5 comments about In Tune with the Infinite (The Sources of Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill & The Power of Positive Thinking by Norman Vincent Peale).

1. I agree with Peter's review but I have one minor correction. I have in my possession a copy of this book dating from 1897. It is great!



2. This is not the book it purports to be. The rights to the book were bought by another company and the book was rewritten so much that the book is unrecognizable. I bought this as a reading copy to the older original version of the book(A 3rd edition from 1908). Man, was that a mistake. DON'T BY THIS BOOK! it's not the original, it's a travesty.
   
   
   
   
3. This is the only inspirational 'self-help' book you will ever need. Note: It was written in the 1800s !!



4. I did not like the book I received because it was not written as the original book. Passages of importants was not set in italic print as the original. I also found a typo error which made me think that this print was not edited properly. I have not gone through the whole book as of yet but was rather dissapointed in what I had received.



5. This book was in such terrible condition. When I open the book pages fell out of the book. Selling an item in this condition is dishonest.

No comments about Master of Capital.

1 comments about Public Speaking by Dale Carnegie (the author of How to Win Friends & Influence People) & Pleasing Personality by Napoleon Hill (the author of Think and Grow Rich).

1. This is a review of "Public speaking" by Dale Carnegie.
   
   I bought this book because I liked the lessons and enthusiasm from one of his other books, so I expected something similar. I was disappointed, and the main reason is the unusual formatting of the book:
   - small print, rather big size book (20x25 cm)
   - text is formatted not in two columns (as would be appropriate for the small font size used) but in just one column from border to border on a page that hardly has any margin space. Margins are ~0.5cm on all sides!
   - the table of contents is far too detailed and awkwardly formatted.
   
   The overall effect of this is that the book has no attractive 'look and feel'. It more feels like a reference book, not something you will eagerly go through from cover to cover.
   
   On the positive side, there is a summary at the end of every chapter.
   
   Taking all into account I would give some points for the content and the speaker/writer, but the formatting just makes me downgrade it severely: it is a show stopper for me.

2 comments about Selling You!.

1. This book was surprisingly very good. It consists of parts of many books, for example law of success, think and grow rich and how to sell your way through life. The parts chosen were the right parts, and the result was a very pedagogical book, that makes me understand hills concepts actually better than reading think and grow rich. I am now motivated to take on the world :).



2. This audio is pleasant and easy to listen to and worth it's weight in gold!!

4 comments about Selling You!: A Practical Guide to Achieving the Most by Becoming Your Best.

1. A must have for any sales professional. A timeless classic to liten to several times a year.



2. Napoleon Hill was ahead of his times in many ways. One of which addressed by this book is the realization that *everything* is sales. When you are talking with someone and want them to take an action or even accept something you are saying, you must sell not only what you are suggesting, but yourself as well. This insight (and its explanation) make the tape worthwhile. Beyond that are suggestions to make you more successful. The biggest downside is that some of the book/tape is hard to understand as the usage of certain words (such as faith) are far from their common usage.



3. If you have already read Succeed and Grow Rich by Hill and/or Think and Grow Rich, Selling You will show you how to put Napolean Hill's philosophy to work for you, every day of your life.

   The program includes two powerful tapes with narrations by Joe Slattery. There is an introduction by Clement Stone who gives a powerful testimony to how Hill's principles benefitted him. Talk about a successful endorsement! And there is a 32 page booklet that offers additional techniques.

   All in all a great program that will seriously impact any salesman's bottom line.




4. This great program contains two tapes and a 32 page guidebook which include 12 little chapters and concludes with a 30 question test. Hill shows you how to build a successful sales personality. Who better to teach you than the man who walked beside the giants of his time?

No comments about Success with People: A Simple Six Step Plan That Works.

3 comments about Automatic Wealth: The Secrets of the Millionaire Mind--Including: Acres of Diamonds by Russell H. Cornwell, As a Man Thinketh by James Allen, It Dare you! ... and Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill.

1. I am not very impressed with the quality of the reviews and the quality of the CD is below average.
   I own all original copies of the CD.



2. The reader has a strong accent and is hard to understand. The quality of this product is very poor. Also, I understood I was ordering an audio CD, but received a CD with MP3s which I could only play on my computer since I don't have an mp3 player. I know these books are very good and have great information, but this version is not the way to hear these books.



3. Prior review discribes the narrator as being difficult to understand. As another sign of quality, Acres of Diamonds was written by Russell Conwell, the founder of Temple University, not Russell Cornwell. You would think any writer, proofreader, publisher, etc. would have picked this up before packaging and selling a $40 product.

2 comments about Pushing to the Front.

