Easy fun reading -Interesting learning tool-Plan on finding the Cash flow game under the Christmas tree this year for some fun family time with an educational twist.

This is a MUST read book if you want to obtain financial freedom. Personally, this book totally changed my life!!

This is far by the greatest personal financial book! It sets the bar for all other books. It will change your life...highly recommend it for everyone.

This book is pretty good because the basics it mentions are fairly good.
Its true that 90% of America does not know the different between a true asset and a liability. Financial money management is missing from most of education. If you listen to Dave Ramsey, he says many of the same things.

As for the tax advice and deferrments in this book, I wouldn't bet the farm on it. Yes, things like 1031 do exist but some of the advice like buying a corporate car with a personal corporation is illegal(although the accounting advisor at H&R block did inform me last year before I read the book that deducting mileage and gas on my car was a legal option). You can defer taxes forever on a few things, but not many of them and overall, taxes in America are progressive, not regressive as the author claims.

I did learn and was reminded of many important principles by this book and book series, but I'd take a much closer look at tax law before deducting anything.

This book is all cliche and lies.

1. The author recommends that people join MLM to become "better salespeople".

2. The author shows a strong distaste to basic education. (He was held back sophomore year in high school.)

3. The author shows a lack of respect for his real father (poor Dad)

4. The author shows a way too basic math to demonstrate his profits.

5. The author makes recommendations that are flat out illegal (such as writing off vacations on the corporation...aka, tax fraud.)

So, don't bother reading it. You want the basics of the book? Here....

1. People work for money because they are in fear.
2. Rich people horde their money because they are in fear of losing it.
3. Schools don't teach people about money.
4. People who don't know about money will always be poor.
5. He will not show you how to make money, nor will he show you how to make money work for you. He'll give a couple examples that have mathematical and legal errors with regards to taxes.
6. He preaches to use corporations to save on paying taxes....news flash: corporations have double taxation. That's the price of the legal protections.

Anyway, there's the gist of the book. The only money that Robert Kiyosaki has ever made is from this book...it's motivational, but financially irrelevant. This book started it's circulation through Amway...think about that. He is speaking about money and recommends MLM...was this book designed to make the Amway people feel better about their decision to join MLM?

Think before you buy. And hopefully you'll put your money away.

The ideas in Rich Dad, Poor Dad have changed my way of thinking about money. Some of the things said in this book are shocking, but they make perfect logical sense after a bit of reflection. If you want to understand money, I'd recommend you buy this book for you and all of your friends.

Item was received in a timely manner and in good condition as promised by seller.

How do you become rich? Simple. Just write a book about how to become rich. I've see the author's face everywhere, and he unfortunately is a bit of an opportunist. Aside, from the self-aggrandization, his advice is just wrong, and even worse, it's harmful to the ill-informed. This book focuses on what people supposedly do wrong with their finances, but provides very little help for how to do things right, or more important, how to become "rich".

So what's "wrong"? Investing in a 401-K is wrong, he says. Saving cash in a savings account is wrong. His reasoning is that a 401-K locks in your money and a savings account stagnates. True, but at least you're saving something, as opposed to what he considers "right."

And what's "right"? Investing in the stock market is right. And buying real estate is right. Owning your own business is right. You need only glance at the past month's headlines to realize that this is really, really bad advice. High home foreclosures. The sharpest drop in the stock market ever. And businesses laying off record-numbers of employees and many shutting their doors.

Rich Dad, Poor Dad encourages everyone to be an entrepreneur, but neglects to mention the dramatic pitfalls that come along with it. Not everyone is an entrepreneur, nor should most people try to be. If you are supporting a family, you ideally try to minimize risk, not maximize it.

The premise of this book is intriguing--that a shift away from the financial beliefs you were raised with could precipitate wealth--but the book not only fails to provide sensible ideas, it actually teaches very damaging ones.

I read this book back in college while I was studying engineering and it was quite inspirational. But after I graduated I ended up taking an engineering job for about a year and a half and realized that I wasn't getting paid what I was worth. I went back to read this book a few months ago and ended up quitting my job in hopes of doing something more. (Although I did apply for USC and got in to get my Master Degree while I was trying to do something else just in case things didn't work out) But anyways back in August I attended one the Rich Dad's free seminars and ended up paying for more advanced classes through them. So now I'm hoping that this could lead me to the financial independence that the book has motivated me to achieve.

[...]

You will not get rich in one night, but you will learn how money works, the easy way. I found it useful because I learned how to see money with a different type of glasses. I began to change the way I invested my savings, no matter the economic times. How money works is not taught in college, you should find advise from the experienced and this is a good source.

This book is very overrated! Kiyosaki briefly mentions things like investing in tax liens, but he doesn't say how to do it. The book is 99% pep talk.

Its true, we arent all taught the facts that are in this book. I was hooked from the very beginning.

I found this book very informative. It really made me open my eyes and think.

