Fraco fraco fraco, não leiam ( )

Whether you take Napoleon Hill's interview with the devil literally or metaphorically, this book offers a lot of profound ideas on how to approach life.

Some key points:
- success and failure are both the result of habit, which follows a law of increasing returns; this means what happens in life is an accumulation of little things/situations/circumstances which builds momentum
- the idea of "hypnotic rhythm": people get caught into a rhythm or flow, which is informed by habits that snowball and build momentum, so good habits accumulate and lead to happiness and success while bad habits lead to failure
- purpose/intention is key to directing your life towards success
- #1 duty is to self, to live a full and happy life
- Hill criticizes the public school system for teaching kids subjects unrelated to reality of life; instead we should be teaching them practical matters like managing your money, budgeting time, good habits, mastery over self, etc.
- failure is good: it breaks hypnotic rhythm, allows mind a fresh start, new knowledge can be gained and is an opportunity
- failure is man-made concept: not real unless we accept it as permanent ( )

This is a tough book to read because it's so direct. The major part of the book involves a conversation with the devil .... It felt like a James Bond novel where the bad guy explains the master plan ....Why would do the devil answer Napoleon Hill? I kept picturing Napoleon Hill with Wonder Woman's lasso of truth around the devil.



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Esse foi um dos primeiros livros de "auto ajuda" escritos. A versão original data de 1938. Achei interessante mas um pouco repetitivo e por vezes obscuro. Tem que ser lido levando em conta o contexto da época, pouco após a depressão de 1929 e logo antes da segunda guerra mundial. ( )

Outwitting the Devil: The Secret to Freedom and Success by Napoleon Hill is a book that has been hidden since 1938. Outwitting the Devil reveals its important message in a unique and controversial way. Basically, Napoleon Hill interviewed the devil to find out how to live a better life. Read more ( )