I love Mr. Kiyosaki's books. I read many of them (since it was difficult to pass his Rich Dad, Poor Dad and others by in 1998-2001). Mr. Kiyosaki definitely has a vivid imagination, he is a decent story-teller, his books are written in easy language and are fun to read.

Yup, I also know how much criticism his books have received -- and rightfully so. However, the unadvertised feature of his books is that you have to know how to cook them the right way, looking between the lines to what Mr. Kiyosaki really says and not to what he wants to say.

My favorite part of the Rich Dad, Poor Dad book is the very beginning of chapter IV, where Mr. Kiyosaki teaches us a very important lesson on how to get rich (and quickly). Let me quote that piece, slightly abridged:

In 1974, Ray Kroc, the founder of McDonald's, was asked to speak to the MBA class at the University of Texas at Austin.

“What business am I in?” Ray asked, once the group had all their beers in hand. The students laughed again, and finally, one brave soul yelled out, “Ray, who in the world does not know that you're in the hamburger business.”

Ray chuckled. “That is what I thought you would say.” He paused and then quickly said, 'ladies and gentlemen, I'm not in the hamburger business. My business is real estate." 

McDonald's today is the largest single owner of real estate in the world, owning even more than the Catholic Church. Today, McDonald's owns some of the most valuable intersections and street corners in America, as well as in other parts of the world.

Honestly, I have no idea if this story is true at all. Let's simply take it for face value, as a metaphor, and draw a moral out of it:

So, McDonald's'es real business is collecting real estate. 

Mr. Kiyosaki's real business is telling others how to get rich.

Again, it's not trading stocks, buying rentals, launching start-ups -- but telling others how they can become rich.

That's why numerous dumbheads who tried to trace Mr.Kiyosaki's real estate investments and the like, found almost nothing -- they searched in wrong places, they should ask publishers and event managers... And they are wrong calling Mr. Kiyosaki a liar -- he does have a business that makes good money, though it's not the type of business he talks about in his books and lectures. (Or at least, could make, in theory, if not that mess of lawsuits.)

Of course, I'm not the first one who discovered this (quite ordinary) thing. And I'm not blaming Mr. Kiyosaki, no way! After all, there're herds of "motivational speakers", "personal coaches" and other gurus of all stripes, but lacking even Mr. Kiyosaki's entertainment writing talent.

What I want to say is that an emptor should caveat about real business, especially when he reads something in the internets.

And that the above piece of Rich Dad, Poor Dad alone, when being read correctly, justifies many of Mr. Kiyosaki's other not-so-good stories.