When I first purchased this book, it was for the simple purpose of trying to educate myself more on the concepts of how the millionaires create their success. While I was not disappointed in any way with the context, what surprised me was that many of the fundamentals written about how to attain prosperity are spiritually based. Robert has done a great job in explaining the "negative reality" his biological father had, as compared to his more trusting and "expecting success" friend's father. For me, the book is an easy to read and easily understood map towards pointing everyone in the right direction. Jim Fargiano, author of The Spoken Words of Spirit: Lessons From The Other Side

For me this book started it all. My Mother-in-Law sent this book to my wife to read, I took it and consumed it in 1 day. I've never read a book so fast. This book changed the way I view money and business. I have read hundreds of business books since, but they all started with this one.

If you want to be rich, start by asking someone who is!

I enjoyed Robert's book and recommand it to anyone who wants to get their finances straight and start accumulating wealth. It's a simple concept that most of us know-but we sometimes need that "ah hah moment" for us to start doing it.

This book is great for anyone that doesn't like the "boring" statistical business/investing books, because it explains the ideas through a story. Robert references the book, Richest Man in Babylon-which is a great book to pair with Rich Dad,Poor Dad because it identifies the strategy of "paying yourself first".

In this book the phrase, "Everyone wants to go to heaven, but know one wants to die", was used to reference how everyone says they want to be rich but no one wants to do what they have to become rich-they want it handed to them. We all know that doesn't happen! This phrase really connected to me and I applied it to more than just my finances but really my life and how important it is to go after what you want. So often we put things off in our life "until we have the money",(kids, marriage, school, business). In most cases you have to take a "little risk to get a gain", or it passes by us.

I highly recommend this to anyone that might need that little extra push. Have a plan and go for it!

Enjoy the book!

I had heard of this book before, but "assumed" it was a book on working hard, saving and being financially responsible, blah, blah. I was so wrong and so pleasantly surprised that it was nothing like that! It was much better than I thought and I'm so glad to have read it! I discovered I'm a mix of rich dad and poor dad, but definitely now have a better idea of what it takes to become a rich dad and have already started down this path. Having two teens to share this with over time is going to be fun and rewarding too. I've already offered my son (19) $3k if he researches and opens a stock trading account. That's when he said "yeah, I'd like that. Did I tell you I finished 3rd in my HS class in the stock trading contest last year?" And my daughter is doing the same stock trading contest this year in her HS class and she told me on Sunday that she's "short" a stock considering the market. Wow!! This book is just the spark that I needed to confirm what I need to continue doing working toward being a rich dad and also how to encourage and support my kids in their efforts. I just bought the next book...cash flow quadrants...can't wait to dig in!!

Kiyosaki made up the character "Rich Dad", he never existed period.

Kiyosaki is a failed businessowner who excels is lying and exploiting peoples dreams of becoming rich.

This book WON'T make you rich, it contains no guides on how to become rich, just general advice that's been around for decades.

His advice to speculate on real estate may very well been the cause of the financial crisis US is currently in, Kiyosaki effectively fueled the housing bubble the taxpayers are now paying for in trillions of dollars.

This book is so irresponsible, wrong and full of lies that it sickens me. If you want someone to blame for all those foreclosures and subprime disasters, Kiyosaki is your best bet.

I wont go into the details of this book since Im sure that by reading the thousands of reviews on here your either by now interested or not. With that said, Robert Kiyosaki has predicted everything that is happening right now many many years ago with the financial crisis from Wall St to Real Estate crashes, everything. This guy knows what he is talking about.
Now he is on a mad crusade speaking in cities on how you can benefit in this type of market.

RK's Rich Dad Poor Dad was a real eye-opener for me when I first read it. Upon initially reading the book, I thought it was pure genius. Now, skimming the book a decade later, I now realize what a joke much of RK's book is. At the risk of confusing this book with his others, this is a man who condemns "speculators" while then proceeding to brag about his glorious options and short sell maneuvers (none of which would constitute "investing" by RK's own standards). He brags about hedge funds available to "the rich" who are sophisticated enough to understand them, but not to the unsophisticated poor and middle class (btw, I haven't seen any WSJ articles lately about poor and middle class folks suing hedge funds for being misled). He talks about how so-called "sophisticated" investors have endless opportunities in markets like Phoenix, where he bragged about being heavily invested. I wonder if he's still bragging now that the Phoenix real estate market has dropped nearly a quarter. He calls people who invest for capital gains speculators, while turning around and patting himself and other "rich" investors for re-investing dividends into their portfolios so that the principle can grow (which is arguably the same thing, if not worse because you have to pay taxes on the dividends whereas you wouldn't on unrealized capital gains). Finally, and what turns me off the most about RK, is that he has the audacity to encourage people to have the creativity and optimism to take chances, and then call those people suckers, or "the poor," etc, on Larry King Live when discussing the market opportunities in these tumultuous times available for "the rich" like himself. In my opinion, today's market woes are, at least in part, because too many people listened to RK's advice (and those like RK) and took speculative risks in the real estate market like he has. The fact is, RK is a hell of a salesman - he sells his books. Follow his model of optimism and creativity if you like. However, if you want advice on actual investing, stick to the advice of "level 4 investors" like Warren Buffett (RK's own words in Cashflow Quadrant), and leave the advise of "level 5 capitalists" like RK for others to heed. Skip being fooled by RK.

