Rich Dad Poor Dad -- helpful or just 'inspirational'
 

I tend to think it's the latter. While some people do feel that it's lacking in specifics, I think the attitude it fosters is more valuable than any specific tips re growing wealthy and staying wealthy. Also the simple mantra re Assets vs. Liabilities can't be reiterated enough.

Your thoughts?

if it inspires you then it's helpful.

The book could give exact specifics and people would still walk away the same.

its inspirational,a good read as well.

True. But many people define helpful in terms of specifics ie., ebook style of spoon feeding step by step instructions. I agree though, some people just need to be inspired and they get to work on their own, others need a more concrete blueprint. It's all good though. One is not necessarily better than the other. :2 cents:

it was ok , they all are common sense its putting it in pratice that is the hard part.

Haven't read it, but I agree with the above. There are many success recipe type books out there, people read them and stay just as dumb as they were before. Just because something works for someone else doesn't mean it will work for you, you can't replicate what they did 100%. If you're smart enough, you'll adapt it to your own situation and take advantage of whatever opportunities may arise for you. Most people aren't smart or disciplined enough though.

Helpful to the point where it tells you that the importance of assets. He's done a good job of squeezing out a lot more from this. You shouldn't have to read a book to figure this out; some people need to.

I think its bs. I listened to him on tape and he lectures for hours without having really have said anything siginificant and useful.

I attented a rich dad group of "investors" and it was all wannabe's day dreaming about how someday they'll be successful and own property and rent it out. No one in the group has actually done it. We just sat around and day dreamed and played the board game.

One of the guys in the group was doing some Rich Dad help line thing where for $2k or something, you can call a real advisor while youre buying real estate.
They must really rake in the dough.

http://www.johntreed.com/Kiyosaki.html
thats a good read and easy to skim.

They are mostly guidelines but can be very inspirational as well
A book I like in that same vein is The Greatest Salesman In The World by Og Mandino (I've been touting this book for several years now)

He does have a point about financial literacy. For example, while many people assume a car is an asset, it is actually a liability since it depreciates. Hence, it has to be prioritized in terms of depreciation vs operational value vs objectives value.

I actually apply his stuff to my business. I have no problems buying stuff that puts more money in my wallet. This applies to equipment, primarily. I have no problems buying workstations. Before I used to think, "Oh man, this is another $5K I have to blow" Also, it has helped me to focus on building each and every staff member as a valuable asset that grows exponentially in value as their experience and problem solving skills increase. So I hire more and more people while employing tighter and tigher problem solving seminars.

its a motivational book.

it gives you a few basic insights on building wealth, growth and how/where to invest money so it generates its fullest earning potential meaning ROI.

i reccomend it.

good book, finished it 6 months ago.

it sure has inspired a bunch of friggin pyramid schemes. i get accosted by those clowns every time i go to a book store.

A book that is specific in "how to make money" is very subjective. One way to make money for one person, might not work for the other.

Inspirational books are helpful to everyone that has the right attitude. They just need to apply it to their own life.

I find his books inspirational :)

I haven't read it yet

have you at least tried to apply anything youve read/heard?

because if you didnt get a thing from that book you never will get it.

theres 2 types of people, those that try and those that dont and from reading your post above it seems you fall in the later.

Inspirational. The Millionaire Mind as well as The Millionaire Next Door are helpful books.

I have read tons of those books and there many that are better if you want concrete ideas. Nickerson or Paul ALlen are more employable.

Although he gets a bit of flak from some quarters, I find Tony Robbins very helpful. One particular concept of his that helped me a lot to increase my income and turn my potential into reality is his his view that there are 2 types of people. There are the "Aspiring" people--those that are motivated to do something because they see opportunity and potential. On the other hand, there's the "Moving away from" people--people who do things because they HAVE TO (ie., forced into it by circumstance). I have to say I've been in both camps before. Back in 2000, I had established a set of filter pages that farm traffic from 2 main sources. I was in my "aspiring" mode-I set up the pages because I saw the potential judging from test traffic. It paid off. Good for 3 years' worth of steady traffic and monthly rising income. 2003--the traffic died. I was then in my "Moving away from" mode and I was scrambling to find traffic replacements.

The lesson I take from all this is that we have to be BOTH--do things that you aspire to but do them EARLIER before you are FORCED to. It sucks to be put in a situation where you are scrambling. So plan ahead. Always have a back up. I've always used mainstream as a backup to adult. Now dating income is a backup to my mainstream revenue streams. Outsourcing is now a backup to my mainstream media projects.

im hungggrrry

I'm reading it right now. I think its very good inspriation so far. Alot i knew before some things are new. They way he writes it as a "story" i never thought was 100% real. But it's entertaining way to learn ppl some basics. I think it's good book for younger people to read.

If you have any more tips on financial or business related books let us know.

How are the Trump books?

I think the fact that I own my own business and make money from rebills means I'm developing passive income, so I'm "trying" and I dont need to pay $200 for audio tapes to hear Kiyosaki tell me:

- ?Don?t work for money. Make money work for you?
- "Work smart, not hard"
- "The early bird gets the worm. Be the early bird"

What an inspiration. He's a genius!

