BOOK REVIEW: Why We Want You to Be Rich by Donald Trump and Robert Kiyosaki (2006) — Faith and Finances Ministry
Book Reviewed by Patrick Blair on September 9, 2019
First Impression Versus Lasting Impression: The book at first glance appears to be a “how to get rich” type of book. Honestly, I bought it on the cheap at a used bookstore – and mostly because of the interesting combination of authors, Robert Kiyosaki and Donald Trump (now President Trump). It is certainly all about how to get rich, but it also contains surprising depth and insight.
The Book in a Word: COMPREHENSIVE.
Summary: The authors, Robert Kiyosaki and Donald Trump, cover a myriad of topics in relation to getting rich and succeeding in life. Robert does most of the heavy lifting in the book, breaking down subjects such as becoming an investor, lifetime learning, and how to succeed in real estate investing. Each chapter has both authors’ take on the topic discussed. For all its banality, the book contains tons of practical wisdom from two guys who, love them or hate them, have a lot of experience.
What I liked the most: were the authors’ personal stories and how those experiences shaped them into the men and investors that they became. Kiyosaki was a surf-bum in high school and then a pilot in Vietnam. Of course, he shared a lot about what his “rich dad” taught him and where his honorable, but unwise “poor dad” failed in life. Trump, despite being rich and set for life, did not settle for being comfortable or mediocre; he shared many personal stories of his tenacious drive to succeed.
What I liked the least: was the frequent self-praise (especially with Trump) and shameless self-promotion throughout. You would expect nothing less from a book like this. Also, the book was too long at 331 pages. It contained many good things but could have been much better trimmed to 200 pages.
Recommended for: anyone who is serious about real estate investing or learning about the mindset of successful entrepreneurs. Interestingly, the book has a historical feel because of the authors’ continued success in life since the 2006 book publication. Because I did not strongly fit into these categories, finishing the book was difficult for me, but the many tidbits of wisdom kept me reading until the end.
Not Recommended for: the average person or average investor. The book itself is very clear that it is not for everyone, but for only those who seriously want to get rich. In fact, many comments in the book could be perceived as being condescending toward the average person.
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Reading Level: Basic … Intermediate to Advanced … Scholarly.
Interesting Concept: If you become rich and successful, you will help the country (the U.S.). The odd title of the book captures the idea. The authors share many of the same concerns about the deteriorating conditions within the U.S.: increased poverty, income inequality, financial decay, and political corruption. By educating oneself, becoming rich, and giving back, you can be a part of the solution and not the problem. In other words, if you are rich and powerful, then you can really make a difference. It’s very easy to criticize the concept. That being said, love them or hate them, you have to respect both Robert Kiyosaki and Donald Trump’s enormous influence on the world and how it has grown since 2006. In the case of Donald Trump, history will judge what kind of influence he will ultimately have on the U.S. and the world.
Great Quotes: “Donald Trump and Robert Kiyosaki are not politicians (although there is a strong movement brewing for Donald to run for president.)” (p. 6). “Because our educational system does not really teach people to be financially literate, people cannot see. … They blindly follow the advice of ‘work hard, save money, invest for the long-term in mutual funds and diversify.’” (p. 8). “The best way to solve the problem of bad financial results is to change our thoughts – to start thinking like rich people rather than poor and middle-class people. That means losing the entitlement mentality … .” (p. 40). “Being stubborn is big part of being a winner. Some people have failed because they have given up too soon.” (p. 93).
Spiritual Content: A little. There is quite a bit of philosophy about how to live a good life throughout the book (some that matches with the Bible, some does not). Robert Kiyosaki uses some biblical ideas to support his ideas. My biggest problem with the book (and so many others) is that it is built of the premise of making it your goal to get rich. 1 Timothy 6:9 says: “Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.” Ironically, after reading the book I don’t think the authors’ main goals in life are to be richer. So, I think there is still much to be learned from the wisdom within the book, but with a strong spiritual caution.
Book Citation: Trump, Donald J., and Robert T. Kiyosaki. Why We Want You to Be Rich. Place of publication not identified: Rich Press, 2006.
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