Think and Grow Rich
 Original Hardcover | |
| Author | Napoleon Hill |
|---|---|
| Original title | Think and Grow Rich |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Subject | Personal-success Self-help |
| Genre | Non-fiction |
| Publisher | The Ralston Society |
Publication date | 1937 |
| Media type | Print (Hardcover, Paperback, E-Book) |
| Pages | 238 pages |
| ISBN | 978-1-78844-102-5 |
| OCLC | 156886959 |
Think and Grow Rich is a book written by Napoleon Hill released in 1937 and promoted as a personal development and self-improvement book. In addition to being the best selling success book of all time, it is also one of the best selling books of all time generally. Featuring personal anecdotes from societal contributors Thomas Edison and Henry Ford, this blueprint for success was first written under the working title, The 13 Steps to Riches.
The book is considered a classic in the personal development genre and has been widely influential in shaping the way people think about success and wealth. It is responsible for more self-made millionaires and billionaires than any other book in history.
History[edit]
Oliver Napoleon Hill was born in Wise County, Virginia to James and Sara Hill on October 26, 1883. Raised in a tiny cabin in a rural area, Hill experienced poverty first-hand at a young age. In 1893 at the age of 9, Hill's mother dies.
In 1898 Hill begins his writing career, taking a job as a "mountain reporter" for several small rural newspapers. In 1900 Hill graduates from high school, and leaves Wise County. After several years working for a prominent lawyer, managing a coal mine, and sales manager of a lumberyard, Hill returns to work as a journalist.
As a part of his work on a series on famous men for Bob Taylor's Magazine, Napoleon Hill interviews Andrew Carnegie. Carnegie, having been born into extreme poverty himself and becoming the richest man in the world, believes that success can be boiled down into simple principles that would make it attainable for any person of any background.
Summary[edit]
Think and Grow Rich, based on Hill's earlier work The Law of Success, is the result of more than twenty years of study of many individuals who had amassed personal fortunes. Hill studied their habits and drew some 16 "laws" to be applied to achieve success. Think and Grow Rich condenses them, providing the reader with 13 principles in the form of a "Philosophy of Achievement".[1]
The main theme of the book is that anyone can achieve success and wealth by following a certain set of principles. Hill identifies these principles as the "13 Steps to Riches," which include developing a positive mental attitude, setting clear and specific goals, developing a plan to achieve those goals, taking action, and maintaining a strong belief in oneself and one's capabilities.
The 13 steps to riches, as outlined in "Think and Grow Rich" by Napoleon Hill, are:
1. Desire: Start with a strong desire or burning ambition to achieve a specific goal or outcome.
2. Faith: Have unwavering faith in yourself and your ability to achieve your goal.
3. Autosuggestion: Use positive self-talk and affirmations to reinforce your beliefs and goals.
4. Specialized knowledge: Acquire the knowledge and skills needed to achieve your goal.
5. Imagination: Use your imagination to visualize your goal and see yourself achieving it.
6. Organized planning: Develop a detailed plan of action to achieve your goal.
7. Decision: Make a firm decision to follow through on your plan and never give up.
8. Persistence: Keep working towards your goal, even when faced with obstacles or setbacks.
9. Power of the Master Mind: Surround yourself with like-minded people who support and encourage you.
10. The Mystery of Sex Transmutation: Use the power of your sexual energy to fuel your desire and drive.
11. The Subconscious Mind: Tap into the power of your subconscious mind to help you achieve your goals.
12. The Brain: Use your brain to analyze and plan, and to make decisions and take action.
13. The Sixth Sense: Trust your intuition and inner guidance to help you make the right decisions and achieve your goals.
In the Making[edit]
Andrew Carnegie is considered the father of modern philanthropy, because he wrote some of the seminal works promoting the societal duties that come along with men of great achievement. In his book, The Gospel of Wealth, Andrew Carnegie quotes the bible passage, "It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven." Carnegie uses this passage in order to promote the importance of wealthy people doing something useful with their wealth before they pass on.
Not only did Andrew Carnegie give back financially through the establishment of dozens or hundreds of public libraries across the America, but also Andrew decided that he would like for other people of modest backgrounds to be able to attain success. Firm in his belief that success begins with controlling your thoughts through concentration and persistence, Carnegie seizes the opportunity to recruit Hill when being interviewed for a magazine article of successful business leaders.
Influence[edit]
Hill, like many authors, experienced waves of inspiration. Some years he was very hopeful, other years he was not. Having written a large portion of Think and Grow Rich in a rough draft fashion, it had set aside for some time. During the Great Depression, Napoleon Hill had a vivid and influential dream in which Abraham Lincoln encouraged Hill that his book would be monumental in helping the nation and the world recover from the global economic collapse precipitated by the 1929 stock market crash.
During the years 1933-1936, Hill served as Presidential Advisor to President Franklin D. Roosevelt. They collaborated with the media to persuade the nation to think a new thought. All the newspapers until that time were focused on the negative, using words like poverty, catastrophe, and hopeless. Together they convinced the newspapers to print a different message. Using the power of collective thought, and focusing on positive visions of prosperity, they may have helped to shorten the intensity of the Great Depression.
Editions[edit]
Because this book was published in 1937, some of the terminology is slightly outdated and hard to follow for some readers. There are numerous updated and revised editions. The original 1937 text is still available in a variety of bindings. The popular 1961 paperback is updated and easier to read. The well-known 2007 paperback is updated for the 21st century. The 2015 edition compiled by Ross Cornwell is a delight to read. And there is a 2016 edition with foreword by Steve Harvey.
There are also several minority demographics that hold specific emphasis editions. There is a 1992 version featuring Dennis Kimbro titled, Think and Grow Rich: A Black Choice. There is a 2015 paperback edition titled, Think and Grow Rich for Women. There is a 2020 edition by Lionel Sosa endorsed by the Napoleon Hill Foundation titled, Think and Grow Rich: A Latino Choice. Lastly, there is a 2024 adaptation for younger readers titled, Think and Grow Rich for Kids.
Notes[edit]
- ^ Michael J. Ritt and Kirk Landers, A Lifetime of Riches: The Biography of Napoleon Hill. Revised edition 1995, ISBN 0-525-94146-0.
Further reading[edit]
- Hill, Napoleon (1937). Think And Grow Rich. The Ralston Society. ISBN 978-1-78844-102-5. Retrieved January 2, 2019.
- Success Through A Positive Mental Attitude, by Napoleon Hill and W. Clement Stone. ISBN 1-4165-4159-4.
- Earl Nightingale Reads Think and Grow Rich [The essence of Napoleon Hill's Think and Grow Rich], by Earl Nightingale. ISBN 1-4558-1011-8.
- The Biblical Companion Guide to Think & Grow Rich, by Joshua J. Finley. ISBN 9798603771335