Customer Reviews

Outwitting the Devil: The Secret to Freedom and Success

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I was literally brought up on Napoleon Hill. His writing gave me a grand foundation upon which I built much. This book, written in 1938, is both great and yet it makes one doubt the author. I'm glad the publisher and editor left the writing in the exact way it was written and didn't attempt to update the language. It's good to hear Hill's voice as we remember it, in the way he actually wrote and talked.

I was, however, concerned when he described his meeting with his "other self" and, in one instance, he became unconscious. Another time he heard a loud noise just before he got his message from his other self. These are things which, in the light of today, many people will find too much to take.

Moreover, in knowing what we now know about most of the rich people of which he talks, we know they didn't start their businesses to help others or as a service to others. We suspect that was a side-effect. Hill, however, says that success results from doing what we love as a service to others --- then the riches will come. (Ayn Rand fans beware.)

It is true the book was written just as The Great Depression was ending. That makes it especially appealing today as we struggle in The Great Recession. And much of what he says certainly is inspiring and motivational at this unique time in history. Yet, one can see why his family didn't want the manuscript published because Hill sounds a bit loony in parts of the book. But, alas, hang on. There's a method to his madness.

There is greatness here too. He, like so many others, lost everything in 1929. He saw no way to continue to teach his wealth philosophy when people were filled with fear of poverty. "This thought came to me one evening while I was sitting in my automobile, in front of the Lincoln Memorial on the Potomac River, within the shadow of the Capitol. With it came another thought: The world had staged an unprecedented depression over which no human being had control. With that depression had come to me an opportunity to test the philosophy of self determination, to the organization of which I had devoted the better portion of my adult life. Once more I had the opportunity to learn whether my philosophy was practical or mere theory."

He said he discovered he'd lost his courage and initiative. He lost his enthusiasm. "Worst of all, I was sorely ashamed to acknowledge that I was the author of a philosophy of self-determination, because down deep in my heart I knew or thought I knew, that I could not make my philosophy pull me out of the hold of despair in which I found myself."

Fortunately, he admits he didn't know if the devil he interviewed was real or imagined. To talk of a devil today to a secular world is rather silly. But to see a devil as our own inner fears is more acceptable.

I read the devil to be negative thoughts that are in 98 percent of the human race. (The figure given in the book.) That leave 2 percent without negative thinking, which is about the percentage of the highly successful at the time he wrote the book if my figures are close to correct.

Fear is the killer of greatness. Hill knew that. In one question he asked the devil, you sense this.

"Q. Go ahead and describe your clever tricks, Your Majesty.
A. One of my cleverest devices for mind control is fear. I plant the seed of fear in the minds of people, and as these seeds germinate and grow, through use, I control the space they occupy. The six most effective fears are the fear of poverty, criticism, ill health, loss of love, old age, and death."

I find that most telling. Was he calling fear the devil?

The devil says then that positive thinking neutralizes him/her/it. Hill's devil loves poverty and ill health. Such people are easy to control. "An unhealthy body discourages thinking," says Hill's devil.

But then the devil says he (the devil) fears the Rockefeller fortune. Why, asks Hill. Because they give so much to fight disease. They do so much good. I wonder what he would say now about how that fortune is being used to gain control of the world through the Council on Foreign Relations, the Trilateral Commission, Bilderbergers and disgraceful actions during and after World War 2? The respect once held for these people has long since been replaced with knowledge of the truth. Hill was not aware of this when he wrote his books.

I felt the book used this interview with the devil to show what caused failure and unhappiness in people. And, of course, how the opposite creates wealth and happiness.

But, before you think this is a religious book, you'll be interested to know that the devil reveals the biggest, best way he has to take control of people --- though religion! ". . . I break down independent thought and start people on the habit of drifting, by confusing their minds with unprovable ideas concerning a world of which they know nothing. It is here also that I plant in the minds of children the greatest of all fears --- the fear of hell!"

Unfortunately, Hill's devil (or Hill?) contradicts himself, causing the reader to doubt the whole thing. In one place Hill writes through the devil that Hell is here on earth and is man made --- that there is no hell fire, etc. Yet a bit later, the same devil says, "Drifting is also the habit through which I take over their souls after they give up their physical bodies."

I find this contradiction unfortunate in what otherwise is an excellent book.

In some parts it sounds naive in the light of some seven decades. And yet, truth be told, the laws of nature never change. Just as H2O will always be water. The causes of failure will never change. And I can think of no better time to read this gift from Napoleon Hill then now. Regardless of what you may think of the way it's written, you'll take something deeply valuable from it, something that could change your life.

And yet, there is a concern for those who studied Hill decades ago. Hill was so enamored of men like Henry Ford. He called him good and moral. Henry Ford, however, was abhorrent. He hated Jews. He owned an anti-Semitic newspaper. He was a friend of Hitler and his name fondly mentioned in Mein Kampf.

So, one has to wonder, what kind of man was Hill? Was he gullible or was he just like these men he admired? And can we believe what he penned?

The reader will have to judge. In the meantime, there is much wisdom, lots of inspiration and motivation for those who look for it in this book.

