Every year, this writer does his best to reach out to our readers and offer some financial resources available through your local library. Here at the height of Tax Season, we are covering the best-selling anecdotal, Rich Dad Poor Dad.
While this blog is primarily about the 25th anniversary update, the book has a bit of a history. Readers are presented with an anecdotal piece, largely recounting the young life of the author and his childhood friend, and the various life lessons they learned at the hands of their respective fathers. The book is essentially divided into two perspectives: the author's father, Poor Dad, offers honorable, seemingly sound financial advice that, supposedly, sees little profit, while his friend's father, Rich Dad, provides tangible real-world advice that has helped provide actual wealth. The author professes affection for both men, but does predictably ultimately advocate the more sensible advice of Rich Dad, over following in the footsteps of his Poor Dad.
As far as format is concerned, math and numbers are at a minimum in this book, which might come across as an oddity for financial literature. And yet, being a best-selling work for numerous years shows that the formatting decision paid off. In this way, the book mirrors the advice it parades about; doing what actually sells worked out better than following in the footsteps of so many other works before. Rich Dad Poor Dad erected its own pedestal within a niche that allowed it to stand prominently and gain the laud seldom shared in the genre.
Consequently, readers who favor more of a narrative format will almost certainly prefer the life lessons on offer here. Of course, if you are looking for more in the way of realistic examples and hard numbers, readers may find themselves wanting.
Mr. Kiyosaki has of course made a name for himself by now publicizing his book, spending quite a bit of time with Oprah, to name one of many places he has visited. It is hard to argue with the results of his work, even if one might take issue with what he is actually offering.
That, if anything, is perhaps the best summary one can get. Readers, if you want some financial insight but are tired of thick books covering all the topics with pages of math and budgeting, look elsewhere. But if you the reader want something a little bit different and more personally relatable, feel free to give Rich Dad Poor Dad a chance.
Thanks for reading!
Add a comment to: Non-Fiction Spotlight: Rich Dad, Poor Dad 25th Anniversary Edition