum. This is an absolute travesty, but understandable when you consider that our nation is running record budget deficits. When debt is a way of life, people tend to accept it as a given in their own situation.

I've known several people who are devotees of this book series. None (as in zero) have made a discernable difference in their lives. Most are also devotees of MLMs such as Amway, Quixtar and MonaVie...the common thread here being the desire to succeed (which is admirable), but the unwillingness to get the degree, the job and put in the time. Another Kiyosaki theme of "Become a real estate investor!" sounds great on paper, but without the education and training can potentially be a disaster. No one book (or series like this) can prepare someone for an entire career.

If you want to learn how to handle money, try Suze Orman, Dave Ramsey or Lou Rukeyser. The fact that this series is a bestseller, does NOT necessarily mean the series has merit. It simply means that there is a market for baseless hope and optimism. I am sure Kiyosaki is laughing all the way to the bank.
Great book - Review written on August 22, 2008
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Rating: 4 out of 5

This book was a real eye opener. I knew allot of the advice but hadn't thought of it in the way the author told us. Great helpful book.
Amazing Book, Period. - Review written on August 20, 2008
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Rating: 5 out of 5
2 customers found this review helpful.

What ppl don't understand is that you're never supposed to actually take things you read in books like this literally. If he says a certain investment is smart, or he made money a certain way, do your research and see if its right for you. Just like any book, the specific examples used are not as important as the message behind the book. I read all the criticisms of Robert Kiyosaki online, (just google him and the word scam). But to me its not about him, whether or not he has this or that, its about the fact that I his message is one that resonates with me.

I'm a business student in college and I really learned a lot from this book, not just about money, but about life in general. People don't know this book is more about life and how you choose to live: a slave or free. Many of the things he's saying, "don't work all your life like your parents, ect."are all things I have thought about, but this book really articulated the ideas well and re-affirmed it.

Don't buy this book if you literally want to learn to get rich, what you will get from this book is a good sense of the mindset you must be in to be rich. Its about being ambitious and thinking Rich, securing yourself financially so you can be free and do what you want. Would def recommend this to every and anyone, period. The bad reviews come from ppl who take the words literally and try to follow his instructions, go for the message, not the details.
If only things were that easy... - Review written on August 13, 2008
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Rating: 1 out of 5
2 customers found this review helpful.

Kiyosaki's book does have some strengths, but also sends some mixed signals and has a lot of plain bad advice. Overall, the book is a bad choice.

The good:
- The story is interesting enough and certainly captures one's attention.
- The motivational part. It does make you think about your financial life.

The mixed:
- "Leaving the Rat Race" -- spend less, invest more: excellent and much needed advice. Unfortunately, Kiyosaki's own bad example follows. He brags about his Rolex, luxury cars and such. Given the amount of time that he seems to spend promoting his stuff, maybe Kiyosaki himself is in the Rat Race -- albeit in a golden, roomier cage.
- "Work to learn, not for the money". Again, good advice followed by bad examples. Learning at work is usually by DOING, not by being around or watching other people do. So, the Xerox case is fine, but all the others are just foolish.
- "Assets and liabilities". Dubious "redefinitions": something that doesn't put money in your pocket can still be an asset (if it saves you money that would otherwise be spent -- say, a house...).

The bad:
- The whole "traditional education is bad for you" approach. No, it isn't. Harvard costs what it costs for a reason. The reason is more money for YOU down the road.
- "Pay yourself first". Bad idea. If you're on a positive cash flow, it makes no difference. If you're not, it makes you incur in debt and thus INTEREST, which is a nice way to throw away money for zero added value.
- Risk isn't always good, as Kiyosaki implies. The strategies discussed in the book are very unsound and will work only on a bullish market (if any).
- Insider trading and tax evasion are illegal, period.

