5First published in 1937, Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill, remains an instant classic. It is widely cited as being the most of popular and influential self-help books of all time. In the book, the author imparts the secrets to serious wealth building and lasting success in life. The book is the culmination of two decades of research, in which Napoleon Hill studied some of the world's most successful people. Napoleon Hill (1883 - 1970) was an American author who was one of the earliest producers of the modern genre of personal-success literature.