Personal-finance author and lecturer Robert T. Kiyosaki developed his unique economic perspective from two very different influences - his two fathers. One father (Robert's real father) was a highly educated man but fiscally poor. The other father was the father of Robert's best friend - that Dad was an eighth-grade dropout who became a self-made multimillionaire. The lifelong monetary problems experienced by his 'poor dad' pounded home the counterpoint communicated by his 'rich dad.' Taking that message to heart, Kiyosaki was able to retire at 47. 'Rich Dad, Poor Dad', written with consultant and CPA Sharon L. Lechter, lays out his philosophy behind Kiyosaki's relationship with money.
