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{{short description|1937 book by Napoleon Hill}}
{{Infobox book
{{Infobox book
| name = Think and Grow Rich
| name = Think and Grow Rich
| title_orig =
| title_orig = Think and Grow Rich
| translator =
| translator =
| image = Think and grow rich original cover.jpg
| image = Think and grow rich original cover.jpg
| alt = book cover with title and art
| alt = book cover with title and art
| image_size = 160px
| image_size = 160px
| caption = Original Hardcover
| caption = Original Hardcover
| author = [[Napoleon Hill]]
| author = [[Napoleon Hill]] and Rosa Lee Beeland
| illustrator =
| illustrator =
| cover_artist =
| cover_artist =
| country = United States
| country = United States
| language = English
| language = English
| series =
| series =
| subject = [[Personal-success literature|Personal-success]]<br>[[Self-help]]<br>[[Philosophy]]
| subject = [[Personal-success literature|Personal-success]]<br>[[Self-help]]
| genre = Non-fiction
| genre = Non-fiction
| publisher = The Ralston Society
| publisher = The Ralston Society
| pub_date = [[1937 in literature|1937]]
| pub_date = [[1937 in literature|1937]]
| english_pub_date =
| english_pub_date =
| media_type = Print ([[Hardcover]], [[Paperback]], [[E-Book]])
| media_type = Print ([[Hardcover]], [[Paperback]], [[E-Book]])
| pages = 238 pages
| pages = 238 pages
| isbn = 1-59280-260-5
| isbn = 978-1-78844-102-5
⚫
| oclc = 156886959
| isbn = 978-1-60459-187-3
| preceded_by =
⚫
| oclc = 156886959
| preceded_by =
| followed_by =
| followed_by =
}}
}}
'''''Think and Grow Rich''''' was written in 1937 by [[Napoleon Hill]] and is a [[personal development]] and [[self-improvement]] book. Hill was inspired by a suggestion from Scottish–American [[business magnate]] and [[philanthropist]] [[Andrew Carnegie]].<ref>Briley, Richard Gaylord, 1995, ''The Seven Spiritual Secrets Of Success'', p. 151, Thomas Nelson Publishers, ISBN 0-7852-8083-9</ref> While the book's title implies that the it deals with how to attain monetary wealth, the author explains that the philosophy taught in the book can be used to help people succeed in all lines of work, to do and be almost anything they want.<ref>Hill, Napoleon, 1960, Think and Grow Rich. [Revised Edition, p. 19], Fawcett Books, New York, ISBN 0-449-21492-3</ref>


'''''Think and Grow Rich''''' is a book written by [[Napoleon Hill]] and Rosa Lee Beeland released in 1937 and promoted as a [[personal development]] and [[self-improvement]] book. He claimed to be inspired by a suggestion from [[business magnate]] and later-[[philanthropist]] [[Andrew Carnegie]].
⚫
The book was first published during the [[Great Depression]].<ref name=lifetime/> At the time of Hill's death in 1970, ''Think and Grow Rich'' had sold more than 20 million copies and by 2011 over 70 million copies had been sold worldwide.<ref>[http://www.forbes.com/forbes/2011/0411/opinions-rich-karlgaard-innovation-rules-american-religion.html Forbes] on ''Think and Grow Rich'': "It has sold more than 70 million copies since its publication in 1937 and continues to sell robustly today." (March 2011)</ref><ref>[http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=IZtRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=KhEEAAAAIBAJ&pg=1457%2C1795947 AP, November 10, 1970, 'Grow Rich' Author Dies]</ref> It remains the biggest seller of Napoleon Hill's books. ''[[BusinessWeek]]'' magazine's Best-Seller List ranked it the sixth best-selling paperback business book 70 years after it was published.<ref>[http://www.businessweek.com/pdfs/2007/0703_bestsell.pdf ''The BusinessWeek Best-Seller List,'' BusinessWeek magazine, January 15, 2007]</ref> ''Think and Grow Rich'' is listed in [[John C. Maxwell]]'s ''A Lifetime "Must Read" Books List.'' <ref>[http://www.johnmaxwell.com/downloads/jm_lifetimebooklist.pdf Maxwell, John ''A Lifetime "Must Read" Books List,'' March 2008]</ref>