1. This book is the greatest book that I have ever read next to the Bible. It is in my opinion the premiere self help of all times. After reading this book your life will never be the same. Marden is able to capture the essence of life, self development and true success. If you have read other self help books you will see how many modern day writers, used much of his material to develop their thoughts and philosophy.

   Although this book was written in the early 20th century, its message is truly timeless.




2. Orison Swett Marden was the original editor-in-chief of the now defunct "Success" magazine. In fact, he probably rolled over in his grave when the magazine went out of publication. It was a time of mourning for me. In fact, I was just in the process of renewing my subscription when I found out..."Success" was no longer successful (how ironic).
   This set of books is excellent. Most of the writing is examples of successful people from the past and present (1911). This type of motivational writing tends to get repetitive, however, there is a lot of advise tucked carefully between the many examples given. It was a very different world when the author wrote this book, but as I read it I noticed, the more things change, the more they stay the same. One difference I like is the chivalry and honesty exhibited from the time period. Even the highest standards of decency today are a far cry from that time. It was a lot of fun reading some of the examples from that era and knowing they were current events. These books are well worth the read, if you can find them.

5 comments about The Napoleon of Notting Hill.

1. This short book, The Napoleon of Notting Hill, written 100 years ago, is a futuristic fantasy, a political satire, a prophetic tale, and a comic novel, all intertwined. Published in 1904, The Napoleon of Notting Hill was G. K. Chesterton's first novel. It has been called the best first novel by any author in the twentieth century.
   
   It has been some years since my first reading of The Napoleon of Notting Hill. Once again I find it to be enjoyable, humorous, highly entertaining, and decidedly thought provoking.
   
   The setting is London in the year 1984, 80 years in the future. Chesterton had tired of endless predictions of futuristic technologies. His future London is identical to Edwardian London - all technological advance halted in 1904. One change is notable: the people have lost faith in political revolutions. Only slow, gradual change, akin to Darwinian evolution, was fashionable. No one was interested in voting, and consequently, democracy had withered away. A ruling monarch, a king, was selected in some capricious, random manner from the governmental class. All was well until Auberon Quin was chosen to rule as king.
   
   As a lark, the new King designs colorful, medieval style uniforms, required dress for all governmental representatives of the London boroughs on official occasions. Reluctantly, city officials comply with the king's ridiculous wish to revitalize local patriotism. Unexpectedly, the Provost of Notting Hill, a sober young man named Adam Wayne, a man without humor, takes the King's command seriously. An attempt by other London boroughs to route a major thoroughfare through Notting Hill leads not only to acrimony, but to actual warfare.
   
   The first chapter is Chesterton's scholarly criticism and friendly ridicule of contemporary (that is, early 1900) prophecies of scientific and technological changes, especially the more utopian futuristic projections, and is titled Introductory Remarks on the Art of Prophecy. The actual story does not commence until chapter two.
   
   This inexpensive Dover edition includes a lengthy, interesting introduction by Martin Gardner. The artist W. Graham Robertson penned seven full page ink drawings and a map of the seat of the war.



2. Not Chesterton's best work, this quirky debut novel is still a must-read for anyone who appreciates the "Prince of Paradox" and his quirky sense of humor. It begins with a humorous overview of some of the more ridiculous social theorists of the day. (Science fiction fans will surely get a kick from a brief mention of H. G. Wells and his far-fetched visions.) Then we observe London society in 1984, changed very little from the early twentieth century, because the drudgery of capitalism and bureaucracy have worn down the human spirit to the point where it can barely stand. When a pint-sized clerk named Auberon Quinn ius randomly selected as head of state, he decides to turn London into a mideival carnival for his own amusement.
   
   One man, Adam Wayne, takes the order to heart. He sets out to organize the neighborhood of Notting Hill, drafting an army to fight invaders from other streets who are trying to run over his corner of London. At first Wayne's behavior baffles everyone, but eventually his dedication to the cause proves infectious, with delightful results. At a thin 174 pages (including illustrations), the story goes by in a flash. Comedy galore, along with plenty of offbeat characters and bizarre unfolding events.
   
   As I said, it's not Chesterton's best book. The writing is somewhat rough, particularly in two large leaps of time between chapters. Moreover the characters are abusrd in ways that don't add up too much; the brilliance of later works like "The Man who Was Thursday" and "The Club of Queer Trades" is that everyone's behavior makes perfect sense in the context of the story. But "The Napoloen of Notting Hill" is still well worth reading.



3. Imagine a 1984 London where society has frozen at turn-of-the-century levels, a King is randomly selected from the populace, and nobody really takes politics seriously.
   
