Outwitting the Devil: The Secret to Freedom and Success

Outwitting the Devil, by Napoleon Hill, does not read like a classic novel about good and evil, pain and pleasure, or success and failure. There is no archetypical hero to root for, nor villain to hate. Those needing a happy ending, where the good guy wearing the white hat rides to the rescue (the adult version of the fairy tale) may find this book disappointing. This is more of a "choose your own adventure" book. Therefore, the reader should be prepared to pony up a bit, in the intellectual honesty department.The more serious reader is uniquely drawn into considering the possibility we've been intelligently designed and created to be the masters of our own fate and, as such, the reader is also challenged to consider the inherent responsibilities and thought processes such a paradigm entails. Napoleon Hill conveys his ideas through an imagined and most enticing Q&A session he has with the Devil himself. The quality of the questions Hill deftly asks of the Devil leaves little maneuvering room for the Devil to avoid giving truthful answers. This powerful and dynamic Q&A exercise more than suggests that thoughtful and strategic questioning can be more important and relevant than the perceived "source" of the information. In this case the "source" of the information is the Devil which may scare away those readers who are apprehensive and fearful of truly "knowing their enemy." Hill suggests, much like the cartoon character Pogo aptly stated, "We have met the enemy, and the enemy is us" or more apropos to Hill's observations; we have met the Devil, and the Devil is us.The concept that makes this book a hard read for the faint of heart and those desiring 'someone' to rescue them from their failing paradigms, rather than taking personal responsibility, is that the power of the Devil can only manifest itself in our lives if we lend the Devil our energies. Outwitting the Devil suggests that we lend the Devil our energies, by default, when we are careless with our thoughts, words, and actions. In so doing, we "drift" along through life with the rest of the herd (society at large). Hill poignantly portrays, in his Q&A with the Devil, the various thought traps that can cause us to "drift" over to the dark side.The idea of lending our energies to the dark side through careless thoughts, words, and actions correlates quite nicely with biblical scripture in Proverbs that tells us, "For as he (man) thinketh in his heart, so is he..."Outwitting the Devil advises the reader that we must consciously choose associates with complimentary values to our own otherwise it will be more difficult, if not impossible, to maintain the "definiteness of purpose" critical to achieving happiness and success. If we allow ourselves to get sucked into the negative vortex of the "drifters," we risk becoming "drifters" ourselves. Takeaway: If you want to help a "drifter," don't become one.Books, such as this one, written in a period of history (the Great Depression) that seems to rhyme with our current economic condition have many benefits. History often points out to us that successful men such as Napoleon Hill and the icons of his generation are not always successful all of the time or in every aspect of their lives. Knowing the principles of successful living and having the courage to comprehensively apply them may seem to be more aptly suited to our childhood comic book super-heroes and somewhat out of our reach. This book illustrates, however, that we all have the capacity to achieve our dreams and we are our own unsung heroes every time we find the courage to overcome our own personal fears. By releasing ourselves from our chronic fears and the underlying negative thoughts that sponsor them, we offer hope and inspiration to others to do the same. So, if we need to find either a hero or a villain to give our own life story a happy ending, we need to look no further than the nearest mirror and look at the reflection in it. That's where the buck truly stops.Outwitting the Devil offers the reader the awareness and tools needed to better manage their thoughts, words, actions, and outcomes. It's a great book and well worth the price of admission.----Steven Wallace, co-author of The END TIMES Hoax and the Hijacking of Our Liberty

This was a great read.A little wired in that its written format was an actual interview with the Devil.But once I started reading I was completely fascinated with the information and concepts.This book introduced the "drifter", I immediately identified with my grown son. It helped to give me some insight into his personality and motivations... err rather, lack thereof.The Characteristics of a Drifter~Total lack of a major purpose in life~He will be conspicuous by his lack of self-confidence~He will never accomplish anything requiring thought and effort~He spends all he earns and more too if he can get credit~He will be sick or ailing from some real or imaginary cause and calling to high heaving if he suffers the least physical pain.~He will have little or no imagination~He will lack enthusiasm and initiative to begin anything he is not forced to undertake, and he will plainly express his weakness by taking the line of least resistance whenever he can do so.~He will be ill-tempered and lacking in control over his emotions.~His personality will be without magnetism, and it will not attract other people.~He will have opinions on everything but accurate knowledge of nothing.~He may be jack of all trades, but good at none.~He will neglect to cooperate with those around him…even on those he must depend on for food and shelter.~He will make the same mistake over and over again never profiting by failure.~He will be narrow-minded and intolerant on all subjects ready to crucify those who disagree with him.~He will expect everything of others, but be willing to give nothing in return.~He may begin many things, but complete nothing.~He will be loud in his condemnation of his government, but he will never tell you definitely how it could be improved.~He will never reach decisions on anything if he can avoid it, and if he is forced to decide, he will reverse himself at the first opportunity.~He will eat too much, and exercise too little.~He will take a drink of liquor, if someone else will pay for it.~He will gamble if he can do it on the cuff (meaning on credit.)~He will criticize other who are succeeding at their chosen calling.~The drifter will work harder to get out of thinking than most others work at making a good living.~He will tell a lie rather than admit his ignorance on any subject.~If he works for others he will criticize them to their backs, and flatter them to their faces.