SUMMARY: Napoleon Hill (October 26, 1883–November 8, 1970) American author
Napoleon Hill Quotes
Napoleon Hill Books

Think and Grow Rich is a best-selling novel by Napoleon Hill. Hill’s famous expression was, “What the mind of man can conceive and believe, it can achieve”. Hill stated he thought 98% of people had no firm beliefs. Hill was known for tacking controversial subjects through his writings including racism, slavery, oppression, failure, revolution, war and poverty.

Early Years
Born into poverty on October 26, 1883, Napoleon Hill was born in a two room cabin in Wise County, Virginia. At ten years old, Hill’s mother died and his father remarried two years later. Hill was known for being a very rebellious boy. When Hill was 13 he began writing for local newspapers. He saved his earnings to enter law school, but eventually withdrew from school for financial difficulties.

Beginning of a Successful Career
In 1908, he interviewed industrialist Andrew Carnegie. Carnegie was a powerful industrialist and taught Hill about the theory of success. Carnegie was impressed with Hill and commissioned him to interview over 500 successful men and women. These interviews took place over twenty years in which he interviewed some of the most successful people in the world including; Thomas Edison, Alexander Graham Bell, George Eastman, Henry Ford, Elmer Gates, John D. Rockefeller, Charles M. Schwab, F.W. Woolworth, William Wrigley Jr., John Wanamaker, William Jennings Bryan, Joseph Stalin, Theodore Roosevelt, William H. Taft, Woodrow Wilson, Charles Allen Ward and Jennings Randolph. These interviews inspired Hill to publish The Law of Success in 1928. Hill’s Achievement formula was later published in home study courses called “Mental Dynamite”.

In 1937, Hill produced his best-selling novel, Think and Grow Rich. This book is a combination of thirteen principles intended to achieve success. It is a motivational book that teaches the importance of overcoming fears that affect one’s thinking and potential. Hill refers to the “Carnegie Secret”, an idea that is his foundation of all success. Since its first publishing, Think and Grow Rich has sold over 30 million copies worldwide.

Views
Hill’s writing’s reflected that people must have a full understanding of the spirit of giving. He named his concept, The Golden Rule.” He believed that “there is no such thing as something for nothing.” A devout Christian, Hill did not see any conflicting views between his religious beliefs and his success philosophy.

Hill also coined the phrase ‘Master Mind’ which is defined as “coordination of knowledge and effort in spirit of harmony, between two or more people, for the attainment of a definite purpose.” His ‘Master Mind’ philosophy states there are two characteristics of these people; economic and psychic. Hill believed the human mind is a form of energy, part of it spiritual in nature. For the development of this theory, Hill was awarded an honorary doctorate degree of Literature by Pacific International University.

The United States of America
Hill believed the U.S. Constitution was one of the finest living examples of the Philosophy of Achievement in existence. He believed the power the Constitution holds and represents is a power attainable by anyone.

Death
Napoleon Hill passed away on November 8, 1970 in South Carolina. His final book, You Can Work Your Own Miracles was published a year after his death. Hill’s rags-to-riches story is a wonderful example to modern America. Hill has influenced millions of people to think harder about hard work and putting effort into things in order to achieve success. Hill often stated people are free to believe what they want to believe and the power of personal beliefs play a huge role in the success of that individual. Hill is considered to have influenced more people into success than any other person in history.