Customer Reviews

Rich Brother, Rich Sister: Two Different Paths to God, Money and Happiness

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(13)
2 star:		(9)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Having just finished this book, I think the title- Rich Brother, Rich sister: Two Different Paths to God, Money and Happiness is an apt one. For those who may already be familiar with Robert Kiyosaki, here is what this book is NOT - a guide to business success, written primarily from his viewpoint.

Instead, it seems to be an attempt to reveal more about the Kiyosaki family and how both Robert, a successful businessman and financial guide, and his sister, Emi - a spiritual director at the Dhargve Ling Buddhist Center in California - found meaning in different ways. A major focus of this book seems to be about how they rediscover what they have in common and reconcile some of the extremely different ways they approach life and living.

Emi discovers some benefits, including peace and well being, that can come from money while Robert shares some of his spiritual views, from going through EST to having Buckminster Fuller as a mentor. Emi's early life is turbulent and she makes her way through the hippie movement, an early marriage and birth of a child before finding her way to the Dalai Lama and a spiritual path that deepens and grows.

The main problem with all this? For me, it was the flow of the book. In theory, going back and forth between the two views of brother and sister could have worked well, especially given Robert Kiyoaski's reputations as a financial guru.

But to me the book was both overly long and often a confused jumble, hard to follow. At the very end of the book, Robert Kiyosaki tries to tie God and money together and then there is a list of his previous books. Of course, Emi (his sister) also puts in her viewpoint and it should all balance nicely. For me, however, it did not.

I did find the personal disclosures of Kiyoaski's wild ways and war adventures (early in his life) to be interesting and intriguing, as well as the revelations about the Kiyosaki family. For those seeking spiritual growth and/or information about financial stability and/or balancing financial health with spiritual well being, it could provide some food for thought but I was left with far more questions than answers or guidelines.

It hurts me to give this Two Stars, since I love the Rich Dad Poor Dad book so much, but it's the only justice I can give to this book and prevent you from buying something you thought would be an uplifting or inspirational read.

This book is essentially an autobiography of Robert Kiyosaki and his sister Emi (referred to as Tenzin, a name given by the Dalai Lama when she became ordained) as they took different paths to "God, Money, and Happiness". They state there's a biological family that everyone has, and also a spiritual family that most people don't have; unfortunately the theme doesn't really carry through - the book's overall message is simply...unclear.

Some things that simply did not make sense:
1. You learn that Robert was kicked out of the Merchant Marines (honorably discharged) for improper use of government property (flying military helicopters (with high-pressure scuba tanks onboard) to remote islands in Hawaii to impress women) for what I feel is a court-martial offense. Also, he purposely missed a ship returning to sea because he was tired of fighting for the government - veterans call that "desertion" which is another court-martial offense.
2. He makes millions, then loses everything, twice.
3. He goes homeless in 1985 with his "soulmate" he had to chase for 6 months, yet retires in 1994, then he writes Rich Dad, Poor Dad about growing up with a Poor Dad
4. His "Poor Dad" I find out is Superintendent of Schools of Hawaii and went to Stanford, Chicago, and Northwestern, was a valedictorian, and was a community leader in Civil Defense, and prior to his death received an award as one of the top 2 educators in Hawaii history.
5. He doesn't give much regard to higher education, yet his dad was a recognized educator and his sister has a Master's degree.
6. He states success in business is not the same as success in academics, but see points #2 and #3 above!
7. He says he would never work for a tobacco company as a principle, because lung cancer is what accelerated his father's death, yet in the same paragraph he states he enjoys a fine cigar every now and then ?!
8. Though Robert and his wife helped Emi with her high medical bills for her own chemotheraphy, she also got help from a government agency, which he's not a big fan of the US. Govt. at all. I didn't like that he stated Barack Obama would not/could not help the Middle Class - where does that political opinion fit in with the vision of the book? What is the vision of the book?
9. Then, through out the book, all you hear about is EST (Erhard Seminar Training) and Dr. Buckminster Fuller. He put himself through it, his Dad through it, his sister, etc, yet see #2 and #3 above. Also he states he cheated on his first wife Janet, well after the EST seminars.

