MAIS ESPERTO QUE O DIABO: O MISTERIO REVELADO DA LIBERDADE E DO SUCESSO

by Napoleon Hill

Chiến thắng con quỷ trong bạn - cuốn sách của Napoleon Hill sẽ mang đến cho bạn một trải nghiệm khác biệt về việc đối diện, đấu trí đấu dũng và chiến thắng phần “Con” luôn hăm hở thống trị phần “Người” ấy.

Không ai sống trong một Thiên đường với một Thiên thần duy nhất, giống như vạn vật có hai thái cực âm dương, trong con người luôn tồn tại song song Thiên thần và Ác quỷ. Thiên thần là thứ ánh sáng dẫn đường bạn đến những phước lành, những hành vi tốt, những đạo đức đáng ngưỡng mộ. Nhưng Ác quỷ - một bản thể đầy cám dỗ không bao giờ chịu thua, lúc nào cũng chờ đợi một lỗ hổng trong kết giới ý chí để xâm chiếm mảnh đất tâm thức và thao túng bạn.

Napoleon Hill sẽ dẫn bạn đi vào vùng tối sâu thẳm của tâm thức, nơi những cuộc thú tội sẽ diễn ra, nơi Quý ngài Ác quỷ hả hê vì những trò tiêu khiển như buộc một con người trở nên yếu hèn và mê hoặc, cám dỗ bằng sự lười biếng, sự cuồng tín. Nhưng cũng từ trong cuộc đối thoại với cái ác, Napoleon Hill tiết lộ cho bạn biết bạn phải vận dụng nghịch cảnh như thế nào, xây dựng kỷ luật tự nhân và các đức tính quan trọng để làm chủ tốt bản thân mình.

Những con người buông thả là những con người cho phép mình bị ảnh hưởng và điều khiển bởi những hoàn cảnh bên ngoài tâm trí của họ. Đó là lời của Quý ngài Ác quỷ. Nếu không muốn bị Quý ngài này xâm chiếm cuộc sống của bạn suốt khoảng thời gian tồn tại trên đời, bạn cần phải bước vào cuộc chiến thực sự với phần “Con” của bản thân, dựa trên những hướng dẫn hữu ích từ Napoleon Hill.

Genres: Self Help, Nonfiction, Business, Personal Development, Psychology, Philosophy, Audiobook

Pocket Book

Published January 1, 2019

About the author

Oliver Napoleon Hill was an American self-help author and conman. He is best known for his book Think and Grow Rich (1937), which is among the best-selling self-help books of all time. Hill's works insisted that fervid expectations are essential to improving one's life. Most of his books were promoted as expounding principles to achieve "success".
Hill is a controversial figure. Accused of fraud, modern historians also doubt many of his claims, such as that he met Andrew Carnegie and that he was an attorney.

Reviews

[Rashida · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is quite possibly one of the most thought provoking and life changing books I've read to date. If you read this I urge you to do so with an open mind, understanding that it is NOT IMPORTANT whether you think it's the real devil or a metaphor. Either way, these are things that do hold a lot of us back from success.

Let his perspective inspire your own. I personally know that I've been "a drifter" as he describes, and can even catch myself almost falling back into it from time to time.

Makes me wonder what the world would be like if everyone didn't become discouraged by fears and defeats. I don't know about you, but I plan on being in the 2% that isn't!

READ ITTTTT :)

[Tre Scott · Rating 3 out of 5]

While the original author's text makes for a good read - or listen - the continuous interruptions of the annotator, Sharon Lechter, forced me to discontinue after about 40 minutes. Every time the story gained a little momentum, Ms. Lechter butted in.

I then re-edited the audiobook, removing Ms. Lechter's commentary so that I could enjoy it in peace.

If you've already purchased the audio version, but would like to be able to listen to it cleanly, let me know and I can email it to you.

[Becky Reed · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just read the latest publication of Napoleon Hill that was set aside over 80 years ago, Outwitting the Devil, the Secret to Freedom and Success. In the two years following my trek into the “bowels of the Twilight Zone,” I sank into the quicksand of a self-sustaining process with a narcissist/psychopath and his clan. I found myself buoyed in a current of some strange delusion of life and hoping that somehow I could be saved. I had no idea where or how that might arise as an agonizing crisis of faith had thrown a veil of unhappiness over me.