And the naked, cruel truth that RDPD DOES NOT SAY:
(because it isn't "best-seller material")
- According to Kiyosaki's theory, all you have to do is "wake up the financial genius within you". In reality, there are two honest ways of making money in this world:
1) WORKING. Ok, say you were lucky enough to have a truly great idea or talent. You still would have to work -- don't Steve Jobs, Madonna or Shaquille O'Neal work? Then again, not everybody will be THIS lucky -- and in this case, you are much better off being a highly paid EDUCATED worker. Just the opposite of what RDPD says. By the way, making money from real estate or IPOs or starting your own business will require a lot of work and knowledge, too. Even more than a white collar job.
2) CAPITAL GAINS. Dividends and interest. Kiyosaki is right that it is possible to live on them. What he doesn't say is that it will take a TON of cash to make a decent living within manageable risk levels. And you must HAVE money to BEGIN WITH -- which means inherit it (but then you would not be reading RDPD, would you?) or, more likely, work and SAVE A LOT.
Consider a 3% yearly interest rate above inflation, which is what low-work/low-risk will get. In order to have $5000/month BEFORE TAXES -- not exactly a high roller lifestyle -- you would need $2 million.
Even somebody investing at 8% above inflation (and, may I add, 8% ON THE LONG RUN isn't that easy to achieve), starting from scratch and saving 50% of whatever comes in -- a very rigid discipline -- would take 33 years before being able to live on passive income. Make that a quarter, which is still above the savings level of most Americans, and you got 47 years.
Don't believe me? Open up Excel or Calc and type:
=NPER(8%;1;0;-12/8%)
=NPER(8%;1;0;-36/8%)
Still don't get it? Stop reading RPDP and go STUDY real, not fairy tale, economy.
Simplistic, original and a great value - Review written on August 13, 2008
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Rating: 4 out of 5

I've read countless books on personal finance and creating wealth, but I must say Kiyosaki's is one of the better ones. Most finance books are pure finance and potential suggestions. They miss what precludes any great change in your life, and where most fail at; stepping back from your life as an employee and creating the proper mindset to get rich, (or achieve whatever financial goals you have). In other words, if you're head isn't in the right place from the beginning, the discipline and tools will not be enough to get you there. He feels that the single most important quality to achieve success is in the philosophy. How the wealthy think is what makes them different from the average worker or those just getting by.

People who grind it out for the man day in day out need a complete brain makeover before they can see the forest for the trees. Kiyosaki had two father figures, a poor one (his real dad) and a rich one. His poor dad offer this worldview to his son; "Study hard so you can find a good company to work for." For him, talk of money was bad. Risk was bad. He argued that one's company is responsible to make sure all his needs were met. Finding the best job with the best company that offered the best benefits, to him, was best. His rich dad, on the other hand, encouraged talking about money around the dinner table, to teach the children how to think. He encouraged managing risk, rather than avoiding it. He argued against reliance upon an employer and for "total financial self-reliance" (16). Of course, Kiyosaki's book promotes the mindset of his rich dad.

The book breaks down into six main lessons, which help the reader understand the mindset rather than a method. To close, Kiyosaki makes suggestions about how to begin. First, he combats the five main reasons people stay in their current life-style: fear, cynicism, laziness, bad habits, and arrogance. He then gives ten steps to begin this new mindset.

Great book for its simplicity, original approach and value.
Excellent Book! - Review written on August 12, 2008
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Rating: 5 out of 5

I enjoyed this book very much. Not only was it fun to read, I learned a lot. Excellent!
Extremely Educational and Inspiring... - Review written on August 03, 2008
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Rating: 5 out of 5

This book was far better than expected. Recommended to me by a close friend of my brother's, who has made a fortune for himself in investing at 30 years old. He has a "passive income", what Robert Kiyosaki talks about in this book. For anyone who isn't happy with working a 9-5 for the rest of their lives, constantly in search of more, this book offers great ideas in how to get started on investing and how you'll reap the rewards from it.
We shall open our eyes - Review written on August 01, 2008
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Rating: 5 out of 5

I read this book almost 3 years ago. It was one the first books in the area of self-development I have read. Yes, I consider it a book of self-development. It totally changed the way I look at my finances and life in general. I can say I don't agree with every single bit of it, but the overall message is very important because it makes you think if you really want to work all your life for someone else when you have the possibility of developing something you really love and you're good at. It may be that nowadays real-state (his main focus for income) is not the first choice one might take when starting a business but the man knows what he's talking about. Google for "passive income" and you'll see for yourself! Also, check this one the11passiveincomesources.com
Two sides.. - Review written on July 30, 2008
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Rating: 4 out of 5
1 customer found this review helpful, 1 did not.

This book is really good at showing how "rich" people think compared to "poor & middle-class" people.
Real Estate isn't an investment forever - Review written on July 30, 2008
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Rating: 1 out of 5
2 customers found this review helpful, 1 did not.

With the fertility rate (birthrate) declining all over the world, including the United States, it doesn't take a genius to understand that house prices only go up when the population is increasing. When it is stable or declining, prices will stagnate or decline, and the easy money will be gone.