My soapbox to Mr. Kiyosaki:
1. If you're going to preach trustworthiness and integrity, you have to establish credentials. You lose all respect when apparently you proclaim you are a changed man in 1974, you take EST seminars, yet you lose millions on 2 businesses, cheat on your wife in 1981, and go homeless in 1985 - all after these "EST" seminars that you stated changed your life.

2. Your "Poor Dad" (top 2 educator in Hawaii history) seemed like a pretty good dad.

3. You state you and wife will "never give to the needy or poor" only to trusted organizations that manage their money well, but what about education, ala, your father's legacy ?

4. On a hunch since it felt like "Product Placement" throughout the book, I did some research and turns out Robert Kiyosaki teaches those exact EST/Money & You seminars, ie. he's promoting his own seminars. They collaborate a lot with the Fuller Institute (ala. Dr. Buckminster Fuller).

Final Thought:
1. What is this book? What was the intent? Autobiography or inspirational ? Whatever it is, it reads very.... scattered. The Robert, then Emi dialogue is very disjointed and doesn't flow well. The repeating of the same things from 1974 from chapter to chapter and going backwards and forwards in time is confusing and disrupts flow.
2. Finally, there's a "Change of Heart" chapter that makes no sense, and ME coming from a military and medical background, basically you state that a cardiologist was trying to take your money by giving you immediate surgery and you needed to find alternative health - you don't find this discrediting to medical professionals with 12+years of medical schooling/experience ? You state you needed the surgery *anyway* and 1 month later, you're back in the hospital because you didn't change your ways?? Maybe people don't fundamentally change...ever. As far as my military opinion - you were discharged (should have been dishonorable) and you admitted to "desertion" by not boarding your ship under order.
3. I don't think my final thoughts leave me as a convinced reader in the end... :(

The premise of this book is a challenge at best--to integrate entrepreneurial motivational money man Robert Kiyosaki's life stories (and, arguably, life lessons) together with those of his sister, an ordained Buddhist nun. And, from their supposedly parallel-in-many-ways values and ideas (although following such obviously different actions) to yield some meaningful insights for the reader.

Too bad it doesn't really work out that way.

Part of the reason it doesn't is the "why" this book was written--because Robert's sister, Emi, had medical problems, couldn't cover the big deductible/co-pay, he'd loaned her money for it, but wanted her to see how to become financially independent herself by co-writing a book.

I don't think that's a very good reason to write a book--certainly not much of a reason to read one--and it leads to the fundamental problem of this book. This is, that the two people have very little in common and whatever insights they have acquired independently don't mesh together at all, despite the chapters trying to impose chronological or thematic unity as each tells his/her own story for half of every chapter.

The book also suffers from overly consistent "tone" in that I never feel we really hear Emi's voice (and hers are, in my opinion, the more interesting insights and experiences.) It also suffers from a slant toward Robert's lifestyle and choices, a kind of flowing, "Isn't he awesome and successful!" message. It's a little too easily accepted that all of us are impressed by--and covetous of--lots and lots of money. But that really isn't always the case.

This goes along with Robert's seeming looking down on his "Poor Dad" and Mom--two well educated, hard-working professionals (his dad was Hawaii's Superintendent of Schools) who supported their 4 children but apparently were never financially secure.

While both reveal personal mistakes and embarrassments, there are still important moral areas that go unaddressed--Emi's life as a largely absentee parent; Robert's never, ever confronting the deaths of not just his Marine buddies, but in his role (as a self-proclaimed "warrior") in the deaths of many innocent Vietnamese people.

In the latter instance, bragging about the past, while claiming to be embarrassed by it, doesn't really work. (Also, while Emi includes quite a bit about Buddhist teachings, Robert doesn't really give any practical advice about making money.)