Did you read the link I posted? It confirms what I said about Kiyosaki's ability to talk and talk and have no point:

Since I posted this analysis, a number of Kiyosaki ?cult members? have contacted me to denounce me for ?missing the point? of Kiyosaki?s book. ?OK,? I responded, ?Please tell me the point.? The odd thing is that each person has a different version of what the point of Kiyosaki?s book is?and it is never something I recall reading in the book. In fact, if a book has a point, multiple readers ought to come up with the same answer when asked what that point is. If they come up with different answers, it is either because the author was incompetent at communicating his point, or because the book has no point, or because the author deliberately obfuscated the point.

From now on, if you think I missed the point, don?t paraphrase Kiyosaki?s point to me. Give me an exact quote and the page number in Rich Dad, Poor Dad where it appears. I suspect everyone who is tempted to send me the point of Rich Dad will be unable to find in the book any of the wonderful advice they imagined was in there.

The only time different people look at the same thing and come up with different answers as to what it is they are looking at is when the thing they are looking at is amorphous, like a cloud or a Rorschach inkblot?or a politician. Politicians try to be all things to all people. That requires them to say nothing (amorphousness), but to sound like they are saying something (?the point?). They toss in a little spin to try to get all those people with those different views to see in the politician things that they like. Kiyosaki slogans like are amorphous in their actual meaning, but have the effect of ?spinning? the reader into thinking he has just gotten good advice.

the book is great if it motivates you to get into real estate investing. if you are already a real estate investor - skip the book - its a load of crap for advice.

To the above poster, I think you have a point but miss another.

What the Rich Dad author is trying to convey is not the single recipe that will make you rich over night. It's about a certain mind-set, analyzing the situation you're in if you're an employee. [Edit: Don't have a page number for you, I listened to the audio version]

Look around in your (your parents, neighbours whatever) circle of friends. How many people are there with MBAs, Dr. Med.'s etc. Nice jobs, yes. Nice houses, nice cars. Also, and this is what you don't see, usually lots of debt. Many of these people are still broke by every definition of the book, negative net worth. Job's don't make you rich, never have never will.

This is the message of the Jap guy, that's all you need to learn. Once you understand working the same job day by day is (almost) never going to make you financially independent then this lesson is invaluable. Millions of little hard-working lemmings on this planet will never get it though.

If one is already business minded, reading Rich Dad Poor Dad doesn't really teach much. If one is not, than yea, I guess the book is somewhat helpful.

It sounds like it's based on this quote by my man:

You can give a poor person money he will spend it yet you can take away a rich mans money and he will make it back.

Uh, Mr Trump :thumbsup

Simple, but the fact remains. Some use and some make it just how life works.

Me I make to use. And the more I use the more I have to make :disgust

So true. This applies to traffic sources, revenue models, and sponsors and other areas of webmaster work as well.

Good quote, man! :thumbsup

David - most people ask about this book in reference as to if its a good book for real estate. its not.

as to being good for encouraging one to get off their ass and become successful, it seems to have positive results for some people in that regard.

most people know the quote 'you'll never get rich working for the man, you gotta be the man'. i've seen that firsthand with some family members who are easily worth more than everyone on this board combined X 50
I don't need a book to get me motivated. :pimp

I've been meaning to pick up this book

The book basically says the same old things all motivation books say.

The book is boring and extremely overly repetive.
Same shit, different book.

Im a big fan of Robert Kiyosaki. Since reading (listening to audio books while I drive becuz I hate reading) I have bought real estate, paid off all debts and living better financially. I would have to say its more inspirational and causes you to think differently.

cool1g, I meant the poster above you, Clickhappy. Sorry bout that.

I listened to it at work and bought a house one month later.

With no money down?

These guys get me.

"Broke? Bad credit? Haven't had a job in over a year? Well don't worry YOU can buy real estate with ZERO money down."

Funny how people with a down payment, GOOD credit and a good job get turned down for real estate loans all the time, but somehow these guys can teach hobos how to walk into a bank and get the bank to give them enough money to buy a house PLUS an extra $10K-$20K to stash in their pocket.

I challenge ANYONE to help me get a decent house with ZERO money down. If they can I will personally suck their cock in font of cameras for the whole world to see while wearing a dress and a sign that says "I'm your bitch!".

What???! :helpme

The guy is full of shit.. but it is inspirational or motivating I guess..

However I would stay away from property until the market falls out.

selling shovels... if u cant do it, teach it.

:1orglaugh sorry man but after reading the above i just cant engage in a serious conversation with you no offense.

personally, i found his book to be a mixture of inspiration and original insight. i strongly believe in listening/reading what people have to say about topics i'm interested in, then form my own opinions and ideas. no matter what people say about the guy, he does put some insightful knowledge in his book, and makes it easier for the common person (friends, family) to understand. i had my bestfriend read the book, and he is hooked. i sure as hell feel better knowing my bestfriend has a better concept of financial knowledge.