Customer Reviews

Grow Rich While You Sleep

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

"Start by remembering that you are better than you consciously think you are." That sentence, in the introduction to "Grow Rich While You Sleep", speaks volumes about the further content of this worthwhile self help guide.

Written in a typical 1960's style, it is simple in content and repeats many of it's basic ideas. However, it is that outdated writing style that makes this the kind of classic book you pick up and read again and again. Although nothing in the book strikes me as being innovative (even for it's time), it does touch on numerous classic success principles in an uplifting, easy to read format.

One of these principles is discussed in the statement, "Man is a mind with a body." A simple truth, but one that we often fail to think about. Other priciples include..."One works harder at being a failure than at being a success"; "You are twice as good as you think you are"; "Picture the condition you want; not the condition you are attempting to overcome"; and many others.

Especially interesting to me was the chapter, "Money: a Myth." This chapter touches on the concept that we really own nothing, as all items are given without cost by nature. When we buy, we are buying labor. Labor is what takes the raw materials that nature has already given us and creates the products we then perceive as having value. We truly only have the "use" of material things, and how long we keep them depends on the care we give them. The end of this chapter states, "Do not give up your quest for dollars but seek them in connection with your objectives."

The bulk of the book discusses positive thinking, visualizing success, affirmations and developing a do it now attitude. If you have read and enjoyed "Think and Grow Rich" and other books by Napoleon Hill, "The Magic of Thinking Big" by David Schwartz, or "The Magic of Believing" by Claude Bristol, you are likely to enjoy this book as well.

The title, "Grow Rich While you Sleep", did not hit it's mark, although there are several areas of the book where it discusses turning your desires over to your "creative mind" and then letting it do it's job while you sleep. Personally, I believe the title was just a typical sales pitch of the era that really didn't focus on the books main message.

All in all, I enjoyed this book and found it to be very motivational . "I like to think of enthusiasm as thought aglow", the author states. I thought that was a wonderful definition of the word. Reading this book is certain to put your "thoughts aglow".... and what more can you ask of a book than that?

I bought this book based upon its title, and because it is in a category with the U. S. Andersen books.

Had I not read "Three Magic Words," last month, 2 times, I would be more excited about "Grow Rich While You Sleep."

That having been said, I still vote this as a 5, because I have gained some great ideas from reading this book.

For example, early on, the author asks, "What is the greatest good one may expect from riches?"

Had I not read other books, I would probably have listed material things, but the answers that I wrote in the margins are: confidence; choices; living exactly where you want to live; and freedom to explore life on an entirely new level.

This led me to ask new questions regarding each of these benefits. Which of course led me to focus upon examples of myself having and expressing all of these.

One thing that I didn't care for, in this book, is that many of the examples are dated.

I had to tell myself to get pass this, so that I could really benefit from reading this wonderful book.

And in my growth, I realized that "Grow Rich While You Sleep," is about creating mental pictures of yourself in the act of solving your problems -- not having your problems solved, but in the act of solving those problems.

When I listed problems that I was facing it turned out that even though before buying this book I felt worried, I saw that I only had 3 problems.

With the affirmations that are in this book, as well as those that I created, which I use just before going to sleep, have guided me to wake up with solutions, that have netted me more than I expected.

Remember, "a problem wouldn't be a problem, if there wasn't a solution."

When you are about to fall asleep, if you will allow the room to be totally dark, with no sounds in the room, close your eyes. Inhale through your nose. Hold it for 5 seconds. Then exhale it for 5 seconds.

Next, while keeping your eyes closed, ask yourself what you see. You will notice, as the author has pointed out some geometric shapes. You will also be free to silently instruct your mind to find solutions for you, that will empower you, the next day.

And this works.

this book came to me through finding it in a box of rubbish outside of someones house.at the time i was in an unstable marriage with no direction in life.i read this book 3 times over after which it gave me the confidence to get out of a bad marriage and do something better with my life,which 10 years on i have remarried have a nine year career and a wonderful life.i can truly say without ben sweetlands words i would'nt be where i am today.

This was one of the very first self-development books I ever read and 15 years later it still continues to inspire me. It is clear, positive and uplifting, but it must also be said that some of the content is rather out of date compared to more modern authors such as Anthony Robbins or Dan Millman. Like many books of this nature, I suggest setting aside the 5 or 10 per cent you might not relate to, and concentrating on the excellent remaining 90-95 per cent here.

The author tells us that the book is based around a quote from the bible, "as a man thinketh in his heart so is he". There are many strategies for positive thinking, creative visualization, getting yourself to follow through on intentions and so on. The title is a bit misleading, but early on Ben Sweetland asks us to examine what our personal interpretation of the word "riches" is. It soon becomes clear that money is a means to an end and not the end in itself. There are some good basic affirmations scattered throughout the book e.g. "I am growing in influence and affluence so that I can be of help to humanity", "I give thanks that I am rich in mind and in my affairs".

If you can cope with some of the old-fashioned language and attitudes, I highly recommend this book.

I read this book in 1996. I was in a sorry state. I had left a good accounting job to start a new business venture which had gone wrong. I had no job, no income, my car was falling apart and no way to pay my mortgage. I had lost my confidence and was very depressed I was only 26 at the time. I read this book and it seemed to change my life beyond belief. Had I not physically listed out and dated the "list" of things that I wanted to achieve I would not have believed it. Below are detailed descriptions of some of my things achieved because of this book, it is long and detailed to show how it cannot be mere coincidence but as a result of my list.

