Rating: 
Summary: An eye-opener!
Review: Having read so many negative reviews, I felt compelled to offer up my own assessment. I really did start to *see* money in a different way. Too many of us work ourselves to death at a job we don't love so we can have money to buy stuff that's just more clutter in our lives. Others work hard to pay for necessities. Either way, it's so very easy to be stuck in the trap of fear that it could all be gone... that whole "one paycheck away" thing.I saw Rich Dad as teaching him to build stability. In his sequel, Rich Kid, Smart Kid, he says he waited five years after his Smart Dad's book to write Rich Dad. He didn't want to write it while his dad was alive and risk hurting his feelings, yet he knew that despite his Smart Dad's academic wealth, his lack of financial wealth always left him frazzeled. The author's purpose is to point out that if his Smart Dad had understood the Rich Dad concepts, he'd have understood how to build a wealth that would've allowed him to pursue his Smart dreams without the fear his lack of money skills caused. In his sequel, he is very complementary of his Smart Dad, because it was he who recognized that he didn't have the skills to help his son see his true gifts to fruition, and encouraged him to hook up with Rich Dad. Everything he says is true. The poor will always be poor. We all know people who see a $10,000 raise as an opportunity for a $20,000 loan, rather than $10,000 to invest on an income-generating property. Because they lack financial astuteness, they don't know what to do with more money. The poor and middle class are apt to think, "If I just made $50 more per month, I could get a new tv!" And that's what they do. And then they think, "Wow, if I just made another $50, I could get sattelite tv!" and on and on it goes. They're always hoping for another morsel so they can get another thing, but they never feel confident in their financial stability. This certainly isn't sinful or bad, but for those who aspire to the freedom to pursue what they love, rather than being tied to a job that doesn't speak to their passions, this book is an eye-opener. I see that the author has even set up a foundation to promote financial literacy to children. I don't think his motives are altogether self-serving as much as they're borne of a desire to see others prosper in the way he's learned how to do.
Rating: 
Summary: Let's try something...
Review: It would be interesting to poll the folks who say this book changed their life to see how many of them are rich in, say, five years. Not that many, I can just about guarantee. But the fundamental truth that the author may have left out of his book is that rich dad's life isn't any better than poor dad's life, and lots of times it's worse. There's no life of leisure for the rich dad. Owning your own business or owning real estate that you rent out is no cakewalk. You work twice as many hours just to get it going. And if you're lucky enough to get rich, you spend half your life with lawyers, bankers, and accountants, making sure you stay rich. You spend the other half of your life worrying about your money, planning how you're going to make more money, and thinking people are taking your money. And those annual vacations to Europe? First you'll have to figure out how to make it a tax write-off. I've been around rich people and I've been around middle class people. The quality of life is better with the middle class, no matter how many houses and cars you own and no matter how many vacations you can take.
Rating: 
Summary: Looking for a balanced approach to money? Look elsewhere.
Review: I read this book in one day, not because it is so amazingly full of great ideas (it isn't), but more because it was simultaneously fascinating and horrifying. Kind of like a train wreck. The spectacle of Kiyosaki blithely trashing his own--in my view, very successful--father in favor of "rich dad" was the horrifying part. The notion that there might be some unexamined emotional content to his decision to follow in the footsteps of "rich dad," who by his own account is both arrogant and exploitative, remains just that: unexamined. This despite the fact that the Oedipal drama in which sons want to (symbolically) kill their fathers is the oldest story in the book. Many other reviewers have talked about how thin the book is on concrete ideas, and how badly written and repetitive it is, so I won't belabor those points here. I'll just say that if you are looking for a way to bring your financial life into balance with your emotional and spiritual lives, or seeking to build weath in ways that don't exploit others (see Kiyosaki's rant against unions for an example of what I mean), I would stay far away from this book. In addition to lacking substance and being badly written, Kiyosaki's cluelessness about his own motives leads him to espouse some pretty skewed values.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent book to read
Review: Very inspirational and entertaining to read. I was able to apply some of the ideas mentioned in the book to increase my wealth. However beware: This book will entice you to purchase more of Robert's books, games, and view his web site. This is not a bad thing, just a word of caution. Suggestion: Try out the ideas in this book before purchasing additional material.
Rating:
Summary: It's not rocket science, but that's the point!
Review: Okay, I'll grant you this. The whole book could be condensed to about 30 pages. Yes, I skimmed most of the book and finished it in about 4 hours. Yes, Robert is not the most talented author. However, when I bought the book, I was not looking for a literary classic. I was looking to learn how to make money. In that respect, the book served its purpose, and I am satisfied. His income/expense/assets/liability diagram alone is worth the price of the book! It's a shame that people need to be flooded with information to think they got their money's worth. Using this chart taught me where I stand financially, and how to get where I want to be. One more thing, it is a big infomercial for his game, but I don't care. I'm buying the game, and if it sucks, I'll send it back. The point is I enjoyed the book. Also, I read the two sequels, and they were similar. They could've been condensed to thirty pages, too. Once again, I don't care. His Cashflow Quadrant diagram is as useful as his I/E/A/L diagram. His 90/10 rule is equally useful. I'm convinced that collectively, these three concepts will make me a wealthy man.
