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James Allen's
From Poverty to Power (1901) and
As a Man Thinketh (1902) stand as seminal texts in the self-help genre that have served as sources of inspiration since their publication at the beginning of the twentieth century. Loosely based in its principles around the Biblical proverb As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he,
As a Man Thinketh asserts the powerful idea that belief is central to bringing about positive events in one's life.
From Poverty to Power, Allen's first book, relies on a similar philosophy but addresses themes of adversity and suffering more directly and offers his simple wisdom as a means of overcoming difficulty. Allen's writings are powerful and relevant today as they were over a century ago, and this collection brings their solace and inspiration to modern listeners.
About the author
James Allen (1864-1912) was a British writer and pioneer of the self-help movement. Born to a working-class family in Leicester, England, Allen left school at age fifteen, after which he worked as a private secretary and later as a magazine writer. In 1902, he began to publish his own spiritual magazine, The Light of Reason. Over the course of his life, Allen wrote nineteen books, some of which include As a Man Thinketh, Eight Pillars of Prosperity, Above Life's Turmoil, From Passion to Peace, and From Poverty to Power.