As described in Hill’s book, I had “drifted away from self-determinism without purpose or a plan...this was procrastination” as I put reaching definite decisions on a back burner. Fear is an awesome presence. We pretend it has no influence over our thought patterns but we carry the stressful worry of criticism...that we might have failed, that we were not and may not be up to the task of creating a positive and happy life, and that we are somehow less than we hoped.

The book, Outwitting the Devil , states so powerfully that “drifters of thought and thinking patterns cry that the world has run dry of opportunities, but non-drifters do not wait for opportunity - they create these.” Within the pages of the book, an interview between the author and the Devil is taking place. It’s reminiscent of C.S. Lewis’ The Screwtape Letters. The Devil’s great concern is that real thinkers may appear on earth... and they would share with others the “greatest of all truths - that the time spent fearing something would, if reversed, give mankind all he wants in the material world and save him after death.” The problem exists as more than choice of thoughts. One must be repetitive to the point of establishing an ongoing rhythm that flows without effort. This rhythm is the “last stage of habit.” Drifting and procrastination are the same practical knowledge. Hypnotic rhythm makes dominating thoughts AND thinking patterns permanent.

So, during these two years away from the insanity that had become "home," I have been floundering a bit, but also climbing forward. To think my own thoughts...to be a Don Quixote for my own beliefs...to make decisions and accept the consequences along with awareness of involved dynamics and effects upon others, to risk applying different techniques, and to decrease my need for the approval of others. This isn't to say that I no longer find camaraderie of like minded souls important, but I can keep my own counsel and engage in reflective contemplation with a sense of something greater than the smaller me.

Each person, to live with purpose, must intend to awaken to his own power of determinism - cause and effect. The goal that guides the action must also be accompanied by a sense of ethical responsibility. Discernment is part of this knowledge with judgment. So, Hill’s phrase “how to fail successfully” makes a great deal of sense. We can learn from adversity. There is a difference between temporary defeat and failure. To work the system of creative energy, one needs passion, talent, high level associations, choosing to take right actions, and faith. Described as the “stronger sister of hope,” (Emmet Fox) faith is definiteness of deliberate aim backed by the belief in the accomplishment of the objective.

And yet, we humans require a payment to ourselves and that comes in the form of happiness. Because there are exchanges in this energy-web of living, one of the best ways to discover personal joy is to find a service to provide. There is a harmony that evolves from developing a purpose in one’s own mental, spiritual, and physical landscape. As you gain a discipline over yourself, thoughts, controlling influences, and awareness of repercussions, one feels a unique power of connectedness. Napoleon Hill used a Mastermind group of admired people throughout history to serve on his “Roundtable” as he imagined their responses, actions, and teaching guidance when mulling ideas and plans. The secret is to grow an understanding heart and rebirth or rebuilding of character as we move into a reality of our choosing. Time is necessary in the sense that habitual connection to life's energies of decency help channel our own growth. Challenges will arise, but if we have become advocates for our own self-hood and establish a set of principles for our ideas of right conduct, we can each feel the exhilaration of choice, knowing there is more than the individual "I." When the student is ready...

[Julie · Rating 1 out of 5]

The gist of the book: Don't drift through life or the devil will control you. In fact, he already controls 98% of the population!

The book quotes from the bible and even states that it corresponds with Christ’s teachings. A few differences of the book compared to the bible came to mind as I was reading it:
Book: love gets in the way, (but sex is good)
Bible: 1st great commandment Love God and 2nd love your neighbor as yourself
Book: Duty to only yourself
Bible: Lose yourself to serving God and then you’ll find yourself
Book: Marriage should be over if not working well (which happens, on and off, in EVERY marriage)
Bible: Love your spouse like Christ loves you and gave his life for you
Book: Be hard
Bible: Be teachable, meek, and humble

Perhaps this has some small pieces of decent concepts (like determination, faith, and prayer) interspersed with a lot of what the devil feels would be VERY good advice. And trust me it's pretty tricky the way the ideas are introduced...My advice- don't take advice from the devil!

