Think and Grow Rich: The Original 1937 Unedited Edition Paperback – October 3, 2012

It is a classic for a reason. I've heard about that book for years, and finally decided to read it. It shares a lot of ideas about mindset and achieving success. I think it's still relevant today.It talks about having a strong desire and being persistent. Those are good lessons for anyone. I found some of the advice inspiring. That book made me think about my own goals. It made me consider how I think about success.It's a bit old-fashioned in some ways, but the core ideas are still powerful. I think that anyone who wants to improve their life can learn something from it. It's a good book to read.

Back in '95, I had the good fortune to find myself in an internship for a copier company. The job was a sales position, and the whole department swore by "Self Help" tapes and CD's. I was instantly hooked on them, and started a collection of my own. At the time, I purchased a two-tape audio version of Think and Grow Rich and couldn't get enough of it. It wasn't until last year that I purchased the book, which I am now reading for the second time.For fun, I decided to read some reviews AFTER I had already listened to/read the material, and I was particularly interested in one review that mentioned a conference where the speaker asked "Who has read TGR?" The reviewer stated that 20 or so raised their hands. The next question the speaker asked was "Who's rich?" Supposedly, all their hands went down. The reviewer then stated "If you've read this book and you are NOT rich, please write a review."Well, I am not "rich" in terms of monetary value, so I guess that qualifies me.Let me first start by saying that in Tony Robbins' great CD program, Personal Power II, one of the first things he says is "It blows my mind how many people purchase tape programs like this AND NEVER USE THEM." Ahh! So my question to this above-mentioned reviewer is, how many of those 20 people that read the book ACTUALLY USED THE MATERIAL?? People seem to think that if you buy these types of books or CD programs, you automatically become "rich" just because you read the information. Got news for ya, it doesn't work that way.It is also worth mentioning that Hill specifically says that there are many characteristics that being "RICH" can imply...and he specifically states that MONEY is LAST on the list.So I say to this reviewer, that I do consider myself RICH because I have good family, good health, a good job, and good friends. And that's just for starters!Now I know everyone is thinking "big deal...what about MONEY?" OK, let me first tell you about my first experience after starting on my long road of "Self Help" materials. After listening to TGR the audio tapes, I decided right then and there that I wanted to make exactly $30,000 in my first year out of college...I graduated in '96, and remember that I listened to the audio tapes in '95. I thought about this each and every day...whether on purpose, or just casually, it doesn't really mater...the point is, I had NO OTHER OUTCOME in my mind. I WAS GOING TO MAKE $30,000 (which by the way was a good starting salary back then.) This went on for months, and I was actually excited about the idea, and couldn't wait to make this money THAT I KNEW I was going to make. I used all the principles described by Hill for my remaining months at college. I KNEW WHAT I WANTED, DEVELOPED A PLAN, AND EXECUTED THE PLAN. Throw in a few prayers here and there and you've got the gist of what Hill explains. In late spring I began interviewing when a recruiter for an insurance firm came to interview possible candidates for one of two sales positions. He went to several colleges and interviewed over 100 people. I was offered the job...which I accepted...which paid me, EXACTLY $30,000 as my starting salary.Coincidence? Or was it the result of the principles I used as described by Hill until they were brought to fruition? I can tell you what I believe, but it doesn't matter...it will not be BELIEVABLE until you prove it to yourself.Now here we are, 12 years later, and I'm getting even more from the book. I have a great job, and a superb plan for the future. I am once again using the principles described in his book (which obviously are in greater detail than the tapes) and I am on my way.So..."Am I RICH?" In monetary terms, I say to that "Not yet." Am I RICH in other aspects of my life? I say ABSOLUTELY because I've used the principles outlined in this book. I've gotten in better shape, I've strengthened my relationships with my friends and family, I purchased my own house, I have ZERO DEBT (except for my mortgage of course), and things couldn't be better for me AT THIS TIME.Bottom line, it all comes down to how you USE THE MATERIAL. If you read it once and say "Where's my money?" you'll be disappointed. If you read it AND USE IT you WILL ACHIEVE RESULTS to the degree in which you put the principles to work. It really is that simple.Read this book, use what's in it, and you will better your life. Will you be a millionaire because of it? Perhaps...Perhaps not. It's all up to you.

On many levels, I enjoyed and learned very much from the reading of this book. Despite the book's age, there are many relevant lessons that apply today just as much as when the book was written. There are many applicable lessons to be learned from Think and Grow Rich. I loved the style of writing from the era, and even certain words that are not commonly used as much these days. There is a good chance that I will be reading this again one day.I am particularly pleased that I read the unedited original version. I can't fathom someone who would want to read the newer "politically correct version." Part of the learning benefit from this book comes from reading it as it was originally intended, so as to compare the great and profound ways that we have changed as a society and as people on so many levels. In contrast, there are ways of humanity that have endured consistently with the human experience overall.This book is not without aspects that I disagree with though, one for instance has Napoleon stating a most preposterous reason for why men become bald:"Baldheaded men, for example, are bald for no other reason than their fear of criticism. Heads become bald because of the tight fitting bands of hats which cut off the circulation from the roots of the hair."Despite such a silly statement, I appreciated reading it for the main reason that he, as we all do in our respective era, have imperfections that we cannot help. This era no doubt predated the discovery that male pattern baldness is in fact genetic. He goes on to say that men also lose their hair because their hats are "too tight."A passage shortly after boasts a huge stereotype about women by saying:"But it must not be supposed that women are free from the fear of criticism. If any woman claims to be superior to man with reference to this fear, ask her to walk down the street wearing a hat of the vintage of 1890."I am certainly not offended by this, but in fact appreciated reading it in the unedited version because we get a real sense of where people and society were at in this day. On one hand, many women of today still care very much about fashion, on the other, some would be repulsed by what here is a massive generalization, as if women only would care about fashion and nothing else. Furthermore that women evidently couldn't be imagined as fearing criticism of things more commonly known to men in the day like differing politics, or equality in the workplace etc. just as a few examples.It's obvious that Napoleon intended to be speaking predominantly to men with this book even though the lessons are surely potentially relevant and empowering to women for all the same reasons that they are good for men. It's also for sure that some women will not be able to get through this book because of it, but as I said, such social distinctions and observations are riveting for me to realize, and I would suggest that enlightened women read it and appreciate it for the same reasons.Despite these two silly aspects that stood out like sore thumbs, I really did get very much profound meaning out of this reading. It is certainly catered more to men than women, and the sexism is readily apparent in this way. However, this is not a reason not to read this book. It could be seen as a reason to read it indeed because I get a strong sense that we have progressed as a society. This philosophy book of success shouldn't merely be about success, but we should also be able to measure our own progress as a society by reflecting upon some of the obviously sillier things that are written here, of which there are few to be sure.I otherwise loved so much of the writing. There were many inspirational stories and ideas about how to succeed that are as valid today as they were in 1936.I'm not going to summarize the whole book, except to reiterate once more that there are many insightful and powerful life lessons within that can help both men and women succeed.If I thought this book were boring or inherently for the most part dogmatic, I would not be able to finish it. It easily sparked and kept my interest which made it easy to get through. No problem. It was well worth the money. I wouldn't spend a penny on the edited version.4.5 Stars might be just about right, but nonetheless, this was different, special and memorable for me to read.