Dale Carnegie, Hal Elrod, Stephen R. Covey… Each big name of these figures of personal development has impacted millions of minds thanks to his vision of life. However, the one who revolutionized self-realization is none other than Napoleon Hill, the founding father of personal development and the author of several bestselling books, including the famous book Think and Get Rich.
Who is Napoleon Hill?
Napoleon Hill is a famous American author born on 26/10/1883 in Virginia and died on 08/11/1970 at the age of 87, in South Carolina.
Coming from a relatively modest family, he was encouraged by his parents, and especially his mother-in-law, to get into journalism in order to be more open to the world around him and seize the opportunities available to him. At the age of 13, Napoleon Hill began his career as a writer for small local newspapers and at 25, with 10 years of experience in journalism, he was recruited by Bob Taylor's Magazine who entrusted him with the charge of the section dedicated to the careers and success of influential men. This is how he met the man who would later become his mentor: Andrew Carnegie.
Throughout his life, Napoleon Hill is presented as a pioneer in the psychology of success. He has taught and lectured on the fundamentals of personal development which he has implemented and summarized in numerous works, read and translated around the world.
Andrew Carnegie, Napoleon Hill's mentor
Andrew Carnegie is one of the world's first multimillionaires. He left his mark on the American steel industry, although he was of Scottish origin.
Having himself been in need as a child, Carnegie never forgot where he came from and he always saw money as a way to help improve the world. In his will, he had stipulated that all his money should be donated to several foundations and noble causes. According to him, there is no point in dying while being rich. We particularly appreciate his words:
"Every man who dies rich dies dishonored. "
When Andrew Carnegie met Napoleon Hill, he immediately saw in him an ambitious and determined young man. He took him under his wing and encouraged him to create what became known as the philosophy of success.
For years, Hill observed and interviewed the wealthiest and most influential men of the time to determine the common elements and denominators that could lead to success. It even seems that Carnegie himself spent years contacting and writing to revolutionary men such as Thomas Edison in order to help his protégé. Thus, years later, the work The Laws of Success finally saw the light of day.
The classics of Napoleon Hill, a must read!
Even though he inspired millions of people with his books The Laws of Success and Think and Get Rich, Napoleon Hill found himself facing his failures and could not get back on track despite all his good will. Then followed a period of questioning and doubts quite trying for the author, because he realized that he could not apply the laws of success that he himself had put in place. It was as a result of this bad patch that the book Smarter Than the Devil was written.
However, it was not until years after his death that the latter was finally published, as it was considered too controversial for its time. The author had his own view on religions and education, he even considered it to be one of the first reasons why people moved away from their "other self".
Despite this, Napoleon Hill's ideas have never been more relevant than they are today.
The laws of success
After
years of meeting the richest and brightest men, thanks to the support of Andrew Carnegie, Napoleon Hill wrote his very first book containing the 17 principles of personal development and the steps to follow to succeed. The whole is divided into 4 volumes, each containing 3 or 4 principles.
Although published almost a century ago, each of the ideas expressed in it remains relevant. It is a true bible for those who are not afraid to exploit all their skills and become fully aware of the strength of their mind.
Think and get rich
This book is one of the best-selling books in the world. It was published in 1937 during the period of the Great Depression that the United States experienced after capitalism.
This book by Napoleon Hill is not a magic recipe for becoming rich, it is a philosophy resulting from several years of observation and encounters, resulting in the establishment of moral principles leading to success.
What's interesting about the book Think and Get Rich is that it teaches you how to transform your mind and approach to yourself by applying principles based on self-confidence and autosuggestion.
"More gold has been extracted from the minds of men than from the earth itself."
Reading this book won't make you rich, that's for sure, but if you take ownership of each lesson and create something positive from it, your life will no longer be the same and you will find a way to achieve your ambitions.
Smarter than the devil
In this book, Napoleon Hill questions himself and asks himself questions. Why, after telling the secrets of the success of so many influential men, did he still find himself ruined?
Smarter Than the Devil is above all a book in which Napoleon Hill explores fear, mental strength and self-fulfillment.
Although this book was written in 1938, it was not published until 70 years later, years after the author's death in order to avoid controversy related to the controversial thoughts on churches and the educational system mentioned in it.
Success through constructive thinking
In this book, Napoleon explores the impact that positivity can have on our lives, both personal and professional. It guides us in our personal development and pushes us to no longer doubt ourselves. Creative thinking is about attracting the positive by adopting an optimistic attitude.
"To be enthusiastic, act enthusiastically."
Success through constructive thinking walks a bit in the footsteps of Think and Get Rich and illustrates each principle with examples.
The Power of Persuasion – Design, Believe, Realize
Napoleon Hill is a strong supporter of the principle "Wanting is power" According to him, if we really want something, it is up to us to create our opportunities and believe in ourselves in order to achieve our dreams.
In this book, he accompanies us once again in a quest for personal discovery and lays down for us the basic principles to follow in order to transform our desires into reality through the power of persuasion. The first step to success is first and foremost to convince yourself that you can do it.
Your successful plan: 52 steps to make it happen
This book is the compilation of all the principles and tips that the famous American author has published to teach you how to get to know yourself better and quickly achieve your goals.
With 52 steps to success, Hill teaches you how to recognize and seize the right opportunities when they come and see the world from a different perspective.
Your master key to riches
Always from the perspective of autosuggestion and self-realization, this book will teach you how to harness your inner power. More than a professional success, it is your whole life that will be questioned.
At work, with family, in love… Learn to always draw the positive and create your own fulfillment.
Perform miracles
What if we were the miracle? In this book, our author of the day tells us about the 12 riches of life to know so that everything succeeds us. He explains to us through this work that half of the answers to our doubts are already in us and that it is enough to better understand the world around us.
Unlock your inner power and perform miracles with this work by Napoleon Hill.
Napoleon Hill is the first author we recommend you read if you want to invest in yourself. And for even more reading ideas on personal development, feel free to check out our Top Best Personal Development Books.
Have you ever read Napoleon Hill books? If so, tell us in comment which was your favorite!