The book is considered a classic in the personal development genre and has been widely influential in shaping the way people think about success and wealth.
==Content==


⚫
[[File:Napoleon Hill holding book 1937.jpg|thumb|140px|right|Napoleon Hill holding his book ''Think and Grow Rich'']]
The text of ''Think and Grow Rich'' is founded on Hill's earlier work ''[[The Law of Success]]'', the result of more than twenty years of research based on Hill's close association with a large number of individuals who achieved great wealth during their lifetimes.<ref name=lifetime>''A Lifetime of Riches: The Biography of Napoleon Hill'', Michael J. Ritt and Kirk Landers (Revised Edition 1995) (ISBN 0-525-94146-0)</ref>


== History ==
At Andrew Carnegie's bidding, Hill studied the characteristics of these achievers and developed 16 "laws" of success meant to be applied by people to achieve success. ''Think and Grow Rich'' condenses these laws further and provides the reader with 13 principles in the form of a philosophy of personal achievement.<ref name=lifetime/> International Speaker Mark Victor Hansen says time has proven 2 of the laws/principles to be most important: 1) The MasterMind principle/process and 2) "Know very clearly where you want to go."
In 1935, Napoleon Hill's second wife Florence filed for and received a divorce. In 1936, Napoleon met Rosa Lee Beeland when she attended one of his lectures. He proposed the next day and they were soon married. Unable to afford a place of their own, they moved in with Hill and Florence's son, Blair, in [[New York City]]. Following a few months of this living arrangement, Blair's wife, Vera, left due to Hill's harassment and abuse. Blair left shortly thereafter. Before leaving, however, Blair gave his father and Rosa a loan to continue work on their new book, ''Think and Grow Rich''.<ref name=":0"/>


''Think and Grow Rich'' was published in 1937 and became a major commercial success. Beeland contributed substantially to the authoring and editing of ''Think and Grow Rich''.<ref name="Lingeman"/> Hill and Beeland divorced in 1940, with the latter retaining the royalties from the book, given that they had been put in her name to protect them from any claims made by Hill's second wife, Florence, and her children. Hill and Beeland reportedly never repaid Blair for the $300 loan with Rosa taunting Blair about the matter.<ref name=":0"/>
It is noted in the book that an individual with desire, faith and persistence can reach great heights by eliminating negative energy and thoughts and focusing on the greater goals at hand.


==Summary==
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
''Think and Grow Rich'' is based on Hill's earlier work ''[[The Law of Success]]'', claims to be the result of more than twenty years of study of many individuals who had amassed personal fortunes. Hill studied their habits and drew some 16 "laws" to be applied to achieve success. ''Think and Grow Rich'' condenses them, providing the reader with 14 principles in the form of a "Philosophy of Achievement".<ref name=lifetime>Michael J. Ritt and Kirk Landers, ''A Lifetime of Riches: The Biography of Napoleon Hill''. Revised edition 1995, {{ISBN|0-525-94146-0}}.</ref>
12. The Brain 13. The Sixth Sense


