Rating: 
Summary: Good book on a sensitive issue
Review: Discussing money and wealth can be as sensitive an issue for some people as discussing their sex life. The author of Rich Dad, Poor Dad can appeal to many people for whom the subject of investing and earning is very hard to think about.The author describes the difference in attitude and outcome for his "poor" real dad, a professor, and his rich dad, a neighbor who had a gift for investing in real estate and making good business decisions. Many people feel nervous about investing, if not downright scared. Kiyosaki contrasts the two dads in a way that can make even the investing-shy take notice. Also, not everyone grows up in a family where investing is a skill that is talked about or practiced. But now, since 401K's, IRA's and self-directed pensions are the norm, everyone has to become self-reliant to some degree to plan for their future. The days of company pensions and living on social security checks is long gone. I had a friend who was very uneasy about any investing. He read this book and it was a complete eye-opener for him. He felt a real kinship with the author and was able to understand the principles being discussed. This is a "people" oriented investment book. If you know someone who is shy about money issues, I recommend it as a good way to discuss how to plan for the future. It's especially good in times of downturns in economy when a good attitude ad knowledge of fundamentals can help you through uncertain times.
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent Read
Review: A excellent book with some eye opening teachings about money and the way he defines what an asset and liability really are is superb. Great book!
Rating:
Summary: Different to say the least
Review: I've read this book 7 times, and I just can't figure out what it is about this book. Most people love it, some people hate it. To be as balanced as possible, here are some good and bad points. Everyone who hates this book always points out the misspellings and poor grammar. Yes, that bothered me too. Okay, let's get beyond that. This is a book about money. It's not about compassion. It's not about being nice. It's about money. People who hate this book instinctively feel that there's an element of insanity to all of it as if we're supposed to dedicate our lives to quitting school and getting rich. We'll then spend our entire life worrying about and protecting our ever growing hoard of cash. Somehow, we'll just become another rich snob who couldn't care less about anything other than our lack of education and abundance of money. This book, quite honestly, changed my life. I feel funny when I say that because people want to email me and ask just what in the heck am I talking about. Did I become rich because of it? Actually, what changed my life is not that it made me rich but because it's one of those few books where I (speaking for myself only) really, truly took action. I've read numerous investing books. They all say to "invest for the long term" "buy and hold" "dollar cost averaging" and all that stuff. They aren't terrible ideas, but they're so common you have to wonder why so many people these days are liquidating their mutual funds while the market is falling. Where are all the "buy and hold" investors now? Speaking strictly for myself, and I happen to love this book, some people don't, I would have to say the most important lesson that I learned was the concept of investing for cash flow. Now, the book is very slanted toward real estate and being self-employed. If you have a job, and you like having a job, and you never plan on doing anything other than having a job, there's not much in this book for you unless you're willing to change. There's reall nothing terrible about having a job. Somebody has to get up and work for a living. I think the author's point is misunderstood by many people. Times have changed, yet people don't. The rules are all different as stock market investors are just now finding out. When you invest for cash flow, you don't worry about the economy. That's the whole point, and that's what 9 out of 10 people don't get when they read this book. I had to read it 7 times to "get it." The problem of course is that there is much emphasis on real estate, and that is misleading. There are many other ways to invest for passive income other than real estate. The author doesn't say much other than start a business. What was that about 4 out of 5 business failing in the first five years...? Hmmm. Not much hope there. In terms of inspiration I loved this book. DO NOT read this book for "how to" type investment ideas. In fact, don't even read it for real estate investment advice. Read this book with an open mind. It's harsh at times. Yes, his real dad (aka "Poor Dad") had a Phd and a great job. The point isn't to put down his real dad or the educational system. The point is that our educational system doesn't adequately prepare young people for financial life. When I talk to people about investing for passive cash flow, I get blank stares. Most people have been told to "buy and hold" yet they buy, hold and the market crashes, so they sell at a loss. No cash flow, just capital losses. That's because all of the financial books talk about picking great growth stocks that will appreciate in value. Ask yourself this: When your mortgage is coming due, and you have no cash, what good is your mutual fund or Microsoft stock going to do you? Think about that. Do they produce cash flow? I'm giving this book five stars because I think the author has taken a real risk in opening himself up to criticism. I would read it with an open mind. If you don't want to "waste" your money, borrow a copy from someone. His emphasis on passive cash flow is nothing new, but what fascinates me is how almost nobody else talks about that. Everybody who hates this book completely misses that point, and that's a real shame. Of course, the author doesn't tell you exactly how to do that, and that's a little annoying too.
Rating:
Summary: It should have been obvious
Review: The author's simple assertions seem like they should have been obvious, yet they will change how you think of money, your career, and your goals forever. Yes, the rich are different from you and me. They have money, and they see it for the tool it is. This book effectively shows you why this is the proper approach and why it should be yours. A quick read that will cause you to think and question some lifetime assumptions.
Rating:
Summary: What an Eye Opener
Review: I just didn't know. I am 36 and a small business owner that is still in the Rat Race. If only I could have had this information years ago.. However it is not too late. If you are looking for an ABC plan or a 12 step plan to gain wealth this book is not for you. However if you understand that a good foundation in finances and financial understanding is important and the place you should start, this is what this book gives. You can see the real reason the rich are rich and have direction to pursue wealth yourself. It is all in the foundation that is laid. There are practical things you will be able to do if you pay attention as you read. He doesn't give lessons for you to do but there is plenty you will pick up just from reading.. I recommend you read the whole 3 book series. "Rich dad Poor Dad", "Cash Flow Quadrant" and "Guide to Investing". Read them in order. These are not Get Rich Quick books..
