Book Review - Rich Dad, Poor Dad

Wow, I read a whole book, in one sitting. I can not tell you how long it has been since that happened. I used to read loads of books, but i just have not been grabbed by one in the last few years. Well now I know why, I should have been reading books on personal finance and not fiction! Who would have thought?!

So for my first book review. I chose Rich Dad Poor Dad, because it was recommended in Start Your Business Week by Week and because when I used to work in a bookshop (many years ago) it was very popular, and it still occupies a prominent space in the book shelves today. So it must be good right?

This book is an easy read. Its not too long and it uses fairly simple language to get through its quite simple message. The book starts by telling the story of Robert's two dads, the 'poor dad' is his real dad and the 'rich dad' is the father of his best friend. In the book when Robert asks his rich dad how my make money, the rich dad sets him and his friends a series of tasks to get them to think for themselves. First teaching them about how it feels to be poor and followed by getting others to do the work for you (getting money working for you). Then the importance of financial literacy. 

This is not the kind of book that tells you how to make money, just how to think about making money. In all the message is simple, financial literacy is of vital importance, and buy assets and not liabilities. This book does not tell you how. It is inspirational and can give you a direction for further reading. Therefore if buy assets and not liabilities seems obvious, i suggest that you buy a book on the practicalities of managing you money. 

Also another point i would like to make is, you will never find the riches in life, be it in money wealth or happiness, sitting around waiting for something to happen. You have to be proactive and make it happen. Nothing is impossible, and it is with in most peoples means to make most things happen. It is just that most people don't try, or are convinced that they cant do something because they don't have money, time etc. I know in my own life that this is true and it is a point that Robert makes in the book very well.

The main thing i shall take from the book is that i should really educate myself about accounting, bookkeeping and how money works, so i can make better decisions about my own money and i can see when things are not going well.