07. Think and grow rich

Can you think¹ your way² to wealth³ and success? Napoleon Hill believed that if you think the right thoughts⁴ you can. In 1937, he published⁵ the book "Think and Grow Rich⁶." Napoleon Hill spent many years researching⁷ financial success and observing people who had become⁸ rich.

Although⁹ it was published in the middle of The Great Depression, it was an immediate success. "Think and Grow Rich" remains¹⁰ one of the most-popular non-fiction books ever written¹¹.

Forbes magazine¹² says it has sold¹³ 70 million copies since¹⁴ it first appeared, and continues to sell today. Napoleon Hill wrote¹⁵ at least¹⁶ ten other books about success before¹⁷ his death¹⁸ in 1970.

None of¹⁹ Hill's books came close to selling²⁰ as many copies as²¹ "Think and Grow Rich." But for today's generation²², "Think and Grow Rich" is now available²³ in a different form.

SmarterComics has released²⁴ an illustrated version of the book. Franco Arda is the company's founder²⁵ and publisher²⁶. He used to work as²⁷ an investment banker. He started the company three years ago with his own money²⁸. He wanted to create picture books that increase²⁹ understanding³⁰.

His versions provide³¹ much of the information that is in full-length books³² but in an easy-to-understand, picture, or comic, form. Franco Arda says readers³³ will understand and remember more about gaining success if they read the comic book version of "Think and Grow Rich." He says pictures make the book easier to remember³⁴. He says the book taught³⁵ him to change the way³⁶ he thinks about money and success.

SmarterComics says the book tells how³⁷ "wealth is a lifelong³⁸ pursuit³⁹ achieved by believing⁴⁰ in the value⁴¹ of personal ideas⁴²." It says anyone⁴³ can achieve their dreams by refusing⁴⁴ to be stopped⁴⁵ by temporary problems. 

For VOA Learning English, I'm Alex Villarreal. (Adapted from a radio program broadcast 26Oct2012)

Vocabulary

1. think = pensar
2. way = caminho
3. wealth = riqueza
4. right thoughts = pensamentos
5. published = publicou
6. Grow Rich = ficar rico
7. spent many years researching = passou muitos anos pesquisando
8. had become = tinham se tornado
9. Although = embora
10. Remains = permanence
11. ever written = já escritos
12. magazine = revista
13. sold = vendeu
14. since = desde
15. wrote = escreveu
16. at least = pelo menos
17. before = antes
18. death = morte
19. None of =  nenhum dos
20. came close to selling = chegou perto de vender
21. as many copies as = tantas copias quanto
22. generation = geração
23. available = disponivel
24. released = lançou
25. founder = fundador
26. publisher = editor
27. used to work as = costumava trabalhar como
28. own money = proprio dinheiro
29. increase = aumentar
30. understanding = compreensão
31. provide = fornecer
32. full-length books = livros completos
33. readers = leitores
34. easier to remember = mais facil de lembrar
35. taught = ensinou
36. change the way = mudar a maneira
37. tells how = diz como
38. lifelong = para a vida toda
39. pursuit = busca
40. achieved by believing = alcançada por acreditar
41. value = valor
42. personal ideas = idéias pessoais
43. anyone = qualquer um
44. refusing = recusando-se
45. to be stopped = ser detido, parado