This was one book I never wanted to touch (due to its correlations to MLM and what not) but these few days I decided that I ought to know what the well was going on in MLM-ers (know them to beat them~) and perhaps this could furnish me a little in terms of finance info… 

And there’s only one thing I have to admit after reading through the book… Robert Kiyosaki is a pep talker, and a pretty good one at that. Very often I found myself doubting the content, but each time he managed to tide it over with his persuasiveness. After a little more reading up on relevant info, I discovered that many of my doubts were warranted:

  • Who is Robert Kiyosaki (RK) ? Unlike Ronald Trump or Jack Welch, RK offers to teach "Money" without any substantiated proof/fame of his Millionaire status. All I saw was self-claimed wealth, which RK didn’t even bother proving to me…
  • Who is this "Mike" and his Rich Dad? There was no mention of their concrete identity… if he was a character so worthy of admiration, why not let him be known? Is there shame in this? Wouldn’t it allow more people to be convinced of  your cause?
  • RK claimed he was "Learning to lead men" as a Marine Corp Pilot??? I’m serving the Army now… so I know that Pilots DO NOT LEAD MEN. THEY PILOT PLANES AND ASSOCIATE WITH A LIMITED NUMBER OF CREW. AND… HELICOPTERS PILOTS ARE NEVER KNOWN AS "FIGHTER PILOTS".
  • RK disgusted me at one point when he said that he wants friends who are close to the "inside" so that he can get information, "and that is what friends are for". It showed the mentality of some MLM-ers… friends are to be used.
  • I dislike the way he abused the Singapore reporter… Yes, you are right, there is a difference between best-selling and best-writing. But if you are a person determined on Literature, then best-selling should be a secondary motive, quality of work should come first. Which reminds me… RK is a "seller", so if he tidied up this book to sell, how much is truth, how much is sales pitch??
  • The danger of RK’s book is if anyone emulates RK’s self-claimed success. There is just too little substantial information for anyone to follow, everything was just General theories.

Conclusion: Pep-Talker.

More Reading up here:
Rich Dad Poor Dad
John Treed’s Long~ Criticism
Slate’s Criticism
Wikipedia
Another Critic
An Interview w/ TheStreet.com
Favourable Review