Rich Dad Poor Dad

The Brutal Truth

We are raised with a script: “Beta, study hard, get good grades, find a safe government job (or MNC), and save money.”

Robert Kiyosaki calls this “The Trap.”

Most people spend their entire lives working for money. They get a salary, pay bills, get a raise, buy a bigger car, and pay bigger bills. They run faster and faster just to stay in the same spot. This is the Rat Race.

“Rich Dad Poor Dad” is a slap in the face to the traditional education system. It exposes a harsh reality: Schools teach you how to work for money, but they never teach you how to make money work for you.

If The Richest Man in Babylon is the Math, and Psychology of Money is the Therapy, then Rich Dad Poor Dad is the Wake-Up Call.

3 Lessons That Will Change Your Mindset

Most people forget what they read in a week. But these three concepts are the backbone of the book. If you understand these, you understand wealth.

1. The Rich Don’t Work for Money

This is the most famous quote from the book. The poor and middle class work for money. They have a job, they get a salary, and they pay bills. Fear keeps them in this trap. Fear of not paying bills, fear of being fired, fear of starting over. Kiyosaki calls this the “Rat Race.” The rich are different. They don’t trade their time for money. They make their money work for them.
The Moneygatha Takeaway: Stop asking “How can I get a raise?” Start asking “How can I make money while I sleep?”

2. Know the Difference: Assets vs. Liabilities

This is where 99% of educated people fail. They think their house is an Asset. Kiyosaki says it is a Liability.

Here is the simplest definition of money you will ever read:

To visualize the difference in mindset, look at this comparison:

3. Mind Your Own Business

Your “Profession” is what you do for someone else (e.g., Accountant, Engineer). Your “Business” is what your assets do for you. Most people spend their lives minding someone else’s business (making their boss rich) and making the government rich (taxes). You don’t need to quit your job today. But you must start building a column of assets—stocks, bonds, or a side hustle—that grows without you. This is the secret to Passive Income.

Top 3 Quotes

“Winners are not afraid of losing. But losers are. Failure is part of the process of success. People who avoid failure also avoid success.

“The single most powerful asset we all have is our mind. If it is trained well, it can create enormous wealth in what seems like an instant.”

“It’s not how much money you make. It’s how much money you keep.”

Who Should Read This?

✅ Read this if:

❌ Skip this if:

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Rich Dad Poor Dad a true story? It is debated. Robert Kiyosaki says the “Rich Dad” was his best friend’s father, but many believe the character is a metaphor for the lessons he learned. However, whether the person existed or not, the lessons are 100% real and effective.

Is this book good for Indian readers? Yes. Although it talks about American real estate, the core concept (Assets vs. Liabilities) applies perfectly to India. In fact, Indian middle-class families often suffer the most from the “good grades, safe job” mentality that Kiyosaki criticizes.

What should I read after this? Once you have the mindset from this book, read The Psychology of Money to learn how to behave with your wealth.

Final Verdict

This is not a book. It is a red pill.

It will make you angry at the school system. It will make you question your career choices. And that is exactly why you must read it.

If you want to stop working for money and start making money work for you, this is Day 1.

Loved this review? Explore the full Moneygatha book library to master your mindset, strategy, and discipline.