The main theme of the book is that anyone can achieve success and wealth by following a certain set of principles. Hill identified these principles as the "13 Steps to Riches," which included developing a positive mental attitude, setting clear and specific goals, developing a plan to achieve those goals, taking action, and maintaining a strong belief in oneself and one's capabilities. The 13 "steps" were:
There are several courses created from the Think and Grow Rich content and principles.
* 1. Desire: Start with a strong desire or burning ambition to achieve a specific goal or outcome.
* 2. Faith: Have unwavering faith in yourself and your ability to achieve your goal.
* 3. Autosuggestion: Use positive self-talk and affirmations to reinforce your beliefs and goals.
* 4. Specialized knowledge: Acquire the knowledge and skills needed to achieve your goal.
* 5. Imagination: Use your imagination to visualize your goal and see yourself achieving it.
* 6. Organized planning: Develop a detailed plan of action to achieve your goal.
* 7. Decision: Make a firm decision to follow through on your plan and never give up.
* 8. Persistence: Keep working towards your goal, even when faced with obstacles or setbacks.
* 9. Power of the Master Mind: Surround yourself with like-minded people who support and encourage you.
* 10. The Mystery of Sex Transmutation: Use the power of your sexual energy to fuel your desire and drive.
* 11. The Subconscious Mind: Tap into the power of your subconscious mind to help you achieve your goals.
* 12. The Brain: Use your brain to analyze and plan, and to make decisions and take action.
* 13. The Sixth Sense: Trust your intuition and inner guidance to help you make the right decisions and achieve your goals.


==Editions==
== Accuracy ==
Although Hill claims to have had a pivotal conversation with Andrew Carnegie in 1908, there is no record of the two having met. Hill spent much of the year on the run from the authorities for committing lumber fraud in Alabama. Hill did not claim to have met Carnegie until after Carnegie's death in 1918. Aside from Hill's writings, there are no accounts of the meeting taking place. Carnegie biographer [[David Nasaw]] stated that he "found no evidence of any sort that Carnegie and Hill ever met" or "that the book was authentic."<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://paleofuture.gizmodo.com/the-untold-story-of-napoleon-hill-the-greatest-self-he-1789385645|title=The Untold Story of Napoleon Hill, the Greatest Self-Help Scammer of All Time|last=Novak|first=Matt|website=Paleofuture (Gizmodo)|date=December 6, 2016 |language=en-US|access-date=2019-08-13}}</ref>
⚫
[[File:Napoleon Hill holding book 1937.jpg|thumb|140px|right|Napoleon Hill holding his book ''Think and Grow Rich'']]
*{{Cite book | last1 = Hill | first1 = Napoleon | title = Think and Grow Rich | year = 1953 | publisher = The Ralston Publishing Co | location = Cleveland, Ohio | page = 381 }}<ref>Copyright MCMXXXVII by Napoleon Hill, All Rights Reserved and Transferred, March, MCMXLI, to Ralston Publishing Co.</ref>
*{{Cite book | last1 = Hill | first1 = Napoleon | title = Think and Grow Rich | year = 1960 | publisher = Fawcett Crest | location = Greenwich, Conn. | isbn = 0-449-21492-3 | pages = }}
*{{Cite book | last1 = Hill | first1 = Napoleon | title = Think and Grow Rich : The 21st-Century Edition, Revised and Updated | year = 2004 | publisher = High Roads Media | location = | isbn = 1-932429-23-9 | pages = }}
*{{Cite book | last1 = Hill | first1 = Napoleon | last2 = Cornwell | first2 = Ross | title =
Think and Grow Rich!: The Original Version, Restored and Revised | year = 2004 | publisher = Aventine Press | location = San Diego, CA | isbn = 1-59330-200-2 | pages = }}