-- Susanna K. Hutcheson

I've been pondering, reading and researching the very topic in Outwitting the Devil for decades and in this pursuit have read a thousand books on the formula for success. I must say that many, many books are excellent but over time they tend to repeat the same message in different fashion. Therefore, I've not seen anything for 20 years that separates itself from all the others, including Hill's "Think and Grow Rick"

This secret manuscript, however, is a cataclysmic event in it's publication. I'm fascinated how Napoleon Hill was able to disseminate the secrets of how our Universe REALLY works by depicting a full confession from the Devil himself, who is the destroyer of all human potential when he succeeds.

In my opinion this is the most powerful book ever written on this topic and one I've been studying nearly every day for months. Once I read 2 pages in the middle I was desperate to read it in it's entirety. I then was privileged to read the manuscript before publication thanks to Sharon Lechter and a highly esteemed friend.

This book, in my opinion, is the game changer that America is begging for given the times we are in today. It's time that we learn to rely on our own potential as our government institutions have failed us miserably and continue to do so.

I want to thank the Napoleon Hill Foundation for first having the courage to finally publish this provocative, controversial, and truthful depiction of how the Universe REALLY works nearly 75 years after Hill's death. I would also like to thank them for having the great sense to sanction someone as credible as financial literacy expert Sharon Lechter of Rich Dad Poor Dad Company fame to be the foot soldier to annotate Hill's most important work and bring it to the world.

I promise you this with all sincerity. If you've been living a life of quiet desperation because you are not becoming who you know you could become, achieving all that you know you could achieve, or living a life you've always dreamed about in terms of personal happiness, you life will NEVER, EVER be the same after discovering Outwitting the Devil: In fact, I don't promise you this. I guarantee it!!

Always remember that the future is not yet set, fate is what you make it. And Outwitting the Devil will provide you a precise road map to making your CHOSEN fate become a reality.

I just finished reading "Outwitting the Devil" and it is truly inspirational.

This is a must-read for any Napoleon Hill followers out there. The book is the unpublished manuscript writted by Hill as a sequel to his famous "Think and Grow Rich" and it expands on many of the principles in that book. We all know the basics of how to be successful, but this book examines how to implement them and why so many of us have this knowledge but aren't able to execute it.

Sharon Lechter's insight into Hill's original writings is inspirational as well. She draws parallels between what what written in the 1930s to what is happening in our world today. Lechter, who has written a number of bestsellers over the years, writes that this book was actually meant to be read today, not in the 30s when it was written.

I highly recommend this book for anyone wanting to take their careers to the next level or anyone who is on a personal mission to better themselves. It's a book that's different from any other and you won't be disappointed!

I loved Think and Grow Rich by Napolean Hill. I picked this one and was hoping for it to create the same magic. Unfortunately that did not happen. As per the story, this was written an year after Think and Grow Rich. However, it was not published for years. Hill family was not comfortable publishing the book due to a fear of backlash from organized religion. Quite a romantic story! I am a bit skeptical.

Anyway back to the book. The book is a rehash of the masterpiece Think and Grow Rich. It has almost the same content in a conversation format between the author and the Devil. The terms used are identical like definiteness of purpose, transmutation of sex power, etc. This book is akin to the theory behind Think and Grow Rich. It explains, in very tedious details, why the various principles listed in Think and Grow Rich work. The book does include some practical suggestions but they are far and few.

The book starts out well. The introduction with some of Hill's difficult life circumstances was inspiring. The conversation also starts well as the Devil explains about the importance of having a definite overall goal in life and not drifting from it. Even before this section ends, the constant protests of Devil of how the author was making him give his secrets and the author's phrasing and rephrasing the conversation every few dialogues was jarring on my nerves.

I heard this book in an audio version with a commentary from the editor. Commentary was pretty useless but it helped to break the monotony of the content. I have to admit I caught my drifting away more than once.

I would recommend skipping this book and sticking to the masterpiece Think and Grow Rich. You will not miss anything except author's ideas on fixing the education system.

Written by Napoleon Hill over 70 years ago, "Outwitting the Devil" was not published until 41 years after his death. The concern was that his community would utterly reject him for printing the bold things that his interrogation of the adversary brought to light.

This book reminds me of C.S. Lewis' "The Screwtape Letters," insofar as a devil is giving the goods on how he overcomes individuals. It differes in that Hill is directly questioning the devil's methods and also the gaining the adversary's own aknowledged way to escape the nefarious influence.

The points that struck me the hardest include:
- The danger of drifting aimlessly throught life. If I'm watching 6 hours of TV a day or spending my time on video games or at the races or investing in any other time-sink which is not helping me achieve my goals, I'm drifting. The antidote is focus and maintaining a Definite Chief Aim which keeps me on track and out of the drifting paths.

- Fear as one of the great tools of the adversary. Focusing on that which we don't want is fear. Fear is faith acting in reverse. Focus on your chief aims to the exclusion of all doubt and fear is replaced by empowering confidence.

