第1部分 (第7/8页)

t　of　the　〃Rat　Race〃　is　to　prove　your　proficiency　at　both　accounting　and　investing；　arguably　two　of　the　most　difficult　subjects　to　master。　As　a　trained　CPA　who　once　worked　for　a　Big　8　accounting　firm；　I　was　surprised　that　Robert　had　made　the　learning　of　these　two　subjects　both　fun　and　exciting。　The　process　was　so　well　disguised　that　while　we　were　diligently　working　to　get　out　of　the　〃Rat　Race；〃　we　quickly　forgot　we　were　learning。

Soon　a　product　test　turned　into　a　fun　afternoon　with　my　daughter；　talking　about　things　we　had　never　discussed　before。　As　an　accountant；　playing　a　game　that　required　an　Ine　Statement　and　Balance　Sheet　was　easy。　So　I　had　the　time　to　help　my　daughter　and　the　other　players　at　my　table　with　concepts　they　did　not　understand。　I　was　the　first　person…and　the　only　person　in　the　entire　test　group…to　get　out　of　the　〃Rat　Race〃　that　day。　I　was　out　within　50　minutes；　although　the　game　went　on　for　nearly　three　hours。

At　my　table　was　a　banker；　a　business　owner　and　a　puter　programmer。　What　greatly　disturbed　me　was　how　little　these　people　knew　about　either　accounting　or　investing；　subjects　so　important　in　their　lives。　I　wondered　how　they　managed　their　own　financial　affairs　in　real　life。　I　could　understand　why　my　19…year…old　daughter　would　not　understand；　but　these　were　grown　adults；　at　least　twice　her　age。

After　I　was　out　of　the　〃Rat　Race；〃　for　the　next　two　hours　I　watched　my　daughter　and　these　educated；　affluent　adults　roll　the　dice　and　move　their