Think and Grow Rich vs Outwitting the Devil: A Deep Comparison of Napoleon Hill’s Most Powerful Books

Napoleon Hill, a pioneer in personal development literature, is best known for two influential books: Think and Grow Rich (1937) and Outwitting the Devil (written in 1938 but published posthumously in 2011). Though both books come from the same brilliant mind, they offer very different approaches to success, mindset, and overcoming personal limitations.

If you're torn between reading Think and Grow Rich or Outwitting the Devil, or simply want to understand how these two masterpieces compare, this article will help you dive into the differences, similarities, and insights both books offer.

In short, Think and Grow Rich teaches success through focused goals and positive thinking, while Outwitting the Devil exposes fear, doubt, and societal control as barriers to personal growth. Together, they reveal Napoleon Hill’s full philosophy: master your mind, overcome fear, and take purposeful action to achieve lasting success.

Overview: Think and Grow Rich

Think and Grow Rich is one of the best-selling self-help books of all time. Based on Hill’s 25 years of research and interviews with over 500 successful individuals, the book outlines 13 principles that can lead to wealth and achievement.

These principles include:

• Desire
• Faith
• Autosuggestion
• Specialized Knowledge
• Imagination
• Organized Planning
• Decision
• Persistence
• The Mastermind
• The Subconscious Mind
• The Brain
• The Sixth Sense
• Transmutation of Sexual Energy

Hill's message is clear: thoughts become things. If you can control your mind and maintain a burning desire, success becomes inevitable.

Overview: Outwitting the Devil

Outwitting the Devil is much darker and more controversial. Written in 1938 but kept hidden for over 70 years, this book is structured as a fictional interview between Hill and “the Devil.” In this allegorical conversation, Hill exposes how fear, procrastination, religious dogma, and societal pressure prevent people from achieving success.

Key concepts include:

• “Drifting” – living passively without direction
• Fear as the Devil’s most powerful tool
• The importance of definiteness of purpose
• How schools, churches, and governments suppress independent thought
• The value of discipline, thought control, and self-mastery

Unlike Think and Grow Rich, which offers step-by-step principles, Outwitting the Devil acts more like a philosophical warning and a call to mental rebellion.

Tone and Style Comparison

Think and Grow Rich has a confident, structured, and motivational tone. It's a guidebook that feels uplifting and grounded in traditional success principles. Hill often cites real-life examples like Henry Ford, Thomas Edison, and Andrew Carnegie.

Outwitting the Devil, on the other hand, is edgy, raw, and almost rebellious. It has a more provocative tone, with Hill playing both interrogator and philosopher. The conversational style makes it engaging but also more unsettling. It challenges institutions and digs deep into the roots of human failure.

Success and Mindset: Two Sides of the Same Coin

Both books focus on the power of the mind, but they approach it from different angles.

In Think and Grow Rich, the emphasis is on positive thinking, goal setting, visualization, and the Law of Attraction. It’s about building a constructive mindset to attract wealth and personal achievement.

In Outwitting the Devil, the focus is on mental enslavement: how fear, distraction, and societal programming keep us from success. Hill goes deep into the psychological traps that people fall into and how to overcome them.

Put simply:

• Think and Grow Rich tells you how to succeed.
• Outwitting the Devil tells you why most people fail.

Fear and Control

Fear is a recurring theme in both books.

In Think and Grow Rich, Hill identifies six basic fears: fear of poverty, criticism, ill health, loss of love, old age, and death. He emphasizes that conquering fear is essential to success.

In Outwitting the Devil, fear is the Devil’s greatest weapon. The “Devil” explains how fear paralyzes people and makes them obedient to external influences. It also explores how religion, education, and media often reinforce fear instead of eliminating it.

The latter book digs deeper into the psychological manipulation behind fear, making it a more eye-opening read for those interested in the roots of personal stagnation.

Practical vs Philosophical

Another key difference is the nature of the advice offered.

• Think and Grow Rich is practical. Each chapter provides a clear principle and exercises for implementing it in your life. It’s suitable for entrepreneurs, professionals, and anyone seeking clear-cut steps toward success.
• Outwitting the Devil is philosophical. It makes you question your beliefs, your habits, and the systems that influence your thoughts. It’s more suited for readers interested in deep self-inquiry and breaking mental chains.

Modern Relevance

Despite being written nearly a century ago, both books remain relevant today.

• Think and Grow Rich still serves as a foundational book for business success, personal development, and financial empowerment.
• Outwitting the Devil resonates with modern readers who face anxiety, information overload, and societal conformity. Its message about “drifting” speaks to today’s world of endless scrolling and passive consumption.

In fact, many people find Outwitting the Devil more applicable to the current psychological and cultural landscape, even though it was written decades ago.

Which One Should You Read First?

If you’re new to personal development or seeking structured steps to reach your goals, Think and Grow Rich is the perfect starting point.

If you’ve already read personal development books but still feel stuck or manipulated by fear, Outwitting the Devil offers the mental clarity and raw insight needed to break through.

Ideally, read both. Together, they form a powerful one-two punch:

• Think and Grow Rich gives you the tools to build success.
• Outwitting the Devil shows you the hidden obstacles that may sabotage it.

Final Thoughts

Think and Grow Rich and Outwitting the Devil are two of Napoleon Hill’s greatest contributions to personal transformation. While they differ in tone, style, and focus, they ultimately point to the same truth: your mind is your most powerful asset.

If you learn to control your thoughts, conquer fear, and take deliberate action, success is not only possible—it’s inevitable.

Whether you prefer the classic, optimistic guide to success or the raw, confrontational dialogue with the forces of fear, both books will challenge your mindset and inspire you to reach your highest potential.