El secreto mas grande del mundo / The World's Biggest Secret

by Og Mandino

SpanishOriginal English

Genres: Self Help, Nonfiction, Business, Inspirational, Psychology, Personal Development, Spirituality

192 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1972

About the author

Augustine "Og" Mandino II (December 12, 1923 – September 3, 1996) was an American author. He wrote the bestselling book The Greatest Salesman in the World. His books have sold over 50 million copies and have been translated into over twenty-five different languages. He was the president of Success Unlimited magazine until 1976 and is an inductee of the National Speakers Association's Hall Of Fame.

Mandino was born December 12, 1923. According to the 1930 U.S. Census, he was named after his paternal grandfather.

Mandino was once the editor of a high school paper and planned to attend the University of Missouri's journalism school. But in the summer of 1940, before Mandino was able to enter college, his mother died suddenly from a massive heart attack. This happened while Mandino's mother was in the kitchen preparing his lunch. After the incident, Mandino decided to work in a paper factory until 1942. Afterwards, Mandino joined the United States Army Air Corps where he became a military officer and a bombardier. He flew for thirty bombing missions over Germany on board a B-24 Liberator during World War II. It was also during this time that Mandino flew with fellow pilot and movie star, James Stewart. Mandino kept a personalized 8 X 10 photograph of Stewart. This photograph hung on the wall of his home office where he wrote his books.

After his military duties, Mandino discovered that many companies were not hiring many former bomber pilots. As a result, he became an insurance salesman. Traveling on the road and sitting in bars at night, Mandino became an alcoholic. He was unable to keep a job. As a result, Mandino's wife, together with their only child, left him. One wintry November morning in Cleveland, Mandino almost tried to commit suicide. But as he sorted through several books in a library, volumes of self-help, success and motivation books captured Mandino's attention. He selected some titles, went to a table and began reading. Mandino followed his visit to the library with more visits to many other libraries around the United States. He read hundreds of books that dealt with success, a pastime that helped him alleviate his alcoholism. It was in a library in Concord, New Hampshire, where he found W. Clement Stone's classic, Success Through a Positive Mental Attitude, a book that changed Mandino for the better.

Mandino eventually became a successful writer. His works were inspired by the Bible and influenced by Napoleon Hill, W. Clement Stone, and Emmet Fox.

Reviews

[Adrienne · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you want to change your life this book will do it. I use the ideas from this book everytime I get stuck in my thinking. A super amazing book.

[Muthuanand · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book is a journal or success recorder. As I have read the book "The power of habit" which emphasis on who habit changes our life and society, the same habit formation is emphasised by the author and here he requests the reader to mark the progress on the success recorder in the space provided after each chapter. In Each chapter the author describes the next lead with a gripping narration which eventually boosts the confidence of the reader, followed by success recorder to be followed after certain days.

I have been writing my journal after reading the book " The power of habit" and yes it really working for me. Even though I struggled a bit during the initial stage but after getting used to my habit I really admire at my progress.

This book gave me an additional boots to my confidence.

Highly recommended for people looking for change from day - today chores and struggling to attain their goal.

[James Artre · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Greatest Secret in the World brought me to tears by the time I finished reading it years ago, and still does.

I couldn't believe what the secret was, although I knew it all along...

Get it. Read it. Believe it!

~ James Artre

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nada que valga la pena de hacerse puede lograrse en el transcurso de un vida; por lo tanto, tendrá que salvarse gracias a la esperanza. Nada de lo que es hermoso tiene sentido en el momento inmediato; entonces, tendrán que salvarse por la fe. Nada de lo que vale la pena hacer puede hacerse solo, sino que debe hacerce en colaboración con otros; entonces, deberán salvarse por el amor.

[Saulaz Arias-Mendoza]

The power of the mind

[Mutturaj · Rating 5 out of 5]

Must read for everyone.

[Bulu Iraddim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Og Mandino’s The Greatest Secret in the World is more than just a motivational book — it’s a structured path to personal transformation. Building on the wisdom of The Greatest Salesman in the World, this book combines timeless principles with a 52-week guided format that encourages consistent action and reflection.

The true power of this book lies in its simplicity. Through the Ten Scrolls and the Success Recorder Journal, Mandino turns abstract ideas like perseverance, love, and habit-building into daily rituals that reshape mindset and behavior. It’s not just about inspiration — it’s about implementation.

After reading hundreds of self-help books, this one stands out for its discipline-driven approach. Whether you’re at the start of your personal development journey or seeking a reset, this book offers both the structure and spirit to help you get there.

[Charisse Marei · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every book speaks volumes. Inspirational, realistic, it speaks to you. He creates a picture as though you are next to him in rhythmic form. An absolute must read.

