Rating: 
Summary: review again after 2 years
Review: I don't understand why some people gave 1-star reviews to this book. I bought the book back in Feb/March 2000, and I gave it a 5-star review on April 26, 2000. It deserves as many stars today as it was two years ago when I first read it. If I had not read Robert's work back then, our 401k retirement account would have suffered huge losses in 2001 and well into July 2002. Thanks to Robert's inspiration, we have acquired so much financial literacy since then. We have learnt so much about the financial markets on our own to be able to make independent decisions--without depending on advisors or brokers. For example, we shifted our portfolio to money market and bond funds since last year. Unlike many of our friends whose 401ks are deeply in the red, we were UP last year. (But we have scaled back bond funds recently though.) Robert's books aren't perfect. He repeats himself frequently, and I doubt whether all he says about his rich dad or poor dad is necessarily factual. Nevertheless, you need to look beyond all that. What he says in his tapes and books has changed my life and financial outlook completely. Although we will not be rich anytime soon, we now have greater confidence and knowledge in attaining our financial goals. In other words, instead of blaming others, we've found the locus of control within ourselves. And that's what his books are all about. If you still haven't read any of Robert's works, don't put it off any longer. Keep an open mind and read them. Above all, don't be too picky with Robert's writing style. The bottom line is to get the message.
Rating: 
Summary: Short on detail, long on phony stories
Review: This book could be retitled "Buy this Book, Make Kiyosaki Rich". This book is extremely short on details and designed to get you buy more of his products. Also it's full of catchphrases so you think you are actually learning something worthwhile. It's also interesting to me that no one has been able to find kiyosaki's "rich dad" anywhere. Does this guy even exist? Also what business did he sell to retire at age 47? The fact that he doesn't give any details on this makes everything he says pure anecdotal nonsense.
If you buy illogical and poorly researched nutritional information books then this might be up your ally on personal finance.
Rating:
Summary: Practical and Good Advice
Review: At first I was really skeptical about the claims of this book but after I read it, I realize Kyosaki makes a lot of sense. Itfs true that most of the information and advice here are quite general and broad; this book is meant for those who are just starting to take a hard look at their financial situation in life. Rich Dad Poor Dad is a perfect stepping stone for the beginner in the finance game. Although I only read his book recently, most of the advice handed down in this book is what I have done in my professional life. I quit my job several years ago to form my own company and at the same time began investing and studying in different businesses. Although I can't claim to be rich I'm happy to say that I'm well off and my investments and my research paid off. This is exactly what Robert wants more people to think and do, go out and learn how business and money works. Work for yourself instead for others and learn the more practical aspects of handling your financial situation I recommend this book to those who are interesting in making the first step to their financial freedom.
Rating: 
Summary: Interesting Way to Study a Topic
Review: While this is probably not qualified to be called pure, scientific research, this idea of approaching a topic is one that needs to be used more: don't worry about what should work, look at what does work. If getting rich is your goal, study the rich. If getting educated is your goal (not mutually exclusive to getting rich, although it sometimes seems so), study educated people. This book does a pretty good job of looking at what rich parents teach their children about having money work for them. Of course, some money (beyond the amount needed for the necessities) is needed to start. This book will probably not help the very poor much, as they do not have the money to start with. However, understanding these principles, will help poor children in case they ever do get even small amounts of income beyond necessity level. The book is a good one for anyone who has some discretionary income and whose goal is to get wealthier. One note that sounds like a cliche but it isn't: Money is not happiness. However, it is also true that, in our society, it is extremely hard to be happy if one does not have the money to at least make ends meet. My point, though, is that acquiring wealth does not lead to happiness. I'm a therapist and I've seen some pretty miserable wealthy families who know how to handle money, but know little else.
Rating:
Summary: October Fury
Review: I found it so fascinating,I read it non-stop and ordered additional copies to give as presents to friends. The subject (Cuban missile crisis) was researched and presented by the author who was a participant antisubmarine warfare officer on a US destroyer, and later had access to classified Russian military reports and intervied his opposition submarine commanders. The drama is unfolding on the military-diplomatic front, as well as in the lifes of many individuals serving aboard ships and submarines.
