Review: Think and Grow Rich

Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



I have read the majority of the success classics, but this one continues to be a perennial favorite. Napoleon Hill has the credibility of in-depth research and endorsement of Andrew Carnegie, who is the Bill Gates of the industrial age. I also put the perspective of the times Napoleon would have written this in and the fact that it endures speaks to not only what is written but how (style) it is written.

The most impactful chapters for me are Chapter 1 "Thoughts are Things". This is a common refrain in most success books but the time of my life I was exposed to this (21 years old) gave it a particular impact.

Chapter 2 "Desire" was also pivotal in that the "Six Ways to Turn Desire Into Gold" was the first time I allowed myself to visualize a future of being a millionaire and the service I would give in return for it.

As a result of this book, I have been a prodigious reader of success books, particularly, the older classics. As an author, it also had an impact on my desire to give back. I know that my current success, through my own struggles, is due in no small part to this book.

While the title may seem materialistic, Napoleon explains in his audio sessions "In His Own Voice" that he needed an attention getter, but realized that mere wealth alone is a poor barometer for full life success.

I highly recommend this work to anyone who needs to "systematize" their thoughts of success and how they will achieve it!



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Review: Maximum Achievement: Strategies and Skills that Will Unlock Your Hidden Powers to Succeed

Maximum Achievement: Strategies and Skills that Will Unlock Your Hidden Powers to Succeed by Brian Tracy

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



I have a simple formula for success that requires the right Opportunity, Timing and People. This book, "Maximum Achievement" by Brian Tracy was a potent combination of the three and impacted my life at a time I most needed this type of message.

As a student of the success classics I have always prided myself on understanding the laws of the mind and achievement. However, there was a "missing link" of those laws and their practical daily application in the world of business and sales...enter Brian Tracy.

I had just gone through a business failure and was struggling to regain my footing financially and found myself back in corporate America...at the bottom. My mind would not let me accept that position as a long term occupation so I used this book to help me re-build my opportunities.

I am a big proponent and believer in Strenghfinders 2.0 and through my assessment my #1 strength is Strategic. The language and syntax that Tracy uses speaks directly to my need to see things linearly laid out...progressively building to a crescendo of results.

The most impactful chapters for me were:

Make Your Life a Masterpiece
The Master Program
The Master Goal

As a book on success, it contains all the basic core elements such as the power of thoughts/mind, eliminating fear, setting goals and living a life of balance.

Tracy is credible because of his own struggles, similar to mine and certainly most people and the authenticity for which he conveys his approach to business and life success. He is an enduring figure in this genre and his decades of top tier status reflect on the power and effectiveness of the message.

I have not read this book in several years, but now in doing this review and looking at the well-worn, highlighted pages, I will dig back in for reinforcement of key lessons.

This book has reached "Classic" status which I reserve for books that have had the most impact on my life and represent timeless, proven techniques for which they were written.

I highly recommend this book!



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Review: The Prosperity Bible: Landmark Writings on the Incredible Prospering Powers of the Human Mind

The Prosperity Bible: Landmark Writings on the Incredible Prospering Powers of the Human Mind by Napoleon Hill

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



At over 1,250 hardbound pages, this compilation is the definitive volume of success classic by many of the most widely recognized masters of the genre.

Authors include well known names such as P.T Barnum, Benjamin Franklin, and of course, Napoleon Hill. There are other names that may not be as familiar, except to students of the success classics such as Charles Fillmore, James Allen, Wallace Wattles, Russell Conwell, Robert Collier, Charles Haanel and Ernest Holmes - a veritable who's who.

While this review will not be an exhaustive treatise on the individual books, essays and systems contained in this book, I do want to give the potential reader the ammunition they need to encourage inclusion of this book on their shelves.

Of the 19 works in the book, "Think and Grow Rich" by Napoleon Hill is THE CLASSIC that paved the way for the contemporary guru's of our time, such as Anthony Robbins and others. That work alone would make this volume worth the price of admission.

However, it is some of the lessor known works that really make this a jewel worth it's weight in gold. My favorites include;

"As A Man Thinketh" by James Allen
"Masterkey System" by Charles F. Haanel
"The Secret of Success" by William Walker Atkinson
"The Secret of the Ages" by Robert Collier
"The Science of Getting Rich" by Wallace Wattles
"Prosperity" by Charles Fillmore

I have reviewed many of this individual works on Goodreads, and alone they are priceless in the lessons they convey, the "old world" prose that the authors of this day engaged and the timeless truths of who we are and what we are capable of as human beings made after the image of a mighty Creator.

As the author of several books on success, sales and life mastery, I ingest a steady diet of books on the subject. I have read 100's of success books, mainly the classics, and this thick volume is a "one stop shop" for anyone needing a life manual.

If my home was on fire and my expansive library of physical books (still love them...even with an overflowing e-reader!) I would grab my vintage Bible...and this book.

I highly recommend this volume!!!



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Review: God Always Says Yes

God Always Says Yes by Sue Sikking

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



I am fortunate enough to have one of the original hard bound versions of this book. My father gave it to me after I had gotten married and began to be a student of the success classics.

In a previous review of “How Five Used Truth” by Emilie Cady, I relayed the story of how my father introduced me to these types of authors. At the time that he’d given me this book from his library, I had already read many of the works of Catherine Ponder, Robert Collier, Wallace Wattles, James Allen, Prentice Mulford and others.

“God Always Says Yes” by Sue Sikking is a reinforcement of the core truths outlined in most of these works. Because I had a foundation built on the Bible and on these other works, I was immediately able to understand and assimilate Sikking’s message.

The most impactful chapter for me was “The Law Of God Is Completion”. It outlines many of the standard elements such as the law of vibration, attraction, rhythm, polarity and others that would be recognizable to readers of this genre. It could easily be an inspiration for “The Secret” by Rhonda Byrne.

