Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill - A Review

Around 1997, when I was beginning to change my thinking, there were two books that were very influential to me. One of them was Mach II With Your Hair on Fire by Richard Brooke. The other one was Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill. I read Think and Grow Rich so many times that the pages are tattered. It is considered one of the most influential books of all time. Here are a few of the highlights from the book. It is a "must read" for anyone wanting to start his or her own business.

In Chapter 1 Napoleon Hill discusses how Thoughts are Things. He states: "When a man really desires a thing so deeply that he is willing to stake his entire future on a single turn of the wheel in order to get it, he is sure to win." Riches really begin with a state of mind. It may be in the form of an idea, plan or purpose.

Chapter 2 is about Desire, the Starting Point of All Achievement. Hill gives Six ways to turn desire into gold. The key point in this chapter is that the desire has to be very strong. It has to be a "burning desire."

Chapter 3 is on faith, belief and visualization. He says that faith is a "state of mind which may be induced, or created, by affirmation to the subconscious mind through the principle of autosuggestion. He gives the powerful example of men like Charles Schwab, John Pierpont Morgan, and Andrew Carnegie in the development of the United States Steel Corporation.

Chapter 4 is on Autosuggestion. This is how the subconscious mind is influenced. Napoleon Hill gives a six step formula to stimulate your subconscious mind. He explains how it will open the way for a complete understanding and mastery of the principles of success.

Chapter 5 of Think and Grow Rich is about Specialized Knowledge. Hill states that you don't necessarily need the knowledge yourself however. He explains how you can form a "Master Mind" group that has the knowledge.

Chapter 6 is on Imagination. Napoleon refers to the imagination as a workshop where plans are fashioned. Hill explains the two forms of imagination and how to exercise them. As in many of the chapters of Think and Grow Rich, specific life examples are used, many of which we are familiar with.

Chapter 7 is on Organized Planning. In this chapter he again goes into the "Master Mind" group. If one plan fails try another. Napoleon Hill gives many good attributes of good leadership and causes of failure in leadership.

Chapter 8 is on Decision. People who fail to accumulate money reach decisions slowly and change them quickly and often. People such as Henry Ford had a habit of reaching decisions quickly and changing them slowly. Again the "Master Mind" group is brought in here. Napoleon says if you know what you want you will generally get it.

Chapter 9 is on Persistence. Hill gives a good test of persistence, how to climb over your failures, and how to train yourself to be persistent. Persistence can be developed and this chapter of Think and Grow Rich has four excellent steps to do so.

Chapter 10. After referring several times to the "Master Mind" in other chapters he here shows its power. Putting multiple minds together has a multiplying effect not just an addition effect. He says it is the only way to accumulate great power.

Chapter 11 was a little off base for me. I will let you read that one for yourself and decide.

Chapter 12 is on the Subconscious Mind and how it is the connecting link. Even though he referred to it before, here he gets into more detail on how to energize it for creative effort. Napoleon also shows how the subconscious mind is tied into seven major positive emotions.

Chapter 13 is on The Brain. I found this most interesting how Hill likened it to a radio that both broadcasts and receives. His addressing of telepathy could be a little far out for some, however I have found it to work for me many times over.

Chapter 14 is on The Sixth Sense. It is the portion of the mind that is called creative imagination. There is a portion of the brain that receives vibrations of thought called "hunches". In her book The Game of Life and How to Play it, Florence Scovel Shinn gets into this as well. It is not something that comes quickly. By applying the principles in Think and Grow Rich the ability to use it can be strengthened.

Chapter 15 is about Fear. Napoleon Hill tells us that the study, analysis, and understanding of three enemies - indecision, doubt and fear - have to be cleared out for any portion of his philosophy can be put to successful use. To help you overcome them, he goes thru the symptoms of the major fears.

This book has been called an Inspirational Classic and I can't agree more. Everyone should read it over and over again as I have. Indeed, if you do, you will definitely Think and Grow Rich.

James Alan specializes in teaching visionaries like himself how to create multiple streams of income in many areas of interest with part-time efforts. James has owned several successful businesses for the past 25 years, inclucing ones you start on your own. He now has chosen to share his knowledge with others.