Rating: 
Summary: Makes you think about how most people waste money
Review: I found this book to be quite valuable. I made my son read it before buying a car which I felt was beyond his repayment ability. The parts about putting your money into things that create more money instead of things that just depreciate and put you further in debt was right on. Our children are urged to get a job as they get older but we just don't teach them what to do with the money they earn. I recommend this book to those who would like to rethink their financial situation.
Rating: 
Summary: Learn how to make money work for you not work for money
Review: I had the pleasure of listening to this book through it's books on tape version. For one, I do not think I would of finished this book if I had to read it. Probably would of cut it short after chapter 2.What did i get out of from this book? To be honest not a lot. This book was filled with so many generalized ideas and preachings that I constantly was searching for specific, concrete ideas that I may apply to my life in order to help myself with my financial goals. "Always remember, make money work for you, don't work for money". This is what the book kept saying but I never got a clear picture on how to accomplish that. Maybe I wasn't listening too carefully. Another preaching was "to buy assets not liabilities". All the preachings made common sense, but the concrete solutions and support for these sayings were not there for me. Maybe because the ideas and teachings this book had to offer were too general. I kind of agree with those who said that alot of this book consists of generalized ramblings. Me being 24 years old, i guess I lack the patience and money management experience to really understand what the author is trying to say. I started listening to this book with the attitude that you can not teach people how to get rich. And my attitude still stands today. rk
Rating: 
Summary: The saga begins...
Review: "Rich Dad, Poor Dad" starts off reading like a movie, "The Money Kid, Part One." Kiyosaki tells us that desiring to build wealth, so the other kids wouldn't pick on him, Kiyosaki, a nine-year-old financial wimp, seeks the help of his friend's rich dad. The "Poor Dad" is Kiyosaki's own highly-educated, monetarily unenlightened father who works for a living. Kiyosaki just sort of adopts this rich guy as his financial dad. Too bad the inheritance won't work that way! The Rich Dad says, "OK, Daniel Son, I'll teach you how to become rich. But, you must do what I say. It is a full commitment. Take it or leave it." (Kiyosaki didn't write that, but I really like the "Karate Kid" analogy) Rich Dad promptly puts Kiyosaki to work for 30ยข an hour every Saturday. Rich Dad didn't talk to the young Kiyosaki, but Kiyosaki cleaned and cleaned and cleaned. One day, Kiyosaki was fed up. He'd quit! The Rich Dad wasn't keeping his word. Kiyosaki went to see Rich Dad. Young Kiyosaki demanded a raise and said Rich Dad had lied. Rich Dad hadn't taught him anything. Rich Dad asked him again, "What have you learned?" Kiyosaki said he learned that what everyone said about Rich Dad was true. Rich Dad was a cheapskate who exploited his workers! Rich Dad broke into laughter. Rich Dad went on to explain that most people who work for a living resent doing so. These people work for money, which is doled out in meager fashion, and they blame their boss for their poor financial position. They work hard, but they don't think financially. The rich don't work for money, money works for the rich. Being an employee sucks. Lesson Two. Rich Dad puts Kiyosaki back to work. This time, Rich Dad tells Kiyosaki that he must work for free. I didn't quite get Lesson Two. Kiyosaki writes that getting a good education, saving regularly, especially via mutual funds, is not a sufficient strategy to get rich. Further, it takes too long. It is too safe. Kiyosaki does mention he has a friend who retired early with $4 million dollars in his 401(k), but he needed to work until fifty-five to get there. So rather than getting a good education, saving, and investing conservatively, what does Kiyosaki recommend? He likes taking seminars on futures trading and real estate. He writes about buying a property and quickly reselling it for a large profit. Donald Trump is one of his heroes. This is my main objection with "Rich Dad, Poor Dad." Kiyosaki writes about finding the one big financial deal making you a lot of money. And, it should happen quickly and easily, of course! That seems to be his focus. The serious problem with this advice is that many who follow it will never succeed. Not needing to save and invest conservatively, because their big "payday" is coming, they will never retire. Further, if they follow his anti-education slant, they will wind up working in low-paying jobs. For a writer claiming to care about the growing gap between the rich and poor, I find this advice inexcusable. (read "The Millionaire Mind" for a better portrayal of how the rich generally think. That book was based upon surveys of many financially successful people.) I strongly agree with Kiyosaki that a big difference between the rich and non-rich is that the rich use their money to buy things which generate future wealth-stocks, real estate, etc. The non-rich tend to buy personal things which depreciate in value and have no ability to earn future wealth. I like what Kiyosaki writes about people who say, "I can't afford this." He writes that saying this leads to a closing of the mind. You stop thinking about your options for financing the item in question. He says you should say, "How can I afford this?" That will lead you to consider options you have for generating that level of wealth. I'd also