There are no known records of Hill meeting the famous men he claimed to have interviewed; that is, besides a brief encounter with Thomas Edison.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Farnham|first1=Alan|date=7 August 1995|title=Seamy Side Of A Self-Help Swami A New Biography Reveals That Napoleon Hill, Author Of Think & Grow Rich, Which Has Sold Ten Million Copies, Knew Failure Well.|url=https://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/1995/08/07/205128/index.htm|website=Fortune|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210510113842/https://archive.fortune.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/1995/08/07/205128/index.htm|archive-date=2021-05-10|url-status=live|access-date=2024-08-07}}</ref>
===Original version===
The first edition of ''Think and Grow Rich'' was released in March 1937. Despite limited promotion, mostly [[word of mouth]], the original print run of 5,000 sold out in six weeks, at $2.50 a copy. Another 10,000 copies were printed, all of which also sold in six weeks. The third print totaled 20,000.<ref name=DonGreen1>{{cite video | people = Don Green | title = The Next Chapter in Personal Development | medium = digital video | publisher = The Napoleon Hill Foundation, The Millionaire Mentor Corp |date = 2008}}</ref>
[[W. Clement Stone]] wrote: "One of the most important days in my life was the day I began to read ''Think and Grow Rich'' in 1937.<ref>Hill, Napoleon, 1990, ''The Think and Grow Rich Action Pack'', Plume, ISBN 0-452-26660-2</ref>


== Influence ==
===1960 Fawcett Crest edition===
⚫
First published during the [[Great Depression]],<ref name=lifetime/> it remains the biggest seller of Napoleon Hill's books. ''[[BusinessWeek]]'' magazine's Best-Seller List ranked it the sixth best-selling paperback business book 70 years after it was published.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20100613072501/http://www.businessweek.com/pdfs/2007/0703_bestsell.pdf ''The BusinessWeek Best-Seller List''], in: ''BusinessWeek magazine'', January 15, 2007.</ref> ''Think and Grow Rich'' is listed in [[John C. Maxwell]]'s ''A Lifetime "Must Read" Books List.''<ref>Maxwell, John, [http://blog.envole.net/doc/j/m/jm-lifetimebooklist.pdf ''A Lifetime "Must Read" Books List''], March 2008.</ref>
''Think and Grow Rich'' was revised in 1960. This version was originally published by Crest Book, Fawcett Publications. This revised edition includes the following testimonial from [[W. Clement Stone]] on the inside front cover page: “More men and women have been motivated to achieve success because of reading ''Think and Grow Rich'' than by any other book written by a living author.” <ref>Hill, Napoleon, 1960, ''Think and Grow Rich.'' [inside front cover page], Fawcett Books, New York, ISBN 0-449-21492-3</ref> In 1987, Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback [[Fran Tarkenton]] hosted a TV infomercial that sold the 1960 version with an audio cassette version of the book (the audio cassettes contained an introduction and conclusion by Tarkenton and supplemental study guides).<ref>[http://www.guthy-renker.com.au/awms/Upload/Resources/Response_Magazine.pdf ''Partners in Time'': Guthy-Renker, Charles Wesley Orton, Response Magazine, May 2001]</ref> In the introduction noted above, Tarkenton stated that he believed ''Think and Grow Rich'' to be "the greatest most honored formula for success that has ever been developed."<ref>''Think and Grow Rich'' audio cassettes 1A, 8B [introduction and conclusion by Fran Tarkenton], 1988, Napoleon Hill Foundation, Guthy-Renker Corporation</ref>

Hill's biographers would later say this book sold 20 million copies over 50 years, although as Richard Lingeman remarks in his brief biography, "Alice Payne Hackett's '70 Years of Best Sellers' suggests the amount was considerably less."<ref name="Lingeman">{{cite news|last1=Lingeman|first1=Richard|title=How to Lose Friends and Alienate People|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/08/13/books/how-to-lose-friends-and-alienate-people.html?pagewanted=all|access-date=31 January 2017 |newspaper=New York Times|date=August 13, 1995}}</ref>