Oh, and it says when you pray, demand what you want. Good grief- what about the the Lord directing you for good, or counsel not the Lord. He obviously knows what's best.

The fact is that we are saved through Christ's atonement, not by being determined and putting ourselves first. That's the biggest lie that bothers me the most.

This is just one part of why I disliked this book. I saw a ton of other major concerns related to the way you should bring up children, among other things.

1. Don't ban drinking, sex, drugs but teach them kids it's not good and can cause them to drift. Some sex is ok, just not overindulgence.
2. Kids should make a decision fast and then not change it easily. (As if a kid's first inclination is the best! Yikes!)

Then there's the weird stuff: The devil says he's just as powerful as God and he's the negative part of the electron. And then there's the hypnotic rhythm?Please! Stupid book by an egotistical man thinking he's providing all the answers, practically starting his own religion & supposedly helping us out. He's basically saying he's better than 98% of the population and he's saved because he's so determined! Wow!

[مشاري الإبراهيم · Rating 1 out of 5]

Reached midway through the book and decided to stop reading.

Was too cheesy, obvious, and dramatic for my taste.

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was fascinating!
I have read Think and Grow Rich, The law of Success, and have the Keys to Success audio series so I figured I pretty much had all of NH's material. Wow was I ever wrong.

First off after a short story about himself after he lost all his money in the depression and the strange turn of events he experienced he goes into a Question and Answer series with the devil. This made for very quick reading. His years of interviewing the successful people and failed folks of his day are melded together in the devil's answers.

The work is extremely controversial to the religious community and the public school system. The devil explaiins why the two supposedly diffferent systems actual work hand in hand to deliver 98% of all of us to the devil.

Another law is also introduced in this book that is not in his other works.

This is a must read for anyone who wants to be successful!

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you're facing adversity or in the middle of a life change, this is a great book to read. A great challenge to your mindset on whatever it is you are currently facing. Some takeaways:

* The capacity to surmount failure without being discouraged is the chief asset of every person who attains outstanding success in any calling.

* The seven principles to attain spiritual, physical and mental freedom:
1. Definiteness of purpose.
2. Mastery over self.
3. Learning from adversity.
4. Controlling environmental influence (associations)
5. Time (giving permanency to positive rather than negative thought-habits and developing wisdom)
6. Harmony (acting with definiteness of purpose to become the dominating influence in your own mental, spiritual and physical environment.)
7. Caution (thinking through your plan before your act.)

* "The person who moves with definiteness of purpose recognizes the difference between temporary defeat and failure. When plans fail he substitutes others but he does not change his purpose. He perseveres."

* "You are entitled to know that two entities occupy your body. One of these entities is motivated by and responds to the impulse of fear. The other is motivated by and responds to the impulse of faith. Will you be guided by faith or will you allow fear to overtake you?"

* "Your only limitation is the one which you set up in your mind."

* Is prayer a part of your life? Do you trust God to 'hand over the plan best suited for the attainment of the object' of your prayer? Do you acknowledge that in order for your plan to be successful you must take action?

* Every adversity brings with it the seed of an equivalent advantage.

* The six most effective fears are the fear of poverty, criticism, ill health, loss of love, old age and death.

* Habits come in pairs, triplets, and quadruplets. Any habit which weakens one's will power invites a flock of its relatives to move in and take possession of the mind.

* A drifter is one who permits himself to be influenced and controlled by circumstances outside of his own mind.

* Victory goes to the people who know what they want and are determined to have it.

[Joe · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very interesting book on the dangers of destructive and negative thinking, something very widespread in society today with catchy addictive headlines about disaster and promising more disaster.

