Nerdy Dork

Before anything else, let me give you a little background as to how I first learned about this book and why I read it.

I have a brother in law that recommended the book a few years ago. He had two copies, one was autographed by the other, the other, was well read, which is the one he loaned to me. I took it home and read the introduction. I had some interest but I couldn’t help but think that Robert Kiyosaki was lying the whole time. I did some research on the internet and found John T. Reed’s analysis of the book which in my mind confirmed my suspicions about the author. So after only reading the first chapter I gave the book back and said I wasn’t interested in reading any further.

If you have read any of my previous posts, you know I’m a big Dave Ramsey fan. I was surprised to heard Dave often recommending this book to everyone on the radio, even though he is often disagreeing with Kiyosaki on other financial matters.

In the meantime my brother-in-law’s business has started turning a profit and another friend of mine that also recommended the book has continued to build his business. So I thought, what the heck, I’ll get the audio book from the library and listen in my spare time.

I have to admit there were many times in the book that I still thought his stories were a bunch of bunk and I still find John T. Reed’s site more accurate. Kiyosaki tells very detailed stories about when he was nine years old.

But on the other hand, I did appreciate a new way of looking at a few things. His definition of an asset is an interesting one and made me reevaluate what I would consider an asset.

All in all, I don’t think I’ll read anything else from Kiyosaki, nor will I ever claim to be a Kiyosaki fan, but I am glad that I read the book. It gave me a new perspective on certain ideas. This book alone will not make anyone rich because I don’t think it has any real usable advice, but the value comes in how you look at life and business. It will make you think and that is always a good thing.

I first noticed this book while I was browsing around Barnes & Noble. I wanted to get it, but I opted to check it out at the library instead.

I blew threw this book. It is such an easy read and it held my interest the whole way through. Now, I consider myself different for even having an interest in this book because I think the people who NEED to read this book would never even consider it. Jon Huntsman calls for a return of old time values where your word is your bond and you consider giving more than hoarding.

It was an excellent book and it helped me look at all aspects of my life and work and find room for improvement throughout. I highly recommend it to everyone with a conscience.

Technorati Tags: Business, Honesty, Ethics, Moral, Philanthropy, Huntsman, Book

My new goal is to read one book per month, the do a short review on that book. I got this goal after becoming a huge Dave Ramsey fan. I read his book, Total Money Makeover and loved it. Now I listed to his free podcasts everyday.

One of the books he highly recommends is The Millionaire Next Door by Thomas Stanley. This book will change the way you look at your next door neighbor, and the way you may think while driving through an upper class neighborhood. This book shows you how the tortoise continually beats the hair in the race to building wealth.

The book does have it’s boring parts and can often read like an owners manual with lots of statistical data. But between all the stats and data the book can be highly motivating to help you save instead of spend. You’ll learn all about PAWS & UAWS and what it means to have a big hat and no cattle.

Without going too much into it, I would say that although dull it is a good read with lots of hard core statistical surprises.

While reading this morning, I came across the following verses:

This reminded me of a book I read recently by the title of Believing Christ. This book explains clearly the role of Christ and our absolute need for his atonement. It makes things so clear and more than anything gives a person hope. While discussing this book a with a woman I know, she said this was the book that brought her back in to the church. Before reading it, she didn’t feel she had the strength to come back.

If you’ve ever felt that you’ve done something so terribly wrong that you cannot be forgiven, you don’t believe Christ when He says He can heal you. You may believe in Him. You may believe that He can forgive others, because certainly other people have not done things as terrible as you feel you have done. Well, this thinking is wrong. He can forgive you. He said He will forgive you. You must believe Him when He says this.

No matter how good or righteous you may feel anther person may be, they need the atonement just as much as you do - daily even. As verse 23 states, it is by grace we are saved, after all we can do. Ultimately, if not for the Savior’s grace, we are lost and fallen and no amount of righteousness can restore us until we accept the atonement of Christ and ask for forgiveness.

Right now, when you commit to a 6 month membership at Audible.com you can get a free iPod Shuffle. Audible.com is an online audio bookstore. The membership is $21.95 a month and allows you to download two books each month. There is a one-time shipping and handling fee of $12.95.

So, doing the math, that’s $144.65 for an iPod Shuffle and 12 audio books. Not too bad…

I’m currently reading Book 4 of the Harry Potter series. I’m only about half-way through. I just happened upon these pictures of the film though. Exciting!!!

link: Studio Stills Photos