While driving for the Thanksgiving vacation, my husband and I listened to Robert Kiyosaki's book, Rich Dad, Poor Dad, on CD. This book helped us to expand and to think outside the box when it came to money. It gave us many things to think about and other ways to view our finances. I enjoyed it so much that I not only listened to it twice on CD, but also read the book itself.
In his book, Kiyosaki reveals that he had two fatherly perspectives while growing up. His biological father maintained an attitude towards money that kept him struggling financially throughout his life. His friend's father, who he spent a lot of time with, held a different perspective, and ultimately prospered. The two men regarded money differently, which caused young Robert to compare and ponder the different things each dad taught. In doing so, he had to choose which path to follow, rather than just blindly accept what he learned. He applied these principles in his life, and, like his rich dad, prospered financially.
I enjoyed the way Kiyosaki introduced us to both fathers. He puts us in the scene of action, rather than lecturing us, and like he did as a boy, we learn from actions rather than words. This is more successful, I think, than most financial books, which while helpful can be a little boring.
Kiyosaki presents the six lessons that his rich dad taught him, and then expands on them. He provides examples and applications. Much of what he says caused me to change my normal perspective as I considered a different way of thinking. Similarly, as I read, I could see phrases that I and others have used that mark us as "poor." In fact, over the Thanksgiving holiday, my dad unknowingly repeated about six or seven things that Kiyosaki's "poor dad" had said! These statements have caused me to realign many of my thoughts on money.
As we drove, my husband and I frequently stopped the CD to discuss not only the changes in our thinking but also the inspiration that occurred to us. We began seeking opportunities, rather than just blindly accepting the fact that we were broke. We discussed business opportunities, and chances we could "work to earn" rather than "work for money."
If this book has a failing, it is that it is more of an overview than a how-to. It left me wanting to learn more. However, I understand that Kiyosaki has several other books written that appear to dive into the subject more thoroughly, and I look forward to reading those. Still, this works as a great stepping-off point to make us reconsider our view of financial issues.
This was clear, well-written, and thought-provoking, and left me wanting to learn more. It made for great discussion with my husband, and I felt like we both grew closer as we considered the opportunities around us. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wishes to increase their financial knowledge.
