Think and Grow Rich!: The Original Version, Restored and Revised [Unabridged] [Paperback]

 

 

Create your own review

"Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, the mind can achieve."
-Napoleon Hill

If you asked me to recommend to you the single best book I have ever read, my answer would be a very definite "Think and Grow Rich".

First published in 1937, this is the end product of two decades of research conducted by Napoleon Hill. His research started when Andrew Carnegie (the steel tycoon who was then the richest man on earth) gave him the assignment of organizing a Philosophy of Personal Achievement. Hill, who was a poor journalist, armed with just an introductory letter from Carnegie, set out to interview over five hundred successful people including Henry Ford, Thomas Edison, Alexander Graham Bell, John D. Rockefeller, George Eastman, William Wrigley Jr. and Charles M. Schwab. Hill then revealed the priceless wisdom of his research in the form of the thirteen steps to success (in Think and Grow Rich) and the seventeen principles of success (in courses and lectures he conducted).

The concepts taught by Napoleon Hill transformed my life. Some of these include developing a definite purpose, building a Positive Mental Attitude (PMA), channeling the power of the sub-conscious mind and dealing with adversity. Everything he wrote about or talked about is thought provoking. He was wise, humble and funny. His philosophy is universal; he did not mix it with religion. The riches he referred to were more than money, for the Philosophy of Personal Achievement can be applied to anything in life.

Hill was well ahead of his time. This book has a chapter dedicated to some of today's most important issues - Specialized Knowledge, Decision Making, Imagination and Organized Planning (in which he deals with Leadership). He also has principles for Teamwork, Creative Vision, Health, etc.

This is a classic, and hence the examples are old (not to be confused with outdated). But they are as relevant today as they were in the early twentieth century. Here is an example from T&GR in the chapter on Desire:

On the morning after the Great Fire of Chicago (1871), a group of merchants on Chicago's State Street went into a conference to decide whether to rebuild their stores or leave Chicago. All but one decided to leave. The merchant who decided to stay pointed a finger to the remains of his store and said "Gentlemen, on that very spot I will build the world's greatest store, no matter how many times it may burn down." His name was Marshall Field and his store still exists, and in Hill's words is "a towering monument to that state of mind known as a burning desire." I lived in Chicago from 2002 through 2004 and worked three blocks away from this impressive store on State Street. Sometimes I would visit it or stand outside it to derive inspiration and be reminded of the power of desire. It is amazing that Hill describes "burning desire" with a story based on the Chicago Fire.

There are thousands of self-help books out in the market and hundreds of self proclaimed "gurus" who have made a living by copying the wisdom in Hill's books. As I went through some of those books I realized that there was not much in them that Hill had not already written about. I recommend quality over quantity. Instead of reading through many books, I recommend that you study the following works of Hill and internalize his wisdom:

1. Think and Grow Rich
2. Napoleon Hill's Keys to Success: The 17 Principles of Personal Achievement
3. Your Right To Be Rich [Unabridged]

By internalizing, I mean studying in depth - analyzing the ideas, making notes and summaries.

Some have criticized Hill's work by stating that his research was unscientific. They pass him up for Jim Collins (whose "Good to Great" dedicates 76 out of its 300 pages to research methodology and notes that hardly anybody ever reads) or Marcus Buckingham (whose "First Break..." similarly uses 25 pages for Gallup's Meta Analysis and what not). These people don't know what they are missing.

I am greatly indebted to Napoleon Hill. The purpose of my writing this is to spread awareness of his work so that more people can benefit from it. This, I believe is the best way in which Hill would have liked to have been repaid.

I bought this book two years ago. It turned my life around. Following the principles Napoleon Hill teaches in this great book enabled me to overcome a serious, long-term drinking problem, in a matter of weeks. It also gave me the courage to quit a dead end job and start my own business. Not a week goes by that I don't pick up this book and re-read a section related to some problem that has come up. I also re-study a chapter and the endnotes each week to keep my motivation hitting on all cylinders. When I finish, I start over again with the first chapter. I will read this book and study it in this fashion for the rest of my life, just as I do with my Bible. Those two resources are the blueprint and the foundation for leading a purposeful, meaningful life. I give copies of Think and Grow Rich to people whom I think it will help. I recommend it to anyone who is seeking the key to success in life in all aspects.

This book contains the secret to financial and other kinds of success in life. Ross Cornwell has restored "Think and Grow Rich!" back to the way Napoleon Hill first published it, but he has added valuable new features. For the first time there is an endnotes section at the back of the book that explains many things contained in the book. There are probably more than 150 endnotes. There are several interesting items in an appendix that tell us a lot about Hill and his work. For the first time the book has an index, and it is very extensive. Here and there a word or two or a phrase has been changed to make something clearer. This is just an outstanding book, much easier to read than any othe version I have read. I predict it will soon be the one most followers of Hill will want to own.

Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review

› See all 153 customer reviews on Amazon.co.uk

 

4.0 out of 5 stars The father of all self-help books
After reading this, it became obvious how most other modern self-help books borrow from this. It takes some time to get through, because of the repetition and slightly old... Read more

Published 12 days ago by Yoga Girl

2.0 out of 5 stars Most overrated book ever?
I read this book and had an empty feeling afterwards because I had read all the positive reviews and my professor at college suggested this book because it had been life changing... Read more

Published 13 days ago by Tim

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book
This book is outstanding. I cannot beleive all the negative comments because of the writing. It holds so much valable information that would help many lifes. Read more

Published 29 days ago by me

5.0 out of 5 stars Perhaps the most important book I have ever read!
I agree with some of the reviews in that this book is very cleverly written. Also I agree that it should be taught in schools. Read more

Published 1 month ago by Henry Townsend

5.0 out of 5 stars This book should be given to everybody.
I got this book about three years ago now, I heard about it after Bob Proctor spoke about it on his videos on Youtube; it only cost me one cent second hand, it cost more to send... Read more

Published 2 months ago by Bury70

5.0 out of 5 stars Napoleon Hill... IOU!
Life changing book! I am only 20 now, and I was introduced to this book around 12 months ago... I have gone from being a lost boy in a world of crime and drugs to a man on a... Read more

Published 2 months ago by Nathan Mayhew

5.0 out of 5 stars Most important piece of information I have ever had.
Written beautifully and cleverly.
Should be tought in schools and read by any single human been. Read more

Published 2 months ago by H.Nussbaum

4.0 out of 5 stars think and grow rich
I am using it as a self help book, where as its title and much of the nucleus is regarding growing rich (money),through auto suggestion and belief. Read more

Published 2 months ago by grooviethree

5.0 out of 5 stars Why had I never heard of this before ?

In short and excellent book on all manner of positive strategies for improving ones life - not only improving ones finances but also other 'riches' in life such as family,... Read more

Published 2 months ago by Ogmios

1.0 out of 5 stars Public Domain should be free!
This book is public domain so you shouldn't have to pay for it!
You can get it off the internet for nothing.

Published 2 months ago by Explore

Search Customer Reviews
Only search this product's reviews

› See all 153 customer reviews on Amazon.co.uk

Search Listmania!