Think and Grow Rich was written in 1937 by Napoleon Hill. A self development book which explains the steps to become financially successful in one's life. The book was published during the Great Depression period when people were struggling to meet their daily needs. The author learned from elites like Andrew Carnegie, Henry Ford etc and spent twenty years researching various successful people. The book guides you to financial freedom through thirteen steps with real examples.
The book starts with the power of human thought. Our brain works based on our thoughts and we attract people and circumstances according to the thoughts. Humans have the capacity to control their thoughts and hence their destiny. As per the author the first and foremost step towards riches is to have 'Burning Desire' . He explained with the example of Edwin C Barnes whose burning desire for doing business with the great inventor Thomas A Edison. He worked as a floor sweeper in Edison's work place before he fulfilled his dream of becoming business associate of the great inventor. The second step towards riches is 'Faith'. Desire without faith is just a dream. The book explains how to develop faith through repetitive instructions to the subconscious mind. Faith is the only antidote for failure. The rest of the steps for the riches are auto-suggestion, specialized knowledge, imagination, organized planning, decision, persistence, power of the master mind, the mystery of sex transmutation, subconscious mind, the brain, the sixth sense.
The book doesn't just give step-by-step instructions to follow. It also elaborates what are the causes of failure to attain each step as well as steps to analyse oneself to find out the hidden failures within us. In the Organized planning section, the author is explaining the qualities of a good leader as well as the causes of failure in leadership. Also he explained the new opportunities in leaderships that existed in the age when the book was released. However it is not relevant in this age. Napoleon Hill not only analysed the successful people but also researched those who failed and he came up with thirty major failures that keeps you from success. The book gives self analysis questionnaire for a personal inventory. In the 'persistence section' the author explains that one of the symptoms of lack of persistence is fear of criticism. There are fifteen more symptoms that you can go through the books. How to develop persistence is well explained in the book as well. Each and every section is explained with how to attain it, what are the causes of failures and steps to examine yourself.
I was not convinced with one of the steps 'the mystery of sex transmutation'. As per the author, the energy must be transmuted from desire for physical contact, into the status of a genius. I let you decide after reading the book by yourself. There are many examples in the book that is not relevant in this society. The social, political views were different. The author is criticizing the workers who were trying or protesting to increase their benefits and also the government who is supporting them. As per the author they are trying to get free money without doing the actual hard work. But the workers were struggling to meet their ends and I don't think they have the mental capacity to stop and think and to create burning desire when they are hungry. As per the author those who are struggling have to come out of the box to get this vision. You should not let your current poverty from attaining your Desire.
The book was ending with explaining the six basic fears - the fear of poverty, criticism, ill health, loss of love of someone, old age, death. He explained each fear deeply along with its symptoms. There is one more fear the Devil's workshop - the negative influences. Those who are successful also should keep himself from the negative influences. The book provide steps to protect yourself from negative influences as well as steps to analyse yourself for the existence of negative influence. Book guides you to conquer yourself first and then the success. If you follow this book you can grow yourself and helps you to keep the success lifelong.
Some of the quotes from the book are given below:
One of the most common cause of failure is the habit of quitting when one is overtaken by temporary defeat.
No one ever is defeated until defeat has been accepted as a reality.
Our only limitations are those we set up in our own minds.
All thoughts which have been emotionalized and mixed with faith begin immediately to translate themselves into their physical equivalent or counterpart.
Knowledge will not attract money, unless it is organized and intelligently directed, through practical plans of action, to the definite end of accumulation of money.
Men can create anything he can imagine.
You should know all of your weakness in order that you may either bridge them or eliminate them entirely. You should know your strength in order that you may call attention to it when selling your services.
The majority of people who fails to accumulate money sufficient for their needs are generally easily influenced by the "opinions" of others. If you are influenced by the opinions of others, you will have no Desire of your own.
Genuine wisdom is usually conspicuous through melody and silence.
Persistence is a state of mind, therefore it can be cultivated.
The human mind is a form of energy, a part of it being spiritual in nature.
The first and best victory is to conquer self. To be conquered by self is, of all things, the most shameful and vile.
Ideas when transmuted into intelligent plans of action, are the beginning of all successful achievement.
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