Bestselling Book Reveals Secrets of Those Who Prospered During Great Depression

Which books inspired people to dig their way out of the Great Depression of the 1930s and what can we learn from those books today?

One of them was called That Something, a perennial bestseller that inspired million to get back on their feet and accomplish great things, even in the worst of times. That Something sold over three million copies in the first half of the twentieth century, inspired leading thinkers and writers such as Thomas Edison and Napoleon Hill, and was one of the source texts of Hill’s classic, Think and Grow Rich.

That Something tells the story of a man who graduated at the top of his class and had a bright future ahead of him. Then came the Great Depression of the 1930s, and like so many of his generation, he hit hard times. He found himself sleeping on the cold hard floor of a homeless shelter, with a hundred other men. His future looked grim.

While begging for food, he met a rich man who refused to give him even a bread crumb. Instead, he told him of a special formula for success, which he called "that something." Our hero used this formula to quickly move up the ranks of the largest business in town. Eventually he became one of the great success stories of his time.

The book explains very specific and practical secrets of success that readers in the Depression used and readers today can still use to get back on their feet and achieve great success despite their circumstances. The secrets are listed at the end of this article.

Executive Books has just published the first ever illustrated gift edition of That Something, which includes masterworks by Rembrandt, Rubens, Raphael, Leonardo, Michelangelo, and others. It is an inspiring quick read and the perfect gift for someone who has lost their job or home, struggling to make ends meet in a difficult economy.

The book can be purchased here.

Success Secrets From A Businessman Who Made Millions During the Great Depression

The secrets of success, even during a Depression, can be explained as follows. First, develop mental strategies, which include a clear sense of direction, confidence, self-control, will power, and courage.

Next, develop lifestyle strategies, including the purchase of a new wardrobe, moving to the right neighborhood, and making the right friends and contacts.

Next, develop work strategies, such as taking initiative and doing more than is asked, helping your colleagues after hours, being a team player, and above all, a giver. Whenever facing obstacles at work, embrace the challenge because life is a "marvelous adventure."

Never lost your sense of awe and wonder. Cultivate the child within, even in difficult moments. Laugh whenever you can. And when all else fails, practice gratitude, and focus on all the good things, including the gold, that everywhere surrounds you.

Eventually, through hard work you will master your craft. "Nothing is ever perfect," the hero says, "but nothing is impossible, either. Always do your best, and have faith that things will work out."