I've never come across a better definition of an ASSET and LIABILITY than the one Robert Kiyosaki gives : An asset is any item (tangible or otherwise) which generates income and a liability is one which creates expenses.

That's it.

So whatever it is you own, regardless of what it's labelled in an accounting textbook, if it is not generating income, it's not an asset. Worse still, if it's leading you to spend more, then it's a liability.

E.g. your car. Tradtionally, one would call it an 'asset'. But RK'd slot it under a 'liability' because it's taking up fuel costs, insurance fees, road taxes, maintenance, etc. (RK also spends lots of pages trying to convince his readers that their houses are also liabilities, given the amount of debt one gets into via the purchase).

The message of Rich Dad, Poor Dad, if I could cull it all into one sentence, is : Spend your money buying things which generate income i.e. buy assets.

The more assets you have, the more income you'll get, leading to even more assets, more income, ad infinitum. That, according to RK, is what the rich do and teach their kids. The opposite - i.e. spending on liabilities and getting stuck with ever-growing expenses - is what the 'middle-class and poor' folks do (ouch).

So when you get that bonus, instead of blowing it all on clothes or a new watch (all liabilities because they don't generate income), think about putting it into any one of the following:

a) Your Own Business (this could be anything from a worldwide conglomerate to a personal Web-page)

b) Stocks, Equities and Bonds (high-risk so do diversify, hedge, read more, get advice, etc.)

c) Mutual Funds and Unit Trusts (less aggressive but over the long-term the amounts can be substantial)

d) I.Ps', Patents and Copyrights (for the inventor/author types, or if you can afford it, buy one)

e) Rental Income (which tends to pay for and exceed the purchasing loan in the first place)

Money put into these items end up 'working for you' because time brings about the 'compounding effect'. Until one day you can quit your job because the income generated from your assets can pay for all your expenses and liabilities.

And thus, thou art truly wealthy. When your (newly defined) assets run the show for you even after you leave your 9 to 5.

This book tells the story of Kiyosaki and a friend who were taunted about being poor which motivated them to learn how to be rich from their "rich dad". Two dads are presented in the book: one is socialist and poor; the other is capitalist and rich. Their thinking creates their wealth or lack of it.

This is a book that explains simply how the three classes handle and think about money. By learning how the rich create money, a reader may be able to leave the rat race. It really depends on the reader whether he can overcome his fear of taking risks so he can have a chance of becoming rich. For instance, L and K mention that one would be wise to get used to what one hates doing, rather than solely doing what you love to do. So you should do sales to learn how to overcome your fear of rejection and learn how to communicate better. You should learn many different fields of business to become more successful in general. Don't get stuck solely doing a job you like for limited income.

One should learn to invest in real estate and high risk/high reward investments to become rich. You need to put more effort in making money than just doing a job and saving money every month. You need to learn to take risks and learn how to keep failing until you succeed. You should read about investing voraciously to become financially literate.

Schools don't teach you how to make money. They teach you how to be an employee of an employer that you are making rich. Employees are soft-core slaves with the mentality of servants or slaves. This book teaches you the mentality of the master of money, the king of pentacles. It shows the mindset of the poor and middle class that keep them in their places.

I particularly liked the idea of asking the question "How can I afford what I want?" instead of saying "I can't afford it." The question unleashes the creative power of the mind that creates wealth, the other statement shuts it down. Or you should ask yourself, "How can I get out of the rat race?

There is an interesting explanation about how businesses are different from governments. Business owners consider employees liabilities since they increase labor costs and investors do not like to see increased costs on the balance sheet of the business owner. The strategy is to hire as a few employees as possible at the lowest cost so that the business can make a profit. The system is one of employees working just enough not to get fired and employers paying just enough to employees so they will not quit. Government does the opposite. Agencies spend all their budget and hire more employees to keep the agency growing. Taxpayers foot the bill for the expansion of government. That is why the cost of government tends to rise as time goes by.

At one time, there was no income tax in America, but the tax was implemented by using class envy against the rich. Eventually the income tax reached into the pockets of poorer citizens to pay for the cost of expanding government. The rich use corporations to reduce their income tax burden, the poorer citizens do not. Taxes are our biggest expense nowadays. We work from January to May to pay off our tax burden. L and K do not like the immoral story of Robin Hood who steals from the rich to give to the poor. It is wrong to forcibly take money from anyone, no matter how rich they are. This book advocates a republican view of economics. Everyone is ultimately responsible for making their own money and no one should be taxed to give to someone else.

The authors remind us of our cruel capitalist system by mentioning a pension planner's response about what employees who are not at the top will get for a pension plan. The smiling reply was a "silver bullet" that they could kill themselves with once their money was gone. In other words, people cannot depend on the government or business to take care of them, especially after the unstable dollar is no longer linked to the gold standard and only has "fiat" value, which will lead us to financial disaster. They do not care and they may not have the money available to take care of you. You will have to increase your financial intelligence to get money for retirement in the future.

