Original editorial artwork; not a historical photograph.
Legends · 1883–1970
Napoleon Hill
A formative voice in modern success literature, known for translating ambition into principles readers could study and practice.
Hill’s writing brought together ideas about definite purpose, persistence, specialized knowledge, and cooperative effort. His work became a bridge between early New Thought traditions and the practical achievement literature that followed.
His claims and methods have drawn both enduring readership and historical scrutiny. ManyMasters presents his influence as part of the record—not as an endorsement of every biographical claim or principle.
1937
landmark publication
13
principles in his best-known work
20th c.
era of influence
Ideas associated with the work
- Definiteness of purpose
- Persistence and organized planning
- The “master mind” principle
- Belief as a force in sustained action
Start with the most famous book
Think and Grow Rich
“Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve.”
— Napoleon Hill, Think and Grow Rich
Why this master matters
Hill helped establish the vocabulary of modern success literature: definite purpose, organized planning, persistence, and the deliberate cultivation of belief. Later teachers repeatedly adapted these ideas, making his work a useful starting point for understanding the field’s development.
Ideas in practice
Understand the teaching.
01
Definite chief aim
Turn a broad ambition into a specific purpose that can guide decisions and sustained effort.
02
Organized planning
Desire becomes useful only when translated into a plan, tested through action, and revised when necessary.
03
The master mind
Hill proposed that coordinated collaboration creates intellectual and practical advantages beyond solitary effort.
04
Persistence
Repeated, purposeful action is presented as the bridge between intention and achievement.
Signature works
Start with the books.
Explore a short reading list, with purchasing links that support ManyMasters.
Start here
Think and Grow Rich
Begin with Hill’s most influential and accessible statement of his philosophy. Read it as a historical success manual, then decide which principles still feel useful today.
Explore editionsChoosing an edition
Hill’s works appear in many editions. Look for an unabridged text, a clear publication date, and editorial notes that distinguish the original wording from later commentary. Older works may also be available in the public domain.
Think and Grow Rich
1937 · His best-known exploration of purpose, belief, and organized action.
The Law of Success
1928 · A broad course in the principles Hill associated with achievement.
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Choose your path
Read for what you need now.
Historical context
Hill’s influence is well documented, but parts of his personal narrative—including the scope of his relationship with Andrew Carnegie—have been challenged by historians. His work also reflects the assumptions and language of its era. ManyMasters presents the ideas and their influence without treating every biographical claim as settled fact.