Napoleon Hill
Think and Grow Rich
ISBN: 978-1-50308-103-1
James Whittaker
Think and Grow Rich: The Legacy
ISBN: 978-1-64095-018-4
I decided to make this review a two-for-one for a couple of reasons. First, I didn’t feel like either of these books really were long enough or had enough content each to stand alone. Second, and more importantly, The Legacy really didn’t make too much sense without reading Hill’s book. I read the original first, but obtained The Legacy first while at the Young Entrepreneur Convention in Des Moines last spring. Before I had a chance to read what I had obtained at the conference, I was told by a friend to read the original first. So, I did.
Have you ever read a book by someone famous and felt like you were reading it in their voice? I felt that way when I read Jordan Peterson’s 12 Rules for Life, and I felt a similar way when reading this book. Napoleon Hill wrote Think and Grow Rich in the 1930s, and the language used in the book made it feel like a time capsule back to that era, where it felt like I was reading the book in that weird “old-timey radio voice” that Seth MacFarlane does frequently on Family Guy.
The content of the original book is relatively solid, but comes off a bit like a snake oil salesman is getting you to buy his product. Again, this might be a side-effect of the way or the time in which it was written. Think and Grow Rich could really use a rewrite for the 21st century to stay relevant, because many who could benefit from the text might have a hard time staying focused with the distractions mentioned previously. The virtues of persistence and tenacity discussed in this book could benefit anyone who reads it – any person who wants to do better in life. Unfortunately, the language and tone of this nearly century-old book distracts from its message.
James Whittaker’s follow-up book doesn’t add any new content to the original text. It highlights a series of stories of people who put Hill’s words into action and managed to improve their lives. The Legacy book was released in conjunction with a film of the same name, which I haven’t had a chance to watch. However, if the stories in the book are the same as the stories featured in the film, I think I will just skip the film.
I’m not really sure what the purpose was to creating The Legacy and its accompanying film, other than acting as an advertisement for the original book. It really doesn’t stand on its own without the context of the original book. Perhaps others have gained more inspiration from hearing other people’s stories of how a book helped them. Honestly, it was lost on me.
For the original Think and Grow Rich, 7/10, would recommend to anyone needing inspiration to reach their goals, especially those who have recently suffered a set-back or a loss. For Think and Grow Rich: The Legacy, 2/10, would not recommend unless you really like testimonials.