This book -might- still have succeeded if they'd taken their individual life choices and biases and just followed them through, laid them out without trying to show "look how similar they are". Because....they aren't really similar. They're not similar at all.

I wish Emi, the sister, could have written a book on her own, not depending on getting her story sold by using her brother's name. Then maybe we could have had a more in depth/nuanced story of her life. I don't feel the contrast of their lives worked too well and was put off finding out the book was written so Emi could help pay her medical bills. It just did not generate enough interest for me to finish it. I'm really not sure what the target audience is for this book. So many reviews I have read call it "inspirational" and I don't really know why. Inspiration for universal healthcare maybe? Does Robert become more spiritual, does Emi become more practical? I hope so.

Sometimes, a book tries to be too many different things, and it fails at all of them. I think this is one of those times.

Robert Kiyosaki is a financial Guru, and his sister(Emi Kiyoaski) is a Buddhist nun. Either of these people's lives would have made interesting reading. Unfortunately, cramming them together just makes it confusing. It is interesting that they are brother and sister, but that irony (ruthless capitalist brother of Buddhist Nun) is not enough for an entire book, especially when the contrast is not the authors point. Robert tends to do most of the writing, and he seems to want to show how similar the two are.

It just doesn't sell.

Robert talks of his time in the USMC and briefly mentions his experiences in Vietnam. He does not go into any real depth or specificity about how those experiences formed him.

Emi's expereinces are discussed in more depth, and shed some insight into her decisions, but they seem to be colored (overshadowed?) by Roberts stories.

Robert mentions that the purpose of this book is to raise money to pay for Emi's medical bills. This is a noble purpose, but why didn't he just lend her the money? Why write a book? Why write this book?

This is not really a book about how Robert became rich. It is not really a book about how Emi became a nun. It is not a book of spiritual teachings. It is not a book of financial advice. It's not a book about balancing the material with the spiritual. It tries, at different times, to be all of these things. In trying to hard to be too many things, this book unfortunately succeeds at being none of them.

If you are a fan of Kiyosaki's writings, or you are really into Tibetan Buddhism, then you might want to read this book just for completeness' sake. Beyond that, I honestly cannot recommend this book.

I'd never read any of Robert Kiyosaki's books before this. I'd heard of him, who hasn't, but I'd never read him. However, I thought I knew, based on what friends have told me about his books, what this book was going to be about. I'd expected advice, expected to be told how to make a zillion. Instead I was treated to two different journeys to health and happiness.

From Robert I learned of his path from soldier to the creator of the RICH DAD POOR DAD series of books and from Emi I learned of her path from girlhood to Buddhist nun and confident of the Dali Lama.

Robert and Emi candidly tell of the roads they've traveled, leaving nothing out, in fact even highlighting their mistakes. There is no preaching here, but there are lessons learned as these two very interesting, very successful people trace their lives on the pages of this inspiring book.

It's true, we must all find our own way in the world, but reading about how someone else made his or her journey to success can inspire us, urge us on, help us to see the way. These people, Robert and Emi Kiyosaki, have inspired me.

One day in 1962, when Robert Kiyosaki was fifteen and his sister Emi was fourteen, they saw a bright flash outside their living room window in Hilo, Hawaii. The United States had just detonated an atom bomb near Christmas Island. According to Robert and Emi, the times themselves, combined with that blast, contributed to the paths their lives took. Robert went to war, serving in Vietnam and Emi became a Buddhist nun, ordained by the Dali Lama.

Then one day Robert found out Emi was sick. She needed a heart operation and because she'd had cancer previously, her insurance wouldn't pay. Robert had to step up to the plate. He gave her money, but he also co-wrote this book with her to help her raise money for her medical bills. Robert is a capitalist and he believes in teaching people how to fish, rather than giving them fish. If you give a poor man money, he says, you are just helping to keep him poor.

Although basically I agree with Robert, having lived in countries with good National Health, I don't think medical services should be considered a handout. I think they should be a right. Other countries do it. We can too. Robert says, "If you have no money, it's hard to have good health. Good health can be expensive." That's so very true and so very criminal.

