Think and Grow Rich is one of those books you read because everyone says you should. It has been enormously influential. Originally published in 1937, it has never been out of print. In 2007, BusinessWeek Magazine’s Best-Seller List ranked it the sixth best-selling paperback business book 70 years after it was published.
What I find most interesting about the book are the chapters dealing with affirmations (his term is autosuggestion), the importance of planning & persistence, and the 28 question personal inventory in Chapter 7. I also appreciated that women were not ignored, which I was not expecting in a book written in 1937.
The 13 “steps” listed in the book are: 1. Desire 2. Faith 3. Autosuggestion 4. Specialized Knowledge 5. Imagination 6. Organized Planning 7. Decision 8. Persistence 9. Power of the Master Mind 10. The Mystery of Sex Transmutation 11. The Subconscious Mind 12. The Brain 13. The Sixth Sense.
Notice that step 9 is the Power of the Master Mind. Napoleon Hill is often credited with popularizing the concept of being part of a master mind group to foster success.
Do I recommend reading this book? Not necessarily. If you are motivated by personal success books, then you will probably enjoy it. If you have heard people you admire rave about the difference it made in their lives, it is worth at least a quick scan. If you need a boost in confidence, the affirmations could be useful.
Unlike many recent popular business books, it is not a quick read, so if you are not up for reading the entire book, I think the most useful chapters are 1-4; 6-9, and 15.
If you have read the book, I would love to read your comments! Would you recommend this book to others? Has it been useful to you? Do you agree or disagree with my review?
This book seems interesting Maura! Where is it available? I’ll be keen to read at least the chapters you recommend.
Thanks!
You can buy it from Amazon, or download a free pdf version at https://archive.org/details/Think_and_Grow_Rich
This book sounds very good!
TGR is one of my favorite books. I have it in every imaginable way – hard back, paper back, audio, eBook, and I have a workbook for it. I teach from it, coach from it, and use it in my own life. The secret Napoleon Hill refers to is the universal Law of Attraction. TGR is the granddaddy of all personal and professional development books.
I recommend reading the book once and then going back to the chapters that resonate the most with you. I also recommend the audio for long commutes.
Peggy
Wow – this book obviously has had a big impact on your life. What would you say changed for you after reading it for the first time?