
Think and Grow Rich
The secrets of 40 millionaires' wealth, revealed
Book Edition Details
Summary
"In Think and Grow Rich (1937), Napoleon Hill investigates the methods of the 500 most successful people of his time, including the world’s richest men, top politicians, famous inventors, writers and captains of industry. First published amidst the Great Depression, Think and Grow Rich has sold over 100 million copies.\nA note to readers: this Blink was redone especially for audio. This is the reason why the text version might differ from the audio version. If you’re trying to decide whether to li"
Introduction
Why do some individuals achieve extraordinary wealth while others struggle financially despite equal intelligence and opportunity? This fundamental question has puzzled observers of human success for generations. The answer lies not in external circumstances or inherited advantages, but in the systematic application of specific mental principles that govern the accumulation of riches. This work presents a comprehensive philosophy of personal achievement based on extensive research into the methods employed by America's most successful individuals. The philosophy reveals that wealth creation follows predictable patterns rooted in definite mental attitudes and behaviors. At its core lies the principle that thoughts, when properly directed and sustained, possess the power to transform themselves into their material equivalent. This transformation occurs through the application of thirteen fundamental principles that work in harmony to convert desire into tangible results. The framework demonstrates how individuals can harness the power of their subconscious mind, develop unwavering faith, and create organized plans that lead inevitably to financial success. These principles operate as natural laws, available to anyone willing to understand and apply them consistently.
The Foundation: Desire, Faith, and Mental Programming
The cornerstone of all achievement rests upon three interconnected psychological forces that transform ordinary individuals into wealth creators. Burning desire represents the starting point, but this differs fundamentally from mere wishing or hoping. True desire manifests as an obsessive longing that becomes so intense it dominates one's thoughts and compels persistent action toward a specific goal. This desire must possess absolute definiteness regarding what one wants, when one wants it, and what one is willing to give in return. The specificity distinguishes successful individuals from those trapped in vague hopes and general wishes. When desire reaches the intensity of obsession, it naturally develops into definite purpose, creating a magnetic force that attracts opportunities and resources aligned with one's dominant thoughts. Faith operates as the emotional catalyst that gives life and power to desire. This state of mind can be systematically developed through autosuggestion, the process by which individuals influence their subconscious mind through conscious direction of thought. The subconscious accepts and acts upon any thought repeatedly impressed upon it with emotional intensity, regardless of whether that thought is true or false. Through persistent mental programming, individuals can plant thoughts of success and wealth in their subconscious, which then works continuously to manifest these thoughts into reality. Consider Edwin Barnes, who arrived at Thomas Edison's laboratory as a penniless young man with one consuming desire: to become Edison's business partner. Despite appearing like a vagrant, Barnes possessed an inner conviction so powerful that Edison recognized it immediately. Barnes maintained his definite purpose while working in menial positions until opportunity presented itself through Edison's dictating machine. His unwavering desire and faith-backed mental programming ultimately transformed him into a wealthy business associate, demonstrating how these foundational principles create their own opportunities.
The Tools: Knowledge, Imagination, and Strategic Planning
The transformation of desire into achievement requires three essential tools that convert mental energy into practical results. Specialized knowledge represents the first tool, but not general education or academic credentials. This principle emphasizes knowledge organized and directed toward a definite purpose, acquired through experience, observation, or by surrounding oneself with experts who possess the required information. Knowledge itself has no value until organized into definite plans of action. Imagination serves as the workshop of the mind, operating through two distinct mechanisms. Synthetic imagination rearranges existing ideas and concepts into new combinations, while creative imagination provides direct communication with infinite intelligence, receiving entirely new ideas and inspiration. This faculty enables individuals to visualize their desires as already accomplished and develop innovative approaches to achieving their goals. Strategic planning crystallizes desire into action through the development of definite, practical blueprints for achieving specific objectives. This process requires forming alliances with others whose cooperation is necessary for success, as no individual possesses sufficient knowledge or ability to accumulate great wealth alone. Effective planning demands regular meetings with these alliances to refine and improve strategies, understanding that temporary defeat serves as valuable feedback rather than permanent failure. Henry Ford exemplified these principles by transforming a simple idea into the largest automobile manufacturing enterprise in the world. Despite lacking extensive technical knowledge or significant capital, Ford's burning desire to create affordable transportation drove him to acquire specialized knowledge through experts, use his imagination to visualize revolutionary manufacturing processes, and organize teams of specialists who could transform his vision into reality. His success resulted not from superior education or resources, but from the systematic application of these three tools in service of a definite purpose.