Robert talks about how much money it'll cost to take care of our old people. Maybe as a country we should rethink our priorities. Anyway, I'm getting off topic. This is a good book. You won't learn Robert's financial secrets here, for that you'll have to go to Rich Dad Poor Dad, but you'll learn about the love family members can share, how the journey you started out on may wind up in a very different place then you'd planned and how it's possible to be spiritual and have money too.

Though there were places in this book where I virtually wanted to scream at Robert, I have to say I admire him, even though I don't always agree with him.

Rich Brother Rich Sister , is a compelling read to a point, but suffers a bit from lackluster wrting style. The premise, of course, is quite interesting: a brother & sister, from the same biological famliy, take widely divergent paths on the way to personal fulfillment. Robert Kiyosaki, as we all know, is one of the bestselling financial writers of our time. His sister Emi (known now as Tenzin Kacho) is a Buddhist nun ordained by the Dalai Lama. I saw in this book the great potential to hold my interest, but it simply didn't. It is by no means a bad or totally uninteresting volume, it simply misses the mark when it comes to holding a reader's attention. Worth your time, to a point, because it is mildly compelling, to a point.

This book is not only different than the other Rich Dad books in that it takes a very holistic look at what it means to be "rich", but it leads with that concept in mind.

Robert shares a refreshing and candid look at his life, beginning with his childhood and the experiences that shaped his early concepts about life, religion and wealth. He reveals his mistakes, lessons and successes garnered along the way. And weaves into it his unique story and search for God, truth, meaning and wealth in his life. And of course, he is teaching the readers core concepts as he goes.

Emi's life is so dramatically different than Robert's, but her story is equally compelling, candid and revealing. Her gentle, often austere, yet spirited and persistent path led her to the steps of Dharamsala and the teachings of Buddhism and His Holiness, the Dalai Lama. Her writing exudes the same calm and wise demeanor that His Holiness is recognized for. It is evident that she has taken her Buddhist vows to heart, mind, spirit and finally (with Robert's help) to body.

The paths of the *very different* lives of this brother and sister have now crossed and even converged a bit and the result is a triumphant and interesting story interwoven with the wisdom of such distinct, yet complimentary schools of thought. This book drips with accessible and enlightening wisdom, but is also a very enjoyable autobiography. It is a candid, lovely and revealing portrait of the diversity of life (choice) that we as American's have the opportunity to pursue and enjoy. Robert and Emi dig deep to share the mistakes (and successes) they have made and the lessons learned along the way. Every page is a pearl. Thank you Robert and Emi. You have created an extraordinary piece of work.


Is this review helpful? Let me know. Please vote. :-)

If you want to learn how to become rich, save your money on this book and buy "Rich Dad Poor Dad" and you will have made a wise investment. That is the book that brought Robert Kiyosaki to fame, and deservedly so. It is well written, well edited, and chock full of specific, helpful, accurate advice.

This book is fairly interesting as a memoir if you have any interest in learning about the family history of Robert Kiyosaki and his sister, who became a buddhist nun. However, if you want to buy this book thinking you will learn how to become rich, just like a member of the Kiyosaki family, you will be quite disappointed.

The book opens explaining that Robert is rich and his sister the nun is poor and now is faced with the challenge of paying some daunting medical bills. Robert tells her he cannot give her a fish, even though he has many, but he will teach her to fish. So since he has written a number of very successful books, they decide to write a book together and trade on the fame of his name so she can take part of the royalties to pay her medical bills.

As a memoir, I would rank this book between 2 and 3 stars. It is somewhat interesting, but not anything to go out of your way for. As a book to teach you how to become rich, it is a very solid 1 star book. Unless you have a brother as famous as Robert Kiyosaki who will co-author a book with you and let you split the royalties, there is not much here for you to learn.

Jan Dahlin Geiger, Get Your Assets in Gear! Smart Money Strategies