Rating:  Summary: How you think about money Review: I really enjoyed this book because it makes you really think about your attitude about money and where that attitude came from. He doesn't give specifics about how to become rich; as a matter of fact, from his life it seems like you have to know the right people. However, it's very motivating to change how you look at how to make money beyond waiting for a raise. I also found his writing style very easy to read, very rare in the finance field.
Rating:  Summary: Smart Author, Dumb Author Review: Have you ever had someone who told you what you wanted to hear, and you were glad that they did? That's the best way I can describe my experience with this book. Lucky for me that I read this as a motivational book that expanded my financial perspective. It is not a how-to guide, and I would probably lose my money if I tried to copy his examples. His advice on the rules of the game, how to view assets and liabilities, and the importance of financial literacy are necessary for the traditional "work-hard and save" crowd. However, a college education can be an advantage for anyone. Besides the book knowledge, you make invaluable contacts and set the foundation for getting a job that will provide investment capital. There are other nuggets of questionable advice. Learn what you can, but read between the lines. He is giving you a clinic on how to market, sell, and keep customers. Unfortunately, it is usually the talented ones that make it look easy.
Rating:  Summary: My Life Has Changed Because of This Book! Review: Wow! Talk about a powerful book! If you're ready to step out of your comfort zone into a realm that will test your tenacity and make you money, this book is for you. Since reading it six months ago, I've bought two rentals properties, and started my own business while continuing my full-time job. I've been to 6 eduational seminars in the area of finance and continue to learn every day. I'm an average 32 year-old woman making just under $50,000 a year. Robert writes clearly, laying out step-by-step strategies that have worked for him and that others can duplicate. Forget the coffee; I'm addicted to Rich Dad books.
Rating:  Summary: Rich Dad, Poor Dad: What the Rich Teach Their Kids About Mon Review: If you buy own one book on finance, investing, or real estate this should be the one. Robert T. Kiyosaki, Sharon L. Lechter do a wonderful job creating a book that speaks to all of us. It is a book that helps get yourself in the right frame of mind. I have recommended this book to everyone I know, and the feedback has been fantastic. This book should be required reading not only for adults, but for children as well.
Rating:  Summary: Where was this book for MY DAD when I was just a Kid? Review: EXXXXcellent book. I feel cheated because my DAD did not have access to this kind of information to teach me when I was young. As a matter of fact, this book is bang on on its depiction of how we all grow up feeling about money. It should be listed on whatever booklist says most influencial book of the decade or whatever. I actually am about to read it all over again, cause I want to cement its ideas in my 34 yr old brain!!PAtrick ( BArbados).
Rating:  Summary: Simply the best!!! Don't miss it. Review: This book changed my life. Now I am out of debt and preaching how to become rich by saving one dollar at a time. It is the perfect gift.
Rating:  Summary: Interesting Concepts - but the execution is pure fluff..... Review: I have a very mixed opinion of this book - on the positive side, I admire it's message of investing vs. consuming and thought the section on how the rich "invent" money by issuing securities had some perceptive comments. Had the author spent some more time on developing these messages - this could have been a useful book. Unfortunately the author manages to destroy his credibility to any serious observer with his series of clueless comments on ethics, real estate deals, taxes, finance, and risk management. Some reviewers here dismiss these errors - I refuse to - some of them are sufficiently basic to make their inclusion in a book of advice to beginning investors both negligent and reckless. First - I will cite his ludicrious claim that he uses his cat as a business partner to get out of bad real estate deals. Even if someone actually took an offer with that kind of contingency as a firm bid (I wouldn't - it's final when all affiliated members of the purchasing group agree, otherwise give me another deal), I'd love to see the look on the judge's face when you go to try and enforce that claim. I suspect the contract would be upheld and punitive damages would be imposed - with a possibility of being charged with fraud if you did it to the wrong person. Next - his reckless approach to writing off stuff on his annual taxes (per his comments about rolexes, Hawaii vacations, etc.) wouldn't stand the light of day in a serious audit. Don't mess with the IRS - particularly on something stupid like that. Most galling was his claim of adding his suits and golf clubs to his statement of assets for a loan application...as a banker, I can only imagine the reaction of a logical loan committee. It's verging on a fraudulent claim in my opinion. And then we get to his comments on tax liens and his famous real estate purchase using "nothing down" to create a bunch of notes. First, he's deluded about what he can get in some of these deals and the amount of time needed to do them (a lot - for those kind of discounts). Next - I never saw any concept of pricing a note based on a risk premium - which any rational lender/seller must do...particularly if you want to do it long term. The fact that he managed to make money on that deal is more a matter of luck than skill - in the long run, the cost of default was enough to limit the use of that particular approach. And in the event the investor doesn't realize it - his bankers will & cut him off. And on the subject of advisors - this is a load of self-serving hype intended to prepare the reader to purchase whatever seminar or "mentoring service" Kiyosaki & his cohorts are pushing. Take is from someone who's actually had to hire advisors before - he has an exaggerated view of the competance and ethics of most of the advisers servicing his clientele. Stock brokers? Give me a break, they get paid on commission...how many of these guys are going to tell you to put it in cash/bonds? Lawyers? At $400 per hour, they want to keep you talking as long as possible. And my favorite - property management firms....good luck on that one. Finally - this book has a strange attitude on the benefits of self-employment vs. working for someone else. I'd like to set things straight here - the best thing to do is to do whichever option (E,S,B) offers the highest potential return on your time and skills given your personality & resources. If someone wants to pay me more for working as their employee than working on my own (total value) then good for them.... Over the past two years I've thought a lot about starting a business - but have realized that my current job - at a nice salary - offers a better deal in terms of asset accumulation (savings, 401k) and benefits - with substantially lower risk. If you are a highly skilled worker, it may make more sense to be an E or S vs. start a business. It's a matter of working the numbers and taking the best deal. This book started in the right direction but fell victim to the author's ego & seminar-style approach to doing business. Readers should read a few other books before putting these ideas into serious practice.
Rating:  Summary: Selling not Schooling. Review: The basic idea of this book is that if you can sell then your formal education (especially college) matters very little. But, the primary job of a college or university is to teach you things that will help you to become a more well-rounded person. Not just teach you how to make money. The author made his money timing the Real Estate market in the 80's then decided that he was an expert on how to make money and started writing slick books that tell people if you want to be rich then SELL and INVEST. Nothing original here. Even his story about the Rich Dad is made up. Save your money. this book isn't worth it.
Rating:  Summary: Simple but effective Review: Guess what? This book will not tell you how to get rich quickly. Use it as a simple guide and starting point to "financial literacy". Learn some of the straightforward techniques for improving your financial situation. Understanding how money can work for you, and not the other way around. I wish I've read this book years ago.
Rating:  Summary: Robert Kiyosaki Is an educator more than a capitalist! Review: This book Is a stepping stone for anyone that wants financial freedom! We are living now In the Information Age, the Industrial Age Is gone. We must re-educate ourselves for the change already starting. If Individuals don't change for the times to come, they will sink like the Soviet Union did! Our school systems do not educate us In money, but careers. So start with this book, and get re-educated!
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