==Notes==
==Notes==
{{Reflist|30em}}
{{Reflist|2}}{{Wikiquote|Napoleon Hill}}


==Further reading==
==Further reading==
<!-- This book's in peace up
⚫
*''Success Through A Positive Mental Attitude'', by Napoleon Hill and [[W. Clement Stone]]. ISBN 1-4165-4159-4
the public domain and we have a link to a full free copy at the non-profit Internet Archive below. So don't replace it with a link to an audiobook or other version at your for-profit site. It will just be reverted, and this wastes our time and yours. -->
⚫
*''Earl Nightingale Reads Think and Grow Rich'' [The essence of Napoleon Hill's Think and Grow Rich], by [[Earl Nightingale]]. ISBN 1-4558-1011-8
*{{cite book|last=Hill|first=Napoleon|title=Think And Grow Rich|url=https://archive.org/details/think-and-grow-rich/mode/2up|access-date=January 2, 2019|year=1937|publisher=The Ralston Society|isbn=978-1-78844-102-5}}

⚫
*''Success Through A Positive Mental Attitude'', by Napoleon Hill and [[W. Clement Stone]]. {{ISBN|1-4165-4159-4}}.
==External links==
⚫
*''Earl Nightingale Reads Think and Grow Rich'' [The essence of Napoleon Hill's Think and Grow Rich], by [[Earl Nightingale]]. {{ISBN|1-4558-1011-8}}.
<!-- The link below is to a FREE version of the book. Please don't link to versions that require any kind of payment, subscription, or membership, these links will just be reverted -->
*''The Biblical Companion Guide to Think & Grow Rich'', by Joshua J. Finley. {{ISBN|9798603771335}}
*[http://www.archive.org/details/Think_and_Grow_Rich Think and Grow Rich] Ebook at Internet Archive


{{DEFAULTSORT:Think And Grow Rich}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Think And Grow Rich}}
[[Category:Business books]]
[[Category:Business books]]
[[Category:Self-help books]]
[[Category:Self-help books]]
[[Category:1937 books]]
[[Category:1937 non-fiction books]]

Latest revision as of 01:19, 7 September 2024

Think and Grow Rich
book cover with title and art
Original Hardcover
AuthorNapoleon Hill and Rosa Lee Beeland
Original titleThink and Grow Rich
LanguageEnglish
SubjectPersonal-success
Self-help
GenreNon-fiction
PublisherThe Ralston Society
Publication date
1937
Publication placeUnited States
Media typePrint (Hardcover, Paperback, E-Book)
Pages238 pages
ISBN978-1-78844-102-5
OCLC156886959

Think and Grow Rich is a book written by Napoleon Hill and Rosa Lee Beeland released in 1937 and promoted as a personal development and self-improvement book. He claimed to be inspired by a suggestion from business magnate and later-philanthropist Andrew Carnegie.

The book is considered a classic in the personal development genre and has been widely influential in shaping the way people think about success and wealth.

Napoleon Hill holding his book Think and Grow Rich

History

[edit]

In 1935, Napoleon Hill's second wife Florence filed for and received a divorce. In 1936, Napoleon met Rosa Lee Beeland when she attended one of his lectures. He proposed the next day and they were soon married. Unable to afford a place of their own, they moved in with Hill and Florence's son, Blair, in New York City. Following a few months of this living arrangement, Blair's wife, Vera, left due to Hill's harassment and abuse. Blair left shortly thereafter. Before leaving, however, Blair gave his father and Rosa a loan to continue work on their new book, Think and Grow Rich.[1]

Think and Grow Rich was published in 1937 and became a major commercial success. Beeland contributed substantially to the authoring and editing of Think and Grow Rich.[2] Hill and Beeland divorced in 1940, with the latter retaining the royalties from the book, given that they had been put in her name to protect them from any claims made by Hill's second wife, Florence, and her children. Hill and Beeland reportedly never repaid Blair for the $300 loan with Rosa taunting Blair about the matter.[1]

Summary

[edit]

Think and Grow Rich is based on Hill's earlier work The Law of Success, claims to be the result of more than twenty years of study of many individuals who had amassed personal fortunes. Hill studied their habits and drew some 16 "laws" to be applied to achieve success. Think and Grow Rich condenses them, providing the reader with 14 principles in the form of a "Philosophy of Achievement".[3]