In order to avoid getting sucked into blaming the government, the banks, the rich, your parents, your boss etc... for your problems and taking control of your life essentially you need to:

1. Have a definite purpose in life (to look after your family, accumulate wealth, help others..)
2. Mastery over self
3. Learning from adversity (don't give up after small temporary defeats, learn something and keep going)
4. Controlling environmental influence (associations - avoid associating with people who bring you down)
5. Time - giving permanency to positive rather than negative thought-habits and developing wisdom
6. Harmony (acting with definiteness of purpose to become the dominating influence in your own mental) spiritual and physical environment)
7. Caution (thinking through your plan before you act)

All humans have free will, but we can't change the weather, the economy or much else. All we do have complete control over are:
1) Our own thoughts
2) How we spend our time

Think carefully, use your time wisely and see what a difference it makes

[Susan Highland · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this book in the giveaway, and received it yesterday! I can NOT put it down! This is the BEST book I ever read, and I highly recommend it to everyone! It is not yet released, but can be purchased on Amazon, and sent to you when it is released! It's making me crazy, because I want everyone in my family and all of my friends to read it, but I can't purchase for them yet! It is uplifting, inspiring, and timely!

This was written in 1938, and sat for 72 years unpublished. Very timely release, and everyone could benefit from it! The meat of the book is an interview with the Devil, and the answers given by the Devil will show you just how you can be manipulated by fear, and you will be so MAD, you will recognize the deceit, and rise above it!

Now, when I recognize fear creeping in, I think, "You are NOT messing with my head, you stupid Devil!"

Stay tuned!

[Steven Walle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Napolian Hill is clearly at his best in this book. He conducts an interview with the Devil where he pries a confession from him.
He gets the Devil to admit how he takes us over by causing us to drift and not have definateness of purpose. The Devil takes our base desires and perverts them and uses them to His own perpose.
He explains how He can gain control through habbits such as smoking, drinking, drugs, and sex. By these confessions we are taught how to stay on the straight and narrow path twards happiness and fulfillment.
Enjoy and Be Blessed.
Diamond

[Rubi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Éste es otro de esos libros que habría que dejar en la mesilla de noche y leerlo y releerlo continuamente.

Hill mantiene una entrevista con el Diablo en el que le obliga a contarle sus secretos más ocultos. Sobre todo, cómo se hace con el control de la mente de las personas y qué hacer para poder evitarlo.

Me ha encantado y he sacado un montón de conocimientos importantes y gran cantidad de aspectos a tener en cuenta en mi vida. Me ha dejado también con un montón de reflexiones, desde luego.

Conclusión: Magnífico y totalmente recomendable.

"¡Tu única limitación es aquella que tú mismo implantas en tu mente!”

“Cualquiera es capaz de desear las ventajas financieras, materiales o espirituales, pero el elemento de la fe es el único poder seguro por medio del cuál un deseo puede traducirse en una creencia, y una creencia en realidad.”

“A pesar del hecho de haber comprendido el poder de la Mente Maestra, había olvidado apropiarme y hacer uso de este poder. Había estado trabajando como un lobo solitario en vez de aliarme con otras mentes superiores."

“Obligación es una de las palabras más denostadas y malentendidas que existen. La primera obligación de todo ser humano es consigo mismo. Toda persona se debe a sí misma a la obligación de saber cómo vivir una vida plena y feliz. Más allá de esto, si uno tiene tiempo y energía no necesaria - en el cumplimiento de sus propios deseos - puede asumir la responsabilidad de ayudar a otros.”

[Caroline McBride · Rating 1 out of 5]

Perhaps Hill’s wife didn’t want this book published because she didn’t want his insufferable writing inflicted on the rest of the world. Hill seems completely oblivious as to the impact his privilege has had on his life and the opportunities afforded him. His wife and children are mentioned only in passing, while he traipses around the country on his various business ventures. The conclusions from his conversations with the devil are nothing revolutionary. That his wikipedia page quotes him as a ‘conman’ doesn’t surprise me.

[Doug Crowe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I believe I've read over 100 books on personal development, success and business. I had a top 10 list already...now I have a top 11 list.

Thank you, Sharon, for bringing this to life.

"Outwitting the Devil" is a personal favorite and one I am recommending to all of my friends, children and acquaintances.

