Think and Grow Rich Book Summary

Book Summary

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Brief Summary

Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill is a classic self-help book that outlines principles for achieving personal and financial success. Based on Hill's study of successful individuals, the book emphasizes the power of mindset, desire, persistence, and goal-setting. Through a combination of practical advice and motivational philosophy, Hill presents a blueprint for transforming thoughts into wealth and accomplishments.

About the Author

Napoleon Hill (1883–1970) was an American self-help author best known for his influential book Think and Grow Rich, which remains one of the best-selling books of all time. Hill's work focused on the principles of personal development, success, and financial achievement. He was a pioneer in the genre of success literature, and his writings were based on years of studying and interviewing successful figures, including Andrew Carnegie, Henry Ford, and Thomas Edison.

Hill believed in the power of positive thinking, goal-setting, and persistence as key ingredients for success. His philosophy emphasizes that success comes from a clear purpose, faith, and an unwavering determination to achieve one's goals. Hill’s teachings have inspired millions worldwide, and his legacy continues to impact personal development today.

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Think and Grow Rich Book Summary Preview

What if the only thing standing between you and all the riches you’ve ever dreamed of, was the way you think about wealth? In Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill, he talks about how mastering your mindset about money can lead you to the riches you’ve always dreamed of.

When Napoleon was a young journalist, he was tasked with interviewing Andrew Carnegie. Andrew was so impressed with the young journalist that he assigned him his next project: interview 500 millionaires and create a formula the average person can follow to lead them to the same success. Hill took on the task: interviewing presidents, leaders, and millionaires. Amongst them were Henry Ford, Thomas Edison, and Theodore Roosevelt. He came up with a formula encapsulated in 13 Principles. We will get to the principles he discovered. But first, a brief anecdote:

Edwin C. Barnes was hell-bent on working with Thomas Edison as his partner but had two problems. First, he didn’t know him. At all. Not only that, he didn’t have enough money to get to him to meet him either. He didn’t let either of these stands in his way. He figured out he could ride a freight train to where Thomas Edison worked at East Orange. Edison recounts meeting him and noticing the determination in his face. He said:

“I had learned from years of experience that when a man desires a thing so deeply… he is sure to win”.

The important thing about Barnes’ desire is that he knew EXACTLY what he wanted, and he wanted it with a high level of intensity… to the degree that he refused to give up regardless of how far from his goals he seemed. Eventually, after five years, he got his shot and was finally partnered with Edison. He didn’t give up.

What happens when you do give up? Ask Mr. Darby, who stopped drilling in a mine and later learned he was three feet away from gold. Had he kept going a mere three feet, he would have been a millionaire.

In fact, of the 500 of the most successful people in America who were interviewed, many of them stated that “their greatest success came just one step beyond the point at which defeat had overtaken them.”

Change your mind from Failure Conscious to Success Conscious

When Henry Ford was making the V-8 engine, his engineers believed it was impossible. Ford found their opinions to be irrelevant and demanded they make it work anyway. And they did. Henry Ford was focused on success and possibility. His engineers were focused on how things would not work. Which one came out on top?

Now, for the 13 Principles:

Desire is the Starting Point of all Achievement

Remember Barnes from earlier? Why exactly was he so successful? According to Hill, he chose a definite goal. He placed all of his energy and willpower into achieving it. It took him 5 years of working with Edison before his opportunity for achievement and the partnership he had dreamed of arrived. His desire was so strong that...