Napoleon Hill’s Golden Rules Book Summary - Napoleon Hill’s Golden Rules Book explained in key points
Listen to the Intro
00:00

Napoleon Hill’s Golden Rules summary

Napoleon Hill

The Lost Writings

4.6 (435 ratings)
20 mins

Brief summary

Napoleon Hill's Golden Rules is a self-help book by Napoleon Hill about creating a successful and fulfilling life. It shares principles such as positive thinking, taking initiative, persistence, and self-discipline to achieve one's goals.

Table of Contents

    Napoleon Hill’s Golden Rules
    Summary of 8 key ideas

    Audio & text in the Blinkist app
    Key idea 1 of 8

    We create our lives through our thoughts, and this can lead to transformative success.

    Have you ever met someone who exudes total self-confidence and seems to succeed at everything she turns her hand to? Maybe you think she comes across as cocky, or you feel jealous that she seems to know the secrets to success and you don’t.

    But here’s the thing: we can all create the life we want. The secret is simply how we use our thoughts.

    One powerful method is through autosuggestion, which allows you to shape how you develop as an individual by feeding your mind inspiring thoughts and images.

    The author had a regular practice of thinking up imaginary meetings where he’d sit down and chat with such distinguished and inspiring guests as Abraham Lincoln, Socrates, Napoleon and Aristotle.

    During these imaginary meetings, Hill would focus on certain characteristics of his guests that he hoped to make his own. In Lincoln’s case, he hoped to take on his ability to be fair, to help others and to be courageous in finding new ways of doing things.

    Every night, Hill would spend an hour performing this exercise, adding more inspiring figures to his meetings as he would learn about them.

    He found that by using autosuggestion to focus on inspiring thoughts, you can transform your life and find success.

    In Hill’s case, autosuggestion allowed him to overcome his fear of public speaking and focus on taking on the qualities of successful orators, such as the abolitionist clergyman, Henry Ward Beecher.

    After just a week’s worth of autosuggestion, Hill received a standing ovation and a return invitation after one highly successful speech. A year later, he was touring the country as one of the most sought-after speakers in the US. He even received an award for his 1920 speech at a convention in Pittsburgh from the Associated Advertising Clubs of the World.

    And it was all made possible by the power of thought.

    Want to see all full key ideas from Napoleon Hill’s Golden Rules?

    Key ideas in Napoleon Hill’s Golden Rules

    More knowledge in less time
    Read or listen
    Read or listen
    Get the key ideas from nonfiction bestsellers in minutes, not hours.
    Find your next read
    Find your next read
    Get book lists curated by experts and personalized recommendations.
    Shortcasts
    Shortcasts New
    We’ve teamed up with podcast creators to bring you key insights from podcasts.

    What is Napoleon Hill’s Golden Rules about?

    Napoleon Hill’s Golden Rules (2009) offers a wide array of tips and life hacks to improve your life and bring you closer to realizing your goals. Author Napoleon Hill developed his techniques – many of which stem from the power of positive thinking – nearly a century ago, but they’re still the cornerstone of many of today’s self-help and personal development theories.

    Napoleon Hill’s Golden Rules Review

    Napoleon Hill’s Golden Rules (2009) is a remarkable book that reveals the key principles for achieving success and happiness in life. Here's why this book is worth reading:

    • It presents timeless wisdom that can be applied to any era or situation, allowing readers to uncover their potential and create a fulfilling life.
    • Through real-life stories and practical advice, the book provides actionable strategies for building wealth, improving relationships, and overcoming challenges.
    • Its simple and straightforward approach makes it an engaging and accessible read, ensuring that readers won't find it dull or uninspiring.

    Best quote from Napoleon Hill’s Golden Rules

    Through the principle of retaliation, we can actually convert our enemies into loyal friends.

    —Napoleon Hill
    example alt text

    Who should read Napoleon Hill’s Golden Rules?

    • Entrepreneurs
    • Students of business and marketing
    • Readers who want to develop better habits

    About the Author

    Napoleon Hill (1883-1970) was a pioneer of motivational and self-improvement writing. He wrote some of the earliest self-help books in the US, including the landmark Think and Grow Rich (1937), which remains as one of the top-20 best-selling self-help books of all time. His books continue to be read by millions of people around the world.

    © Napoleon Hill: Napoleon Hill’s Golden Rules copyright 2008, John Wiley & Sons Inc. Used by permission of John Wiley & Sons Inc. and shall not be made available to any unauthorized third parties.

    Categories with Napoleon Hill’s Golden Rules

    Book summaries like Napoleon Hill’s Golden Rules

    People ❤️ Blinkist 
    Sven O.

    It's highly addictive to get core insights on personally relevant topics without repetition or triviality. Added to that the apps ability to suggest kindred interests opens up a foundation of knowledge.

    Thi Viet Quynh N.

    Great app. Good selection of book summaries you can read or listen to while commuting. Instead of scrolling through your social media news feed, this is a much better way to spend your spare time in my opinion.

    Jonathan A.

    Life changing. The concept of being able to grasp a book's main point in such a short time truly opens multiple opportunities to grow every area of your life at a faster rate.

    Renee D.

    Great app. Addicting. Perfect for wait times, morning coffee, evening before bed. Extremely well written, thorough, easy to use.

    People also liked these summaries

    4.7 Stars
    Average ratings on iOS and Google Play
    31 Million
    Downloads on all platforms
    10+ years
    Experience igniting personal growth
    Powerful ideas from top nonfiction

    Try Blinkist to get the key ideas from 7,000+ bestselling nonfiction titles and podcasts. Listen or read in just 15 minutes.

    Start your free trial

    Napoleon Hill’s Golden Rules FAQs 

    What is the main message of Napoleon Hill’s Golden Rules?

    The main message of Napoleon Hill’s Golden Rules is that success can be achieved by following nine key principles.

    How long does it take to read Napoleon Hill’s Golden Rules?

    The reading time for Napoleon Hill’s Golden Rules varies depending on the reader's speed. However, the Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.

    Is Napoleon Hill’s Golden Rules a good book? Is it worth reading?

    Napoleon Hill’s Golden Rules is a valuable read for anyone seeking success. It provides practical insights and actionable advice to help you achieve your goals.

    Who is the author of Napoleon Hill’s Golden Rules?

    The author of Napoleon Hill’s Golden Rules is Napoleon Hill.

    What to read after Napoleon Hill’s Golden Rules?

    If you're wondering what to read next after Napoleon Hill’s Golden Rules, here are some recommendations we suggest:
    • Outwitting the Devil by Napoleon Hill
    • The Richest Man in Babylon by George S. Clason
    • Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill
    • The Law of Success by Napoleon Hill
    • Limitless by Jim Kwik
    • Pathways to Peace of Mind by Napoleon Hill
    • Learn Better by Ulrich Boser
    • The 8th Habit by Stephen R. Covey
    • The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene
    • The Science of Getting Rich by Wallace D. Wattles