Napoleon Hill was born in Pound, Southwest Virginia in October 25, 1883-November 8, 1970. Even though he’s never been in the same league with philosophers such as Kant or Nietzsche, he was regarded as a pseudo-philosopher who reached millions outside the usual circle of philosophy/philosophers.

Hill was born poor; it wasn’t until the age of 13 that he began writing. He was a mountain reporter for a small newspaper. He attempted to pursue law, but was forced to quit due to financial difficulty.

In 1908, Hill started a project/article to research the lives of great and powerful men of the time then. This venture resulted in him becoming acquainted with Andrew Carnegie; Carnegie and Hill became good friends as a result of this. Carnegie believed that average folks could attain wealth and status. Carnegie commissioned Hill to interview powerful successful men so he could publish his formula for success.

Hill interviewed many famous powerful men of that era: Thomas Edison, Alexander Graham Bell, Henry Ford, John D Rockefeller, and Charles M. Schwab. The project that Carnegie and Hill embarked on lasted over twenty years. It was at this time that Hill became an advisor to Carnegie.

The book was finally published in 1928 as “The Law of Success.” The formula was taken even further through home-study courses, etc.

Hill believed that human beings were born with a capacity for achieving things above and beyond the call of duty. He believed that successful people were not successful because they were smart; they weren’t successful because they were educated; they were successful because they possessed something that others didn’t. Hill believed people became successful based on their belief system…believing in one’s self (cliché as it may sound) was the only true component to success. Hill believed in Freedom, democracy, and in the right for people to achieve what they wanted out of life. Hill felt that selfishness and fear played no role on the human condition, and thinking and believing like this would result in a person’s ultimate demise.

Most if not all great motivational speakers today have a great regard for Hill. Hill took the self-help genre to new heights never reached before. He fused philosophy, psychology, and literature; he combined ingredients from the three and created one of the best personal formula for success ever to date.

Please review my supporting links for reference. His book: Think and Grow Rich is considered by many in the field of self-help to be one of the most important self-help books ever written.

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