Now I'm Going To "Think And Grow Rich"!!!

Yep, now for something completely different.

For my second book I've chosen "Think and Grow Rich" by Napoleon Hill.

Why this book in particular?

Well, to be honest, because I had it available on my bookcase and I still hadn't read it yet.  So when I was looking for inspirational books, and found this one on several top ten inspirational book lists, I knew I had to put in on the list for this year.  And I did.

I'm actually very excited about this book.  Two years ago I went to a seminar with my best friend called "The Millionaire Mind Intensive".  And it was the most incredible seminar I've ever been to.  It really changed my life.  It was not only about how to get rich quick, it was about changing your mindset so that you'll believe anything is possible and have no limiting beliefs to affect your life.  So, shortly after I came home from this incredible seminar, I was in the bookstore and wandered into the business section and found this book, "Think and Grow Rich", and it resonated with what I had recently learned.  I mean THINK and then Grow Rich!  I get it!  So I bought it right then and there, brought it home all excited, and then..... placed it in the ever growing book pile I have on one of my several book cases and then fell into the oblivion of the-books-I'm-going-to-get-to-at-some-point.  And then, inspiration hit as I decided to go on an inspirational adventure, and this book was saved from it's pile to be the current reading placed on my nightstand.  Such a happy story for this wonderful book!

So what is the book about?

Well, that's an interesting story.

I was reading the introduction and it took a moment for me to realize that the original version of this book was written in 1937!  The author, Napoleon Hill, was a newspaper reporter when he interviewed Andrew Carnegie for an article about successful businessmen of their time.  And Napoleon says that it was during this interview that Carnegie told him the secret to his success.  Then he charged Napoleon with a task.  Over the next 25 years Napoleon Hill interviewed over 500 millionaires to compare their success stories to the lesson that Carnegie taught him.  Then, taking these stories, he worked to find a way to tell the world about how every person could be as successful as Andrew Carnegie was.  And, in 1937, Napoleon Hill published this book which was an instant success. 

So what is this book about?

Well, it's about how Andrew Carnegie, and Thomas Edison, and Henry Ford, and many others who have been very successful in life, whether it's been riches and business, or in relationships and health.  And, by presenting their stories of success, the secret to their successes is shown to us, to take in and learn.

The interesting thing though, as I read the first chapter, I realize that Napoleon Hill will not just come out and say what the secret is.  Though, I can understand why.  As he puts it, you will either get the secret within the first pages of you reading this book, or by the end of the book.  And each person will see it differently, and will take it differently.  So just coming out and saying what Andrew Carnegie said to him all those years ago would probably not be as effective. 

That and it would create a very short book.