Outwitting the Devil: The Secret to Freedom and Success

At first, I was pondering, whether or not to read the Outwitting the Devil because I have read thousand books on the formula for success. Actually, the title turned me off thinking it would have a religious twist and they have manipulated Napoleon's writings. Boy, was I wrong! I must say that many, many books are excellent but over time, they tend to repeat the same message in different way. In my opinion, this is the most powerful book ever written on this topic and one I've been studying nearly every day for days now. Once I started reading it then I was desperate to read it, in its entirety. I so appreciate the wisdom of Napoleon Hill and the thousands of hours of his research and I devour this book and have now read it reputedly. I am now going to let my children read this book. Well, I have the audio version and will get the hardcopy version soon, maybe buy several to give as gifts. I know a lot of drifters. It is a simply Must-Read and is now one of my favorite books. This book was released when it should have been. Now a day when the spirit world is so accepted and is now on Prime Time TV. Okay, yeah I know that is ghost, but that is energy too, I am not saying that is bad energy. Okay, back to the book. This book will not be so nutty to our generation. Boy do we need it now days. If it was released anytime, sooner it would have been throughout and all of his great teachings would have as well. I thank the Napoleon Hill Foundation for having the courage to publish this book and do it in his own words. I like that you did not change his writings. I love hearing the old Napoleon Hill talking and the way he talked. There is much wisdom, lots of inspiration, and motivation in this book. An excellent book that contains logical information that is "timeless." Dr Hill spent a lifetime researching and studying human behavior and this manuscript that was written in 1938 but not published until now seems to be optimum summary of his research. I can tell you if you are a big fan of his teaching as I am. If you love his research of areas of success and failures, you will devour this book and read it repeatedly so that the concepts and ideas become a part of your subconscious blueprint for success.

People often ask if Hill thought he was talking with the Devil of the Bible; a supernatural force outside of us. By his own writings, he makes it clear that instead it is a tendency and gravitation of our minds toward the negative, problematic, dividing, fearful, hated, egotistical, subjugating, etc. If love, unity, peace, helping others, and happiness are positives - which we can promote - all the opposites associated with the 'devil' mind tendency, can be promoted as well. We can be in the driver's seat with either, and should choose wisely. But the writings don't stop there. They don't leave out a positive force beyond us that we can connect with and tap into. It's an 'infinite Intelligence', a warehouse of knowledge and assistance. Just as the 'devil' here isn't a religious (especially Christian) construct, this cosmic intelligence isn't specifically a religious or denomination construct either. The insights are from observation and experience. I too - over decades of deep observation and reflection - arrived at the same exact conclusions that Hill has put to print. The only downside to this edition is Susan Lechter's annoying and unnecessary comments. I've never encountered a book with someone new butting in with thoughts and a style utterly contrary to the main author. Everything is set up with as her as co-author. I have no doubt that Hill would have not approved of such inclusion.

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.

Outwitting the Devil, by Napoleon Hill, does not read like a classic novel about good and evil, pain and pleasure, or success and failure. There is no archetypical hero to root for, nor villain to hate. Those needing a happy ending, where the good guy wearing the white hat rides to the rescue (the adult version of the fairy tale) may find this book disappointing. This is more of a "choose your own adventure" book. Therefore, the reader should be prepared to pony up a bit, in the intellectual honesty department. The more serious reader is uniquely drawn into considering the possibility we've been intelligently designed and created to be the masters of our own fate and, as such, the reader is also challenged to consider the inherent responsibilities and thought processes such a paradigm entails. Napoleon Hill conveys his ideas through an imagined and most enticing Q&A session he has with the Devil himself. The quality of the questions Hill deftly asks of the Devil leaves little maneuvering room for the Devil to avoid giving truthful answers. This powerful and dynamic Q&A exercise more than suggests that thoughtful and strategic questioning can be more important and relevant than the perceived "source" of the information. In this case the "source" of the information is the Devil which may scare away those readers who are apprehensive and fearful of truly "knowing their enemy." Hill suggests, much like the cartoon character Pogo aptly stated, "We have met the enemy, and the enemy is us" or more apropos to Hill's observations; we have met the Devil, and the Devil is us. The concept that makes this book a hard read for the faint of heart and those desiring 'someone' to rescue them from their failing paradigms, rather than taking personal responsibility, is that the power of the Devil can only manifest itself in our lives if we lend the Devil our energies. Outwitting the Devil suggests that we lend the Devil our energies, by default, when we are careless with our thoughts, words, and actions. In so doing, we "drift" along through life with the rest of the herd (society at large). Hill poignantly portrays, in his Q&A with the Devil, the various thought traps that can cause us to "drift" over to the dark side. The idea of lending our energies to the dark side through careless thoughts, words, and actions correlates quite nicely with biblical scripture in Proverbs that tells us, "For as he (man) thinketh in his heart, so is he..." Outwitting the Devil advises the reader that we must consciously choose associates with complimentary values to our own otherwise it will be more difficult, if not impossible, to maintain the "definiteness of purpose" critical to achieving happiness and success. If we allow ourselves to get sucked into the negative vortex of the "drifters," we risk becoming "drifters" ourselves. Takeaway: If you want to help a "drifter," don't become one. Books, such as this one, written in a period of history (the Great Depression) that seems to rhyme with our current economic condition have many benefits. History often points out to us that successful men such as Napoleon Hill and the icons of his generation are not always successful all of the time or in every aspect of their lives. Knowing the principles of successful living and having the courage to comprehensively apply them may seem to be more aptly suited to our childhood comic book super-heroes and somewhat out of our reach. This book illustrates, however, that we all have the capacity to achieve our dreams and we are our own unsung heroes every time we find the courage to overcome our own personal fears. By releasing ourselves from our chronic fears and the underlying negative thoughts that sponsor them, we offer hope and inspiration to others to do the same. So, if we need to find either a hero or a villain to give our own life story a happy ending, we need to look no further than the nearest mirror and look at the reflection in it. That's where the buck truly stops. Outwitting the Devil offers the reader the awareness and tools needed to better manage their thoughts, words, actions, and outcomes. It's a great book and well worth the price of admission. ---- Steven Wallace, co-author of The END TIMES Hoax and the Hijacking of Our Liberty