toss in the question, "Do I want to afford this?" Many of the things you "can't afford" aren't really worth buying. However, I also feel much of Kiyosaki's specific advice and examples are very bad. I cringe when I read about Kiyosaki buying a Porsche and deducting it as a business expense. He never mentions that what you report as tax-deductible business expenses must be justifiable, or you could be in real trouble. Further, he mixes up corporate structure with the tax-deductibility of legitimate business expenses (which can also be deducted by sole proprietorships or partnerships, for example)(p. 104). He writes a home is a liability (and I understand what he means about it not generating future cash flow to you), but homeownership is almost always a financially smart move. It re-channels cash flow that would have gone into rent into buying an asset which probably will increase in value. Kiyosaki seems to believe that stock trading can lead to quick riches and trying to do so is a good "education." (p. 181). Following some of his specific get-rich-quick advice could cost a person a lot of money! So, be careful when it comes to accepting his specific advice! I found the advice in "Rich Dad's Guide to Investing" to be far better (in ultra-short summary, Kiyosaki's advice there: Build a business and invest in small growth companies). Peter Hupalo, author of "Thinking Like An Entrepreneur"
Rating:
Summary: BAD
Review: A miserably bad book. Full of inaccurate and unethical information, some of it illegal. He often leaves out critically pertinent info to make his scenerios seem better. For an accurate, in-depth review of this book read John T. Reed's review at his website: Johntreed.com.
Rating:
Summary: What every parent needs to know...
Review: Every parent needs to read this book so they can pass on the knowledge to their kids. This can even change adults outlook on money and how to handle money. Do you work for money or does money work for you?
Rating: 
Summary: Incredible!
Review: I am so excited about what Robert Kiyosaki and "Rich Dad, Poor Dad" has done for me personally. I don't know Robert perosnally, but I thank God that I was introduced to his way of thinking. I am the founder & owner of a busiess that employs about 2300 employees in 12 states and am just now realizing that I am "self-employed". This isn't altogether a bad thing, but I need to get out of this established business and begin starting another one. Rich Dad Poor Dad & CASHFLOW is educating me on how to manage my money and create freedom for not only myself, but my family. To some degree I have already started off in the right track, as my business virtually runs itself. But I realize now that I am just a child when it comes to the concept of "Financial Freedom". I think it is so exciting to learn something new everyday. I have now establish a personal "Board of Directors" and am on my way to true freedom. Many of my friends think that I am financially well off, and I guess that I am as opposed to an everyday employee. I personally have always kept my expenses down to a minimum, but CASHFLOW has help me to understand that debt isn't altogether that bad if it's "good debt". It has also taught me what a real asset is and what a liability is. Remember that there are two sets of books (income statements); yours and the banks! I love inviting friends to play CASHFLOW because I learn alot personally about investing, as well as the mind set of my friends. I am better able to indentify my "Top 6" (The people that I will become). The only advice that I have to give is to do just like the Nike slogan says, after you learn it "Just Do It".
Rating:
Summary: If you only buy one book, THIS is the book to buy
Review: This is easily one of the best books there are. While it is a bit "rambly" at times (not to mention redundant), the book teaches EXCEEDINGLY important ways to look at investing, assets, liabilities, cars, houses, etc. If you have children this book should be considered required reading.
Rating:
Summary: Good
Review: This is a flawed book for sure, but it is so REFRESHING to see someone set down so HONESTLY the nature of making money, etc. Most rich guys writing about making money, rationalize wealth as something that is their due, something they deserve. "The world is a perfectly balanced place" kind of junk. Kiyosaki says the rich have advantages that they don't necessarily deserve. The laws were made by rich people, for rich people. So, if that's the reality, why not try and be one of the rich? It was great to read such forthright truths.
Rating:
Summary: I normally hate these kind of books.
Review: Frankly, I think most personal finance books are cheesy. They remind me of all the goofy sales type I know who have the appeal of Herb Tarlek and respond to want ads for "wild and crazy people needed" as a serious career option. However this book is straightforward in that there are core philisophical difference between the haves and have-nots that cannot be explained in a few paragraphs. If it could, we would all be rich. This book represents the first of my descent into Cheeseville. Please make sure the cleaner has my plaid suit ready - complete with the tie that's too wide and too short.
Rating:
Summary: Don't waste your time or your money
Review: I found this book not about wealth creation or getting rich, but a self-help stylized memoir of learning about money. It is woefully short on practical ideas and actions, and provides little outside of broad generalizations and rantings. In my view, "Get a Financial Life" combined with "The Millionaire Next Door" were far more educational with ideas and strategies that were readily applicable.
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