Brilliant work...simply brilliant.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

-Satan is negative energy. He lives in fear in much of the population. He occupies the unused space in the mind.
-smoking is more dangerous than a lot of big things, not because it's bad for the body but because anything that creates bad habit invites a flock of other bad habits.
-If you drift in one direction and you will drift in all directions. Use your mind, don't let it be occupied.
-The most important tool of the devil is to block independent thought. Parents and teachers think they are being helpful by doing things for their children, but this teaches the child that they are not capable to do it themselves.
-Accurate thought is the key to avoid drifting.
-attributes of a drifter and non-drifter
-When we overcome fear and use our minds we leave no space for the adversary.
-Flattery doesn't effect non-drifters. Drifters love it, they love vanity and egotism. Reminds me of the book "you are loved" with the dots and stars.
-Those who get money young and receive praise without wisdom, fall quickly.
-How do be careful a non-drifter-
1.do your own thinking
2.Decide definitely what you want in life and sacrifice all else 
3.analyze temporary defeat and extract advantage
4.render useful service, serve 1st
5.brain receiver to universal intelligence
6.don't waste time
7.recognize truth, faith not fear
8.pray, don't beg, ask faithfully
9.life is a cruel task master
10.dominating thoughts attract what they think
Summary of those points:
Be definite in everything you and never leave unfinished thoughts in the mind
-Hypnotic rhythm- rhythms of life, they exist. I the closing of the American mind, he talks about this in music driving people to sex. Sex has a rythym. Music of course also strikes notes of comfort, clarity, competition, excitement, adventure, love, etc.
-Man and woman together powerful force against adversary. Two different minds coming together.
-You attract what you think about.
-Satan is simply the opposite of God.
-Hypnotic rhythm is something we all have we can change it. This makes me think of rhythm from "child whisperer" we all have energies, we should work with them, not try to change them,
Air: fun, loving, generous, forgiving.
Water- emotional, loving, flowing, emapthetic
Fire: determined, strong, passionate
Earth: contemplative, exact, thoughtful, correct, analytical
-ways to bring hypnotic rhythm to work for you:
1. definiteness of purpose
2.mastery over self
3.learning from adversity
4.controlling environmental influence, associations.
5.time, filling it positively, permanency
6.harmony, self driven
7.caution, thinking through before acting.
-Definiteness of purpose- closes adversary out. Once doubt answers and pulls you from your goal you are in adversity's grasp, no definitiveness of purpose. I see this happen often with those who leave the church. They start off wanting to live the same, but soon drift and get much farther than they realize.
-time is the enemy to injustice and immorality, time is friend to justice and morality.
-with kids- teach more and apply better. I want to help my kids apply the scriptures more. Teach them- food, self control, proper sexuality, service, definitiveness, to think.
-3 appetites that can be destructive: food, sex, expressing undirected thought
-6th Sense, not traceable, but real, inspiration, revelation, relationships
-Relationships are most about minds harmonizing, not interests
-We only have our will and power of thought. We have no control otherwise
-Law of compensation, Ralph Waldo Emerson, in his essay, "Compensation," wrote that each person is compensated in like manner for that which he or she has contributed. The Law of Compensation is another restatement of the Law of Sowing and Reaping. It says that you will always be compensated for your efforts and for your contribution, whatever it is, however much or however little.
-environment crucial, hypnotic rhythm is the dominant communication. Make home positive place
-Drifters have no real say in their environment, they allow themselves to be victims to it 
-Negative desires are frustrations of positive desires because of defeat, failure, or neglect of positive harmony of nature's laws. All space is filled with something.
-Wisdom only comes: time+learning=experience
-"Wisdom is the ability to relate yourself to nature's laws so they can serve you. And the ability to relate to other people to gain their cooperation to make life what it can be" (not exact)
-Wisdom is not thrust it is gained.
-Drifting, hypnotic rhythm, time- 3 most important concepts in this book.
-Life is of our own making. Fill it with good- learning, accumulate wisdom through learning from experience. Don't be a victim drifting through life.
-Take the reins confidently, don't drift later. Many have definitiveness of purpose, but lose sight and drift after success.
-The summary is powerful. 98/100 are drifters. Have definitiveness of purpose in marriage, raising children, and everything else in life. It makes me grateful for the church, for truth, for a definite purpose- the return to God.
-Temptations are ageless. Every generation faces essentially the same challenges.
-"There is never enough of more." This can be good or bad.

[Yemi Obayanju · Rating 5 out of 5]

So many lessons behind this book. I really
liked the breakdown of the 7 principles. A must read for all. But you must go into reading this novel with an open mind for it will not disappoint.