There is more on investment strategy. One needs to buy assets such as stocks, bonds, tax liens, and real estate for investment to get rich. It is a good idea to ask attorneys and banks whether they have any foreclosure deals. Houses that you live in are considered a liability because of taxes, maintenance costs, and insurance costs. This is a good book for getting someone to think differently about money. It does not go into detail about buying real estate, stocks, foreclosure deals, tax liens, or bonds. One can go slow and safe and put money in a 401k but you better start at 20 because it will take a long time to become well off. This book is for those who want to take greater risks to possibly reap more rewards and riches.

Like most of these money gurus, they offer their knowledge for a price to cure the world's poverty problems and the increasing gap between rich and poor. Lest you think that the authors are solely vulture capitalists, they do emphasize the idea of giving to receive without expecting return. The book gives good advice as long as you are strong enough to change and follow it. Not many will be able to. Like most self-help gurus, they believe people can change.

I have yet to receive the book. Please help me get this book in my hands since I've already paid for it.

Our accountant recommended this book, and I am sure glad he did. I read it in just a few days because it was so interesting. This isn't a typical "get rich" book since I found that the author was definitely trying to teach the reader how to rethink the way he or she views money. Some people might think that he is holding back by not going more into detail about how he made his millions, but trust me, if you read between the lines and really pay attention, he does give you some hints on how he got started. He does reinforce a lot of his information, but he is a teacher, and teachers I find are usually repetitive to make sure that they get their points across. This is a great starter book for anyone looking to make their money work for them. And for those of you with children, this book (or Rich Dad for Teens) will help get them on the right track.

I started really late in the game. Employed in dead-end jobs for the most part, it was only in my mid-thirties that I really began to get serious about money. If you're like me and don't know anyone to talk to about the matter, Kiyosaki's book is an adequate start, if only to help you rewire your brain into that zone of financial consciousness.

While Rich Dad, Poor Dad doesn't have all the answers and, as other reviewers have cited, may arguably contain disputable advice, the book has successfully encouraged me to learn more about financial education. And for that, four stars.

Ok, let's skip the fact that by Kiyosaki's own admission, both dads were to a great extent fabricated.

Let's skip the fact that many of the experiences in this book were either embellished or outright fabricated.

Let's skip the fact that much of what he speaks of is in generalities without specific details.

What remains are pleasant-sounding platitudes, lacking in the real-life specifics that most people need. To say that "The poor work for their money, while the rich have their moeny work for them" sounds nice, but is of very little help to someone lacking a compass.

About the only thing that I agree with Kiyosaki on is the fact that our schools (at all levels) lack any kind of personal finance educational curriculum. This is an absolute travesty, but understandable when you consider that our nation is running record budget deficits. When debt is a way of life, people tend to accept it as a given in their own situation.

I've known several people who are devotees of this book series. None (as in zero) have made a discernable difference in their lives. Most are also devotees of MLMs such as Amway, Quixtar and MonaVie...the common thread here being the desire to suceed (which is admirable), but the unwillingness to get the degree, the job and put in the time. Another Kiyosaki theme of "Become a real estate investor!" sounds great on paper, but without the education and training can potentially be a disaster. No one book (or series like this) can prepare someone for an entire career.

If you want to learn how to handle money, try Suze Orman, Dave Ramsey or Lou Rukeyser. The fact that this series is a bestseller, does NOT necessarily mean the series has merit. It simply means that there is a market for baseless hope and optimism. I am sure Kiyosaki is laughing all the way to the bank.

This book was a real eye opener. I knew allot of the advice but hadn't thought of it in the way the author told us. Great helpful book.

Kiyosaki's book does have some strengths, but also sends some mixed signals and has a lot of plain bad advice. Overall, the book is a bad choice.

The good:
- The story is interesting enough and certainly captures one's attention.
- The motivational part. It does make you think about your financial life.

The mixed:
- "Leaving the Rat Race" -- spend less, invest more: excellent and much needed advice. Unfortunately, Kiyosaki's own bad example follows. He brags about his Rolex, luxury cars and such. Given the amount of time that he seems to spend promoting his stuff, maybe Kiyosaki himself is in the Rat Race -- albeit in a golden, roomier cage.
- "Work to learn, not for the money". Again, good advice followed by bad examples. Learning at work is usually by DOING, not by being around or watching other people do. So, the Xerox case is fine, but all the others are just foolish.
- "Assets and liabilities". Dubious "redefinitions": something that doesn't put money in your pocket can still be an asset (if it saves you money that would otherwise be spent -- say, a house...).

The bad:
- The whole "traditional education is bad for you" approach. No, it isn't. Harvard costs what it costs for a reason. The reason is more money for YOU down the road.
- "Pay yourself first". Bad idea. If you're on a positive cash flow, it makes no difference. If you're not, it makes you incur in debt and thus INTEREST, which is a nice way to throw away money for zero added value.
- Risk isn't always good, as Kiyosaki implies. The strategies discussed in the book are very unsound and will work only on a bullish market (if any).
- Insider trading and tax evasion are illegal, period.

