The Race to Self-Improvement—What Works for You?

The Power of Positive Thinking

These are the words of Norman Vincent Peale, a graduate of Boston's School of Theology, later to become a Methodist clergyman and pastor. He coined the term when he published one of the original ‘self-help’ books in 1952, by the same name. Extremely popular at the time, some may recall seeing grandparents reading through its pages during times of distress or uncertainty.

Having sold over 5 million copies in over 40 languages, Peale could be viewed as one of the most significant influencers of his time.

You might wonder how his writings could be so life-changing? It was relatively simple; using the bible and paring it with human optimism, Peale identified elementary techniques that encompass affirmations and visualizations. Interestingly, support for his work never rose to prominence with his contemporaries, but the masses couldn't get enough; he is credited for writing more than 40 additional books on similar subjects.

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