I don't have this list anymore but I had listed about 10 or 11 things. At the bottom of the list were things like be famous and find a husband silly I know. These last two things I did not get that year. Everything else on my list I got. I had things like get a job, have £1500 in my bank account (this seemed impossible to someone in debt) get a specific car (Vauxhall Calibra Bright Red) I had a picture of it to focus on. A two bedroom house (yes I got it)I was living in a 1 bed apartment at the time). I applied all the things: affirmations, creative visualisation, imagine I own those things, got the job when I applied etc. They all seemed to fall in place. Very weird. Even when I went to look for my car. Couldn't find the car at the price. Was looking at something else and I mentioned to the dealer "well what I really wanted wassomething sporty like a red Vauxhall Calibra but they are too expensive" it seemed really cool at the time I was 26. Well the dealer said. Oh I have one of those round the back. Out rolled the red car exactly like in my picture within my price range. Couldn't believe it. I amended my list a couple of times that year. Once i got a job, I decided I wanted to double my salary within a year. This seemed impossible as people at the time only gave £1K or £2K payrises. It was a long time ago and I think I was earning £15K and I wanted to achieve £30K by the end of the year. Well somehow my double salary came i changed jobs and got my £30K salary. I even set my sights on a new car Honda Prelude in silver (sporty little car). Well I focused on it, went to the showrooms, sat in them, imagined I owned one, imagined it every night. The photo I had happened to be burgundy coloured honda prelude. I wanted silver. Well somehow I ended up getting a burgundy one exactly like the brochure photo I had. I guess staring at it and having the picture on my wall made me somehow get the burgundy though my own wish was silver.

I found it totally bizarre. My own friends did not believe me til I showed them the list I had written some 13 months before with the date and list of things and ticks by everything that I had achieved. To me it seems too many things to be just coincidence. I don't know how it happened. The book and other books like Napoleon Hill mention that you should not set limitations or try to think how you can achieve them, just believe that somehow they will come to you.

List out very specific desires, like pictures of things, descriptions of the job or house, I personally find houses hard to focus on without a physical picture or being in it. I later had on my list "get a job that involved travelling round the world and double my salary again 30K to £60K, company car, +extra perks that I wanted like company mobile phone and car and petrol card",(I just want to point out that I was only a part qualified accountant and have no degree and didn't go to University so it was very unrealistic and unachievable for me at the time). I visualised going to lots of countries. Well Accountants like me don't travel unless Auditors and I wasn't an auditor. So no chance as for the other things they were a dream to me. Well I ended up getting a job as an IT Consultant for a huge global company demonstrating accounting software for the salary and perks I wanted,(as I was not a technical person I somehow blagged my way into the job with the expectation that if I could do it then all the perks and double salary came after a couple of months) I had to just learn what I needed, hey I did it! I got to go to hundreds of countries, all over Europe (i live in UK),Finland, South Africa, Mauritius, Morrocco, Canada, USA were the further afield ones but all paid for by my company in lovely hotels, all my meals paid for etc. I ended up travelling so much I was exhausted and living out of hotel rooms but hey I got what I asked for and it was great and so different from my previous Accounting number crunching boring jobs which I hated. I even ticked off the confidence box as I learned how to do technical presentations of software and show it to auditoriums full of Directors, Accountants, Business People. Then I went on to do IT Training so again needs confidence and teach a load of Directors and Accountants how to use software.

I have not made this up it is bizarre and even my husband doesn't believe it was this book. I just know I did a long specific list and ticked off most of them as they happened even when I amended the list after I achieved things I ticked off some new things too, it also seems to work down the list so things at the bottom don't happen until the first ones are achieved. Things I wanted I just got.

I am 40 now and as I got older my priorities changed and my list was not career related but to get a loving kind husband, children etc. I have those things. I am tempted to start a new list now I have remembered all these things. So I guess life is what you want it to be if you believe it, visualise it and LIST IT SPECIFICALLY IN DETAIL. Try it experiment on just one small thing to start with get a picture of it and give it a go then once you get it make a long list of things and date it and BEGIN your journey get a newspaper dated and take a photo of it with your list just so you can prove to yourself and others later that it really worked.

thank you to the late, great Ben Sweetland. i was shown this book by a fellow employee. he was struggling in life and depressed just like i was. the book brought instant excitement and hope. we talked a lot about the book to and from work. if you read no other book read this one. if you are depressed you can look at the undeniable truths found in this book and seek comfort.

An absolutely fabulous book,very thought provoking.I was sceptical at first thinking that the whole thing was mumbo-jumbo until I tried the methods outlined in this book and I was absolutely amazed with the results.In my opinion the only way one can benefit from this book is........FAITH !!!!!

I really enjoyed this book about the subconscious mind. I am so glad to know that I am more than I think I am. Very powerful enforcement of the mind techniques and easy to apply exercises. You can clear and reprogram your life while you sleep. How easy can that be. Highly recommend for anyone who wants a permanent change or evolution in thinking and the manifestation of ones desires.

I really enjoyed this book. It has a lot to say although it often somewhat rereviews many points, mostly for presentation sake to really let the reader understand the concepts. Up there as a truly great life changing book.

This book was one of the very first books I ever bought on success, in 1987. I have read it several times since. Today, having read many other books with a simnilar premise, this book by Sweetland does seem dated.

There is nothing really wrong with the content, but books like; Born Rich by Bob Proctor, or Think and Grow Rich by Napolean Hill are much much better. You would be better off buying one of these books rather than wait 6 weeks for this rather weak book.

Buy anything by Bob Proctor, over this book and you cannot go wrong.