   Of course, it only takes one wise, weird little man to turn all of that on its head. G.K. Chesterton's magnificently absurd comic novel explores a common theme in his books -- a person who entertains himself with an absurdly serious world -- in an increasingly heated situation where the little boroughs of London have become warring kingdoms. Not much in the way of sci-fi, but a delicious little social satire.
   
   Friends of the eccentric Auberon Quin are understandably shocked when he is selected as the new King of England... especially since his main focus is definitely not power ("Oh! I will toil for you, my faithful people! You shall have a banquet of humour!"). After bumping into a young boy with a toy sword, Quin decides to revive the old city-states of medieval times, with city walls, banners, halberdiers, coat of arms, and ruling provosts -- all as a joke.
   
   But ten years later, a young man named Adam Wayne -- who happens to be the little boy who inspired Quin -- refuses to let a road go through Notting Hill. Quin is first delighted and then perplexed by Wayne, a man who treats the King's joke with deadly seriousness. Now a full-out medieval battle is brewing between the boroughs of London, and Auberon Quin finds that his joke may have some very serious consequences...
   
   G.K. Chesterton was no H.G. Wells when it came from trying to imagine the future --- the 1984 London he imagined was pretty much the same, technologically and socially, as the London of 1904. It's the message that important in this tale, as personified first by a deposed president and then by Wayne -- pride and patriotism in one's country and culture, especially a small one, is something to be prized.
   
   And Chesterton handles this concept with a sense of humor worthy of Quin, outright mocking the respectable and boring ("The provost of West Kensington is mad because he thinks he is respectable, as mad as a man who thinks he is a chicken!"). The humor starts off fairly ordinary (Quin standing on his head as he's declared king) and moves into more sophisticated realms with the elaborate medieval games. It would be scary to contemplate, if it weren't so hilarious.
   
   The greatest satire is in this future society itself, and it's occasionally scary to contemplate. With his knowledge of human nature, Chesterton predicts ennui, complacency, disdain of religion, cultural indifference, and a public oblivious to the mad wackiness of their leaders because they just don't care. It hits a little too close to home.
   
   His writing is full of color and striking description ("... a blue and gold glittering thing, running very fast, which looked at first like a very tall beetle"). And while the battle of Notting Hill doesn't really pull you in, the powerful speeches that are given during important scenes -- such as when Quin talks to Wayne about the damage his joke has caused -- are among Chesterton's best dialogue.
   
   Auberon Quin is a pretty fun character, acutely aware of life's absurdity and determined to have as much fun from it as possible -- but he becomes a bit more serious at the prospect of people being killed. Wayne is the complete opposite -- young, passionate, intense, and vehemently patriotic. He's set apart from all those stuffy codgers because his love is not for respectability and normalcy, but for his home of Notting Hill.
   
   Chesterton may have gotten the future of England all wrong, but "The Napoleon of Notting Hill" is still a wildly amusing little satire, with two very different heroes and a very unrecognizable London. A deserving classic.



4. Many rush around in a hazy anxiety that they are missing an opportunity to join the future, to be part of it, something special is coming. Chersterton seems to say that the future is highly overated. The best things for all time and eternity are love and having a sense of humor. There will never be anything better, technoledgy can not make it, nor social theory; if you do not see that then you are amoung the walking dead.
   
   Not as well crafted as "The Man Who Was Thursday" but non-the-less Chetertonian in allegory, sybolism,analogies and voice. Chesterton's allegory and symbolism has a way of getting under one's skin and tearing something up inside. vanity? Is it some pseudo-self dieing and truer one breaking free? Something. His disparaging comments on those who stop after success, why; because their stopping was a sign they sought success for vain reasons not passion or the undying spirit that connects self to the divine.
   
   Chesterton brings unique insights and his voice is his own. His attacks in this book had much to do with killing a false Idol of futurism and future worship; his futuristic utopia is a unique mocking jest. His wit and aphorisms supported by a large allegory knock at a truer self, real and spiritual. But the format here was at times hard to swallow. Even many people with good sense of humor may find this a little much. Tech advances don't equate more giggles necesarily. Chesterton saw much in tradition, his message is often confussing to me. But he is like interpreting a poet or a piece of music the intent of the work is in the eye of the beholder an executor of opinions may just obfuscate an understanding; and it is safe to say that Chesterton's fiction is widely interpreted.
   
   I thought he was on to something, just not as well crafted as A Man Who was Thursday.



5. "The Napoleon of Notting Hill" is probably the most absurd novel I've ever read. The author, G K Chesterton, was a colorful, verbose and highly eclectic British intellectual. He supported the Boer and the Irish, opposed the suffragettes, and collaborated with Guild Socialists, only to become entangled with the notorious Catholic fundamentalist Hilaire Belloc. I honestly admit that I don't quite understand the man!
   
