50 pages • 1 hour read
Think and Grow Rich
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Summary
Background
Chapter Summaries & Analyses
Key Figures
Themes
Index of Terms
Important Quotes
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BetaPart 3Chapter Summaries & Analyses
Part 3, Chapter 9 Summary: “Persistence: The Sustained Effort Necessary to Induce Faith (The Eighth Step Toward Riches)”
Hill asserts that persistence is essential for transforming desire into its monetary equivalent. Hill argues that willpower, combined with a burning desire, forms an unstoppable force that propels individuals toward their objectives. Hill compares persistence to the essential element of carbon in steel—both are crucial for strength.
Throughout history, successful individuals like Henry Ford and Bruce Lee have demonstrated relentless persistence in the face of adversity. The book dispels the misconception that individuals who accumulate great fortunes are cold-blooded or ruthless. Instead, their success is due to their ability to persevere despite challenges and setbacks. While most people abandon their goals at the first sign of opposition, successful individuals press on despite all odds: “THERE IS NO SUBSTITUTE FOR PERSISTENCE! It cannot be supplanted by any other quality! Remember this, and it will hearten you, in the beginning, when the going may seem difficult and slow” (179).
Hill outlines four steps to develop persistence:
1. Have a definite purpose backed by a burning desire.
2. Formulate a definite plan and take continuous action.
3. Guard the mind against negative influences.
4. Form a friendly alliance with individuals who encourage and support one’s goals.
Hill discusses the symptoms of lack of persistence, such as procrastination, fear of criticism, and willingness to quit at the first sign of defeat. Overcoming these weaknesses is a must.
Part 3, Chapter 10 Summary: “Power of the Master Mind: The Driving Force (The Ninth Step Toward Riches)”
Hill outlines three major sources of knowledge: infinite intelligence, accumulated experience, and experiment and research. Organizing knowledge into definite plans and translating those plans into action allows people to harness power effectively. The Master Mind is the coordination of knowledge and effort among two or more individuals working toward a definite purpose in harmony: “No individual may have great power without availing himself or herself of the ‘Master Mind” (195).
The Master Mind also has a psychic aspect, creating economic advantages by tapping into spiritual forces. In history and business, successful individuals have leveraged the Master Mind principle to accumulate wealth and achieve remarkable feats. Andrew Carnegie used a Master Mind group in building his steel empire; Henry Ford’s success is due in part to his association with electricity popularizer Thomas Edison and tire magnate Harvey Firestone. In an update, the book also refers to Ross Perot’s company Electronic Data Systems (EDS).
The psychic phase of the Master Mind principle is crucial: When minds are coordinated in harmony, they create an intangible force that enhances individual capabilities. Additionally, the Master Mind has transformative power in societal movements, such as Mahatma Gandhi’s ability to coordinate millions of people toward a definite purpose. The book emphasizes that the Master Mind principle is available to anyone willing to harness it through cooperation and harmony.
Throughout the chapter, Hill underscores the importance of aligning one’s thoughts and actions with the positive side of the stream of power, which leads to wealth and success. He warns against the dangers of poverty and encourages readers to adopt a definite plan and burning desire for wealth.
Part 3, Chapter 11 Summary: “The Mystery of Sex Transmutation (The Tenth Step Toward Riches)”
Sex transmutation involves redirecting the powerful energy of sexual desire into constructive outlets. The chapter begins by explaining the potential of sex energy beyond mere physical expression, highlighting its role in creative endeavors and personal achievement.
Hill provides examples of individuals who harnessed sex energy to achieve greatness, such as artists, inventors, and leaders. He discusses the correlation between sex energy and creativity, asserting that those who learn to channel this energy effectively can attain genius status. Napoleon’s success is attributed to the influence of his first wife, Josephine, whose inspiration made him “irresistible and invincible” (215), while his decline followed when he left her. The creativity and productivity of men are often fueled by the presence of an inspiring woman. For example, one of America’s most successful businessmen credited his attractive secretary for most of his inspiration. Hill claims that a teacher with experience in sales training discovered that sexually motivated individuals are the most efficient salesmen, due to the abundant magnetism associated with sex energy. Finally, artificial mind stimulants like alcohol and narcotics are also creative fuel, as evidenced by Edgar Allan Poe and James Whitcomb Riley, who produced notable works under the influence of alcohol.
The book stresses the significance of memories: “go back into your yesterdays, at times, and bathe your mind in the beautiful memories of past love. It will soften the influence of the present worries and annoyances” (226). By reminiscing about cherished moments, individuals can find refuge from adversity and discover new ideas or plans that may positively impact their lives. The book distinguishes between love and sex, emphasizing that while sex is biological, love is spiritual. Embracing love means recognizing its spiritual essence and avoiding resentment or cynicism when love departs.