And the naked, cruel truth that RDPD DOES NOT SAY:
(because it isn't "best-seller material")
- According to Kiyosaki's theory, all you have to do is "wake up the financial genius within you". In reality, there are two honest ways of making money in this world:
1) WORKING. Ok, say you were lucky enough to have a truly great idea or talent. You still would have to work -- don't Steve Jobs, Madonna or Shaquille O'Neal work? Then again, not everybody will be THIS lucky -- and in this case, you are much better off being a highly paid EDUCATED worker. Just the opposite of what RDPD says. By the way, making money from real estate or IPOs or starting your own business will require a lot of work and knowledge, too. Even more than a white collar job.
2) CAPITAL GAINS. Dividends and interest. Kiyosaki is right that it is possible to live on them. What he doesn't say is that it will take a TON of cash to make a decent living within manageable risk levels. And you must HAVE money to BEGIN WITH -- which means inherit it (but then you would not be reading RDPD, would you?) or, more likely, work and SAVE A LOT.
Consider a 3% yearly interest rate above inflation, which is what low-work/low-risk will get. In order to have $5000/month BEFORE TAXES -- not exactly a high roller lifestyle -- you would need $2 million.
Even somebody investing at 8% above inflation (and, may I add, 8% ON THE LONG RUN isn't that easy to achieve), starting from scratch and saving 50% of whatever comes in -- a very rigid discipline -- would take 33 years before being able to live on passive income. Make that a quarter, which is still above the savings level of most Americans, and you got 47 years.
Don't believe me? Open up Excel or Calc and type:
=NPER(8%;1;0;-12/8%)
=NPER(8%;1;0;-36/8%)
Still don't get it? Stop reading RPDP and go STUDY real, not fairy tale, economy.

I've read countless books on personal finance and creating wealth, but I must say Kiyosaki's is one of the better ones. Most finance books are pure finance and potential suggestions. They miss what precludes any great change in your life, and where most fail at; stepping back from your life as an employee and creating the proper mindset to get rich, (or achieve whatever financial goals you have). In other words, if you're head isn't in the right place from the beginning, the discipline and tools will not be enough to get you there. He feels that the single most important quality to achieve success is in the philosophy. How the wealthy think is what makes them different from the average worker or those just getting by.

People who grind it out for the man day in day out need a complete brain makeover before they can see the forest for the trees. Kiyosaki had two father figures, a poor one (his real dad) and a rich one. His poor dad offer this worldview to his son; "Study hard so you can find a good company to work for." For him, talk of money was bad. Risk was bad. He argued that one's company is responsible to make sure all his needs were met. Finding the best job with the best company that offered the best benefits, to him, was best. His rich dad, on the other hand, encouraged talking about money around the dinner table, to teach the children how to think. He encouraged managing risk, rather than avoiding it. He argued against reliance upon an employer and for "total financial self-reliance" (16). Of course, Kiyosaki's book promotes the mindset of his rich dad.

The book breaks down into six main lessons, which help the reader understand the mindset rather than a method. To close, Kiyosaki makes suggestions about how to begin. First, he combats the five main reasons people stay in their current life-style: fear, cynicism, laziness, bad habits, and arrogance. He then gives ten steps to begin this new mindset.

Great book for its simplicity, original approach and value.

Kiyosaki's book does have some strengths, but also sends some mixed signals and has a lot of plain bad advice. Overall, the book is a bad choice.

The good:
- The story is interesting enough and certainly captures one's attention.
- The motivational part. It does make you think about your financial life.

The mixed:
- "Leaving the Rat Race" -- spend less, invest more: excellent and much needed advice. Unfortunately, Kiyosaki's own bad example follows. He brags about his Rolex, luxury cars and such. Given the amount of time that he seems to spend promoting his stuff, maybe Kiyosaki himself is in the Rat Race -- albeit in a golden, roomier cage.
- "Work to learn, not for the money". Again, good advice followed by bad examples. Learning at work is usually by DOING, not by being around or watching other people do. So, the Xerox case is fine, but all the others are just foolish.
- "Assets and liabilities". Dubious "redefinitions": something that doesn't put money in your pocket can still be an asset (if it saves you money that would otherwise be spent -- say, a house...).

The bad:
- The whole "traditional education is bad for you" approach. No, it isn't. Harvard costs what it costs for a reason. The reason is more money for YOU down the road.
- "Pay yourself first". Bad idea. If you're on a positive cash flow, it makes no difference. If you're not, it makes you incur in debt and thus INTEREST, which is a nice way to throw away money for zero added value.
- Risk isn't always good, as Kiyosaki implies. The strategies discussed in the book are very unsound and will work only on a bullish market (if any).
- Insider trading and tax evasion are illegal, period.

