3 "fascinating, ridiculous but well-meaning" stars !!!

2016 MOST AVERAGE OF AVERAGE AWARD

Let me start with a childhood story:

As some of you know, I have an aunt that I love to bits. She has been my anchor in childhood chaos, my wise teacher, my introduction to literature and opera, my favorite playmate and a believer in "Jaidee" through all my trials, challenges and tribulations.

Anyways back to the story. I am about six and I am spending the day with her. We went to Woolworth's for grill cheese and coke, walked in the park and came to the second hand bookstore where each week we would each choose a book. I look up and lo and behold I see this book "Think and Grow Rich" (I learned to read when I was four or so). I said "Auntie what is that book about?"

She winked. O how I loved her winks, with her long dark blonde hair, bright red lipstick and brightly colored polyester dresses she looked like a movie star. She whispered, "Jaidee, if you close your eyes hard enough and wish hard enough and if you are good enough- money will appear".
My brown eyes must have grown huge because she said- "but only when you are with me." Well now not only was she a movie star but like a tooth fairy.

That whole day my eyes were closed so tightly and at the end of the day I found a quarter in my pocket. This game went on for two years until I found out the truth and I mist over thinking of the magic that wonderful woman made for me and that is only one example.

Now enough sentimentality and onto the book:

I have wanted to read that book since then and finally I have. I read the 2015 updated edition and it was absolutely fascinating in a scary kind of way.

Napoleon Hill was a motivational speaker who was friends with Edison, Ford and some other wealthy people and he "studied" them and came up with thirteen steps to riches. The book is engaging and full of "convenient" examples.

The book is a real slice of Americanah with many examples taken from the depression and it is infused with common sense, populist thought, pseudo-mysticism, quasi psychology and philosophy and a lot of silly little exercises that if somebody tries hard enough will lead to untold riches. Of course if you don't- you didn't try hard enough and there are fears tied in your subconscious that you have not yet overcome.

There was an interesting chapter on sex transmutation. In short- turn your horniness into money- read the chapter and you will found out how.

This positive thinking book is really well meaning but I just cannot give it any more than three stars despite its interesting nature due to the fact that it blames a complex problem of poverty right on the poor rather than the greed of capitalism or the myth of socialism.

Sociologists, Economists and Psychologists must cringe when they read this.

It was however very interesting, lures you with its common sense, feeds on your sense of greed and if you are middle class is no more dangerous than a lottery ticket or small trip to the casino.

For the millions of poor however , I think this is a harsh and dangerous slap in the face. Read it with a grain of salt, no make it a shaker of salt and for entertainment value only.

A classic self-help book, even a few would arguably say this must be treated as text books and everyone should read it. I definitely did agree with lots of ideas mentioned in it, but I suppose I was expecting more since a lot of people were singing praises of it. Overall it wasn't bad But I just needed more or perhaps the book was pretty good for its time and I'm just being too critical here.

Profound.

Да беше жив Оливър Наполеон Хил, бих му стиснала ръката. Не за друго, а защото е надушил в немотията и нещастието на хората ниша, която негови далновидни „колеги“ и до ден-днешен разработват доста успешно. Бих казала, че „Мисли и забогатявай“ е нещо като пълнометражна версия на великолепното стихотворение на Джани Родари „Продавач на надежда“, но без доброто писане и некористолюбивия замисъл.

Ще бъда по-конкретна, дори мога да ви направя услуга и да ви спестя четенето на 250 страници – невероятната „тайна“, която Хил предъвква в цялата си книга е да искате много силно да имате пари и да не се отказвате от преследването на целите си, гарнирано тук-там за разкош със зародиша на разни ню ейдж идеи за някакъв Висш разум (главната буква е на г-н Хил, не моя) и трансмутация на сексуална енергия. Цялата книга ми напомняше поредица недотам умели барабанни тушове, след всеки от който аха, да се разкрие някоя по-трезва и заземена мисъл, но не би. Накрая си излязох от представлението, уморена от дългото нагнетяване на напрежението да прочета нещо смислено и неудовлетворението му. Не ме разбирайте погрешно, не съм си представяла някой чародеен фокус от вида „Застанете по пълнолуние на Еньов ден на върха на скала, изпийте две шепи мълчана вода и ще забогатеете“, но пък някак очаквах малко повече от тая набедена Библия на книгите за самопомощ.

