Napoleon Hill's Outwitting the Devil

The Secret to Freedom and Success

By: Napoleon Hill, Sharon L. Lechter - editor

Narrated by: Dan John Miller, Phil Gigante

Length: 5 hrs and 51 mins

Publisher's Summary

“Napoleon Hill was one of America’s great, influential thinkers who continues to have an enormous impact today.” - Steve Forbes, editor-in-chief of Forbes magazine

Bestselling author Napoleon Hill reveals the seven principles of good that allow us to triumph over obstacles...and find success.

Using his legendary ability to get to the root of human potential, Napoleon Hill digs deep to reveal how fear, procrastination, anger, and jealousy prevent us from realizing our personal goals. This long-suppressed parable, once considered too controversial to publish, was written by Hill in 1938 following the publication of his classic bestseller, Think and Grow Rich. Annotated and edited for a contemporary audience by Rich Dad, Poor Dad and Three Feet from Gold coauthor Sharon Lechter, this book is profound, powerful, resonant, and rich with insight.

©2011 by The Napoleon Hill Foundation (P)2011 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved.

Critic Reviews

"My simple faith is this: If we are created in God’s image, then we were born to create, and to create is to prosper. [This] previously unpublished Napoleon Hill manuscript.... I’ve read it and recommend it." (Rich Karlgaard, Publisher of Forbes magazine)

Delete Sharon Lechter

Where does Napoleon Hill's Outwitting the Devil rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Near the top, if not the top. I listened to it following "Think and Grow Rich"

What was one of the most memorable moments of Napoleon Hill's Outwitting the Devil?

The voice and subtle humor of the devil.

What three words best describe Dan John Miller and Phil Gigante ’s voice?

Great.

Any additional comments?

Sharon Lechter's interruption every 5 minutes is very distracting so I deleted them (see below). She just repeats what Hill said, added her opinion and then asked a question that made you feel like you were in a primary school classroom. Sharon may have had good intentions with her commentary but it does not add value.

After listening to the book for 20-30 minutes I decided to delete all her parts. After this, I could get immersed in the book and take in the content. This was impossible with Sharon Lechter's interruptions.

I used Audacity to delete Sharon Lechter's segments. They are relatively easy to see because there is a clear gap between the her sound bites and the other narrators. This took me 1-2 hours but it saved me about 60 minutes in listening time. Unfortunately I couldn't use Audibles app to listen to the edited mp3s so I used another app.

Consider doing this, it's a much better experience. The publishers should consider releasing a version without the commentary.

A Good Book Spoiled by the Incessant Interruption

While I was excited to listen to this book, as I enjoyed Think and Grow Rich, I was deeply disappointed in the presentation. The flow of the original ideas by the author was continually interrupted with asides and be-musings of the editor. NO KIDDING, there were parts where 2 minutes of excerpt were followed by 2 minutes of anecdotes from the editor's personal life and various "what-ifs" and "have you evers". On and on it went. I kept thinking, surely the editor (Sharon Lechter) would eventually keep quiet and let the book stand on its own. Sadly, she didn't. Get the book and skip the the sideshow. It was like watching a movie with a friend who just won't shut up. I'm sure she meant well and is a fine person, but this should be about the author and not the editor.

Narrator comments ruined this for me

I am a HUGE Napoleon Hill fan and was thrilled when I heard this was available. I was so disappointed with the seemingly constant narrator's comments. I often appreciate a narrator's insight and viewpoint, but these were so distracting I couldn't finish it. So disappointed...

the most powerful information of your life

This information is indespensible for anyone working towards a life of happiness and success in all areas of life. Read or listen to Outwitting the Devil at least twice and write down the following lists every day even once they are commited to memeory. Keep these ideas at the front of your mind at all times.

Seven Habits to form in order to outwit the devil
1.) Have a Definite Major Purpse in life
2.) Obtain self-mastery
3.) Use adversity for benefits
4.) Use time as a tool
5.) Find harmony
6.) Think through your plan for attaining you Definite Major Purpose

Ten Must-do things in order to prevent drifting
1.) Do your own thinking on all occassions
2.) Have a Definite Major Purpose and create a definite plan of action for attaining it
3.) Analye temorary defeat and NO MATTER WHAT extract a seed of equivalent benefit from it
4.) Be willing to render the service for all material things that you demand of life. Render more and better service first, accept the payment later.
5.) Recognize that your mind communicates with infinite intelligence and helps you transmute your desires into reality.
6.) Recognize that your greatest asset is time.
7.) Know that fear is a filler that occupies the parts of your mind that the devil fills. It is a state of mind that can instead be filled with what you want, and can get.
8.) When you pray, don't beg. DEMAND on getting EXACTLY what you want with no subsittutions.
9.) Either you mater life or it masters you. There is no half-way. Never accept what you don't want.
10.) Your dominating thoughts ALWAYS attract their physical couterparts.


