Rating: 
Summary: Rich Dad, Poor Dad
Review: What a disappointment. I knew I was in trouble as soon as I read the introduction by Sharon Lechter, CPA, which advises "any accountants who read this book [to] suspend your academic book knowledge and open your mind to the theories Robert presents.'' She also concedes that many of Mr. Kiyosaki's theories "challenge the very fundamentals of generally accepted accounting principles.''Mr. Kiyosaki touts the tax advantages that corporations provide, but fails to distinguish the different types of corporate entities or mention that earnings generated by "C corporations" are taxed twice. It's also difficult to devine exaclty where Mr. Kiyosaki stands on basic issues such as investing in mutual funds. On page 71 he derides mutual fund investors who seek to "play it safe'' by diversifying their portfolio holdings (hardly a controversial practice). But by page 81, however, he includes mutual funds in a list of assets that he suggests we should acquire. The book also contains several unhelpful charts whose primary purpose seems to be taking up additional pages so Mr. Kiyosaki may call his work a "book.'' Finally, a central theme that runs throughout the book is the idea that doing well in school and learning a profession are not important. Instead, we would all be better off if we all just simply concentrated on accumulating wealth by buying apartment buidlings etc. I would hate to think what the world would be like if everyone took his advice.
Rating: 
Summary: Great book
Review: This book really opens your mind about money. Like many others, I came from a middle class family, went to college, got a good eduaction. I just started my career, start buying stuff I always wanted; a classic pattern describe by the author. After reading the book, I begin to understand what I have to do to avoid mistakes many have made. Even my dad, who always tell me and my brother to get good education, work hard; begins to question some of the advises he gave us after reading 1/4 of the book.
Rating:
Summary: Great! If you're looking for money philosophy that is...
Review: Repetitive philosophical drivel (with spelling errors no less). I read this in just a couple days and realized how good it feels to not be run by money. If money is all you care about, do what Kiyosaki did, build your entire life around amassing wealth. Then you die... oops, can't take it with you! Where's your philosophy now, Mr. Money Man? Does anyone really need a million dollars or more? I don't, I can settle for a comfortable 5-room house that costs less than $300,000, and anybody can attain that simply by living within their means (a principle heckled by Mr. Kiyosaki), avoiding debt and credit, and setting aside an ample amount in good investments. I agree with him that financial matters should be taught in public schools, but I disagree that anyone can attain what he has. He had valuable connections that most of us cannot duplicate, therefore his advice is worthless to most Americans. Here's something not many people realize, if all the wealth held in America were placed into a pile and then split among all our nation's households, we'd all have over a million dollars. Good crap, I could comfortably live the rest of my life off that! His book touches only lightly on good budgeting and money handling, and then talks up risky investments that only the wealthy, or people who can network with the wealthy, can afford or even find. In summary: some good theory, bad application. You'll finish the book wondering just what in the world you're supposed to do with his "information".
Rating: 
Summary: Same story, different author
Review: This book was purchased after a friend recommend I take a look at it. After the first few pages, I became a little bored. The book appeared to be more along the lines of what a motivational speaker would present to people who pay ridiculous amounts for the obvious. There may be something in it for someone, but for me, I didn't find anything that I didn't learn (just about on my own) through general life experiences. By the way, I had to stop reading it half-way through. If you need help putting your thoughts into perspective, it might be good to read. Otherwise, use that money for a subscription to Fortune magazine.
Rating: 
Summary: Live Changing
Review: This book did to me what a good book should do - it changed my live and thinking pattern - specially about money - how to invest and how to think in the Information Age - after all, your thoughts direct your ACTIONS! As a novice it directed my thoughts towards investment - I do however believe that this book is mind-changing but does not cover ALL the aspects of investing. I think it is absolutely important to further your studies in investing before embarking on this route.
Rating: 
Summary: Some good ideas, no concrete how-tos
Review: This book puts out some good concepts, and some that can actually make you money, but he really glosses over the difficulties of "techniques" such as incorporation (apparently to deliberately, though legally, protect your assets from lawsuits), dealing with employees (even good ones), finding a "good" (meaning: take care of it and don't bother me) property manager, etc. Also, real estate is not as easy to turn around and sell as he makes it. Further, incorporation does not necessarily make you lawsuit proof if you are essentially the only one in your company. And, stock always seems to be high when you DON'T need to sell it. After all, the point of making so much money is (hopefully) to spend some of it on yourself and others. If he has his Rich Dad's attitude toward the value of employees (pay as little as you can get away with and treat them like dirt), I am surprised that anyone would work for him. He doesn't seem to realize that SOMEONE HAS TO DO THE WORK. Some people LIKE to tinker with cars, make handmade furniture, etc. Not everyone can or should be an investor. He also, and this is important, TOTALLY IGNORES the issue of health care. What do the rich do? Pay through the corporation? In his case, he might have lifetime health insurance benefits through where he used to work. He and other get rich books never get around to this issue, which will affect us all sooner or later. People like him just have a different "job", which more often than not takes up more of his day than he wants to admit. It may or may not be the type of job that YOU want. To me, truly "wealthy" means you have so much income that you don't have to even think about it (think trust fund babies jet-setting to the Alps whenever they want).
Rating:
Summary: Empowered!!!!
Review: I find this book to be empowering. It wakes up your senses, your abilities, how you view YOU! It makes you think ahead and now. What can I do to change, to be the best? How can I expand my knowledge on what I really think of money? YES, money can work for me and not me for it!!! Trust in the wisdom you've been given and grow!! I am!!! Expand, Grow, INCREASE in every area of your life, why not start here!!!!
Rating:
Summary: Launching a thousand day traders
Review: There may be some reasonable if not exceptional investment advice here, but let's face it. The folks that write this mediocre stuff for the infommercial circuit got rich when the marks started buying this stuff with wild eyed dreams of enormous wealth. Never mind that structural issues in a capitalist economy make this program unavailable to many, the suckers will buy into it out of desperation. At root this is a very cynical and dangerous book.
Rating:
Summary: Depressing. Depressing. Depressing.
Review: Unless your household income is more than 100K/year. THIS BOOK IS NOT FOR YOU. If you are a proud hardworking father (or mother) and feeling very happy because soon you will be able to provide your children with a safe clean environment to live, this book is not for you. Why? Because you are part of the rat race, because you are playing safe and are not willing to risk on your finances, because you "think" your house is an asset, when your house is a liability. Yes, I know, I am thinking the exactly the way I shouldn't (according to the book), therefore I will always be part of the "rat race". Maybe, maybe not, all I know is I am making good money, I will have a house, and I am not spending more than what I make. If you need a book to tell you that you shouldn't be spending more of what you make, well, you need more help than this book proclaims to be. Also, this books tells you that you should have money working for you, and have workers making money for you...(sigh). Like I said, unless you are making more than, I should say, 150K, don't bother you will only get depressed.
Rating:
Summary: Wake up!!
Review: Coffee in the morning, cold water thrown on your face, bright lights in your eyes, and this book are some of the greatest things to wake you up. I could actually see what was happening with my life and where my financial future was heading. The book really woke me up form the standard believes that our society has laid in front of us. One of the most informative books I have ever picked up.
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