The main theme of the book is that anyone can achieve success and wealth by following a certain set of principles. Hill identified these principles as the "13 Steps to Riches," which included developing a positive mental attitude, setting clear and specific goals, developing a plan to achieve those goals, taking action, and maintaining a strong belief in oneself and one's capabilities. The 13 "steps" were:

  • 1. Desire: Start with a strong desire or burning ambition to achieve a specific goal or outcome.
  • 2. Faith: Have unwavering faith in yourself and your ability to achieve your goal.
  • 3. Autosuggestion: Use positive self-talk and affirmations to reinforce your beliefs and goals.
  • 4. Specialized knowledge: Acquire the knowledge and skills needed to achieve your goal.
  • 5. Imagination: Use your imagination to visualize your goal and see yourself achieving it.
  • 6. Organized planning: Develop a detailed plan of action to achieve your goal.
  • 7. Decision: Make a firm decision to follow through on your plan and never give up.
  • 8. Persistence: Keep working towards your goal, even when faced with obstacles or setbacks.
  • 9. Power of the Master Mind: Surround yourself with like-minded people who support and encourage you.
  • 10. The Mystery of Sex Transmutation: Use the power of your sexual energy to fuel your desire and drive.
  • 11. The Subconscious Mind: Tap into the power of your subconscious mind to help you achieve your goals.
  • 12. The Brain: Use your brain to analyze and plan, and to make decisions and take action.
  • 13. The Sixth Sense: Trust your intuition and inner guidance to help you make the right decisions and achieve your goals.

Accuracy

[edit]

Although Hill claims to have had a pivotal conversation with Andrew Carnegie in 1908, there is no record of the two having met. Hill spent much of the year on the run from the authorities for committing lumber fraud in Alabama. Hill did not claim to have met Carnegie until after Carnegie's death in 1918. Aside from Hill's writings, there are no accounts of the meeting taking place. Carnegie biographer David Nasaw stated that he "found no evidence of any sort that Carnegie and Hill ever met" or "that the book was authentic."[1]

There are no known records of Hill meeting the famous men he claimed to have interviewed; that is, besides a brief encounter with Thomas Edison.[4]

Influence

[edit]

First published during the Great Depression,[3] it remains the biggest seller of Napoleon Hill's books. BusinessWeek magazine's Best-Seller List ranked it the sixth best-selling paperback business book 70 years after it was published.[5] Think and Grow Rich is listed in John C. Maxwell's A Lifetime "Must Read" Books List.[6]

Hill's biographers would later say this book sold 20 million copies over 50 years, although as Richard Lingeman remarks in his brief biography, "Alice Payne Hackett's '70 Years of Best Sellers' suggests the amount was considerably less."[2]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c Novak, Matt (December 6, 2016). "The Untold Story of Napoleon Hill, the Greatest Self-Help Scammer of All Time". Paleofuture (Gizmodo). Retrieved 2019-08-13.
  2. ^ a b Lingeman, Richard (August 13, 1995). "How to Lose Friends and Alienate People". New York Times. Retrieved 31 January 2017.
  3. ^ a b Michael J. Ritt and Kirk Landers, A Lifetime of Riches: The Biography of Napoleon Hill. Revised edition 1995, ISBN 0-525-94146-0.
  4. ^ Farnham, Alan (7 August 1995). "Seamy Side Of A Self-Help Swami A New Biography Reveals That Napoleon Hill, Author Of Think & Grow Rich, Which Has Sold Ten Million Copies, Knew Failure Well". Fortune. Archived from the original on 2021-05-10. Retrieved 2024-08-07.
  5. ^ The BusinessWeek Best-Seller List, in: BusinessWeek magazine, January 15, 2007.
  6. ^ Maxwell, John, A Lifetime "Must Read" Books List, March 2008.
Wikiquote has quotations related to Napoleon Hill.

Further reading

[edit]
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