Assimilating - Author's Preface

So, today post is going to be about "Author's Preface" of Think and Grow Rich.

As mentioned in "About us" page, we will be thoroughly going to study each and every chapter and concept of the book. So, I started with 'The Editor's Foreword'.

Forewords are usually not written by primary authors. But the very first paragraph suggests that if you are reading for first time skip it to the 'Author's Preface'.

Author's Preface

The entire preface is basically highlights only limited number of ideas. I found those highly important.

Preface starts with success examples of success secret and explain's how he (author, Napoleon Hill) got the secret from Mr. Carnegie himself and the he has done research of 20 years. I guess this gives him some creditability, so that reader take the work seriously.

He keeps on bragging about more such examples about Schwab, his son, and J. G. Chapline president of LaSalle Extension University. 

First requirement posed on readers is

KNOW WHAT IT IS THAT YOU WANT

This is obvious first requirement, you can't get anything unless you know what you want.

Second requirement posed is

Secret is mentioned 100s of times in book, but only THOSE WHO ARE READY and SEARCHING FOR IT may pick it up.

i.e. a person should be willing to work hard for things the want success. I think, if person is reading this book, reader at some level must be ready to receive it. I guess, majority of time, people don't read self books just for fun.

He also wants to assure readers that promises made in these books are real and can be achieved. He wants reader to believe it. I DO!

More examples of secret success. Example of President Woodrow Wilson during  WWI, Manuel L. Quezon (Philippine Island). 

He goes on to claim that after know these secret, success becomes easy to achieve and one never submit's to failure.

There is no such things as

SOMETHING FOR NOTHING

You must give in something, till now indirect indication are made for HARD WORK. He again and again reassures you confidence that you can do it. I do believe that 'I CAN DO IT'.

Name of more famous/successful man is listed, from whom is learned this secret with the help of Mr. Carnegie. He calls it "Carnegie Secret".

In fact he claims that every successful person must possess "Carnegie Secret" in one form or the other.

He argues that schooling is not unimportant, but this secret will help you success beyond schooling can. Again an assurance. Gives examples of Thomas Edison, John Wanamader, Hendry Ford.

This 'Carnegie Secret' is mentioned hidden in the book, hence you have to look for it. I guess an attempt to make sure we read the book thoroughly. 

Another serious attempts for assurance that, book is based on facts and not fiction. Book will help not only to help understand

WHAT TO DO, but also HOW TO DO and provide STIMULUS TO MAKE A START

The main claim of 'Author's Preface:

ALL ACHIEVEDMENT, ALL EARNED RICHES, HAVE THEIR BEGINING IN AN IDEA

Idea comes in two parts

1. If you are ready for secret, you already poses half of it. Eg already reading this book
2. You will recognize the other half as soon as you encounter it.

You will find the validation of all the examples given in Author's Preface in next post.