// Book comparison

Ego Is the Enemy vs Think and Grow Rich

Which should you read? A side-by-side comparison of Ego Is the Enemy by Ryan Holiday and Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill.

At a glance

Ego Is the Enemy Think and Grow Rich
Rating ★ 4.9/5 ★ 4.9/5
Pages 256 238
Reading time ~6.4 h ~6.0 h
Published 2016 1937
Author Ryan Holiday Napoleon Hill
Category Personal Effectiveness Finance & Investment
Publisher Portfolio The Ralston Society

Choose Ego Is the Enemy if…

  • You're interested in personal effectiveness.
  • You want the higher-rated book (4.9/5).
  • You want the more recent perspective (2016).

Choose Think and Grow Rich if…

  • You're interested in finance & investment.
  • You prefer a shorter read (~6.0 hours).

Key takeaways — Ego Is the Enemy

  • Maintain a Lifelong Student Mindset by intentionally seeking out mentors and peers who challenge your strategic assumptions, preventing the 'stagnation of success'.
  • Prioritize Action over Talk, recognizing that the public narrative of your achievements is often a distraction from the deep work required to sustain your organization’s competitive edge.
  • Utilize the Plus, Minus, Equal framework to ensure your professional development is balanced, allowing you to learn, teach, and compete with humility and clarity.
Read full Ego Is the Enemy summary →

Key takeaways — Think and Grow Rich

  • Develop a Definite Chief Aim for your organization, ensuring that every strategic decision and resource allocation is aligned with a singular, compelling vision of success.
  • Utilize the Master Mind Principle by surrounding yourself with a diverse group of experts and advisors, creating a collective intelligence that is greater than the sum of its parts.
  • Cultivate Unwavering Persistence, recognizing that the ability to maintain effort through temporary defeats is the primary psychological trait that separates high-achievers from the rest.
Read full Think and Grow Rich summary →

The verdict

If you want the higher-rated, more acclaimed read, start with Ego Is the Enemy. If you specifically need finance & investment, Think and Grow Rich is the better fit. Both summaries are free — no signup required.

❓ FAQ

Is Ego Is the Enemy or Think and Grow Rich better? +

Ego Is the Enemy has the higher reader rating (4.9/5 vs 4.9/5), but "better" depends on your goal. Ego Is the Enemy focuses on personal effectiveness, while Think and Grow Rich focuses on finance & investment. See the verdict below.

Which is shorter, Ego Is the Enemy or Think and Grow Rich? +

Think and Grow Rich is shorter (238 pages, ~6.0 hours) compared to Ego Is the Enemy (256 pages, ~6.4 hours).

Should I read Ego Is the Enemy or Think and Grow Rich first? +

If you want the quicker, higher-rated read, start with Ego Is the Enemy. Otherwise read whichever matches your current goal — both summaries are free on BookHubs.