Welcome to our new book series, "Good Life Reads"! A part of these articles moving forward will be a periodic feature of some amazing reads. My plan is to use these articles to highlight some of the books I've encountered that have proved to be impactful, thought provoking, or enlightening in my journey. I'll provide background on the book and author, a summary of its themes, and some strategies to keep in mind when reading. I hope you enjoy!
The Law of Success
By: Napoleon Hill
To start off our first installment in the series, I thought it was only natural to begin with the very first book I read, "The Law of Success". This book induced the first true pivot point my life presented me. It came to me at the perfect time, in the perfect situation, and I really just dove into it - lived by it. It without a doubt has made the biggest impact on me of any book I've read, and still continues to (because I still read it…).
Heads Up:
My advice to anyone looking to read this book or others like it is always the same: don't put too much pressure on yourself. Full disclosure, this book took me almost a year to finish because I took it in chunks and often went back to reread. It's totally okay if you're not a big reader, you can start slow! Start with reading a simple paragraph each day, at any point in the day. Just a paragraph, set it down, and be satisfied that you've done your reading. But don't forget to do it! It is much more beneficial to read a little bit each day than to binge read chapters every so often. The important part is that you are touching the material every day, because you are building the foundation for what is to come. What's more, practically every book now has an audio feature available, so if that's more your speed, more power to you. A long book doesn't have to be intimidating if you break it down effectively.
Once you get the hang of a paragraph or page a day, slowly increase the time spent reading. At some point, you'll find yourself wanting to read more, and the act of creating time to read becomes more and more unconscious because you'll be enjoying it. With this book, I think you'll hit that point pretty quickly!
As you read through this at your own pace, you'll find that a wide range of ideas and thoughts jump into your mind, based upon the new information you're learning. For this reason, I strongly encourage you to have a highlighter and pen handy. My copy is literally chalk-full of notes and highlights on literally every page. This makes understanding the material much easier, as you can simply reread and review what you've marked before.
Breakdown:
- Length: 599 pages. I know, BRUTAL. But no one says you have to read it all at once!
- Ease of read: 8/10. Bear in mind it was written in the 1920s, but this book is incredibly easy to comprehend and apply.
- Time to read: Buckle in, this might be on your night stand for a while, no need to rush through it.
- How to get: Available in all the usual book store suspects.
- AudioBook: Yes, of course. Free with certain app downloads, and super cheap on Amazon.
- Price: $15-20 depending on outlet
Background:
"The Law of Success" was written by Napoleon Hill and was originally published in 1928. If you haven't heard of Napoleon Hill, the guy is a legend in the game of personal achievement. Through his own tutelage, it's been said he has made millionaires of over 1000 men, and likely tens of thousands more through his books, which have been printed endlessly all over the world.
The world's first billionaire, Andrew Carnegie, met Hill in college and commissioned him to create an economic philosophy of success. Carnegie would drive the project and introduce Hill to the world's most successful people in order to study them. Over the course of 20 plus years of research, Hill worked with and often befriended timeless names in history the likes of Henry Ford, Thomas Edison, Woodrow Wilson, Theodore Roosevelt, Marshal Field, Harvey Firestone, William Wrigley, Charles Schwab, and scores of others. Not too shabby! He published "Think & Grow Rich" shortly after "The Law of Success", which continues to be one of the most influential and printed books of all time.
Overview:
"The Law of Success" is the culmination of Hill's life's work condensed into 15 principles that can be applied practically to anyone's life. Hill has packed enough wisdom in these 15 principles to stimulate the type of thought and action required to attain success in any calling of life, regardless of current circumstances. Hill highlights the importance of thought and action as it pertains to every walk of life. Chapters include:
"Self-Confidence"
"The Habit of Saving"
"Initiative and Leadership"
"Pleasing Personality"
"Failure"
"The Golden Rule"
The principles are constructed to teach you how to organize and direct the forces of your mind towards a specific, constructive end. Its examples are all-encompassing, and the evidence to its effectiveness is overwhelming. "The Law of Success" packs enough knowledge and foresight in one chapter sufficient to significantly alter the landscape of your life, propelling you onward towards the heights of your dreams and achievement.
My Quote:
This comes from an excerpt of the book in which I had highlighted and marked "BIG"…
"Everyone needs a change of mental environment at regular periods, the same as a change and variety of food are essential. The mind becomes more alert, more elastic and more ready to work with speed and accuracy after it has been bathed in new ideas, outside of one's own field of daily labor."
This is all I'm asking. I'm not asking you to change your lifestyle or to stop doing everything you're doing. I'm only asking that you be open to a change in mental environment. What could it hurt? Try something new, expand your understanding; I often say, you never know when something you read is something that changes everything!
Final Say:
This book is incredible. If you are just delving into the space of personal achievement, there are few better starting points. If you enter reading it with an open mind and willingness to learn, you cannot help but to gain immensely from its lessons. Every single time I open it up, whether to read a page or a chapter, I run across something that resonates, producing that ah-ha! moment. I'd recommend this to anyone looking to improve their lives and make changes for the better, no matter small or big. This book applies to all walks of life, without exception.
