What are good book club discussion questions for Think and Grow Rich?

Spoiler-free questions to get the conversation going: Picture yourself reading this book curled up somewhere comfortable. Was there a moment when it gave you a little lift, or made you roll your eyes with affection? What were you doing when it happened?; Hill wrote for readers going through hard times in the 1930s. Did the book remind you of a grandparent, parent or older friend who got through lean years with hope? Tell us about them; Hill puts a lot of weight on a burning desire. What is one wish, big or small, that has been quietly glowing in you lately, and how did it feel to think about it while you read?; The Master Mind is a circle of people who lift each other up. Who has been part of your own circle over the years, and how did it feel to be believed in?; Persistence comes up again and again. Is there a time you kept going when quitting would have been easier? What kept you warm through it?.

What food and drinks should I serve at a Think and Grow Rich book club?

Food: Depression-Era Wacky Cake (chocolate crazy cake), Mini Chicken Pot Pies, and Skillet Cornbread with Honey Butter. Drinks: Rich Stovetop Hot Cocoa with Whipped Cream, Honey Hot Toddy, and Maple Old Fashioned.

Cozy night

Think and Grow RichBook club questions, food & host guide

Napoleon Hill

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A cozy book club night for Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill. Includes 8 spoiler-free discussion questions, food and drink pairings, a playlist, and a host guide, ready to print and share.

A close-knit group who like heartfelt conversation about their dreams, habits and the people who believe in them

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Napoleon Hill wrote this Depression-era classic about dreams, belief and persistence in 1937, when money was scarce and hope was scarcer. It works well for a cozy evening where friends talk about what they hope for and who has helped them along the way.

Why it works for clubs

It is a book about hoping for things, so everyone has something personal to share
The Master Mind idea (a supportive circle of people) mirrors the book club itself
Its old-fashioned optimism can inspire some readers and amuse others, which makes for gentle, friendly debate
Each chapter covers one principle, so people can talk about just the parts that moved them

Themes & mood

Hopeful Nostalgic Self-Reflection Dreams and Desire Depression-Era Optimism

Reading level

Moderate

Warm-up questions

1 Picture yourself reading this book curled up somewhere comfortable. Was there a moment when it gave you a little lift, or made you roll your eyes with affection? What were you doing when it happened?
2 Hill wrote for readers going through hard times in the 1930s. Did the book remind you of a grandparent, parent or older friend who got through lean years with hope? Tell us about them.

Digging in

1 Hill puts a lot of weight on a burning desire. What is one wish, big or small, that has been quietly glowing in you lately, and how did it feel to think about it while you read?
2 The Master Mind is a circle of people who lift each other up. Who has been part of your own circle over the years, and how did it feel to be believed in?
3 Persistence comes up again and again. Is there a time you kept going when quitting would have been easier? What kept you warm through it?
4 Hill suggests saying your goals out loud to yourself every day. Did that idea feel comforting, awkward or a bit of both? Do you have any small rituals that help you feel steady?

Going deep

1 The book is full of confidence that belief can change your life. Where did that bring you comfort, and where did it make you feel tender, maybe thinking of struggles that effort alone can't fix?
2 By the last page, is there one idea from the book you want to keep close, like a note in your coat pocket? Is there one you're happy to leave on the shelf?

On the table

Depression-Era Wacky Cake (chocolate crazy cake)

This cake was born in the 1930s, when eggs and butter were scarce. It's a sweet, homey reminder of making something rich from very little, which fits the book's spirit.

Mini Chicken Pot Pies

A classic American comfort dish of the era. Store-bought pastry makes it easy, and it's warm and filling while people settle in to talk.

Skillet Cornbread with Honey Butter

A simple, thrifty staple from Hill's time and his Virginia roots, served warm so everyone can tear off a piece.

To sip

Rich Stovetop Hot Cocoa with Whipped Cream No alcohol

An inexpensive treat that feels generous, a sweet toast to small comforts during hard times. Set out marshmallows and cinnamon so guests can add their own.

Honey Hot Toddy

An old-fashioned warmer of whiskey, honey, lemon and hot water. Good for sipping slowly while people share their dreams.

Maple Old Fashioned

Prohibition had ended only a few years before the book came out. A little maple syrup softens this classic into a fireside drink.

You're invited

Cocoa, Cornbread and Big Dreams

Bring your coziest sweater and a wish you've been holding onto. We're gathering to talk about Think and Grow Rich over warm drinks and comfort food.

Trivia

1

In what year was Think and Grow Rich first published?

Answer: 1937, during the Great Depression
2

Which famous industrialist did Napoleon Hill credit with inspiring his study of success?

Answer: Andrew Carnegie
3

How many principles, or steps, does the book lay out?

Answer: Thirteen
4

What does Hill call a group of like-minded people working in harmony toward a goal?

Answer: The Master Mind
5

Which famous inventor did Edwin C. Barnes dream of becoming business partners with, in one of the book's stories?

Answer: Thomas Edison
6

What earlier multi-volume work did Hill publish in 1928?

Answer: The Law of Success
7

In which U.S. state was Napoleon Hill born?

Answer: Virginia
8

What genre is Think and Grow Rich usually shelved under?

Answer: Self-help and personal development