[Biography] Napoleon Hill - Spread the 'Philosophy of Success' to the World -

A booklet on the Science of Happiness that can be learned by parents and children Monthly 'Hermes Angels' No.286, open_in_new287 open_in_new introduces the biography of Napoleon Hill.

Napoleon Hill (1883 - 1970)

Napoleon Hill was an American thinker who wrote numerous books on 'success' and helped many businesses grow. After losing his mother at the age of 9, he was poor and unruly in his childhood, disliked by the townspeople as a problem child.

What changed Hill was Martha, who became his second mother at the age of 10. 'If you believe you can do it, you should be able to do anything.' Encouraged by Martha, Hill gradually began to study hard and grew to earn an income as a town newspaper reporter by the age of 15. From this experience, Hill learned that 'what you strongly decide can be realized.'

While continuing to work, Hill began to wish for 'greater success.' 'But how can I succeed...?' At that time, Hill, now 25 and a magazine reporter, was assigned to interview a certain person. That person was Andrew Carnegie, the 'Steel King,' who rose from poverty to become one of America's wealthiest men.

At 73, Carnegie generously shared the secrets of success with Hill. (Amazing. I've never heard such a story.) Hill was instantly captivated.

To Hill, Carnegie made an unexpected proposal. 'I will introduce you to successful people across America that I know. Would you research them on my behalf and compile a 'Philosophy of Success' to share with people? It will be a major task that takes 20 years, but what do you say?'

(20 years!?) Hill was surprised but also felt it was fateful. 'Please let me do it!'

It was the moment when Hill's life took a significant turn.

While creating magazines and managing companies, Hill found time to meet and interview the 'successful people' introduced by Carnegie. Among them were the world-renowned inventor Thomas Edison and automobile king Henry Ford—over 500 in total.

He discovered that all successful people used 'mental power' such as belief and imagination. Thus, he compiled a method for success in 1500 pages and published the world-famous book 'The Law of Success.' Twenty years had passed since his promise with Carnegie.

Hill traveled across America giving lectures on his research findings, and by the time he turned 50, he had become the most influential speaker in America.

At that time, America was plunged into the worst depression in history, the 'Great Depression,' with large companies going bankrupt one after another. About one in four Americans lost their jobs, and the nation was engulfed in the fear that it would 'never be prosperous again.'

Hill believed that 'to rebuild the American economy, it is necessary to remove people's fears.' He proposed to President Franklin Roosevelt to give a speech to inspire courage in the nation. He wrote the manuscript himself. Through Hill's famous speech, 'What we should fear is fear itself,' the fear in people's hearts dissipated, and the American economy began to revive.

Until he closed his life at the age of 87, Hill continued to convey the philosophy of success to millions through books and lectures, laying the foundation for today's prosperity in America. His books continue to be read by people all over the world.

・List of various booklets (propaganda magazines) open_in_new

・List of articles on teachings of the heart that can be learned by parents and children open_in_new