First off, let me say that I would love to give this book 5 stars, but I can't because of Sharon Lechter's constant interruptions throughout the book. The book was written by Napoleon Hill, but she felt the need to add her two cents by interjecting her commentary all throughout the book, making it distracting to read; you, if you're like me, will end up skipping all her commentary, which adds no value to the book whatsoever. In some cases, she simply repeats the last line or quotes the last line and adds, "So says the Devil." Fortunately, each of her commentary blurbs are sectioned off and bold, so they are easy to skip over. I believe she was instrumental in getting this book into print, for which I am grateful, but she should have ended her contribution there - well, that and the foreword. Okay, concerning the original content by Hill: it's fantastic, enlightening, and inspirational. Reading this book and applying the tenets are what real repentance (the Greek work translated as such in the New Testament means "Changing ones mind") is all about. Shedding the old "skin" of programmed thought patterns is crucial for transformation, and this book is not one that states the negative aspects of humankind that lead us to failure and self-induced suffering and stops there; on the contrary, it states the cause of our undesirable issues and gives solutions for bringing about transformation, and all of this in a uniquely contrived dialogue with the Devil by the author. It made me think of Conversations With God, but I got far more out of Outwitting the Devil than that one - the former being mostly a theoretical mishmash of concepts from many of the world's religion, the latter presenting practical means by which one may rise from the self-made prisons of limitation and negativity and tap into that inner Source of being to bring about radical transformation within and without. If one is willing to spend the time and energy applying the thought processes laid out in the text, he or she can move into a new state of being, that in which the truly successful people (and not just financially successful) live and operate. This book is a treasure, and I'm grateful it materialized after being shelved so many years, and I'm thankful it was not buried with Hill.

This was a great read. A little wired in that its written format was an actual interview with the Devil. But once I started reading I was completely fascinated with the information and concepts. This book introduced the "drifter", I immediately identified with my grown son. It helped to give me some insight into his personality and motivations... err rather, lack thereof. The Characteristics of a Drifter ~Total lack of a major purpose in life ~He will be conspicuous by his lack of self-confidence ~He will never accomplish anything requiring thought and effort ~He spends all he earns and more too if he can get credit ~He will be sick or ailing from some real or imaginary cause and calling to high heaving if he suffers the least physical pain. ~He will have little or no imagination ~He will lack enthusiasm and initiative to begin anything he is not forced to undertake, and he will plainly express his weakness by taking the line of least resistance whenever he can do so. ~He will be ill-tempered and lacking in control over his emotions. ~His personality will be without magnetism, and it will not attract other people. ~He will have opinions on everything but accurate knowledge of nothing. ~He may be jack of all trades, but good at none. ~He will neglect to cooperate with those around him…even on those he must depend on for food and shelter. ~He will make the same mistake over and over again never profiting by failure. ~He will be narrow-minded and intolerant on all subjects ready to crucify those who disagree with him. ~He will expect everything of others, but be willing to give nothing in return. ~He may begin many things, but complete nothing. ~He will be loud in his condemnation of his government, but he will never tell you definitely how it could be improved. ~He will never reach decisions on anything if he can avoid it, and if he is forced to decide, he will reverse himself at the first opportunity. ~He will eat too much, and exercise too little. ~He will take a drink of liquor, if someone else will pay for it. ~He will gamble if he can do it on the cuff (meaning on credit.) ~He will criticize other who are succeeding at their chosen calling. ~The drifter will work harder to get out of thinking than most others work at making a good living. ~He will tell a lie rather than admit his ignorance on any subject. ~If he works for others he will criticize them to their backs, and flatter them to their faces.

