Think and Grow Rich "Stickability"

July 29, 2013
The latest offering from the Napoleon Hill juggernaut focuses on old-fashioned determination as a path to success. Hailed in the introduction as “arguably the founder of the modern-day success movement,” Hill’s empire has encouraged readers for years through the Think and Grow Rich series. In this highly branded and deliberately quotable book, authorized by the Napoleon Hill Foundation, filmmaker and motivational speaker Reid argues that although success is difficult to achieve, fortune favors the bold, and success comes to those who find ways to power through hard times. Reid breaks down the “Three Causes of Failure”: inability to get along with other people; quitting when the going gets tough; and procrastination. He stresses the need to be flexible and forward-thinking in tough times. Case studies include the famous (J.K. Rowling, the stranded Chilean miners, Steve Jobs) and the obscure (such as Anousheh Ansari, an immigrant who became the first astronaut of Iranian descent). Fans of Hill’s model will find inspiration in the exhortations to fight entropy, overcome fear, have faith, and innovate; others may view the painfully stilted writing and flagrant sales pitches for other books in the series as tiresome.

Joel Fotinos's smooth phrasing provides a steady, easy-to-hear performance of this excellent lesson on perseverance. With his natural-sounding enunciation and low-key enthusiasm, he delivers the author's message that persistence in the face of obstacles is what separates people who succeed from those who fail or settle for mediocrity. Greg Reid's writing does a good job of blending the Napoleon Hill Foundation's classic brand of optimism with up-to-date productivity formulas--strategies such as working well with other people, avoiding procrastination, setting large and dramatic goals, and learning to handle big challenges with equanimity and mental flexibility. Though some of the vignettes seem long-winded, the clarity of the basic message and an excellent reading make this a thoroughly stimulating, top-shelf resource on productivity. T.W. © AudioFile 2014, Portland, Maine