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 markers。 Although I was glad they were all learning so much； I was disturbed by how much the adults did not know about the basics of simple accounting and investing。 They had difficulty grasping the relationship between their Ine Statement and their Balance Sheet。 As they bought and sold assets； the