And the naked, cruel truth that RDPD DOES NOT SAY:
(because it isn't "best-seller material")
- According to Kiyosaki's theory, all you have to do is "wake up the financial genius within you". In reality, there are two honest ways of making money in this world:
1) WORKING. Ok, say you were lucky enough to have a truly great idea or talent. You still would have to work -- don't Steve Jobs, Madonna or Shaquille O'Neal work? Then again, not everybody will be THIS lucky -- and in this case, you are much better off being a highly paid EDUCATED worker. Just the opposite of what RDPD says. By the way, making money from real estate or IPOs or starting your own business will require a lot of work and knowledge, too. Even more than a white collar job.
2) CAPITAL GAINS. Dividends and interest. Kiyosaki is right that it is possible to live on them. What he doesn't say is that it will take a TON of cash to make a decent living within manageable risk levels. And you must HAVE money to BEGIN WITH -- which means inherit it (but then you would not be reading RDPD, would you?) or, more likely, work and SAVE A LOT.
Consider a 3% yearly interest rate above inflation, which is what low-work/low-risk will get. In order to have $5000/month BEFORE TAXES -- not exactly a high roller lifestyle -- you would need $2 million.
Even somebody investing at 8% above inflation (and, may I add, 8% ON THE LONG RUN isn't that easy to achieve), starting from scratch and saving 50% of whatever comes in -- a very rigid discipline -- would take 33 years before being able to live on passive income. Make that a quarter, which is still above the savings level of most Americans, and you got 47 years.
Don't believe me? Open up Excel or Calc and type:
=NPER(8%;1;0;-12/8%)
=NPER(8%;1;0;-36/8%)
Still don't get it? Stop reading RPDP and go STUDY real, not fairy tale, economy.

I enjoyed this book very much. Not only was it fun to read, I learned a lot. Excellent!

This book was far better than expected. Recommended to me by a close friend of my brother's, who has made a fortune for himself in investing at 30 years old. He has a "passive income", what Robert Kiyosaki talks about in this book. For anyone who isn't happy with working a 9-5 for the rest of their lives, constantly in search of more, this book offers great ideas in how to get started on investing and how you'll reap the rewards from it.

I read this book almost 3 years ago. It was one the first books in the area of self-development I have read. Yes, I consider it a book of self-development. It totally changed the way I look at my finances and life in general. I can say I don't agree with every single bit of it, but the overall message is very important because it makes you think if you really want to work all your life for someone else when you have the possibility of developing something you really love and you're good at. It may be that nowadays real-state (his main focus for income) is not the first choice one might take when starting a business but the man knows what he's talking about. Google for "passive income" and you'll see for yourself! Also, check this one the11passiveincomesources.com

With the fertility rate (birthrate) declining all over the world, including the United States, it doesn't take a genius to understand that house prices only go up when the population is increasing. When it is stable or declining, prices will stagnate or decline, and the easy money will be gone.

With our open border with Mexico, we depend upon millions to come to the US legally and illegally. If that ever stopped, you'd see the demand for housing dry up in a hurry.

The best investment is an investment in YOU. Education, education, education. That will matter the most in the long run. As they say, if you want to be rich, become a doctor.

I've skimmed the book and agree that it isn't worth the purchase price. Save your money for real books on personal finance, not this book.

This book is really good at showing how "rich" people think compared to "poor & middle-class" people.

If you want a reality check on money, Rich Dad Poor Dad will deliver. In America, we have developed the idea that an education is all you need. Granted, an education is a wonderful investment - but many of America's most successful business people don't hold a college degree. So what's the differentiator? Mindset. How you think about money, your rules for giving, your definition of an asset and liability - all these elements are challenged and addressed in Kiyosaki's book.

Rich Dad Poor Dad is also critical for any parent wanting to set their child up for a stronger financial future. As Kiyosaki points out, our school system doesn't cut it. Our children need solid monetary teachings to propel them.

You want out of the lower and middle-class? This book may very well be your first step.

If you want a reality check on money, Rich Dad Poor Dad will deliver. In America, we have developed the idea that an education is all you need. Granted, an education is a wonderful investment - but many of America's most successful business people don't hold a college degree. So what's the differentiator? Mindset. How you think about money, your rules for giving, your definition of an asset and liability - all these elements are challenged and addressed in Kiyosaki's book.

Rich Dad Poor Dad is also critical for any parent wanting to set their child up for a stronger financial future. As Kiyosaki points out, our school system doesn't cut it. Our children need solid monetary teachings to propel them.

You want out of the lower and middle-class? This book may very well be your first step.

This book is very simplistic. It would be like getting a book on how to become a brain surgeon that tells you to go to college and major in pre-med then go to medical school and then specialize in surgery.

It is not offensive but it is too lacking in real information to be helpful. There are no secrets methods to get rich in this book.
I doubt that rich people are reading books on how to get rich.
I think they are busy doing what it takes to get rich.

Having slogged through this book, I feel I must submit a review to counter all of the breathless fanatacism. I found this book, not through being on the Best Seller list, but through a libary search for books to teach financial literacy to kids.