[Tyler Storm · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is exactly what I needed

I have let too many anonymous people from various internet forums turn me into a serious debbie downer. This book really fixed my mood and character. So grateful to come across this book. Really helped me out a lot to change my mood and habits.

I would recommend this book to anyone. It's a very quick read you can probably finish it in 3 days if you really wanted to. I took meticulous notes while reading this book. Summary of this book is the power of the mind and dominating thoughts become their physical equivalent. Try to be positive and not negative. You have negative thoughts regarding getting a job, getting good grades, wealth, etc thought thoughts will become reality if they dominate your mind. People pick up on body language and can tell when something is off. So, I really like this book and will probably reread when law school starts since it is short and easy to digest.

[ScienceOfSuccess · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'd give this book 6/5 if I had a proof that it was written 100years ago or so, as author claims.

This is the self help book I had in my mind, the book that says "most people work on autopilot, and you can manage them".

Probably even better than think and grow rich.

[Diego Eis · Rating 2 out of 5]

“A pessoa que não domina a si mesma jamais poderá ser líder de outras.”

Gostei bastante do início do livro onde Napoleon conta um epis��dio da sua história. Logo depois dessa história, ele começa a entrevista com o diabo. A ideia é entendermos como formamos os nossos medos e as limitações que isso nos traz. Na entrevista, o Diabo faz uma série de explicações sobre como ele usa obstáculos como procrastinação, raiva, ciúmes, morte, pobreza e outros, limitando nossa percepção e racionalidade ao lidar com a vida cotidiana.

Pra ser bastante franco, o livro é bem chato. :-)

[Trevor · Rating 2 out of 5]

Personally, I do not find this book neither "controversial" nor "life-changing".

The author is a fraud, with most of his encounters and "researches" being mostly made up.

I personally feel that a lot of the content is redundant. To summarize the whole book: You must have a positive mindset, an ability to think critically, good habits and perseverance to succeed. The rest of the content is just expanding on this and making it more confusing by using terms such as "hypnotic rhythm" to imply the meaning of strong habits.

Nevertheless, that does not matter as long as the content of the book is meaningful.
However, I would say that the author often repeats his point over and over again throughout the book, and using the same argument over and over again. Additionally, most of his arguments are not scientific and mostly based on whatever "the devil" says, which is most probably his own personal opinion.

For an example, he mentions that public education is ruining the younger generation's ability to think, because most knowledge are passed down without putting focus on its practicality and its usage. Then again, there was no prove on this, just an statement of opinion from "the devil". Funny enough, throughout the whole book, Napoleon Hill states a few "laws of nature" and characteristics of a "non-drifter" without actually giving the readers practical ways of being one. For an example, he would often mention again and again that a non-drifter has the ability to think for himself. But how do one achieve the ability to think for oneself? Napoleon does not explain that.
A person must break the "hypnotic rhythm" in order to be a non-drifter. But how do you achieve that? No practical solutions are given.

it's just another "how to be successful" genre book which mentions trite and ambiguous concepts without any practical methods and scientific studies behind. ( I would not believe his "research" was actually done since there was no actual record of him ever meeting Carnegie and Edison)

[Kent · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read Hill's "The Law of Success" and found a few of the principles outlined in this book; the major principle being the definiteness of purpose. Of course, the editor, Sharon Lechter, understands that Hill's conversation with the Devil may seem a little far out to many in our culture. Although, in all honesty, it probably is no different when Hill wrote this book in the 1930s. Hill, of course, definitely believed this was the Devil.

As a Christian, I can see some aspects of what could potentially be the Devil in here, while other moments make me believe Hill may have been in some altered mental state where he was able to access a part of his brain that we are rarely able to access. Regardless, there are some fine nougats of information here that Hill's wife was afraid of being released due to Hill claiming to have spoken with the Devil.

It's a condensed version, to a certain degree, of "The Law of Success," but covering a few other areas that were either glossed over in that book, or not touched on at all. I would recommend it as it already has greatly altered my thinking and I finished the book in a week.