Three appetites to master in order to obtain self-mastery
1.) the desire for food (I personally would add alcohol, but Napoleon Hill did not)
2.) the desire for sex expression
3.) the desire to express loosely formed ideas

Would be better without editor commentary

Where does Napoleon Hill's Outwitting the Devil rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

It is a really great book with an almost timeless message. Unfortunately I found the editor's comments - which are placed throughout the book - to be dated and, at times, condescending. I would have enjoyed the book much more without the commentary from the editor. But the content written by Napoleon Hill was suburb.

Who was your favorite character and why?

The content written by Napoleon Hill was read by a fantastic actor and was enjoyable to listen to. The content written by the editor was not read by a professional actor - or at least it did not seem like a professional. I can't remember - it might have been the editor herself reading those portions. Either way it was not enjoyable. Statements were read as questions and her regular interjections really broke-up the continuity of the book.

Any additional comments?

Awesome book that would be even better if presented as Mr. Hill wrote it, without additional commentary.

Enlightening, but a little too much commentary

Would you listen to Napoleon Hill's Outwitting the Devil again? Why?

I would definitely like to listen to the book again, but I would prefer to listen again without the editor commentary. I believe it would enhance the flow of the story and allow me to continue with the provoking thoughts without interruption. I did find the commentaries helpful at some times but mostly just distracting..

What was one of the most memorable moments of Napoleon Hill's Outwitting the Devil?

I remember the most intriguing and memorable moments being the description of the devil being made up of all negative energy, and the remarkably realistic interview.

Which character – as performed by Dan John Miller and Phil Gigante – was your favorite?

His Majesty, the Devil.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

I don't agree with this becoming a film itself, but I do feel that the devil in this form would make an interesting antagonist.

Any additional comments?

Again I truly enjoyed the book, but would like to be able to disable the editor’s comments so that I might be able to listen to the Interview uninterrupted.

Great Book, Annoyinig Editor!!!

The outline and flow was perfect by Napoleon Hill. The editor's constant "but ins" to say the least, just to give her opinion or explain what Mr. Hill meant could have been omitted. Outstanding interview with the devil!

Dear Sharon Lechter,

Please remove your commentary and restore the original text. I find the constant interruptions to be completely unnecessary and lacking in contribution. I love all things personal development, Napoleon Hill included, yet I did not buy this book to hear your opinions and insights.

Shutup Sharon!!!

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

Like many of the other reviewers Sheron Lechter's comments totally ruin the book. It added nothing but defocuses from the contents

Annoying Editorial Comments

I'm a big fan of Napolian Hills work, and I was excited that this book came out in audiobook form. However, the editor narrations by a woman's voice, is annoying. Every five or six minutes she interrupts the story teller with less than insightful comments that most everyone would probably understand anyway...like "wow, what an insightful comment...it is so true today, it is easy to get discouraged." or "you know in 1939 when Hill wrote this book, 3000 dollars was the equivilant of 45,000 and therefore he was really doing well."...blah, blah, blah....Her voice was too overpowering over the male narrators, so you were interrupped in your train of thought when it came back to the original Hill reading. I finally had to stop listening. Napolian Hill's book, as it was written, was charming and whitty... he doesn't require simpleton interpretation. I'm going to look for a copy in another form, so I don't have to listen to the constant interruption of the editor.

Take note of the negative reviews

I don't know how it possibly got approved for Sharon to give her thoughts on almost every other paragraph, it interrupts the incredible lessons this book has to teach with unecessary anecdotes from Sharon's own experience, or her just repeating lines of the content. Why?

I didn't purchase this to hear Sharon's memoirs.

A frustrating experience throughout an otherwise excellent book. The narrators of the actual content did a great job and are easy to listen to, hence the three stars.

Brilliant book ruined

Thank the lord I had read this book previously. It’s a incredible insight to the human condition. Written in a kind of story form, that allows the reader to learn, think and absorb Napoleon Hill’s brilliant mind. But no the editor (Sharon Lechter) takes it upon herself to usurp the book to attempt to tell you what Hill is saying and how to apply it from her interpretation. I found myself shouting at the audio saying “I’m not interested in your opinion”. The whole point of the book (and why it’s so good) is that hill pinpoints it’s for the reader to interpret. It’s not some I know best. Do what I think book.

I learnt so much from the Devil

This was a brilliant book, message is direct, clear and hard to argue with. The voice of the Devil also gave me goosebumps and made me realise why so much has been challenging for me recently.....

Simply put...

DRIFTING

absolutely amazing

one of the best books I've ever listened to!

definitely reccomend to anyone who's interested in improving their life and wellbeing

Inspiration

Very inspiring and insightful. Mind opener and a personal revelation. Everything makes so much sense.

You need this book.

You need this book. Possibly the most essential spiritual text of the modern West. Amazing!

amazing!!!!!

this book changed my life second time I have listened to it. must read :)

Amazing.

Really goes into depth of what I think are the secrets of life. A must read!

amazing

allows for a good look at oneself with tools to change and is still of use today

Insightful

It's crazy how apt it is for today's times, even though it was written nearly a century ago, amazing insight by the author. Great advise too. Loved it.