I am sure that with more than 2000 previous reviews, I can't say much that hasn't already been posted. But I'll add to the voices encouraging anyone who finds himself enchanted by this book to do a little research on the author. It took me very little time surfing the internet to learn that the book is not a "true story" and that the author's credentials as a real estate investor as suspect. These two things alone undermine the credibility of the advice contained herein.

I will admit that the book does use plain language to explain a few basic financial concepts that many readers will be seeing for the first time. In fact, I am sure that the Best Seller status of this book is due to so many people reading a self-help book on money for the first (and likely the only) time. It is even possible that this book has caused many people to examine their spending habits a bit, so I won't begrudge that. But no one is going to become a real estate tycoon from reading this book because the author is incredibly vague about the specifics of wealth building and gives almost no information about other kinds of investments. He brags about being very lucky, but like all anecdotal stories of wealth building, it shows only one winner. There is no perspective on how many people end up losers doing the same things.

What really bothers me about this book is that the anti-intellectual tone will draw people in to the author's personality cult. Once enchanted, the reader will be tempted to go along with the idea that poor wage earners deserve their lot in life and can be unapologetically exploited by "smarter" people following the author's approach. What, I wonder, does Kiyosaki think would happen if everyone tried to get out of the "Rat Race" as a result of his vision? Don't the rich owe any kind of gratitude to the people who make their lifestyles possible?

I'm afraid this entire book comes off as a big rationalization for being (and wanting to be) rich, no matter who gets hurt. If you are willing to pay this man for his business advice (and products....sheesh!), then I'm afraid you are willingly becoming just another step on the ladder he is climbing. After all people wanting to get rich are okay to exploit, right?

This is not a get rich quick type book but it does help teach you ways to let your money work for you in simple terms. Things like why mutual funds are better than savings accounts, etc. It goes back and forth from telling stories to giving advice which is a nice change from your standard boring money books.

Highly recommended.

I read this book several years back, and frankly remember very little of it. In a nutshell, the real lesson of the book is that the poor buy necessities (food, clothing, etc.) the middle class buy liabilities (cars, boats, etc.) while the rich buy assets (stocks, bonds, real estate).

... take the definitions of both an ASSET and a LIABILITY.

I read this book the first month it came out when I was a floating on a raft at the Hyatt in Kauai and I was so taken with it, I finished it and reread it a 2nd time. And I was on vacation. The entertaining style of it held my interest. What most held my interest though was his explanations of ASSETS and LIABILITIES. Gosh you know, all my life I was taught to believe my house was an ASSET. Well it is an ASSET - to the bank that holds the mortgage. To me it is a LIABILITY and a Money Pit.

Now it is nice to have a place to sleep at night and it's all mine! I can paint the walls any color I want!! But it sure ain't an ASSET. And I have all the bills to attest to that.

I do recommend the book to everyone. It really is basic accounting for your lifetime & family. Education is education and meaningful education is the name of the game. Somebody else wrote a review that if his grandparents were alive today, well, they would be dead today instead, because they would not be able to navigate the New Paradigm of 'Every Man for Himself'. He's got a point. The world IS changing, right now as you read this. This book is written for the Everyday Man and Woman. Good information to open up your brain and think about how and what you want to do to assure yourself a future.

The book has some great ideas, but I get the mental image of a late night infomertial. The basic storyline of the book is a bit far fetched, but there are plenty of ideas about finances and investing to get you thinking.

Worth the money for the authors approach about assets and liabilities. His personal story is not very interesting but I like the way he focuses on different types of income. Do not expect a lot of detailed information since most of his "examples" are BS. His wife needed a new car so she just went out and found a property that would give her $500/month cash flow with no money down. Yeah right. All said and done though this book will motivate you and help keep your head in the right mind-frame.

Do not bother buying ANY of the other Rich Dad, Poor Dad books, they are only a re-hash of the information in this one.

Rich Dad Poor Dad became a best seller as a result of either introducing or reminding the masses of basic financial principals. The storyline is presented in a manner describing this advice from both a successful father figure with little schooling but ample street smarts, and a less successful father with an abundance of education but little financial sense. Given that only a small sector of society generally finds interest among dry financial books, the writing style undoubtedly also had a lot of influence on the success of this book.

Kiyosaki provides an adequate overview of assets versus liabilities and in depth explanation as to why assets with earning capacity are true assets while others that cost money to sustain (such as your home) are not. However, the message could have been given proper justice in a brief essay as opposed to a best selling book. The principle at heart, while true to the bone, is nothing more than what one would arrive at with a simple understanding of bookkeeping and common sense. Kiyosaki provides a lot of cliché with a story about his two Dads to attempt to add depth to the book, but otherwise the book provides little insight except perhaps to those with limited financial aptitude.

Kiyosaki is certainly a master marketer and undoubtedly made millions by marketing his books, so perhaps if there is a silver lining to the book it is that one might discover the genius behind how to market a book by reading Kiyosaki. Otherwise, look to the cliff notes on this book and save your time and money for a book that offers a more comprehensive study on finance.

Great Book!

