19/01/2026
Book Review: Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki
The book Rich Dad Poor Dad does not always fit into my society because we do not have the same system Robert Kiyosaki grew up in. Instead, our system is built on different ideologies such as religion, politics, and culture. In the book, Robert explains the means of becoming wealthy through the experiences he had with his two fathers: his poor dad, who valued education more than making money, and his rich dad (Mike’s dad), who focused on building wealth.
My criticism of the book comes mainly from the aspect of education. I agree that his poor dad, despite loving education, did not become wealthy. However, Robert himself combined both education and business knowledge and made effective use of them. In my society, a certain level of education is necessary to reach certain positions, because without it, it is difficult to function effectively at higher levels. Robert even mentioned that if someone is interested in business, they could pursue a master’s degree in sales or marketing to gain theoretical knowledge.
His rich dad viewed education mainly as learning how to do a job to make money and learning from experience. Personally, I do not fully see this as education but rather as practical lessons. This is why I do not completely accept his rich dad’s criticism of education in relation to wealth creation.
Lessons Learned from the Book
The book is made up of ten chapters, and I enjoyed the lessons because they were clearly and logically presented. One key lesson is that the rich do not work for money; money works for them. There was strong emphasis on assets and how they work for you such as real estate, stocks, and bonds. I appreciated the terms used and the processes explained for making money work for oneself.
Another lesson is work to learn, not to work for money. I initially struggled with this chapter because I believe that since I know what I can offer, I should be well paid for my services. However, I later understood Robert’s point. I have personal plans for the future, so there is a part of my life where I work to learn and another part where I work to earn. This makes the idea two-sided and more realistic for me.
Key takeaways from the book include:
1. The poor and middle class work for money, while the rich have money work for them.
2. Financial literacy is essential, especially understanding investments and the difference between assets and liabilities.
3. “Businesses that do not require my presence. I own them, but they are managed or run by other people. If I have to work there, it’s not a business. It becomes my job.” — Food for thought.
4. The tax system: although it is not yet fully understood in my country, I learned that the rich structure their expenses as tax-deductible while making money, whereas the poor bear taxes along with personal expenses.
5. To build wealth, we must overcome fear, cynicism, laziness, bad habits, and arrogance.
As Robert Kiyosaki says, to make wealth is a choice.
Recommendation
I recommend this book to people who want to build wealth, especially young people between the ages of 13 and 30, as it encourages starting early. The Richest Man in Babylon by George S. Clason is a good follow-up book that also helps in understanding wealth creation.
I read this book to learn lessons, and now I know what to do
Chalya Gambo
