Why is Think and Grow Rich So Popular? Unpacking the Self-Help Classic
May, 13 2025
If you walk into a bookstore, chances are Think and Grow Rich will be somewhere near the front. For a book written in 1937, that’s wild, right? It doesn’t sit on the shelf gathering dust—that title keeps jumping off the racks for a reason. Want to know why people aren’t tired of it yet?
The simple answer: it gives folks hope. Napoleon Hill didn’t fill those pages with hard-to-follow money schemes or over-the-top promises. He talked about something a bit more basic—how you think. And if you’re tired of hearing generic advice like “think positive,” Hill’s approach feels different. He lays out real steps, like setting clear goals and deciding what you’ll trade for those goals. Sounds basic, but you’d be surprised how many people skip those steps.
Here’s something interesting—Hill spent over 20 years talking to super successful people back when interviews weren’t just a podcast thing. He didn’t just ask about their business moves. He wanted to know how their brains worked. That’s where the book pulls you in: it’s like you’re getting private lessons from the top millionaires of another era, with advice that fits right in today’s world.
- What Makes Think and Grow Rich Stand Out?
- Why People Keep Coming Back
- The Power of Simple Principles
- Can You Really Use the Book’s Advice Today?
What Makes Think and Grow Rich Stand Out?
Lots of self-help books promise to change your life, but few get the sort of following that Think and Grow Rich has built. It’s sold over 100 million copies worldwide and has been translated into more than 50 languages. That’s not just a fluke or a lucky hit. Readers keep passing it along to friends, quoting it, and calling it out as a real turning point in their lives. Why?
The book stands out mainly because it delivers its message in a way people can use, not just read. Hill set up thirteen clear steps, or “principles,” for folks to follow. He’s not throwing buzzwords around. He breaks things down: first, know what you want. Then, decide how bad you want it, make a plan, and keep at it. The structure makes it less mysterious and way more doable, even for people who never saw themselves as entrepreneurs or go-getters.
- Hill’s research wasn’t quick—he invested two decades talking with folks like Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, and Andrew Carnegie. So you aren’t just reading one man’s idea. You’re peeking into decades of hard-earned knowledge from the world’s most famous winners.
- He didn’t once say, “You need to have money to make money.” Instead, he pushes for mindset and grit. That hit home for generations who started out with nothing at all.
- Every piece of advice gets tied back to a real story—someone who actually pulled it off. This keeps the book from sounding like a bunch of fluff.
Here’s a quick look at some numbers that show just how far the book’s reach goes:
| Fact | Number |
|---|---|
| Copies Sold (as of 2021) | 100 million+ |
| Languages Available | Over 50 |
| Years Since First Published | 88 |
| # of Famous Millionaires Interviewed | 500+ |
Another thing? It’s not just for folks chasing cash. People studying sports, arts, and even teachers use Hill’s steps to fire up their motivation and build good habits. If something’s lasted this long and keeps coming up in conversations about success, that’s not random—it’s because the advice actually fits into people’s real lives, time after time.
Why People Keep Coming Back
There’s a reason Think and Grow Rich doesn’t fade into the background like other self-help books. Over 100 million copies have sold worldwide—numbers that most books can only dream of. So, what’s the deal?
First, the book is ridiculously easy to pick up and understand, even if you haven’t read a single self-help book before. Napoleon Hill’s steps, like writing down your goals and reading them every day, are so simple that you can start today. If you mess up, you don’t feel judged. You just try again.
Another thing that keeps people hooked: it’s not just about cash. Yeah, "rich" is right there in the title, but Hill is all about reaching your goals—whatever they are. That’s super flexible, whether you want to start a business, get fit, or build stronger relationships. It shifts the focus from just making money to growing as a person, and that hits home for a lot of readers.
Successful folks swear by this book. Jay-Z, Oprah, and even Tim Ferriss have all talked about pulling lessons from its pages. They read it, find something new that clicks, and get back to work. That cycle of learning and applying gives it serious street cred.
