Book Review: Life's Golden Ticket: An Inspirational Novel by Brendon Burchard

Life's Golden Ticket: An Inspirational Novel by Brendon Burchard, is one of the best books I had the opportunity to read and review. It is one of those rare titles that I have wanted to read in one sitting but was not able to because I had to go to sleep.

The story begins with a man who hears the news that his wife, missing for forty days, was found and is now in the ICU. Thus begins the adventure to the circus...

While reading the book, I could not help but compare it to the lessons that you learn in most self-help books. But then again, important lessons in life are worth retelling, if only for us to really get it.

I enjoyed reading the book as it offered a fresh backdrop to what seemed to be an overly crowded self-help book market. Labeling is as an inspirational novel though, is misleading.

Highly recommended for everyone who enjoy reading lessons packaged as fiction.

About the authors:(via Amazon.com)

Brendon Burchard was blessed to receive life's golden ticket -- a second chance -- ten years ago after surviving a car accident in a third-world country. Since then, he has dedicated his life to helping individuals, teams, and organizations create and master change. As a prominent life coach, leadership speaker, and change management consultant, his clients have included Fortune 500 companies, startups, nonprofits, universities, and thousands of individuals in seminars across the country. He is also a regular guest on national television and radio programs and an active volunteer for several nonprofit organizations. Brendon donates a portion of the proceeds from the sale of Life's Golden Ticket to Kiwanis International, Junior Achievement, and the YMCA. He lives in northern California but still calls Montana, where he grew up, home.

Prior to writing Life's Golden Ticket and launching his coaching and speaking career, Brendon was a change management consultant at Accenture, where his clients included JC Penney, eBay, Best Buy, Nordstrom, Levi's, Gateway, and Federal Mogul. His first book was The Student Leadership Guide. Brendon's signature events are Life's Golden Ticket seminars and his College Success Bootcamp. Learn more at www.LifesGoldenTicket.com

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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Book Review: Rich Dad, Poor Dad: : What The Rich Teach Their Kids About Money That the Poor and Middle Class Do Not! by Robert Kiyosaki

Rich Dad, Poor Dad: : What The Rich Teach Their Kids About Money That the Poor and Middle Class Do Not! by Robert Kiyosaki is one of the first books I have read regarding personal finance. This was way back in 2003.

The book is based mostly on what the author learned from his 'rich dad', (who was really a friend's dad) about money and personal finance.

What Kiyosaki shares about money and wealth will run counter to what most of us were taught and from what other money/wealth experts propose.

Some ideas that have struck me:

• Education may have been the reason why some people are poor
• Some things we believe are assets, are not
• Income does not necessarily determine wealth
• Credit is not necessarily bad
• Working hard vs. working smart

This book has a significant following among network marketeers and real estate brokers but some ideas have been helpful in improving my Financial IQ and has encouraged me to apply some of his ideas to my financial life.

I have bought one more books by him, Rich Dad's CASHFLOW Quadrant: Rich Dad's Guide to Financial Freedom and  participated in Cash Flow 101 games.

Highly recommended for those involved in direct selling and real estate, recommended for those wanting a fresh perspective on money, wealth and personal finance.

About the author:

Robert Kiyosaki, author of Rich Dad Poor Dad - the international runaway bestseller that has held a top spot on the New York Times bestsellers list for over six years - is an investor, entrepreneur and educator whose perspectives on money and investing fly in the face of conventional wisdom. He has, virtually single-handedly, challenged and changed the way tens of millions, around the world, think about money.In communicating his point of view on why 'old' advice - get a good job, save money, get out of debt, invest for the long term, and diversify - is 'bad' (both obsolete and flawed) advice, Robert has earned a reputation for straight talk, irreverence and courage. via amazon

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Book Review: The Principle of the Path: How to Get from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be by Andy Stanley

The Principle of the Path is an easy-to-read guide on getting out of unsuccessful life patterns. I liked the way the author imparted lessons from his life taken from 'simple experiences' and relating them to the main principle that he writes about.Although he touches on the life of David and Solomon, he does it it a way that would not require anyone to open a Bible.

The book started with a good narrative although I found the introduction to the Principle a bit too wordy and at times taking the tone of something mystical. At times, I felt that Stanley took a lot of words to explain something simple but I think it is his way of saying that what he is saying is important and he is trying to explain it very carefully to drive his point.

I found Chapter 5 good and was worth the time that I spent reading the book. There is a lot of good points in that chapter and I think that if the rest of the book was like that chapter, I would have rated this book higher. But again, you have to read the first four chapters for chapter 5 to create the desired impact.

Overall, I found the book to be lengthy and at times discouraging as the author stressed about bad choices for  so long without offering any solution. I wish this book has a condensed form.

Recommended for those seeking a Christian self-help book that is not too heavy on Biblical references and has the time to read. Not recommended for those expecting something heavy or direct to the point.

About the author:

Andy Stanley serves as senior pastor of the campuses of North Point Ministries, including North Point Community Church in Alpharetta, Georgia; Buckhead Church in Atlanta, Georgia; and Browns Bridge Community Church in Cumming, Georgia. Each Sunday, more than twenty thousand attend one of these NPM campuses. Andy is the bestselling author of Visioneering, The Next Generation Leader, It Came from Within!, and How Good Is Good Enough? Andy and his wife, Sandra, have two sons and a daughter. Read more at Amazon's Andy Stanley Page 

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

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