cover image Fake: Fake Money, Fake Teachers, Fake Assets: How Lies Are Making the Poor and Middle Class Poorer

Fake: Fake Money, Fake Teachers, Fake Assets: How Lies Are Making the Poor and Middle Class Poorer

Robert Kiyosaki. Plata, $19.95 trade paper (240p) ISBN 978-1-61268-084-2

Financial education guru Kiyosaki (More Important Than Money) shares his beef with accepted financial wisdom, particularly that spread by the “elites who run the world,” in this argumentative work. His underlying premise—that disinformation is widespread in today’s world because of how lucrative it is—is a sound one, and he explores how disinformation plays out in three key areas—namely “fake money,” “fake teachers,” and “fake assets.” He spends a substantial amount of time on the first category, detailing why American currency has been “fake” ever since President Nixon removed the U.S. dollar from the gold standard. While much of his advice, such as to invest in tangible assets such as gold and silver, sounds plausible, Kiyosaki undermines his own credibility at times by his deep suspicion of so many things, including history (”In military school, we are taught that ‘history belongs to the victors’ ”), banks, and conventional education (teachers, he charges “don’t teach about money”). Kiyosaki’s passion is undeniable, but the acerbic tone doesn’t do the work many favors. (Apr.)