   Still, there seem to be some unifying themes in Chesterton's voluminous writings. The most obvious is traditional Christianity, first in the form of Anglicanism, later as Catholicism. The reader shouldn't be surprised if some of the characters in his novels turn out to be angels, the Devil, or God himself. Second is a kind of populism. Chesterton emphasizes common sense, the opinions of the common man, the everyday life of the common people, etc. As one of the characters in "The Napoleon of Notting Hill" puts it: "The human being, the common man, whom mere geniuses like you and me can only worship like a god". In his economic writings, he idealizes the peasantry. In other contexts, Chesterton says that life in the city is intrinsically interesting, and calls on realist writers to relate to it. Finally, there is a search for authenticity, as opposed to the artificial greyness of modernity and the tyranny of the Zeitgeist. Somehow, Chesterton believed that this authenticity could be found among ordinary people, hence making a connection to his populism.
   
   All three themes are present in "The Napoleon of Notting Hill", published in 1904 and one of Chesterton's earliest novels. Both the setting and the plot are completely absurd, although the absurdity is revealed to have a point at the very end of the story. The setting is a futuristic Britain. The nation is a dictatorship, but nobody seems to care. Free speech is outlawed, but nobody notices, since nobody has anything important to say anyway! The standard of living is quite high, and the police have been abolished, since there is no crime. The king or dictator is choosen at random by lot. The whole world has been globalized, except Nicaragua. In other words, this society of the future is a parody of the greyness, dullness, lethargy and creeping statism Chesterton saw (or think he saw) in Britain during his own lifetime.
   
   The plot revolves around two characters, king Auberon Quin and the seeming lunatic Adam Wayne. Upon his unexpected ascension to the throne, Auberon decides to resurrect the traditions of the Middle Ages as a sick joke for his own higher amusement. He divides London into independent boroughs, forces the mayors (or provosts) to wear ridiculous medieval attire, orders them to create mock armies, and so on. Unfortunately for the king, one person takes the whole thing seriously: Adam Wayne, the Lord High Provost of Notting Hill, the smallest and least significant borough in London. Before long, Wayne starts an absurd war with the other boroughs, and eventually succeeds in establishing "the empire of Notting Hill". Throughout the novel, we are lead to believe that Wayne is raving mad, and his actions certainly seem to parody nationalism and local patriotism. Only at the end is it revealed that Wayne is actually "the good guy", perhaps even an angel from Heaven. Both Quin and Wayne are overthrown by the people, but they join fortunes and wander off together.
   
   The message of the novel is that nationalism and localism, which looks absurd to modern eyes, aren't artificial but real, more real than the dull greyness of the modern. Local patriotism is authentic, is part of what humanity is really all about. Chesterton was a "Little England nationalist" and called for extensive decentralization.
   
   Another point raised by the novel concerns the relationship between humour and seriousness. The futuristic society described by Chesterton is frankly boring, but when Auberon attempts to protest this state of affairs, he can do little else than frivolity. Indeed, our "postmodern condition" is characterized both by conventional, mass boredom and frivolous mass entertainment. The two things aren't antipodes, but twins. This is Auberon's problem in the novel. Wayne's problem is seemingly the opposite: he takes even the absurd deadly seriously, and hence turns into a cultish fanatic. In the end, however, it turns out that Wayne knows the solution to the problem: humans need to be both humorous and serious, and there is no contradiction between authentic laughter and authentic seriousness. It may sound like a bland message, until you start watching TV!
   
   However, Chesterton's novel also contains a cautionary note: "When dark and dreary days come, you and I are necessary, the pure fanatic, the pure satirist".
   
   Is the world ripe for a real Adam Wayne?

1 comments about James Watt.

1. Andrew Carnegie was one of the major figures in American history, who made his fortune in steel (giving most of it away for libraries) and wrote this biography three years before he died in 1919. Watt invented the improved steam engine that revolutionized the world. I can't think of any other biography written by such a great man, about such a great man, possibly excepting the Gospel of Mark.

   Carnegie's description of Watt's life is reverent almost to the point of unseemly hero-worship, but is laced with some most interesting insights into his own psyche and personal history. Watt, according to this account, was a giant to his contemporaries, not only for his technological accomplishments, but also because of his sweet and loyal disposition. I'm sure that Carnegie saw parallels there too. Although the language that Carnegie uses can seem archaic at times, the book is quite enjoyable: inspiring, even.

   His description of Watt's inventions and the technical insights required to achieve them are lucidly explained in the book, and it is clear that Carnegie was no mere business tycoon. Even his explanation of latent heat is clear and insightful, and a delight to read. When he describes the business relationship between Watt and his partner Boulton, one learns something about the goodness in them both, unqualified and complete.