Think and Grow Rich —Napoleon Hill

Paperback | Tarcherperigee | September 1, 2005

The Gist

With the right mindset and habits, thoughts become things.

Read if you like

• Discipline is Destiny by Ryan Holiday

• Grit by Angela Duckworth

• The Tim Ferris Show podcast

• Diary of a CEO podcast

The Verdict: Borrow It, But Definitely Read It

Think and Grow Rich is considered a must-read in many finance, business, and self-help circles. With that said, there are examples and anecdotes that reflect outdated ideas. One example that stands out is Hill’s recount of not permitting his deaf son to learn sign language because he was determined to have him live a “normal” life. However, despite its faults, the book has withstood the test of time because it’s action-oriented. Published in the 1930s, Hill wasn’t interested in making an academic argument and spending 200+ pages pontificating on various ideas. Rather his goal was to help people take action to pull themselves out of the hardships that so many found themselves in during the Great Depression. Hill’s philosophy is that thoughts become things through thoughtful planning, hard work, a resilient mindset, and unwavering belief. And the steps in Think and Grow Rich aren’t limited to just making money. The formula can be used to tackle any goal. During a time of turmoil and chronic overthinking, Think and Grow Rich reminds us that the only way to assemble the life we want is action by action.