The writer tells the story of his childhood, divided between the advice of his father, the university professor, who is symbolized in the book by the title of the poor father, and the advice of his friend Mike’s father, the self-made businessman, who is symbolized in the book by the title of the rich father. The book narrates the writer's childhood as he learns how to get and earn money, with a constant comparison between his father's university academic situation and his friend's commercial business father.

The most important topics of the book are:

Explain what is the difference between assets and liabilities.
What the rich teach their children that the poor and middle class do not teach their children about money.
Deny the common belief that your home is an asset, but it is a liability.
The great importance of economic intelligence and the disadvantages of economic ignorance.
Strong business, economic skills, practice and experience play a huge role in economic success.
The importance of management and investment skills and their necessity to achieve success and excellence within capitalist society.
The importance of investment and business management in controlling your economic future.
In writing his book, Kiyosaki relied on the vision of his former teacher, Dr. Buckminster Fuller, about wealth, which is that wealth is calculated by the number of days during which the return that comes to you from the assets that you own will suffice you, and that financial independence is achieved when this monthly return exceeds your monthly expenses, that is, it suffices them and exceeds them.