For the longest time there are a couple of books that I've been told everyone needs to read. Today I went and got them both. I bought the paperback version of 'Think and Grow Rich' by Napolean Hill and the audiobook of 'The Richest Man in Babylon' (forget the authof of that one)

For the folks who have read them... what did you think?

I read one, I don't remember which. I was not impressed.

Books I have found far more enlightening have been Your Money or Your Life (Dominguez & Robbin,) How to Win Friends & Influence People (Carnegie,) and Jane Bryant Quinn's tome on personal finances.

Er, you already own them. Why not just read them? I'm puzzled.

Er, I've started them both. You see some problem with me wondering what other people think about the books I'm reading?

I wouldn't have bought either, but gotten them from the library.

As for Mr. Hill, he's alot of talk, little substance in TAGR

I liked "The Richest Man in Babylon"...worth the money IMO

I've listened to Richest Man in Babylon twice now while working. I liked it. It's much of the same stuff I'm read in other books, but in story form. I thought it was interesting. Definitely worth the ten bucks it cost to buy.

You're on the right path. Both books will open your mind to new ideas on wealth and goal setting.

I've read both and refer back to them from time to time.

Enjoy your journey to prosperity,

I have read both and I believe that anyone who's serious about acquiring wealth can gain value from reading both. I found that Richest Man in Babylon has been an excellent tool for teaching kids and wary adults about personal finance because of it's parable like structure and brevity. The stories make it easy to get excited about the often dry subject matter contained in personal finance books. This was one of the first books I ever read on personal finance and it certainly peaked my interest in the subject. Think and Grow Rich has less direct advice and instead of giving specific information about finance presents an argument for the psychological aspects of wealth building. However I believe that this is the reason the book is timeless, it strikes on certain universal principles of the acquisition of wealth.

The drawback of both of these books is that they do not supply any specifics on how to apply the principles to your given situation. They both supply general principles without direct modern examples on say, how to make a budget. I feel that anyone who reads this books with the intention of finding information they can apply to their situation will do so and they make an excellent entry point for further study and guide them towards other books with solid advice and away from get rich quick schemes.

both books are great when you're getting started... it's all about acquiring the right mindset. I would recommend these two books to anyone who has decided they want to start making changes in their lives.

This forum actually prompted me to go back and read the two books, here are a few of my impressions.

The Richest Man in Babylon. This book advocates sound financial principles. While it gives very few specifics on how to manage your money it does teach general concepts that, if applied, will assuredly help you on your road to riches. Another reason this book has been so successful is that it doesn't waste your time trying to sell you anything—it simply tells a story and gives financial advice in a clear concise way. This is a book you can easily read in a day or a weekend and is one you will want to return to periodically to review. Who will benefit most from reading it: Anyone who values proven methods of wealth building—these are methods that work well over a long period of time, not quick fixes. You will benefit regardless of your current financial situation: in debt, starting to invest, already wealthy, etc. It is a good review for those who have already read other personal finance books and is a great starting place for those who haven't.

Think and grow rich is a great starting point for anyone who cares about accumulating riches. It focuses on the attainment of riches through an obsessive desire to achieve them using autosuggestion, faith, and knowing people who are smarter than you. It is worth reading several times and is a fantastic way to start thinking about wealth accumulation. Who will benefit most from this book? Most people who are interested in becoming financially literate will get something out of this book. This is a great starting place for those who do not have a wealth accumulation mindset. This is a good review for those who are already working on accumulating wealth as well.