Rich Dad, Poor Dad: Robert Kiyosaki

Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki
What the Rich Teach Their Kids About Money - That the Poor and Middle Class Do Not!

Since the publication of this book in 1997, Rich Dad, Poor Dad has taken the world by storm.

By dissolving common money myths and replacing them with useful and effective financial theories for the general public, this book has had more positive impact on the financial lives of individuals than most others. It dares to ask the questions we should all be asking, such as, "Why aren't we teaching how to handle money in our schools?" "What are the options for investing my hard-earned money, and how can I make the most of it?"

From this book has come a series of Rich Dad books, all packed with valuable information. Each Rich Dad reader benefits from both Robert's experience as well as his passion, and while I don't believe these are the best-written books in the world, the caliber of information and inspiration contained within make up for this shortcoming. Robert's friendly attitude comes through in his writing, and his message is so important that one can forgive a few grammatical errors.

In his quest to spread financial literacy, Robert also created the Cashflow games, designed to teach both kids and adults about money and investing in a fun and educational format. Cashflow groups now exist in communities across the continent, and Robert's mission to increase the financial IQ of each participant is being realized.

One criticism this book and others in the series have received is that they lack specific plans of action - they don't 'tell you what to do.' As someone who has read (and often re-read) the entire series, I heartily disagree. These books were written primarily to address the mindset of someone who wants to change their financial lives around and create a better future, which includes financial freedom. Clear information is given in all of the books about how to go about this, with many examples and stories peppered throughout to support the concepts. Because we are all different, however, we all need to forge our own paths.

Robert simply puts ideas in front of us, and lets us do with them what we will. For inspirational stories from people who have taken Robert's advice and applied it to their own lives, try Rich Dad Success Stories, and see for yourself how diverse are the paths to success. No matter your age and financial status, you are certain to find some common ground with many of the case studies, and to be inspired by the successes of people who started off just like the rest of us and achieved financial freedom, sometimes within a year or two.

This is a great book - and series - to share with the whole family. It explains financial concepts in an easy-to-understand way, without ever being condescending. Rather, it aims to inspire you to action and can be the catalyst for real change in your financial situation and future. Enjoy, and prosper!