The Power: Master Mind Principle and Persistence
The achievement of significant success requires harnessing two forms of power that amplify individual capability beyond normal limitations. The Master Mind principle represents the coordination of knowledge and effort between two or more people working in harmony toward a definite purpose. This alliance creates a third mind that possesses capabilities greater than the sum of its individual parts, generating both economic and psychic benefits that accelerate achievement. The economic advantages arise from combining different skills, knowledge, and resources, while the psychic benefits create a form of mental energy that stimulates creative thinking and provides access to inspiration beyond what any individual could achieve alone. When minds blend in perfect harmony, they generate additional mental energy that each participant can access and direct toward their common objective. Andrew Carnegie exemplified this principle by coordinating the knowledge of approximately fifty business associates, creating the largest steel empire in the world despite lacking technical knowledge about steel manufacturing. Persistence represents the sustained effort necessary to induce faith and maintain forward momentum despite obstacles, criticism, and temporary defeat. This quality distinguishes those who achieve lasting success from those who surrender at the first sign of opposition. Persistence is not mere stubbornness, but intelligent effort backed by definite purpose and organized planning. It requires developing eight specific factors including definiteness of purpose, burning desire, self-reliance, accurate knowledge, cooperation, willpower, and habit. The story of Fannie Hurst illustrates persistence in action. After receiving thirty-six rejection slips from publishers, she continued writing and submitting her work until finally breaking through to success. Her persistence not only led to publication but eventually to movie deals worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. This pattern repeats throughout history: individuals who refuse to accept temporary defeat eventually find that circumstances yield to their unwavering determination, creating what appears to be miraculous results through the natural operation of universal laws.
The Mind: Subconscious Mastery and Sixth Sense
The highest levels of achievement require mastery of the mind's most powerful faculties, which operate beyond conscious awareness yet determine the ultimate success or failure of all human endeavor. The subconscious mind functions as a connecting link between the finite human mind and infinite intelligence, operating continuously to transform thoughts and desires into their physical equivalent. This faculty accepts and acts upon any thought that reaches it, whether positive or negative, making it essential to feed the subconscious only thoughts of a constructive nature. The subconscious responds most effectively to thoughts mixed with strong emotion and faith, working automatically to attract circumstances, people, and opportunities that harmonize with the nature of the thoughts it has been given. This principle explains why individuals who maintain positive, success-oriented thinking patterns consistently experience more favorable outcomes than those who focus on limitations and obstacles. The key lies in understanding that the subconscious cannot distinguish between real and imagined experiences, accepting vivid mental pictures as instructions for creating corresponding external conditions. The Sixth Sense represents the apex of mental development, functioning as a receiving set through which ideas, plans, and inspiration flash into the mind from unknown sources. This faculty operates only when the mind has been developed through application of the other principles and when the individual has reached a high level of mental and spiritual development. It provides warnings of impending dangers and notifications of opportunities that would otherwise go unrecognized. Many great leaders throughout history have relied upon this faculty for guidance in making crucial decisions, often describing it as intuition or divine inspiration. The systematic development of these mental faculties represents the ultimate achievement in personal development, providing access to wisdom and capability that transcends normal human limitations. This faculty cannot be forced or hurried but emerges naturally as individuals master the other principles and maintain harmony between their conscious desires and subconscious programming.
Summary
The ultimate secret of wealth accumulation lies in the systematic application of mental laws that operate with mathematical precision: whatever the mind can conceive and believe, backed by burning desire and persistent action, it can achieve. This philosophy demonstrates that wealth creation follows predictable principles rather than luck or circumstance, transforming the seemingly mysterious process into a practical science available to anyone willing to master its components. The lasting significance extends far beyond financial gain, offering a comprehensive understanding of human potential and the mental forces that shape all achievement, empowering individuals to become conscious creators of their destiny rather than victims of circumstance.

By Napoleon Hill