10 Surprising Facts About Napoleon Hill, Author of "Think and Grow Rich," with Thor Challgren, EP11

In this episode, I share ten surprising facts about Napoleon Hill and his classic success book, “Think and Grow Rich.”

I’ve read the book many times, and I thought I knew the author’s personal story. But after reading a biography of Hill (below), I discovered so much more about Hill’s own personal challenges during a rags-to-riches-back-to-rags-and-back-to-riches journey.

In this episode, you’ll discover fascinating details including:

• The decision made in 30 seconds that changed Napoleon Hill’s life
• The bestselling book Hill wrote before “Think and Grow Rich”
• Napoleon Hill’s “boom and bust” history
• Hill as the originator of the “online course”?
• The two presidents under which Hill worked (for free)
• The original name for “Think and Grow Rich”
• How he lost all the money he made from writing the book
• The marriage that redeemed him
• The company Hill helped grow from $30 million to $900 million
• What finally happened to the book rights to “Think and Grow Rich”

If you ever have doubt about your own path in life, or you wonder if you’re starting too late on your own success journey, I think you’ll find Hill’s story inspiring.

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Mentioned in Show
Biography of Napoleon Hill - A Lifetime of Riches by Michael J. Ritt, Jr. and Kirk Landers
Think and Grow Rich - Revised Edition for 21st Century
Think and Grow Rich - 1937 Edition
The Law of Success
Paul Harvey - The Rest of the Story

Note that the 1937 edition of “Think and Grow Rich” contains cultural language and references not uncommon in that era.

“Think and Grow” Rich is one of the most popular personal development books of all time. If you ask any hugely successful person to name a work that influenced and inspired them, chances are they’ll cite this book, and the philosophy behind it. 

Published in 1937 during the Great Depression, “Think and Grow Rich,” was the culmination of 25 years of Napoleon Hill’s research with 500 of the most successful people of his era. Launched as a challenge from steel magnate Andrew Carnegie, Napoleon Hill’s book went on to sell over a million copies during the Depression, at a cost in today’s dollars of over $45 a copy.

Napoleon Hill’s work inspired contemporaries including Dale Carnegie ( “How to Win Friends and Influence People,” and Norman Vincent Peale, (“The Power of Positive Thinking.”)

Thanks for listening!