Не знам дали тук е моментът, но ще спомена, че където и да прочета колко велика държава е САЩ, как няма по земното кълбо друга като нея и именно там хората са свободни да постигнат де що блага има на този свят, получавам нещо като анафилактичен шок. Ако сте заинтересувани, ще прочетете дори сбита история на създаването на Съединените щати, която само доказва величието на въпросната държава и хората, които са я основали (ако съм пропуснала да отбележа, САЩ е най-прекрасната страна в света. Не, май това го казах). Освен това, ако също не знаете, зад всеки успял мъж стои по една скромна и неособено известна в обществото жена, защото къде да стои жената иначе, ако не ЗАД мъжа? Защо живее жената, ако не да помага на мъжа да се издигне до неподозирани висоти? Очевидно жени като Гъртруд Бел, Амелия Еърхарт и Ада Лавлейс не са направили особено впечатление на Наполеон Хил, та да даде някоя от тях за пример. Не си падам по радикалния феминизъм и космите по краката, но в края на тридесетте години на двадесети век в тези толкова напредничави Щати някои аспекти на мисълта са били на рудиментарно ниво. Не виждам защо г-н Хил, който счита себе си за открил Граала в печеленето на пари, не е могъл да преразгледа или поне премълчи тези си възгледи.

Истината е, че Наполеон Хил не успява твърде последователно да приложи да практика безценните съвети, които предлага. Бих казала, че е свършил доста повторяема и неособено иновативна работа за тези 20 години, през които уж синтезира опита на стотици преуспели хора в „Мисли и забогатявай“. Има няколко провалени бизнес начинания и друга неуспешна книга за самопомощ. Голямата депресия го удря неприятно след първия му масов успех, с което не се отличава особено от доста други хора в САЩ. Предполагам, че нещо се объркало и не е искал достатъчно силно да бъде богат в този период. Приходите от „Мисли и забогатявай“, написана през 1937 г., когато хората полекичка се окопитват от Голямата депресия, пък почти изцяло се озовават при вече бившата му съпруга (до голяма степен помогнала за написването и редакцията на въпросната книга). На брачния фронт Хил има няколко провалени брака, първият от които сключен при доста съмнителни обстоятелства. Сигурно е трудно човек едновременно да пише как се става богат и е хубаво да се поддържат хармонични отношения с околните, че и да си изпълнява напътствията. Препоръчвам за четене, ако искате да разберете от първа ръка защо няма какво да ви дадат такива книги.

"A QUITTER NEVER WINS – AND – A WINNER NEVER QUITS."

Think and Grow Rich, in my opinion, is a one of a kind book, and offers readers a completely new paradigm for achieving one's life desires, whatever they may be.

When I picked up this book, I did not expect it to differ much from the other self-help books in terms of principles to follow. But how amazingly the author had organized this guide? what an incredible amount of information he had analyzed in presenting these principles?

I don't imagine there are many other books which required and carried out more thorough research than this book. The time you invest on reading this incredible guide will no doubt open your mind to a brand new reality of thinking. It is no wonder that this books is at top of almost all the 'best ever self-help books.' I will not miss re-reading this at least once a year.

"SUCCESS REQUIRES NO EXPLANATIONS. FAILURES PERMITS NO ALIBIS."

The mind cannot differentiate between truth and falsehood, we simply need to instruct or manipulate it toward a certain mode!


'Think and Grow Rich' by Napoleon Hill, takes an in depth look at the power of the mind and personal belief and how these influence our success. Hill uses examples of past success such as Andrew Carnegie, Henry Ford and Thomas Edison to show how factors such as desire, the subconscious mind, faith and goals can interweave to create favorable condition for success.