He is my forever favorite author and I placed one of his quotes in my very first chapter of 'The Bathroom' book.

It was a memorable experience to have met Og Mandino in real life.

[Diwakar Sharma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Motivational and inspires you through Hafid's story. Loved scroll |X - All is worthless without action. But lacks in telling pointers on how to get that self discipline, though it talks about controlling emotions but missed practical ways in day to day life to master self discipline.

[Melinda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This will create miracles in your life, when followed as outlined...GUARANTEED.

[Anil Swarup · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book worth reading and worth practicing. It is indeed a very useful guide to "greatness" through extremely simple measures. What is requires is realization of the need to improve and persistence effort to change for the better. It is simple and do-able. The book is replete with statements like "No living creature can laugh except man". How simple. How true.

[Jenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Wonderful Companion

This lovely and beautiful guide has been a great companion to me for the past 40 years. Each time I return to its pages and commit to the work it transforms me and opens new and exciting discoveries along my journey.

[S · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was an interesting pamplet (<200 pages) in that it is marketed for sales but from a christian prospective. While originally written in the mid to late 70s, some of the techniques may still be applicable today.

[Davison Abrantes · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars. After reading through this, I've decided I'm going to go ahead and do the 45 week scroll challenge. I'll update this in 45 weeks and see where we are. Og has changed my life with the OG (pun intended) book, now let's see how this goes.

[Brian Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an awesome book. I have some of it memorized. Try it, you'll like it.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love it! Short and easy read that will change your life if you let it. :)

[S Sampartak · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspiring

It is an inspiration for me to learn about these scrolls and make habit of persisting through them.Great book overall.

[Lydia Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Responsible for a portion of advancement in my spirituality

[Jeff Wielert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing!!

[Joshua Karl Moses · Rating 5 out of 5]

You become what you think about most of the time.

[Ali Hysong · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mandino does it again. This is a must read. The wisdom in each scroll is life changing. The power to transform yourself, your life and your outcomes lies solely within you.

[Bars Sucharita · Rating 3 out of 5]

🙂☺️

[Jason Comely · Rating 3 out of 5]

A rehash of The Greatest Salesman in the World by the same author. I suggest reading that book instead.

[Audry Hawkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read this book many times since the 80s. It is a guide for living. The scrolls are to be read five weeks each. A must read

[David Sylvester · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another Grand Slam!

[Brent · Rating 4 out of 5]

10 scrolls of truth. Succes op papier bijhouden met forms in het boek. Je moet slechts een beetje beter dan mediocre zijn om het te maken. Vol met complex geschreven analogieën om jezelf te motiveren

[Elisabeth Bultman]

A workbook for his first book. It seems to focus on getting wealthy when I think life is meaningful only living for Jesus. The Bible is not a get rich textbook. We live in response to God's greatest gift of Jesus to us as revealed in the Bible.

[Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many of us desire to be better people. Actually becoming better is the ultimate challenge. Og Mandino's book gives the reader a very practical guide to acquiring and practicing virtue. It works as follows: one reads a short meditation three times each day and keeps a daily journal of how he or she practiced each virtue. It really doesn't take more than twenty minutes a day, and it definitely works. However, even than small commitment of time can sometimes seem like too much, and it forces us to question how serious we are to becoming better people.

One aspect that certain readers may find irritating is that the book was originally written for business people, particularly those in sales. Some of that rhetoric is still present, and it can be somewhat obtrusive to the overall message. Still, if one can forgive the author that he can't be all things to all people, then it should not seriously hinder one's experience.

The Greatest Secret in the World is a book that one can pick up year after year, benefiting from it each time. For those of us who yearn to improve how we experience the world and interact with other people, this book comes highly recommended. In particular, the reader should focus on the meditation on love. If we were to practice this virtue more often, the world would become better overnight.

[Lauren RM · Rating 2 out of 5]

I borrowed the book from my cousin, and I'm in the middle of the scrolls.

The book is exactly what it promises. There are scrolls which are basically daily meditations that you repeat three times a day for a month each, designed to teach you a characteristic that helps make you successful. Each chapter has a small introduction and explanation for the scroll and a success recorder.

It's a handy tool if you're willing to put in the time, kind of condescending at times, and definitely marketed to Christian white male salesmen, which is a little alienating sometimes. I guess 1 out of 4 isn't too bad for me, and the principles are still useful.

[Janelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is part 2 of Og Mandino's "greatest" trilogy. This is something of a workbook format - each chapter sets up and reveals one of the principles found on the 10 scrolls.

If you were looking to get right to work and skip the novel part you could skip right to this book since all of the scrolls are reprinted.

I liked the quotes in the workbook, but since I checked this from the library I am not using it daily as it was meant to be.

If you're serious about incorporating the scrolls into your life, buy the book and use it as a workbook.