ABOUT THE BOOK

Think and Grow Rich, originally published in 1937, is a book that helped launch the personal development genre. Written by Napoleon Hill, the book outlines thirteen principles to achieving success and is considered a classic by business and success gurus. It is also consistently listed in Business Week's list of best selling business books.

The book idea came from Andrew Carnegie who believed there was a formula to success and challenged Hill to interview or analyze 500 successful people and compile the information into an easy-to-read strategy. Although not sure he was up to the task, Hill completed the interviews and organized the results into the Laws of Success (1928) and eventually into Think and Grow Rich.

MEET THE AUTHOR

Leslie Truex is an online entrepreneur and freelance writer. She is the author of The Work-At-Home Success Bible (Adams Media) and Jobs Online (self-published). Her small business articles appear on Lenovo's Small Business Insights, the Houston Chronicle's Chron.com, and eHow. She's written several hundred articles on fitness and nutrition for LIVESTRONG.com. Since 1998, she has provided work-at-home information through her website, WorkAtHomeSuccess.com. She teaches work-at-home and writing related courses through Piedmont Virginia Community College. She has a B.A. in Psychology from Willamette University and an MSW from California State University, Sacramento. Her social work experience includes school counseling, public health and adoptions. She is also an AFAA certified aerobics instructor.

EXCERPT FROM THE BOOK

Think and Grow Rich is a blueprint for achieving wealth and personal success. But the book doesn't discuss how to start a business or invest money. Instead, it focuses on psychological, emotional and spiritual growth required for achievement. The original 1937 edition contains sixteen chapters, thirteen of which outline his steps toward riches such as Desire, Faith and Persistence.

The book uses the material Hill collected over many years of interviewing successful people and synthesizes it into a philosophy of success. It contains the personal stories and anecdotes of early twentieth century millionaires including Woodrow Wilson, Thomas Edison, John D. Rockefeller, Henry Ford and Alexander Graham Bell.

Along with personal stories of successful businessmen, the book provides steps to developing each of the personal attributes needed for success. For example, in the Desire chapter, Hill gives six steps setting and working towards goals.

Leslie Treux