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Summary: Really good ideas, A bit of fluffy writing, But a Must Read
Review: Not since Steven Covey's "7 Habits of Highly Effective People" have I evangalized so much about a book to all my friends. This book is thin and a quick read, but the basic principles that they present make this book a must read. First of all, allow me to open the kimono a bit...The author doesn't really have 2 dads. He uses the title as a mental handle to trigger your interest. Great idea, although a bit midleading. But what makes this book stand out are a few BIG ideas. First of all, opportunities are all around us. He shows you how to find them. Secondly, you will definitely change your paradigm or perspective on employment, consumer spending, investing and building your financial future. Don't waste another day with your present course of financial operation. Buy this book and make sure your on the right path today!
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Summary: This book is really what you want it to be
Review: I am a big fan of RK so take this with a grain of salt if you hate the guys guts. First off, I've been studying money books for almost two years. Most of them were for the middle class which told you to play it safe and diversify. Answers were little and fear was great. Basically, if you had a lot of time, you could at least retire adequately from those books. So then I found RK last May and what a change! This was exactly what I was looking for: not people who couldn't walk the talk but people who had done it and done it well. Understand that RK and his wife lost most of their money and had to live with a friend (it's in their second or third book) but there's no shame in this per se as some people feel. This guy is basically telling you about his mistakes, at the risk of being attacked, and letting you avoid them. I've played CASHFLOW 101 about 30 times and moved on to 202 and have played it about a dozen times now. THe group I am with is positive and training their minds to see the invisible. One guy has already started to do r/e deals in Calif and while he is still looking around in a tough market like the Bay Area, he's moving along. RK's books are really about opening your mind to the possibilities as cliche' as it sounds. Once you decide to specialize in a particular investment vehicle (i.e. real estate, MLMS, stocks, etc), you will need to get the information from other sources. The important things RK's books do is give you smidgens of various fin. vehicles and, more importantly, teaches you to believe that the possibilities are out there. Let me stress that again: the possibilities ARE out there. The problem is: most Americans have trained their mind to believe there are very few and they cannot get them so they repeat this vicious circle. That's the biggest problem I've noticed since training my mind and learning. You've got to believe and you have to start seeing the possibilities: or, seeing the invisible as RK calls it. Once you start doing that, you're on your way.
Rating:
Summary: Priceless
Review: This book will not give you the hottest stock pick. In fact it will not teach you how to pick stocks or real estate, or anything like that. What it does do is point you in the right the direction. Robert talks about the importance of financial literacy teaches readers the difference between an asset and a liability. He explodes the old way of thinking that in order to make lots of money, a person needs to go to school and get good grades. I don't know about any of the readers out there but I don't know of many people who ever got rich by filling out an application and signing on as employee of a big company. Many people may be paid healthy sums to do what they do, but if they were truly rich, then why do they continue to go work everyday. The author is not promoting the idea of making money so that you can be ridiculously rich and have lots of material things, but rather so that you can have freedom to do the things you want to rather than spend your whole life working for money. This book is a good start for people who require different answers for their financial life. Excellent read. It will change the way you think of money.
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Summary: Made me rethink my future
Review: This book changed the way I think about my future...and about money. While it does not give a lot of detailed information on how to build your wealth, it does give tons of information on why money works the way it does and how the things we all "know" about money are not correct most of the time. For example, Kiyosaki does not consider a home an asset while most Americans at do. He says this because his definition of an asset is "something that puts money into your pocket." A liability takes money out of your pocket. So which is a house? His point, though, with this example and the book is not that we shouldn't have a home or that we should always have the equity in our homes maximized into other income producing things. He is trying to show us that there are different ways of thinking about money and that the ways we have been taught are not always correct. This book made me rethink my job situation as well. Why am I working? And even if I get that raise, promotion, new job, won't I still be dependent on my employer for my money? He helped me to start thinking of ways that I can build passive income that will allow me to get out of the 40 hour-a-week grind. The kind of continual income that will allow me to work when and how I want to...and if I want to. I really enjoyed the book - it's an easy read - and I have to say it has been one of the few books I've read lately that have made a great impact on me. If you are ready to see money and your life and relationship to money in a new way, you need this book. If you are looking for a get-rich-quick book, choose something else.
Rating:
Summary: Great advice for those willing to accept it.
Review: After hearing about this book, I finally purchased it while waiting for a delayed flight. I've always considered myself to have a high financial I.Q. However, I've learned that there is more to money than simply watching it multiply. After reading this book I understand how my attitude regarding "things" stifles my financial growth. My husband and I recently purchased a home appraised at 530,000 dollars. One can only imagine what the mortgage payment is. Yes we can make the mortgage, but this book forced me to face whether or not we can really afford it if one of us loses our job tomorrow. Do we have enough assets to carry us through? The answer is a resounding no. Only because we want to have the finer things now, before our assets pay for them. Yes a house is a liability among other things. We would not be considered wealthy, but we drive German cars and live in this luxurious home. I am sick that I didn't buy this book before we signed. Had we waited and stayed in our smaller but beautiful home, we would have several more thousand dollars per month to help continue building our assets. We have a wonderful life, and money is not all there is. But those who live with the misconception that building wealth makes one unhappy, they are sadly mistaken. This book has enriched our family and I am certain that our children will pursue their dreams, live life to its fullest and unlike me, have a high financial I.Q. before they are thirty.
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