Think And Grow Rich Review
January 5th, 2009
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So at last I get around to reviewing Napoleon Hill’s classic, Think and Grow Rich. It was first published in 1937. People had lost their money as well as their spirit in the Great Depression, and needed a reminder that financial success was still possible for people who would create their own opportunities. That’s not so different from today, is it?
“You have ABSOLUTE CONTROL over but one thing, and that is your thoughts. This is the most significant and inspiring of all facts known to man! It reflects man’s Divine nature. This divine prerogative is the sole means by which you may control your own destiny. If you fail to control your own mind, you may be sure you will control nothing else.
If you must be careless with your possessions, let it be in connection with material things. Your mind is your spiritual estate! Protect it and use it with the care to which Divine Royalty is entitled.
You were given a WILL-POWER for this purpose.
…
Doubting Thomases scoffed scornfully when Henry Ford tried out his first crudely built automobile on the streets of Detroit. Some said the thing never would become practical. Others said no one would pay money for such a contraption.
FORD SAID, “I’LL BELT THE EARTH WITH DEPENDABLE MOTOR CARS,” AND HE DID!
His decision to trust his own judgment has already piled up a fortune far greater than the next five generations of his descendants can squander. For the benefit of those seeking vast riches, let it be remembered that practically the sole difference between Henry Ford and a majority of the more than one hundred thousand men who work for him, is this-FORD HAS A MIND AND CONTROLS IT, THE OTHERS HAVE MINDS WHICH THEY DO NOT TRY TO CONTROL.”
This gives a taste of his writing, which is a bit old fashioned and peppered with glaring typos, creative punctuation, and RANDOM ALL CAPS. It also requires a good amount of patience to read it, because he’s very wordy, sometimes going on and on about things that are completely out of date.
But Think and Grow Rich is worthy of being a classic. While the wording is dated, the ideas are timeless. It’s also incredibly optimistic without being too cheesy.
And it’s practical. It’s about controlling your thoughts, but in a down to earth way instead of being all about “thought vibrations” (although there is some of that). If you find yourself making excuses instead of money, Napoleon Hill will whip you into shape.
Actually, it’s not really specific to money. At one point he says that “riches” means “financial, spiritual, mental, and material estates.” Think of it as a guide for keeping your mind from getting in the way of your success, whatever it is you’re working towards.
He alludes to Andrew Carnegie’s secret, which he says is the key to all great financial success. He doesn’t state it directly, but he hints at it in every chapter, and says the secret will appear to you when you’re ready. I’ll revisit the Carnegie Secret at a later time. (Update: now you can learn The Hidden Secret in Think and Grow Rich!)
Meanwhile, Think and Grow Rich is freely available from this link.
Table of Contents:
Author’s Preface
Chapter 1 – Introduction
Chapter 2 – Desire: The Turning Point of All Achievement
Chapter 3 – Faith Visualization of, and Belief in Attainment of Desire
Chapter 4 – Auto-Suggestion: the Medium for Influencing the Subconscious Mind
Chapter 5 – Specialized Knowledge, Personal Experiences or Observations
Chapter 6 – Imagination: the Workshop of the Mind
Chapter 7 – Organized Planning, the Crystallization of Desire into Action
Chapter 8 – Decision: the Mastery of Procrastination
Chapter 9 – Persistence: the Sustained Effort Necessary to Induce Faith
Chapter 10 – Power of the Master Mind: the Driving Force
Chapter 11 – The Mystery of Sex Transmutation
Chapter 12 – The Subconscious Mind: The Connecting Link
Chapter 13 – The Brain: A Broadcasting and Receiving Station for Thought
Chapter 14 – The Sixth Sense: The Door to the Temple of Wisdom
Chapter 15 – How to Outwit the Six Ghosts of Fear
January 6th, 2009 at 3:58 am
Good review, Hunter.
Think and Grow Rich is the first book I ever heard about when I started in business. And I’ve still only read small parts of it.
I really must pick it up as my next book.