Rating:
Summary: The mother lode
Review: It seems every few years one book of "expert advice" rises above all others. In a world of get rich quick with no money, skill, or talent publications, this is no small accomplishment. For whatever reason, this one book strikes a chord - usually one of discontent - with a multitude of readers. It taps into the vein of naivete and gullibility and strip-mines it dry. In short, it plays upon the reader's desperation. Good cover art, a catchy title and, above all, timing, are the key ingredients. If the author of the book is reasonably photogenic, and can speak in whole sentences on the book tour, you have a sure-fire best seller. Such a book is Robert Kiyosaki's, "Rich Dad, Poor Dad". A quaint fantasy about a man, who, as a boy, is blessed with a poor educated idiot biological dad and a surrogate mysterious rich dad of cryptic knowledge and shadowy talents. How can one resist such a plot line? My wife couldn't, she may despise them, but she knows they are my bread and butter in between quality fantasy books. This book is so full of contradictory and confusing advice I am certain the author is both the Rich and the Poor Dad caught in a viscous web of dueling personalities. Not only is the "expert" advice contradictory, it is, for the most part, inaccurate and financially dangerous. The author is what is known on the streets - a place where I learned much about business - as an "angler". He is the person who is always on the make, always looking for that one angle others have missed. With this book, Kiyosaki has seemingly hit the mother lode. He offers little of substance and the rare nugget of intelligent advice given is promptly - usually on the very same page - sluiced away. But, it is packaged so slick, you may buy into it. At your own peril. Perhaps we see our own dad in the "poor dad", the dad who had to work for a living, work for his money, the dad who did those mundane things in life, like feed us, clothe us and send us through school, earning our youthful ignorant disdain in the process. Perhaps we see "rich dad" as the savior, the man with all the answers, and no responsibility to boot. Ah, indeed, that is the life. However, this book purports to be truth, not fiction. The advice given is given with the utmost sincerity, and with the reckless disregard of a street hustler selling fake Rolexes. Buy this book if you wanted to own a book about the things to avoid on the road to financial success. This is surely that book. "Rich Dad, Poor Dad" is a book that will take you a few hours to read and, if the advice given within is heeded, a lifetime to overcome.
Rating: 
Summary: Only one good thing
Review: Overall this book left a bad taste in my mouth. The childhood story is obviously untrue. I unfortunately did research on Kiyosaki and his book after I bought it. There are much finer books about becoming financially independant out there. Your Money or Your Life is a fine example. I would give it the lowest rating of one star except that he does make a point that your house/mortgage is a liability which I highly agree with. Most of what he writes about is covered in other books which are written MUCH better.
Rating:
Summary: Great Book - Teaches Basics Most Don't Have
Review: I work with a lot of kids from all sectors of our community. The great majority will grow up to be poor middle class. I was born into the poor middle class and so I know what lies ahead for them. "Rich Dad Poor Dad" can help the poor middle class to begin to break free from the bondage that they live in. Robert Kiyosaki does not put forth any great formula for building wealth - he can't do that. Poor middle class Americans need to first know that there is a choice for them to make. If Kiyosaki were to give some elaborate plan to build wealth then his audience would not be able to follow it for lack of a foundation of basic financial literacy. Buy this book if you want to be rich - if you already know what Kiyosaki is teaching and you are not rich, then you should buy a book on motivation so you can get out and just do it. I highly recommend buying "The Child Whisperer" with "Rich Dad Poor Dad." Together, the books created within me a level of understanding that allowed me to become confident in my understanding of wealth and gave me the skills I needed to acheive wealth. "The Child Whisperer" is about relationships with children, but the most powerful advice in the book deals with how we communicate with ourselves.
Rating:
Summary: High on energy, low on ideas or follow through
Review: I'd be willing to bet that 90% of the people that read this book get really excited about earning millions by "thinking different". I would also be willing to bet that about the same percentage of readers continue on without doing anything about their newfound enthusiasm. Why? Because this book gives absolutely no detail. This makes sense because nobody is going to sell step by step directions to guarantee millions of dollars in a [price] paperback book. I did give him 2 stars because he brings a new perspective to money that most people don't learn. Namely, to spend your efforts aquiring assets and not liabilities, thus allowing your money to "work for you". As far as implementation goes, he offers no help besides a few far-fetched real estate deals and investments that he got lucky on. He makes it sound like a simple trip to the courthouse and 2 hours of time is all it takes to turn a $50k real estate deal. Ask anybody out there who does these deals regularly to see if its that easy. I also cringed at the idea that he liked his "rich dad" better simply because he was financially successful. That is far too materialistic for me. However, there are some that postulate that "rich dad" is nothing more than a fictional character, a made up man used to sell the book. What is even more insulting is the realization that comes at the end of the book that he really didn't make is wealth actually doing what he writes about, but rather charging you money to tell you that he did it. He is simply a salesman, not a dream-maker.
Rating:
Summary: Average at best.
Review: I found this book to be a very easy read. The narrative was interesting, but the book lacked any sort of substance. There is not enough information in this series of books to take any action. Add some specifics and this book would be OK.
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