Part 3, Chapter 12 Summary: “The Subconscious Mind: The Connecting Link (The Eleventh Step Toward Riches)”
The subconscious mind is the crucial link between human consciousness and Infinite Intelligence. Hill defines the subconscious mind as a reservoir of consciousness where all thoughts, whether positive or negative, are recorded and processed. This gives us opportunity: “you may voluntarily plant in your subconscious mind any plan, thought, or purpose which you desire to translate into its physical or monetary equivalent” (229).
The chapter outlines how to communicate with the subconscious mind and discusses the role of prayer in influencing the subconscious. Rather than approaching prayer with fear or doubt, Hill advocates for a state of faith and positive emotion to effectively communicate with Infinite Intelligence.
The book insists on the transformative power of thought, suggesting that all material things originate from thought-energy. By mastering one’s subconscious mind and imbuing thoughts with positive emotions, individuals can harness the creative potential within them to manifest their desires.
Throughout the chapter, various examples and analogies are used to elucidate the workings of the subconscious mind, such as comparing it to a filing cabinet where thoughts are stored and retrieved, or likening the communication with Infinite Intelligence to the transmission of sound via radio waves.
A central theme of the chapter is the importance of cultivating positive emotions and avoiding negative ones, as the subconscious mind responds more readily to thoughts mixed with emotion. The author lists the seven major positive emotions, including desire, faith, love, and enthusiasm, while cautioning against negative emotions like fear, jealousy, and hatred.
Part 3 Analysis
In this part, Hill discusses The Importance of Goal Setting and Persistence in Achieving Success. The book’s main claim is that persistence is essential in turning desires into reality. Hill cites the examples of successful individuals like Henry Ford and Thomas Edison, while Pell contributes the stories of actor and martial artist Bruce Lee and Starbucks entrepreneur Howard Schultz, all of whom achieved their goals through relentless determination and perseverance despite facing numerous challenges and setbacks. Henry Ford had a reputation for doggedly following through with his plans; Bruce Lee was determined to pursue his dreams despite initial setbacks in his acting career. Schultz’s vision of creating a national chain based on Italian coffee bar culture was met with initial reluctance from Starbucks owners. Undeterred, Schultz left Starbucks to pursue his goal independently, opening his first coffee bar in Seattle. The gambit eventually paid off, as the exponential growth and global success of Starbucks transformed it into a household name and made Schultz one of the world’s wealthiest individuals.
Part 3’s other chapters delve into The Mystical Power of Positive Thinking, introducing concepts tinged with the supernatural, such as the power of the Master Mind, the concept of sex transmutation, and the role of the subconscious in achieving success.
The Master Mind principle at first appears to be a combination of group therapy and collaborative brainstorming, such as the discussion group used by Andrew Carnegie to share knowledge of the steel industry. Similar brain trusts are Henry Ford’s association with Thomas Edison, tire and rubber magnate Harvey Firestone, naturalist John Burroughs, and botanist Luther Burbank. The book’s update features a similar group around computer entrepreneur and most successful third-party presidential candidate Ross Perot, whose team of experts effectively led Electronic Data Systems (EDS). However, the concept of the Master Mind soon becomes imbued with magical powers, as Hill suggests that a group of people working together have a psychic effect on each other and on the world. In Chapter 10, he compares the human brain to an “electric battery” (197), suggesting that when coordinated in harmony, a group of brains can provide more thought-energy than a single brain.
More speculative still is Hill’s idea of sex transmutation—the concept that energy is fungible in the body, so one’s sex drive can be reoriented into other pursuits. It is important to note that Hill is writing only for heterosexual men: His primary image in this section is the heteronormative scene of a man sublimating his libido while being aroused to creative productivity by a passive, but attractive woman. No evidence supports the claims that Hill makes, but the idea that sex somehow dissipates male efficacy remains a part of folk mythology. For Hill, the sexual urge is powerful, so tapping into its potential is crucial. In Chapter 11, Hill compares the flow of sex energy to the flow of a river, emphasizing the importance of channeling this powerful force toward productive ends. He warns against suppressing or misdirecting sexual desire, likening it to damming a river, which ultimately leads to destructive outcomes.
Pseudo-scientific research ostensibly supports Hill’s claims, though later historians would debunk the idea that Hill actually did any research for this book or met any of the people he claims to have interviewed. In Chapter 11, Hill draws upon unattributed scientific research and expert opinions to support his assertions about the relationship between sex energy and creative genius. He discusses studies that suggest a correlation between highly developed sexuality and great achievements, as well as the role of sex energy in stimulating the mind to higher levels of thought.
The final extrasensory claims are Hill’s ideas of Infinite Intelligence—a sort of areligious vision of the divine—and the concept that we can directly communicate with the subconscious in ways that propel success. Here, rather than attempting to martial evidence, Hill again uses the rhetorical technique of comparison. He draws parallels between the process of communication with Infinite Intelligence and the workings of radio transmission to explain how thoughts are transmitted to the subconscious mind and then to Infinite Intelligence for manifestation. Moreover, he describes the subconscious mind as a filing cabinet, thoughts as seeds planted in the mind, and emotions as the driving force behind the subconscious’s actions.
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