- Hypnotic Rhythm. If you drift long enough, you will be unable to break the habit of drifting. If you smoke long enough, you'll puff away through a hole in your throat while emphysema crushes the life out of you. The upside of this is that when you consistently focus on your definite chief aim, the power of Hypnotic Rhythm accelerates your progress and maintains your success. (Nothing succeeds like success:)

- The list of recommendations to transform education in the world from failed institutions of mediocrity to producer of self-directed, self-thinking, and empowered (not entitled) individuals.

This book is a life-changer. Evaluate and accept what will serve you; include a grain of salt if it gives you comfort. But be ready to be inspired, and choose now to stop drifiting and focus on your goals.

Let me start with a one word review: WOW! Napoleon Hill's Think & Grow Rich was a ground breaking literary lighthouse. It showed the way for millions of people - as well as providing a platform for a whole generation of authors to follow the model created by Hill. However, nobody's going to be able to duplicate what he's captured & delivered in Outwitting the Devil. This is a one of a kind literary masterpiece. This one stands alone!

You've heard the old saying: "When in doubt, read the instructions." Well - here it is: The Owner's Manual on how to live a meaningful and successful life. Think and Grow Rich revealed Napoleon Hill's brilliance. Outwitting the Devil reveals his genius. How did he know the things he put between the covers of this book 70 years ago? And, why was it kept under lock & key for so long?

We must keep in mind that Think and Grow Rich sold 80 million copies and positively impacted the lives of so many of that generation. However, many - too many - of this generation don't even know who Hill is let alone have an understanding of the powerful principles he gifted to the world. So -the release of Outwitting the Devil seems to very timely because we - the countless number us who are surrounded by the smothering troubled state of today's world need to be thrown some kind of a life-line. I suggest we grab the line thrown to us by Hill & Sharon Lechter - and start to pull ourselves upward!

I'll conclude by expanding somewhat on that thought: Have you ever had the feeling that you're engaged in battle with an enemy whose job it is to keep you off track in your quest to live a happy, rewarding and successful life? If you've ever had those feelings - as so many of us have - how would you like to know your enemy's game plan - his weaknesses - the secrets of how to win this battle?? And, to top it off, how would like it if all those things came right out of the mouth of your enemy? If you're serious about winning that battle - then your Slam Dunk Game Plan is outlined for you in this book.

I'm going to recommend Outwitting the Devil to everyone I care about! I suggest you do the same - and start with yourself.

This manuscript is quite possibly the most important piece on personal development I have ever read. Many of the ideas that Napoleon Hill conveys about how our society has allowed itself to be influenced, lulled and even programmed into submission are thoughts I have had for quite some time. Hearing this be told by such a great thinker helped me to realize my own thinking is sound and has merit. The part I was most stunned and happily set aback by was the simple yet profound way the author tells us exactly what we do to deprive ourselves from our own initiative and courage to accomplish what we desire.

The concept of 'drifting' hit so close to home with me that I have had to re-listen to the interview over and over again to catch all the minute details that clearly describe the things we do that set us on a path of apathy and hopelessness.

I have read many books that tell us what you need to do to be successful, but few that tell us what are the signs that you are beginning to drift and how you can prevent those from happening so that you do not one day find yourself adrift and far, far from any land!

Brilliant manuscript and the correlation of the economic and spiritual difficulties during the time when it was originally written, compared to our situation now is worth careful consideration.

I understand why Napoleon Hill's wife was afraid to have it published, for fear of retaliation from leaders in the various areas that govern and perpetuate our systems, but fear is debilitating and this is not time to allow fear to paralyze your ability for independent thinking.

I am confident this book should be read by everyone.

Nearly 80 years later, the sequel to "Think & Grow Rich" is finally released. If you thought "Think & Grow Rich" Think and Grow Rich: The Original 1937 Edition was great - Wait until you read Napoleon Hill's interview with the Devil "Outwitting the Devil". Outwitting the Devil: The Secret to Freedom and Success It will change your life! Written and current as if it were today's news. Don't miss it!

I have been intrigued by the philosophy of Napoleon Hill for many years and consider myself to be a good friend of the Napoleon Hill Foundation. Napoleon Hill's Outwitting the Devil, however, is one of my favorites in that it has had a significant impact on my life. We are all working to "outwit the devil" as we struggle to be the best we can be. This central theme of this work comes at a time when we need it most as, now more than ever, we live in a time that demands that good men stand and "do the right thing." Hill's message always emphasizes personal integrity as an integral aspect of success and never before in our history have we needed to work to develop that quality as much as now. Edmund Burke once said "Evil flourishes when good men do nothing." Hill's basic tenets help us to be successful in life - but more importantly, they show us the path that leads the way to our becoming good human beings - individuals with personal integrity. This book is a keeper and should be read over and over because even though we know the universal truths contained in the message, we tend to forget or overlook them as we constantly struggle to "outwit the devil."

Bonnie Elosser
Executive Director
Pro-Art Association
Wise, Virginia

This was BY FAR the best work that Napoleon Hill has produced. His interview was so vivid and right on the mark. It was so much to absorb the first time, I need to read it again.