Most Helpful Customer Reviews
218 of 239 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Genius or Gimmick...you decide. Good Book Filled with Solid Info, September 11, 2009
This review is from: Rich Dad's Conspiracy of the Rich: The 8 New Rules of Money (Paperback)
First of all, I'm not a Kiyosaki fan...his style of writing just tends to annoy me however, he is one of those authors that is able to effectively communicate with the average person and often has one or two gems that make it worthwhile to read his books. Having said that, this book is a bit different than his others both in terms of content and style. It is primarily compiled from his website which by this point, is both a work in progress as well as a day by day breakdown of the current economic crisis unfolding as history. The book contains comments by readers of the website/blog as well as more traditional insight and commentary by Kiyosaki et al.
As a college instructor as well as business writer, I'm quite familar with authors that "try out" or compose a book from class notes, lectures, journal submissions and articles etc...but few have used an online format as a pure marketing ploy to generate both interest and actual content. I suspect it takes a highly recognized name and a major economic melt-down to pull it off. Sales of this book will certainly determine if it is pure genius or merely a gimmick.
Aside from the collaborative nature of the book, the actual writing retains the same consumer friendly, conversational tone found in former "Rich Dad" books with the very pleasant lack of constant reference to the "dads" which was a personal pet peeve. Personally I found this to be more readable than most and equally interesting.
The author departs from the prior "real estate" emphasis into a much broader investment perspective which includes precious metals and other assets, proper use of debt, information and much more. I was fairly impressed by both the rationale and future trends as well as the very "do-able" information presented. It is obvious the author has taken time to create something within the grasp of average Americans by first providing a framework for safety then moving beyond to creating choices for potentially more rewarding investments. At each step of the way a solid rationale is provided...whether one agrees or disagrees, it is valuable to reflect upon where the author is "coming from" in order to make up your own mind as to the validity of the position or not.
Readers that enjoyed Ron Pauls' recent 'End the Fed" will be delighted by the straight-forward discussion about the status of the government, Fed and more in this recent book. Kiyosaki doesn't mince words this time around and does so in a purely equitable manner that doesn't offend - but is designed to enlighten the reader to the dangers surrounding them at every turn.
More savvy investors may not find a lot new however, those searching for a fresh start or trying to make sense of the current economic crisis and future financial trends in an easy to understand way will truly appreciate this book. There is overlap from prior books but also a surprising amount of newer or revised content that is well worth the time of former readers to review.
Bottom line...a surprisingly good book.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
64 of 71 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Yes, Virginia, the rich do think you're Santa Claus, November 19, 2009
This review is from: Rich Dad's Conspiracy of the Rich: The 8 New Rules of Money (Paperback)
This remarkable book is filled with factual information, both current and historical, and although that information may discourage or frighten some readers the book is written in such a casual style that it is almost as if its story is being told by your best friend. Only, in this case your friend actually knows what he is talking about. It is a great read, and the information it conveys is simply too valuable to miss. I only wish such books had been available forty or fifty years ago.
In any event, if you are a product of America's public school system, you may very well have asked yourself, as I once did: "What have I learned in my twelve years of school that will help me get a job?" That's certainly an interesting question, but, strangely enough, the answer is far less important than the question itself. For that question reveals a mindset that has been instilled in America's children by our public education system, by conventional wisdom, and, in all probability, by almost every student's parents for generations. Namely: Get an education, get a job, work hard, buy a house, save for the future, and someday you will be able to retire and live happily ever after.
That mindset, according to this book's author, has doomed generations of Americans to a lifetime of hard work with little chance success, leading many to someday ask themselves: "Why is it that I have a good education and work hard at my job, but I never seem to be able to get ahead?" The answer, again according to this author, is that, despite the fact that America is a capitalist society, our public schools only train our children to be good employees, good soldiers, professionals, and small business owners, but teach them nothing about money and finance or how to properly invest and prosper in a capitalist system.
This book seeks to break that mindset by encouraging its readers to change their attitudes from "I can't do that" to "How can I do that" and offers fairly specific suggestions and guidelines as to how individual successes might be achieved. The trick, Mr. Kiyosaki avers, is to first change your way of thinking, then study your chosen direction, and finally work toward getting out of what he terms the "Employee/Small Business" (E/S) quadrants, in which the odds are stacked against you; and into the "Big Business/Investor" (B/I) quadrants wherein lies greater opportunity, lower taxes, cash flow without labor, and the opportunity to exploit those in the E/S quadrants.
After reading this book, I came to the conclusion that it is invaluable, especially to young adults, and should be read by every thinking American. I also came to the conclusion, however, that the book's title is something of a misnomer. It should really be entitled "The Conspiracy of the Super Rich," for they, the politicians they control, and the heads of America's largest banks are the ones who perpetrated and carry on the conspiracy.
So, yes, Virginia, there is a conspiracy of the rich, and if you reside in the E/S quadrants, as virtually all of us do, you are one of their Santa Clauses. But, strangely enough, "the rich" aren't really those we are led to believe they are. They aren't those making over $200,000 per year, who presumably should be punished for it, or minor millionaires. They are the anonymous "Super Rich" who make the rules and control the game. And they are well above it all.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
103 of 132 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
This is why America is doomed, May 16, 2010
This review is from: Rich Dad's Conspiracy of the Rich: The 8 New Rules of Money (Paperback)
You want to know the secret to salesmanship? Agree with your customer philosophically so that he thinks you're a kindred spirit. Then when his emotional defenses are down, sell him garbage.
I thought that this would be an interesting book because I'm libertarian and anti-Fed, but it all came apart when it dealt with personal investment advice. And that was the reason to read it, wasn't it?
Let's get something straight. The banksters want you to go into debt. They manipulate the credit cycle to charge interest in boom times and foreclose in bust times. There's no such thing as 'good debt.'
The author emphasizes cash flow, and then he gives as example how much of his income is derived from royalties and licenses on his books and games. Now how is that supposed to apply to the rest of us?
About the only applicable advice he gives is to rent out properties for more than you pay in mortgage payments. Wow, never heard of that one before. I wonder what would happen if the renters couldn't pay. Hmm.
In the Author's vision of America, nobody actually produces anything. Instead, they simply make investments. The author pretty much comes out and says that anyone who works for a living is a chump. How food, clothing, housing, appliances, health care, electricity, etc., are to be provided when everyone is busy playing cash flow games is not explained. America may not want an explanation, but China is wondering.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
|
Questions from Readers for 
![[Start the discussion]](http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/x-locale/communities/discussion_boards/start-new-discussion-sec._V192250339_.gif){kind=small}
