// Book comparison
The Hard Thing About Hard Things vs Think and Grow Rich
Which should you read? A side-by-side comparison of The Hard Thing About Hard Things by Ben Horowitz and Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill.
The Hard Thing About Hard Things
by Ben Horowitz
★ 4.9/5
Think and Grow Rich
by Napoleon Hill
★ 4.9/5
At a glance
| The Hard Thing About Hard Things | Think and Grow Rich | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★ 4.9/5 | ★ 4.9/5 |
| Pages | 304 | 238 |
| Reading time | ~7.6 h | ~6.0 h |
| Published | 2014 | 1937 |
| Author | Ben Horowitz | Napoleon Hill |
| Category | Startups & Entrepreneurship | Finance & Investment |
| Publisher | HarperBusiness | The Ralston Society |
Choose The Hard Thing About Hard Things if…
- → You're interested in startups & entrepreneurship.
- → You want the higher-rated book (4.9/5).
- → You want the more recent perspective (2014).
Choose Think and Grow Rich if…
- → You're interested in finance & investment.
- → You prefer a shorter read (~6.0 hours).
Key takeaways — The Hard Thing About Hard Things
- ✓ Understand the difference between Peacetime and Wartime Leadership, recognizing that a crisis requires a shift from collaborative consensus to directive, high-velocity decision-making.
- ✓ Manage Your Own Psychology during 'The Struggle', recognizing that the ability to stay calm and objective when the organization is at risk is a leader's most critical strategic asset.
- ✓ Prioritize The Truth in your organizational communication, ensuring that bad news travels fast and that every employee understands the reality of the firm's strategic challenges.
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.
The verdict
If you want the higher-rated, more acclaimed read, start with The Hard Thing About Hard Things. If you specifically need finance & investment, Think and Grow Rich is the better fit. Both summaries are free — no signup required.
❓ FAQ
Is The Hard Thing About Hard Things or Think and Grow Rich better? +
The Hard Thing About Hard Things has the higher reader rating (4.9/5 vs 4.9/5), but "better" depends on your goal. The Hard Thing About Hard Things focuses on startups & entrepreneurship, while Think and Grow Rich focuses on finance & investment. See the verdict below.
Which is shorter, The Hard Thing About Hard Things or Think and Grow Rich? +
Think and Grow Rich is shorter (238 pages, ~6.0 hours) compared to The Hard Thing About Hard Things (304 pages, ~7.6 hours).
Should I read The Hard Thing About Hard Things or Think and Grow Rich first? +
If you want the quicker, higher-rated read, start with The Hard Thing About Hard Things. Otherwise read whichever matches your current goal — both summaries are free on BookHubs.