Check out how Think and Grow Rich stacks up in the world of self-help bestsellers:
| Book Title | Year Published | Copies Sold (millions) |
|---|---|---|
| Think and Grow Rich | 1937 | 100+ |
| The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People | 1989 | 40+ |
| How to Win Friends & Influence People | 1936 | 30+ |
One last thing—the advice doesn’t really get old. No matter what’s happening in the world, setting clear intentions, using your network, and refusing to give up are always good moves. That’s why someone who read it back in the ‘60s will pass it to their grandkid today. The mix of timeless mindset and simple action keeps Think and Grow Rich at the top of people’s lists decade after decade.
The Power of Simple Principles
One thing that makes Think and Grow Rich keep popping up on bestseller lists is how plain and clear its ideas are. There’s nothing fancy about most of Hill’s advice. In fact, experts say that’s the whole point. The basics just work. People still use the book’s core ideas because they’re easy to remember and pretty simple to stick with—no Ph.D. needed.
Take the concept of a definite goal. Hill says you need a target—what you want and when you want it by—not just “I want to be rich someday.” He even tells readers to write it down and look at it every day. Easy? Sure. But hardly anyone actually does it, and that's what makes it stick out when you finally do. The book practically shouts, ‘Put your goals on paper and review them daily!’ That repeated reminder is a big reason people trust the book.
Another down-to-earth rule is the idea of ‘mastermind’ groups. Hill picked this up after talking to icons like Thomas Edison and Henry Ford. He noticed they didn’t try to do everything alone—they teamed up with other smart people, swapped ideas, and pushed each other to do better. It’s the early form of those business masterminds and networking meetups you see everywhere now.
Here’s a simple checklist straight from Hill’s chapters that still works if you want to make real progress:
- Decide exactly what you want
- Figure out what you’ll give in return (time, money, effort—something’s gotta give)
- Pick a deadline for your goal
- Make a plan and start working on it, even if you’re not ready
- Read your goals out loud—twice a day, like brushing your teeth
These steps might look basic, but they help people get past the ‘just daydreaming’ stage and actually move forward. That’s why so many readers say Hill’s book is the first one that made them take action, not just feel good while reading.
Can You Really Use the Book’s Advice Today?
So, does Think and Grow Rich actually hold up in 2025? You bet. Hill’s most famous principle, the power of having a clear goal, is still at the core of most success stories. Look at any coach, CEO, or even content creator on TikTok—they set targets and chase them hard. Studies show that writing down your goals increases your chances of hitting them by up to 42%. If you’re still winging it, you’re probably making your life harder than it needs to be.
Another piece of advice—surround yourself with a “mastermind group.” Hill meant a tight group of ambitious people who help you get better. That used to be rare; now, you find it everywhere, from business networks on LinkedIn to Discord groups for entrepreneurs. Even tech giants like Google and Apple encourage team brainstorming. If Hill’s mastermind idea sounds old-school, it’s only because he wrote about it before teamwork was a business buzzword.
Hill talks a lot about persistence too. In 2024, one study from Stanford University said around 60% of founders rated “grit” as more important than their startup’s original idea. So, sticking it out matters more now than ever, especially with so many ways to get distracted or discouraged.
Here’s a quick rundown of how you can use his top principles right now:
- Write down your main goal and look at it every day.
- Decide what you’ll give or change for that goal (extra hours, new skills, less Netflix—be real).
- Join or start a group with people who push you to level up.
- Don’t bail after the first setback. Track your progress week by week.
There’s evidence that these steps work. In fact, according to a 2023 Gallup poll, people who set specific goals and talk about them with their group are 70% more likely to reach those goals compared to folks going solo.
| Principle | Modern Example |
|---|---|
| Clear Goal-Setting | Vision boards, digital goal-tracking apps |
| Mastermind Group | Startup accelerators, mastermind Zoom calls |
| Persistence | Resilience training for business leaders |
If you’re tempted to write off Think and Grow Rich as just another old self-help book, try putting one or two of these ideas into action. It’s wild how fast things can actually change.