As I state in all of my reviews of books of this nature, you do not have to suspend your beliefs systems, but use them as a foundation to understand the process we have been engrafted with by The Creator. As a Christian, this book aligns with my core beliefs and things I have been taught and read. Sikking uses Bible chapter and verse throughout, but in my opinion, not in an over-the-top fashion. There are elements of the book that would remind you of Deepak Chopra’s “Seven Spiritual Laws Of Success”.

Do not mistake this for a simple “prosperity message” but a guide to living a well-balanced life – connected to God.

The book is holding up but well-worn from time and use…one generation to the next. While my children are grown and have had me and my father as “living witnesses”, I will eventually pass this down.

If you are fortunate enough to find this book…I would strongly suggest reading it.




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Review: Mind Is the Master

Mind Is the Master by James Allen

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



This expansive volume is a harvest of rich inspiration in my life planted by the small seed of "As A Man Thinketh" by James Allen - a gift from my father-in-law some years ago.

It is a simple, but highly impactful read that outlines the spiritual forces that reside within man and that his external world is a direct by-product of his thoughts. His simple truths resonated with me at a time in my life that I was seeking higher expression of success - mired in financial distress and ruin.

I had always been a student of certain success classics by the likes of Wallace Wattles, Prentice Mulford, Emile Cady, Robert Collier, Napoleon Hill (of course!) and others. While "As A Man Thinketh" if fundamentally in unison with these writers, something about James Allen prose and content cut right to the heart of what I needed.

Years later, I happened upon this volume while bargain hunting at the now defunct Borders Books. It is the complete treasure of James Allens' works and was immediately a favorite "friend" on my shelf!

These 19 essays, works, and books run down what was a prolific writing career and one that insightfully captures the spiritual elements of success and holistic living. As an author of books on success, sales and life mastery, I believe that we should live complete lives - mentally, socially, physically and financially.

My favorite volumes within this work are "As A Man Thinketh", From Poverty to Power, and the daily Book of Meditation For Every Day In the Year - Fabulous! My absolute favorite is "Eight Pillars of Prosperity". I have a separate review of this book on Goodreads but it is a practical application of the seminal work Emerson's "Essay on Compensation".

At 866 pages it is a compilation that you will refer to often (daily using the Meditations!) and will become the go to reference guide on your bookshelf.

This is a top 10 book in my library and I highly recommend it!



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Review: The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success: A Practical Guide to the Fulfillment of Your Dreams

The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success: A Practical Guide to the Fulfillment of Your Dreams by Deepak Chopra

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



I had seen Deepak Chopra on a PBS (love PBS!) many years ago. It was right about the time this book was released. As he walked through the Seven Spiritual Laws Of Success I was captivated by the simplicity of the concepts.

I then went to the public library for my weekly visit and not only found the book but found the audiotapes. The first thing that struck me was the size of the volume. Probably less than 10 typed pages, and able to be read in less than an hour. I literally read the book before I left the library.

As a student of hundreds of books in the success genre, largely the classics, I immediately recognized that the seven laws were in alignment with much that I had read over the years. That is the reality of eternal truths, it matters not who writes it, what religion they espouse, and the language they use– truth will cut through to the top.

As a Christian, I could easily juxtapose the seven spiritual laws and correlate them directly to the Bible. In reading books of this type, and other success books that have been labeled metaphysical or New Age, I believe the key is not to suspend your belief system, but opening your mind to receiving the lessons using your beliefs as a foundation.

Between the size of this volume and the poetic language that Chopra uses, it reminds me of “As A Man Thinketh” by James Allen. With the reading of each sentence, paragraph and turning of each page Chopra very effectively defines the laws and shows you simply how the actualize them in your life.

My favorite chapter is The Law Detachment. This law sets you free to pursue your desire without “raging against the machine”. Through intention and attention you create the mold and the blueprint, but universal power (who I explicitly call God) will bring about the events, circumstances, resources and people necessary to help you accomplish your desire. It will not always fit your anticipated method but if you are detached from “The How”, but be ready for the avenues to open up you would enjoy the journey much more.

It has been a while since I have read this book, but even in writing this review am reminded of its timeless effect on my spirit – reminding me of who I am, how I was created, and what I am capable of.

That is what a good book should do.




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Review: The Science of Getting Rich

The Science of Getting Rich by Wallace D. Wattles

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



This book had made the "rounds" back in the 80's and I was exposed to it then for the first time. I had gotten a free copy in PDF and put it on my computer. Since this was before e-readers, I lost track of it for over 10 years...having never read it.

I then faced a series of financial challenges and began to devour my old stand-by success material and happened up on the old PDF version...serendipity.

I read the book in less than 2 hours...and read it again...and again!

At the point where I was in my life, the words were spot on. Wallace Wattles has a style that is reminiscent of James Allen in "As A Man Thinketh" and the prose resonates with me in a way that conveys "old world wisdom".

Having read & listened to 100's of success books, articles, and audio programs, I am consciously aware of what I need to do to achieve, but the reminders of a good book stimulate those learnings.

The book provides a progressive approach and crescendos with a fundamental statement that is a reverberation of Hebrews 11:1 - Now faith is the substance...

Readers of this book and familiar with the Bible will see the connection...without sermon or preaching style.

He correlates that the thoughts we think are the "mold" and that universal substance fills all space and responds to those thoughts. These are the foundation of The Secret by Rhonda Byrnes and The Science of Getting Rich is the book her daughter gave her that was the catalyst for her personal turnaround and best selling book.

While The Secret goes light in many areas, for those that want to "go deeper", I would highly recommend this book and other books and essays by Wallace Wattles.

I have this book on Cd as well and listen to it often...



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