The Enigma of Napoleon Hill
I do not always admire the man — but of his success program’s efficacy, I have no doubt
Few writers have made as deep an impact on the past century as Napoleon Hill (1883–1970). The Appalachian-born journalist virtually defined the field of motivational and success literature. His influence appears in the worldwide posterity of his most famous book, Think and Grow Rich, published in 1937.
Although you can certainly find more hallowed works of therapeutic and practical philosophy than Think and Grow Rich, few have attracted such sustained and varied readership.
And few, I believe, do more to hone your abilities and sense of purpose. My conviction grows from personal experience. Since I also write critically of Hill as a man in this piece, I want to open with my reasons for enduring fealty to his work.
I write these words about ten years from when I returned to Think and Grow Rich with real commitment in 2013. Until then I had read dozens of self-help books (including Hill’s), worked for years as a publisher in the field, and harbored something of a “been there, done that” attitude toward much of the genre.
However, in fall of 2013, believing that a corporate buyout jeopardized my longtime job as a publishing executive (it ended four years…