[Aline · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought it would be a bit "darker", but I'm glad it wasn't :D
Very important messages! It'll definitely help me in my life.

It's so interesting that this was written in 1938, held back all these years and only published in 2011.
It's thought provoking even now. Try to imagine people reading this back then, they probably would have fainted :D

[Guilherme Zeitounlian · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lot of people recommended this book to me, so I was eager to read it.

I had read another book from Napoleon Hill - Think And Grow Rich - in 2014 (over six years ago), and it impacted me at the time.

Concepts such as the importance of mindset (and even obsession) were totally new to me. I enjoyed that book, and was curious about this one.

Outwitting the Devil is comprised of a short introduction of Hill and his personal story, followed by a dialogue - an interview - with Devil himself ("His Majesty").

There also notes from the "editor" every few paragraphs. Those notes have the main function of irritating the reader and breaking the flow of the book.

Some parts of the interview are very compelling. However, it quickly becomes repetitive, and it was a drag to finish the last 1/3 of the book.

You can realize that the book is a bit dated. But, at the same time, some of the critiques are eerily up to date.

For example, it is sad and worrisome to think about all the ways the world changed between 1930 and 2020, but school remains pretty much the same.

Outwitting the Devil is not a long book, and if you never read anything in personal development (self-help, or whatever you may call it), this might be a good start.

At this particular time in my life, I did not feel this book added much.

But this does not detract from the importance of its message.

Its key ideas are very similar to the ones in Think And Grow Rich:
- work hard,
- be independent,
- do not fall into bad vices,
- do not believe what all the "authorities" (church, school, parents) tell you,
- be aware of your thoughts and habits (do not "drift")...

Lest the Devil will control you.

And that is a message that bears remembering.

[Elham · Rating 5 out of 5]

One book that every single person should read. I feel this is today's holy book. A manual i would go back to again and again. Simple and brilliant...filled with AHA moments.

[Natt Mazzoni · Rating 1 out of 5]

So let's recap. This book is self help disguised as fiction (I don't think it was trying to catch anyone off guard but the person who recommended it to me did so deceivingly by describing it as fiction, that's why I read it). It's about Napoleon Hill (hilariously described on wikipedia as a conman) interviewing the Devil in 1937. Don't get excited though, this is not at all about the Devil, don't fall (like I did) for the idea that this will be an interesting analysis of human nature though the lenses of how a person interacts with the complex and interesting character of the Devil, like Faustian literature often does. No, this book is nothing more than a self congratulatory self help book that he author uses as framing to condemn all the actions he disapproves of, and expose all the ways in which people like him are good and right.
The argument of the book is that 98% of people are under the corrupting power of the devil and only 2% are not. The people under the influence are called alienated, and the devil will describe many ways in which he turns a person into an alienated. Alienated people, according to Hill, are anyone who is fat, poor, unmotivated and also ill. I can't stress enough how much Hill HATES fat people, he HATES poor people, he LOATHES any form of disability, which he says is self inflicted lazyness. He openly and literally says that all the richest people on earth are the strongest forces against alienation. But at the same time he also openly says that feeding people will create more alienation, that once people are fed, they lose all motivation to work hard. So which one is it Hill??? Are people who have money and therefore are fed good or are people who are poor and therefore are not fed good???? I, of course, know the answer here, he just means that you shouldn't give anything to other people, people should get rich though serving capitalism the right way until they amass wealth through the system.
Ironically this book easily grabs anyone who is not willing to think about what they are reading in critical ways, because it uses all those common tricks of self help books, being vague and contradictory in a way that any person can see themselves in the positive descriptions, thus making THEM feel great about how they are NOT alienated. After all, yes I do actually have defined plans for my future and work hard to achieve them! It's everyone around me that doesn't! I AM one of the 2%! And on top of that it has an in built shield against criticism, by ending every chapter with the devil talking about how his pawns will criticize and reject the ideas of the book, of course, only the alienated will hate this garbage.
I will not say it was a complete waste of time because it gave me a great insight into the brain of the person who recommended it to me. And also it took like 2 hours to read and I didn't pay anything. But I'll still say that if you come across this book, burn it on the spot.