The title of this book can be quite deceiving. I thought it would be a get rich quick book but was pleasantly surprised. Hill used timeless principles to illustrate the power of the mind, visualization and channeling our desires to attaining financial greatness. While the book was written many years ago, the principles demonstrated here in fact serve as guides to modern day self-help programs and books. The chapter on autosuggestion showing how we have the power to direct our minds toward achieving a certain goal fascinated me. Hill shows how the mind cannot differentiate between truth and falsehood, we simply need to instruct or manipulate it toward a certain mode.

This is a must read for everyone, regardless of your professional background. The insight you receive here will help you move from procrastination and fear to actualizing your goals.

فلسفة النوايا الحسنة ومساعدة الآخرين والحب والإنضباط الذاتي وإمتلاك غايات كبرى في الحياة.

الكتاب سيء، مبهم وكثير الحشو ويميل لتبجيل الرأسمالية الأمريكية بقومية سقيمة ، ليس مميز أو جيد كفاية رغم استيعابي له بشيء من المشقة.

ألوم المراجعة ومكتبة جرير التي عودتنا على التراجم السيئة ولربما الكاتب أيضاً.

عالعموم فحوى الكتاب في الفصل الأخير، إستفدت منه اليسير ولكنه حتماً لا يستحق قيمته المالية.


إقتبست:

"يجب تخطيط برنامج القراءة بعناية كتخطيط الغذاء اليومي، ﻷن المعرفة أيضاً تعد غذاءا لا يمكننا أن ننمو عقليا بدونه."

...

One of the best classical self-help books I ever read.

I will read this book from time to time and review my habits and action.

I asked my friend to buy this book when he went to Canada for holidays around the year 1997.

It was not sold in my country at that time and I didn’t know why.

About his deaf son on page 37: "We would not permit him to learn sign language. We were determined that he should live a normal life and associate with normal children, and we stood by that decision, although it cost us many heated debates with school officials."

That stupid statement immediately made me dislike Napoleon Hill. As someone who is hard-of-hearing and can function well in "normal society", yet, knows sign language, I take offense to this. I take offense that he thinks knowing sign language isn't "normal" and that he wanted his son hanging out with "normal" children. Ugh.

By the end of Chapter 2, I didn't want to read anymore.

Not only did I dislike his opinion about deaf children, but this entire book is about making money. Lots of it. And how to do so. And while his methods may work, I don't want to make a lot of money -- just enough to pay the bills. Life is about much more than getting rich.

Perfect book for you if all you care about is getting rich.

- DESIRE: THE STARTING POINT OF ALL ACHIEVEMENT
- nu te lasa descurajat de insuccese. Dimpotriva acestea trebuie sa te motiveze
- Wishing will not bring riches. But desiring riches with a state of mind that becomes an obsession, then planning definite ways and means to acquire riches, and backing those plans with persistence which does not recognize failure, will bring riches.
- To all these I wish to convey the thought that all achievement, no matter what may be its nature, or its purpose, must begin with an intense, BURNING DESIRE for something definite.
- FAITH is a state of mind which may be induced, or created, by affirmation or repeated instructions to the subconscious mind, through the principle of auto-suggestion.
- FAITH IS A STATE OF MIND WHICH MAY BE INDUCED BY AUTOSUGGESTION
- FAITH is the “eternal elixir” which gives life, power, and action to the impulse of thought!

This is a book I listened to many years ago-so not a current read. My husband listened to motivational tapes in his car as he traveled his sales route. I had never heard of them before we met. After we got married I would listen to his old ones as I got ready for work each morning. As far out as the premise of this book seemed I tried it. Thought and believed I would make "X" number of dollars before I retired, it was an unrealistically high salary for my position in the company. I have thought of this book often because, as unrealistic as that number was, my last raise was that exact amount.