I’m curious though, how were you able to offer it for free as an ebook? I’ve never seen that done with such a successfully selling book before.
Jamie
Jamie Harrop´s last blog post..Our Desire Affects Our Ability to Achieve
January 6th, 2009 at 10:40 am
@ Jamie, Think and Grow Rich is now in the public domain. Anything published between 1923 and 1963 is in the public domain unless the copyright was renewed, in which case the copyright would last 95 years after the first publication. Fortunately for us, the copyright on Think and Grow Rich was not renewed. Take advantage of it.
January 6th, 2009 at 4:19 pm
Hi Hunter,
Ah, the random punctuation and caps–one of my very favorite things about the original, and always a little disheartening to see books where people have attempted to clean it up. It makes it seem so much more personal, somehow. Anyway, thank you for the awesome review!
Jessica
Jessica @ThriveYourTribe´s last blog post..Free Printable Perpetual Calendar for You
January 6th, 2009 at 8:42 pm
Everything old is indeed new again!
I had no idea that Think and Grow Rich was now freely available! Thanks for reminding us all of this timeless resource.
Kathy @ Virtual Impax´s last blog post..Twitter Bug on the Loose
January 6th, 2009 at 11:25 pm
@ Jessica, I kind of like it too, though it takes some getting used to. But I like seeing what he thinks was important enough for ALL CAPS. It must be important, right?
@ Kathy, yeah, it’s been free for a while, though some people still prefer to buy a paperback. I wouldn’t mind owning this in paperback, because I know I’ll read it over and over.
January 7th, 2009 at 12:07 am
Thanks for this post. The quote about most people having minds that they “do not try to control” had me thinking about how the education we get in our society focuses on teaching us facts rather than how to discipline the mind. This is now beginning to change, of course — I’ve been hearing about a few primary schools that have started teaching meditation.
Chris Edgar | Purpose Power Coaching´s last blog post..Productivity From Within — New E-Book!
January 7th, 2009 at 3:18 am
Hi Hunter – Think and Grow Rich is a book I’ve had for ages and last fall when I was going through some boxes in storage, I found it. I’ve dusted it off and have reread some of it. He’s right, our thoughts are very powerful.
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January 7th, 2009 at 10:32 am
How great is it that a book written so long ago is the same topic of the 2008 best seller “The Secret” and will probably be the same topic of another best seller 40 years from now. Apparently there is something to this whole “controlling your thoughts creates your destiny” thing. Maybe we should listen!
January 7th, 2009 at 1:46 pm
Read it 3 times. It’s a classic. Good review.
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January 8th, 2009 at 11:09 am
@ Chris, that’s interesting. I’ve never heard of a primary school teaching meditation before.
@ Barbara, this is one of those books that’s still great even after it collects dust, isn’t it?
@ Caroline, it does seem to be a theme that resurfaces now and then, although “The Secret” was very different from “Think and Grow Rich.” But yeah, there’s definitely something to this!
@ Bloggeries, classic indeed.
January 8th, 2009 at 6:10 pm
Here’s one example of meditation being taught in a primary school — http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2008/01/27/1201368944848.html. Because people would probably complain about government funds being used to teach their children spiritual disciplines, it’s not likely to enter the public schools soon, I think, but there are definitely examples out there on the private level.
Chris Edgar | Purpose Power Coaching´s last blog post..Productivity From Within — New E-Book!
January 9th, 2009 at 12:15 am
@ Chris, you’re probably right about that, it would have to be a private school. For those who attend public school, meditation could be their secret weapon!
January 19th, 2009 at 10:25 pm
Ah, great book — thanks for brining it to mind again!
September 17th, 2009 at 4:28 pm
I have read this book many times and appreciate this review.
March 26th, 2010 at 1:56 am
Great review, an old book that still motivates one self that success is possible
July 2nd, 2010 at 9:42 am
I loved the book, though it isn’t until I read it 3 times and used videos made about the book, to fully comprehend its principles, and fully apply them, daily. Hill is an amazing man!
Cheers, Nick