Rich Dad Poor Dad vs Think and Grow Rich
Which should you read?
The Quick Answer
Read Rich Dad Poor Dad if you want a fast mindset reset about money—assets vs liabilities, cashflow, and why your job isn’t the only path to wealth. rich dad poor dad is best if you’re early in your personal-finance journey and need simple mental models to start thinking like an owner.
Read Think and Grow Rich if you want motivation and a classic success philosophy: goal clarity, persistence, and a belief-driven approach to achievement. think and grow rich is best if you respond to big-picture encouragement more than tactical money mechanics.
Read Rich Dad Poor Dad first to get a concrete frame for how money works, then use Think and Grow Rich as the ‘fuel’—a mindset/drive layer to actually act on the plan. Together they cover both the money model and the motivation model.
At a Glance
The Vibe — Compared
Who Should Read Which?
Rich Dad Poor Dad
- •You want a simple framework to rethink income, expenses, and investing (assets vs liabilities).
- •You’re early in personal finance and need a mindset shift more than spreadsheets.
- •You like short, story-led lessons that push you to take ownership of money decisions.
Think and Grow Rich
- •You want motivation and belief-building to pursue a big goal and persist.
- •You enjoy classic success literature and can translate principles into your own system.
- •You’re less interested in finance tactics and more interested in mindset and drive.
What the Crowd Says — Head to Head
“Neither. Financial professionals and r/personalfinance can recommend a full library of helpful books, but these are both on the bad list.”
r/AskReddit 5“Rich Dad Poor Dad did a lot for me, it teaches a very valuable mindset about money and assets. Think and Grow Rich not so much, I feel like it is basically law-of-attraction nonsense.”
r/productivity 3“I read Rich Dad, Poor Dad for the first time this year. I'm still poor, but now I think if I had money, I'd like to give real estate investing a try. My goal was just to get into the habit of reading more, so in that way, my life has improved some. But I'm still poor. We'll give it another year, and I'll let you know. Also, another good book is The Creative Curve: How to Develop the Right Idea,...”
r/productivity 2“I think the advice in books like Rich Dad Poor Dad and Think and Grow Rich is mostly quite poor, they're more motivational texts about thinking big rather than anything actionable outside of the extremely obvious.”
r/productivity 2“I know a guy who read think and grow rich and started a multi-million dollar cosntruction company. But i also know a guy whos read the same book and lives with his parents at 30.”
r/productivity 2Where They Overlap
- Both are primarily mindset books: they aim to change how you think more than give you a detailed step-by-step program.
- Both push personal agency—taking responsibility, setting intentions, and acting consistently over time.
Where They Diverge
- Rich Dad Poor Dad is anchored in money concepts (assets, liabilities, cashflow); Think and Grow Rich is anchored in desire, belief, and persistence.
- Rich Dad Poor Dad uses provocative stories and financial framing; Think and Grow Rich reads like a classic ‘success philosophy’ with abstract principles.
Still Can't Decide?
Do you want to understand money (assets, cashflow, investing) more than motivation? → Start with Rich Dad Poor Dad — it’s explicitly about money mechanics and investor thinking.
Do you prefer concrete examples over abstract principles? → Choose Rich Dad Poor Dad — story-driven lessons and simple models.
Are you skeptical of “law of attraction” style framing? → Lean Rich Dad Poor Dad first; treat Think and Grow Rich as optional motivation afterward.
Are you just getting started with personal finance? → Rich Dad Poor Dad is the more common entry point.