[Camelia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Despite being written almost 80 years ago, the world problems signaled throughout the book are incredibly timely - from the aimless, futile education system, to the parents inculcating fear upon their children, to the church which builds its entire argument around the fear of Evil, to the power of the so-called hypnotic rhythm and many, many other things like this.

Leaving aside the imaginary conversation with the devil (which may be found offending by some readers), this book summarizes perfectly all the things that lead people to abandon their way and stray, losing themselves in worldly pleasures of all sorts. Moreover, it highlights the best practices to avoid these deviations (through self control, self discipline, definiteness of purpose, caution), presenting them in a very clear and easy-to-understand language.

I really liked the kind of information it contains and the approach, and I have already taken note of certain aspect of my life which required a good deal of improvement. I highly recommend it to anyone willing to think for themselves.

[Светослава Радева · Rating 5 out of 5]

Имам книгата от 2 години, а е в листата ми за четене от преди това. Няколко пъти започвам да я чета, но все нещо друго ме “отнасяше по течението”. Последните няколко месеца направих драстични промени в живота си и начина си на мислене и ето че като естествено продължение дойде и нейния ред. Изчетох я с огромен интерес и всеки отговор на дявола асоциирах с вече минала ситуация, намерено решение и взета поука.

Всяко нещо идва в точния момент в живота - нито по-рано, нито по-късно; идва, когато си готов и узрял за него.

Препоръчвам на всеки който е осъзнал, че ние сме господари на живота си. Бихме били по-щастливи, ако се вземем в ръце и направим нещо смислено, вместо да го пропилеем безцелно носейки се по течението.

[Max Tower · Rating 5 out of 5]

How much I love this book (in audio preferred, tbh)!

The interview style tackles all the important aspects that matter in our lives, from private to public to institutional matters, such as family, friends, religion, school, work, and pleasure.

By following along the “good” and “bad” arguments on these respective topics, we can see our own position emerging and thereby understand where we actually stand on the spectrum. Isn’t there a bit of the devil in all of us? :)

A super insightful and self-reflective work by Napoleon. My favorite!

[Plamena · Rating 3 out of 5]

Книгата и хубава. Ако обаче читателят е почитател на този жанр книги, няма да отрие нищо ново.

[Douglas · Rating 2 out of 5]

Primeiro livro que leio de Napoleon Hill, a história se baseia em um homem que oscilou do sucesso a miséria algumas vezes até que em um "mastermind" se viu entrevistando (formato de pergunta e resposta) o diabo e "desvenda" todos os segredos dele. Por trás estaria um período de guerra e entre guerras e o contexto de época (lei seca, miséria medo, religião com um peso grande, etc).

Até aí ok, e que me perdoem os que gostaram do livro, mas eu, particularmente, achei um grande "mais do mesmo". É um amontoado de posicionamentos de auto ajuda simplórios e frases rasas. Talvez quando foi escrito o livro fora disruptivo em formato, fantasia por trás de tudo, linguagem, etc, mas em 2020 qualquer "coach" de 5a categoria está usando dessas mesmas estruturas - o que não quer dizer que é uma estrutura de insucesso, apenas que é uma estrutura simplória de fácil disseminação. E aqui não estou sendo preconceituoso em que o que é fácil não deve ir adiante, mas sim mostrando a simplicidade do livro como ponto extremamente raso, que é quase um descaso com o leitor.

Além disso achei que o formato da tradução poderia ser melhorado (talvez uma revisão cairia bem) em várias frases se percebe que, talvez para manter mais fiel à frase completa no inglês, "sobra" palavras no português. Um pouco de interpretação e atualização cairia bem.

[Andre-Louis · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Through the operation of the law of compensation, everyone reaps that which he sows. Plans based on unjust or immoral motives may bring temporary success, but enduring success must take into consideration the fourth dimension, time. Time is the enemy of immorality and injustice. It is the friend of justice and morality. Failure to recognize this fact has been responsible for the crime wave among the youths of the world. The youthful, inexperienced mind is apt to mistake temporary success for permanency. The youth often makes the mistake of coveting the temporary gains of immoral, unjust plans, but neglects to look ahead and observe the penalties which follow as definitely as night follows day.”