With our open border with Mexico, we depend upon millions to come to the US legally and illegally. If that ever stopped, you'd see the demand for housing dry up in a hurry.

The best investment is an investment in YOU. Education, education, education. That will matter the most in the long run. As they say, if you want to be rich, become a doctor.

I've skimmed the book and agree that it isn't worth the purchase price. Save your money for real books on personal finance, not this book.
Reality Check - Review written on July 29, 2008
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Rating: 4 out of 5
2 customers found this review helpful.

If you want a reality check on money, Rich Dad Poor Dad will deliver. In America, we have developed the idea that an education is all you need. Granted, an education is a wonderful investment - but many of America's most successful business people don't hold a college degree. So what's the differentiator? Mindset. How you think about money, your rules for giving, your definition of an asset and liability - all these elements are challenged and addressed in Kiyosaki's book.

Rich Dad Poor Dad is also critical for any parent wanting to set their child up for a stronger financial future. As Kiyosaki points out, our school system doesn't cut it. Our children need solid monetary teachings to propel them.

You want out of the lower and middle-class? This book may very well be your first step.
Simplistic and lacking in real get rich methods - Review written on July 27, 2008
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Rating: 1 out of 5
4 customers found this review helpful.

This book is very simplistic. It would be like getting a book on how to become a brain surgeon that tells you to go to college and major in pre-med then go to medical school and then specialize in surgery.

It is not offensive but it is too lacking in real information to be helpful. There are no secrets methods to get rich in this book.
I doubt that rich people are reading books on how to get rich.
I think they are busy doing what it takes to get rich.
Thinly Veiled Contempt for the Poor - Review written on July 26, 2008
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Rating: 1 out of 5
7 customers found this review helpful, 1 did not.

Having slogged through this book, I feel I must submit a review to counter all of the breathless fanatacism. I found this book, not through being on the Best Seller list, but through a libary search for books to teach financial literacy to kids.

I am sure that with more than 2000 previous reviews, I can't say much that hasn't already been posted. But I'll add to the voices encouraging anyone who finds himself enchanted by this book to do a little research on the author. It took me very little time surfing the internet to learn that the book is not a "true story" and that the author's credentials as a real estate investor as suspect. These two things alone undermine the credibility of the advice contained herein.

I will admit that the book does use plain language to explain a few basic financial concepts that many readers will be seeing for the first time. In fact, I am sure that the Best Seller status of this book is due to so many people reading a self-help book on money for the first (and likely the only) time. It is even possible that this book has caused many people to examine their spending habits a bit, so I won't begrudge that. But no one is going to become a real estate tycoon from reading this book because the author is incredibly vague about the specifics of wealth building and gives almost no information about other kinds of investments. He brags about being very lucky, but like all anecdotal stories of wealth building, it shows only one winner. There is no perspective on how many people end up losers doing the same things.

What really bothers me about this book is that the anti-intellectual tone will draw people in to the author's personality cult. Once enchanted, the reader will be tempted to go along with the idea that poor wage earners deserve their lot in life and can be unapologetically exploited by "smarter" people following the author's approach. What, I wonder, does Kiyosaki think would happen if everyone tried to get out of the "Rat Race" as a result of his vision? Don't the rich owe any kind of gratitude to the people who make their lifestyles possible?

I'm afraid this entire book comes off as a big rationalization for being (and wanting to be) rich, no matter who gets hurt. If you are willing to pay this man for his business advice (and products....sheesh!), then I'm afraid you are willingly becoming just another step on the ladder he is climbing. After all people wanting to get rich are okay to exploit, right?
A simple explanation of how to make your money work for you - Review written on July 25, 2008
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Rating: 5 out of 5
1 customer found this review not to be helpful.
This is not a get rich quick type book but it does help teach you ways to let your money work for you in simple terms. Things like why mutual funds are better than savings accounts, etc. It goes back and forth from telling stories to giving advice which is a nice change from your standard boring money books.

Highly recommended.
A forgettable book in a nutshell - Review written on July 20, 2008
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Rating: 1 out of 5
2 customers found this review helpful.

I read this book several years back, and frankly remember very little of it. In a nutshell, the real lesson of the book is that the poor buy necessities (food, clothing, etc.) the middle class buy liabilities (cars, boats, etc.) while the rich buy assets (stocks, bonds, real estate).