Rating: 
Summary: Rich Dad, Poor Dad
Review: If you are looking for a book with step by step instructions to wealth this is not it. Rich Dad, Poor Dad guides you through the thought process of the wealthy. Simple steps the poor and middle class have over looked or simply have never been taught. If you are not where you want to be financially at this stage in your life and you are open to a different way of thinking about money and employment, this is THE BOOK for you. I would recommend this book to everyone. Although some lessons are repeated throughout the book and at times they may seem elementary, these are the steps most people leave out when trying to accomplish financial freedom. The second book Cashflow Quadrant goes into a bit more detail about investing in particular areas.
Rating: 
Summary: Investing: A, English: D, Philosophy: dropped the class
Review: Rich Dad, Poor Dad is commendable in that it breaks the taboo against talking about money, acquiring money, and differing attitudes toward money. However, a few comments: First, he title is misleading. The "poor dad" of the book is actually a middle-class -- although debt-loaded -- PhD. The implication that he is of a different socio-economic class than "rich dad" is misleading, and it seems to me that Kiyosaki has no right to comment on "what poor parents teach their children" on the basis of his own experience. While his advice may indeed be useful to families struggling with money, his arrogance in claiming to speak for raised-poor individuals is a perfect example of a white-collar assumptions of intellectual superiority. Second, while the book is a pragmatic discussion of people's attitudes toward our modern market system, Kiyosaki is far from a deep thinker on the market, economy, or social trends. His underlying message is, "I don't know what's going on, but here's my idea of CYA." I was not expecting a Marxist analysis of class and economic systems, but I was expecting a little more sophistication, and I question his message because his philosophical base seems remarkably shallow. Third, the writing of the book is truly inept. His dialogues are utterly canned, the organization is shaky, all 200 pages could be better covered in 50, and his fifth grade teacher should cringe at his grammar. I was tempted to send the book back to the publisher with corrections in red, but decided it would take too much time. Warner Books should be ashamed to put out such poor writing. The book is very approachable, with some useful ideas and tips, but I sincerely hope there is a better book out there with the same information and a better, more thoughtful presentation.
Rating:
Summary: Wish it was a bit more well-balanced.
Review: I purchased this book as the referral to my 18 yrs old son. Now he thinks that he can 'make a million' and very soon. Somewhere he missed out that you've got to have a job, or some money in excess of personal expenses BEFORE you invest. He wants to take his small paycheck (18hrs/wk) and invest. Ok then, what kind of 'investments' can a non-rich (money challenged person) that will gain him wild eyed mega dollars. He has decided that after reading your book that high school is no longer important (He's got one English credit to finish) and his comment is Why do I need this or college for that matter? He's been an excellent student and has had high goals and hopes, now all he does is look at the stock market channel and tell me how many shares he 'could buy IF/ I-F he had the money. Dashing his dreams, being responsible with his current finances and living with Mom until his 'investments' pay off sounds crazy to me. Is it all about making that all mighty dollar or is it about raising kids with hopes and guidance toward a better life. PS How many times have you tried this 'sure method'? Was it a one time go and Whallah! You were rich?? and then what about life and family- do they EVEN figure into your 'perfect plan'? I'd hope that there is a balance for this book/plan and maybe a 'book' for me to help him to answer the questions he has of me. Now he thinks that all my hard work is a less that good choice. Single parenting is **hard enough without someone reading this book and thinking that a school and acareer are dumb things. Did you even mention the jerks that one has to endure along the way until they are no longer in the picture. Help us out here.
Rating:
Summary: It's probably worth $9 or $10
Review: If you can get past the incredibly poor writing style, the author does have a few good points to make. Good literature is probably not what you're seeking when you buy this book (and you certainly won't get it). I do, however, think it is worth $9.**, if you can't borrow it at a library. The author provides a different way of approaching finances-- an approach that was helpful for me. At times, it seemed to me that some of his best point were straight out of some of the other books to which he refers.
Rating:
Summary: A LOT OF WORDS THAT MEAN VERY LITTLE
Review: Money, money, money! With education and experience both in business and psychology, I found the book to have little value. Other than to agree with the author that schools do not teach us about finances or money, something we must deal with in everyday life, there were a lot of words which could have been said in fewer pages. Our school system is far from perfect. I have had university graduates in my business classes who cannot spell or calculate the math on a cash flow chart. What I did learn from this book is that "rich dad" was perceived as somewhat of the powerful superman with all important answers on financial wealth, but when it came to dealing with people, he would fall far short of the ideal employer. Minimum wage is not an incentive for an employee to give you one hundred percent of his/her effort. Good employees are people who make you money - you invest in people; you cut your costs in other areas. I did not see that message here, and judging from the mass lay-offs taking place in the business world, a few others have not received the message either. As for "poor dad" he appeared rather insignificant and dysfunctional. In my opinion the book said a lot that meant very little.
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