Arthur R. Pell

This review is actually based on the Blinkist summary of the book....and should be read as such. I’ve not done the author the respect due by reading the whole book. But, Hey! life is short and if the Blinikist version inspires me, I’ll try and read the full book. However, I have found, where I HAVE been able to make the comparison, that the Blinkist summary is pretty good at drawing out the main issues of a book. With those provisos, I’ve made a few selections from the suimmary that show more rather appealed to me and added some personal observations at the end.
If we want to get rich and realize our dreams, we need to recognize a burning desire within us...You should start by defining your own personal goal as precisely as you can. For example, if you want to get rich, you should decide precisely how much money you want to make....It’s also important to come up with a plan that outlines every step you’ll need to take until the realization of your goal.
First, write down your goal and your detailed plan for achieving it. Then, read it aloud twice every.....You can only achieve success if it’s based on self-confidence and an unwavering faith in yourself:
In general, auto-suggestion consists of persuading yourself that: you can reach your goals; your thoughts can be transformed into reality and; you must go your own way with confidence.
If you want to be successful, you don’t need to stuff your head with too many facts–it is far more important to acquire the right experiences and knowledge, use your own strengths and fully exploit your own potential.
The most important basis is a willingness to continue learning throughout your life.
you don’t need to know everything yourself. Instead, you need to know who you can ask if you need to know something. It’s usually more practical and productive to be surrounded by a network of experts
Imaginative ability has two different forms: the creative imagination and the synthetic imagination.....By using our creative imagination, we are able to come up with completely new things. Ingenious composers, visual artists and writers use this function to create works unlike anything made before......The synthetic imagination, by contrast, rearranges old ideas into new combinations.
If you want to keep your imagination from getting sluggish, you need to challenge and encourage it.
In order to be able to figure out exactly what your strengths and weaknesses are, it’s advisable to perform a thorough and honest self-analysis....It’s more than enough if you go through a checklist of questions, which should include: Have I achieved my aim for this year?; Was I always friendly, courteous and cooperative?; Did I make all decisions promptly and firmly?
if we want our subconscious to help us realize our desires and goals, we have to make sure that positive feelings play a leading role in our lives. We must, therefore, “feed” our subconscious positive things.....Avoid contact with doom-saying windbags and pay no heed to their discouraging remarks.
The analysis of over 25,000 life stories of people who failed to achieve professional success shows that a lack of determination is the main reason for their failure.
The analysis of the success stories of multimillionaires revealed, by contrast, that they all had two characteristics in common: they were used to making split-second decisions and, once they made them, they stood firmly behind their decisions.
Persistence and endurance are key. That means, above all, that we work constantly on the realization of our goals and don’t lose sight of them. However, obstinacy and inveteracy should be avoided at all costs:
Here are four simple yet crucial rules:
You must have a concrete goal and develop a burning desire to achieve it.
You need a thorough and precise plan
You may not allow yourself to be influenced by negative and disheartening opinions.
You need an intimate, trusting relationship to a person or a group that provides you with support and assistance.
This mutual backing works best in the form of a brain trust–a select group of intelligent people.
The main message of this book is: Wealth– in whatever form– is seldom the result of luck or coincidence. Far from that, it’s almost always the result of different traits and skills that anyone can learn and acquire.
I read the full book years ago...can’t remember how many but it was at least 30 years ago and I remember being rather let down at the time. I feel similarly let down. Yes, I’m ready to read the book ..do a bit of thinking....maybe (with the help of the book) come up with a great idea ...and bingo! I’ll be rich. Well. No it’s not like that. It’s really just a variation on the power of positive thinking with a dash of Bernie Cornfield’s [the Fund of Funds] mantra...”Do you sincerely want to be rich”. And it’s kind of: Set a goal and work hard towards that goal. Be imaginative about it, don’t let doomsayers distract you etc. In other words...positive thinking. And I guess, you probably won’t get rich, in most circumstances, without that sort of focus and drive. But I think the title is deliberately misleading and it doesn’t deliver on the implied promise. Two stars from me. show less

A book that was absolute required reading by the owner of a company I worked at for several years right after getting my first graduate degree. It wasn't bad, necessarily, but even though a "classic," I found it to be - like all such books to me - a lightweight, idealistic, unrealistic pep talk with little tangible value, especially when perceived as such to succeed in business. Because I've read many "business" books that provided a great more practical value than this one did...

This inspiring book contains extracts from the illustrious Dr. Murphy’s lectures.

Dr. Murphy was a proponent of the New Thought movement, whose basic concept was “You can become what you want to be.

He believed that it was God’s plan for us to be healthy, prosperous and happy.

Whatever you attach to the words “I am” and “emotionalize” you’ll become. If you’re looking for your purpose in life, say ”I m in my true place. I m doing what I love to do. I’m divinely happy and show more prospered.”

You become what you think about all day long. If you think positive thoughts, blessings follow; and if you think negative thoughts, unpleasant results manifest.”

The book is filled with accounts of various people who healed themselves of their illnesses and transformed their lives by changing their thinking. Murphy gives us continual examples of healing prayers to repeat and meditate on.

For example,

“God is boundless love, absolute bliss, indescribable beauty, and supreme peace. There are no divisions in the Infinite, which is perfect. God’s eyes are too pure to behold inequity. God’s will is being made manifest in my life as Divine Harmony, health, happiness, abundance, and love.”

If we meditate on these words regularly, our present circumstances will be magically transformed.

Whenever fear or worry comes into our mind, we should immediately affirm “God is guiding me now” or “God knows the answer”.

When you have a problem, turn away from your difficulty and concentrate on receiving a solution through the power of God. Focus your attention on that and claim the reality of your desire, Infinite Intelligence will respond.

If you’re suffering from an illness, begin to claim “God’s Healing Presence permeates every atom of my being”.

There are chapters about the non-existence of death, the spiritual meaning of marriage and divorce and the beliefs of Ralph Waldo Emerson.

I highly recommend this book, which is one of a series of six by Dr. Murphy. The book, like all Murphy’s books, gives comfort and inspiration. show less

I enjoyed the first few sections of the book the most that overviewed the broad messages. The subsequent details were not as compelling. The 1930s perspective on success and wealth was quiet a shock at times, humorous at other times, and all together a forceful message of taking control of ones life and following desires.