I loved everything about this book. I liked the concept. I like the way it was written. I like the content. All around a good book. However, as others have pointed out, if you are traditional in terms of religion, politics, education, etc., you may find some of this difficult to swallow. First of all, it's written as an interview with the Devil, which hooked me from the get-go. The basis of the conversation is about how the Devil uses different things to hold us back as mentioned in the book description. Then, it goes into a larger picture, too. How religion and the education system creates these fears and ways of thinking. With social media and our consumer society, jealousy is at the forefront these days and it does limit us when you think about it. The interesting part is how the Devil explains how he will control the US government and how he will enter the White House and what that will do to this nation. Considering that this was written in the 1930s, it is eerily accurate for today. There are people who can see the future and see the big picture -- connect all the dots and see where it's all heading. Napoleon Hill, as far as I can tell, was one of those people. If you are open to taking responsibility for yourself and your actions, as well as considering the negative effects of religion and our education system, you will love this book. And for me, honestly, it was an entertaining read ... as good as any novels I have read.

First of all, if you are a fan of Napoleon Hill, why are you even reading my review? I should be reading yours!! (I say with a smile) I bought the book because of the author, but the Audible book absolutely took my breath away! The story behind when and why this hidden manuscript wasn't published until 2011 is very eye opening! This world is in so much turmoil right now, so when you hear the interview with the devil, you're going to think this was written just for what's going on today in 2015, not in the 1930's when it was written. Listen to it with an open mind and HEAR what you NEED to HEAR! There's a reason the devil proudly boasts that he controls 98% of the world population!! Try to discover if he has hooked you, too, and when you find out how to escape his clutches, TAKE THOSE ACTIONS NOW!!! I was so riveted by this interview, I couldn't stop listening! I'll be listening over & over again, but a few chapters at a time, so I can take a lot of notes to remind me to examine myself daily! Don't let this day end until you get this book and start listening! It truly was one of the most eye opening books I've ever heard! Napoleon Hill has always been one of my favorite authors because his books speak the truth to me, but this is truly one of his finest books and it wasn't even published until over 40 years after his death. The devil even told him in the interview that if the 'earth bound one' tried to write the book, he would prevent it from being published. It's almost as if Napoleon Hill had already seen this happening. I feel like I went through Lasik surgery and can finally see how the devil works to control and deceive us daily. Truly life changing for me!

Maravillosa lectura, una obra generadora de consciencia! Un libro liberador de entusiasmo, fe y actitud mental positiva!!! A must reading for everyone!

This book is a great piece of work. It is a conversation between the author and the devil. This is a lesson of what great can be done in life, and the mistakes that can and must be evited. While you will be reading that book, you will be stunned by the authenticity of the ideas and facts that are said in this book, and you will identified with it a 100% Every words of this book is at its place so you can get a great understanding of what the author have understood through his experience of life. It's a moralistic conversation that touches many aspects of human life, society, and reason. Matters like religion, addiction, development, work, goals, infinite etc. A must-read that could change the world if it was taught at school. Best regards, Robin

I liked this book better than think and grow rich. It's an interesting concept to read about failure and success through the devil's perspective The comments by Sharon are optional reading. One need not read them as Napoleon Hill's writing is clear enough to understand. This book gives an idea about the pitfalls to be avoided as well as the steps needed for one to be successful and that's a complete package for me.

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If you are ever stuck for conversation (to coin a phrase) then this is a book to have at hand to create it. I am a great fan of Napoleon Hill and have just recently heard, and purchased this book. Now half way through it I am fascinatated by Hill's ability to cut to the chase and bring a very current feel to the fore. There are many people in history that it would appear, have been born too soon and sound as if they are actually modern in their thinking and their passion to offer solutions through the written word (if we are astute enough to read and take note!) But why should we believe they are born too soon and sound current. Do people from the past not deserve credit for their abilities to cut through all the difficulties faced by war and poverty. They did it because we are here as living proof they survived. I am amazed this book has not been around as long as Think and Grow Rich, but I believe that reading them in this order gives a better insight into Hill's background and mindset. I am reading it carefully and aiming to step into Hill's shoes as he interviews the Devil. What an amazing way to kickstart your thinking processes - it certainly has had a profound effect (even this far in) on my strategic thinking and the goals I am dusting off to find the tiny tweeks that are necessary to complete the journey. Wow. (But a warning - Sharon Lechter is surplus to requirements on this. Her notes are childish and condescending at the very least, and a painful distraction at best. Ignore them as it dilutes the message Hill is trying to get across. What a shame the publisher felt it necessary to add them. I implore you to read around them!)