Very motivational and inspired me to keep driving my very funtional car - but not a showpiece! Inspirational but lacks details for strategy. Concepts are very good.

I first read this book back in 2002-Decided to do a review for it. This book is great for anyone seeking basic financial knowledge about the pros and cons of money. Robert Kiyosaki is the ideal student when it comes to learning from both his rich dad and his poor dad. His style of writing is very educational and teaches his readers to learn to think for themselves:
"Most people use fear and greed against themselves. That's the start of ignorance. It is most important for you to use those emotions to your advantage and for the long term;and not simply let your emotions run you by controlling your thinking."

For example: A doctor, wanting to provide for his family, raises his fees. By doing this, it makes health care more expensive for everyone. Now, it hurts the poor people the most, so poor people have worse health than those with money.-Because the doctors raise their rates, the attorneys raises their rates. Because the attorneys' rates have gone up, schoolteachers want a raise, which raises our taxes, and on and on and on. Soon, there will be such a horrifying gap between the rich and poor that chaos will break out and another great civilization will collapse.

I strongly recommend this book to anyone who may be struggling(most people), during these crucial times of economic change. The author provides his readers with guidance that can help many families in the future. The way out of fear and ignorance is through the mind, by choosing our thoughts. Check it out-it can change your life!

Why is this the worst book ever?

Because Robert promotes multi-level marketing (ie: [Sc]Amway)
Robert has made no money on multi-level marketing.
99% of people do not make money on multi-level marketing.

Robert made his money selling fluffy, motivational books that brainwash people into having false dreams that multi-level marketing will bring fortune, fame and women.

If you actually want to make money: read a book about how to write fluffy motivational books, then read a book on how to market your fluffy book to millions of Scamway drones. Finally, write a fluffy motivation book. Oh yeah, brainwash people into thinking they need to play $300 board games as they read the book too.

This must be one of the most controversial business books that I have read. Many criticize Robert Kiyosaki's best selling book, stating that they doubt he has done any of the things that are written within its pages.

I began reading this book with an open mind. I feel that his writings are sincere and knowledgeable. Yes, he is cruel in his presentation of the Poor & Middle Class, but he is doing so for a reason, to illustrate the philosophies included within the book. He says that your home is not an asset, I can relate with this statement. Because he says that a true asset is one that provides income, although a home can be used as an asset for a loan, it does not provide income. In fact in many cases it sucks up your income through the need for repairs and improvements.

I feel that people are free to their opinions, but I think that many of the people who harshly criticized this book probably never read it, or if they did, they read it with their mind closed shut and unwilling to understand the teachings that Robert was attempting to pass along.

Lastly, Kiyosaki was criticized for his lack of detail in how he made his way to the top. The problem is that this book was not intended to be a detailed account of what he did to become successful. It was to open up your mind to the possibilities and opportunities that lie in front of each and everyone's face. Opportunities are everywhere and you must have the 'Rich Dad' mind set to take advantage of them.

I recommend this book and support the efforts of the rich dad team.

I have heard too many negative reviews of Kiyosaki's financial strategies to take him seriously; however, there is one aspect to this book that is absolutely spot-on. The financial messages and lessons that our kids are learning today (and what I was told in HS 35 years ago) are utterly worthless.

I remember reading Future Shock by Alvin Tofler decades ago, explaining that the world is changing so fast that human society hasn't the time to readjust and position itself to thrive in the new paradigms and systems. The introduction to Rich Dad is effectively this same premise: people are being given financial advice that was golden a hundred years ago, but will doom people to squalor in the current economic climate.

I will not take issue with the author's financial advice. I am not a finance expert, and the real experts all seem to agree that this Kiyosaki clown is nothing but Anthony Robbins for the cash crowd: all flash and no foundation.

However, if you were to take the book out of the library and just read the introduction alone, it will stimulate you to giving serious thought to just how much really bad advice you have been given by so many people because of two reasons:

1. The same advice has been given for decades and nobody wants to rock the boat, and

2. 99% of all people (especially positicians and actors) know that when you open your mouth, the most important thing is to do is make your words appealling and enticing, hopeful and non-controversial. That's why nobody wants to come out and admit the following conclusion about how most people will thrive in the current economic world: It's MERCENARY!

Yap about "teamwork" and groupthink until the cows come home. The 30-year job with the Rolex at retirement time is as DEAD as Monty Python's parrot sketch. Most people stay in organizations for less than 4 years today. Downsizing, rightsizing, corporate takeovers...don't get me started. "Loyalty" for the American worker is the religion of the doomed. It's look out for yourself today, don't trust your corporate pension and the only friend you have is money in YOUR bank account.

Oh, sure, I sound cynical and negative.

Enron. Tyco. I could go on. Spare me the flag-waving capitalistic jingoism.

The one point that Rich Dad makes, in the intro, is that it's a whole new ballgame out there and the rules have changed so much that, were our grandparents alive today and had to make it in the marketplace, they'd all starve to death if they clung to the old rules.

Read the intro to Rich Dad...then throw away the rest.