We talked a couple of days ago about Norman Vincent Peale and the controversy that surrounds his work. Although there are so many that criticize his work, nobody can deny the fact that his main book, “The Power Of Positive Thinking” is a masterpiece. We are looking at a book that is motivational, inspirational and highly educational. It was first published in 1952 and did sell over 5 million copies till now. This does not include the audio book versions, which are really popular at the moment. Many claim to have had their life changed after reading this book.
Quick Review
If you are particularly in a hurry and you do not want to stick for long, The Power Of Positive Thinking is a book that tries to teach you the following:
- How to understand the reason why positive thinking is really good – realistic examples included
- How to apply the positive thinking principles on a day-to-day basis
- How to achieve life success by applying positive thinking principles
The Christian Foundation Behind The Book
Norman Vincent Peale was a Christian and a minister. It is obvious that what he writes has a Christian foundation. The Power Of Positive Thinking does reinforce prayer and positive thinking, at the same time. There are many different examples inside that show how people used positive thinking and faith in order to succeed and go over various difficulties. Although the Christian foundation is strong, you should not be narrow in your approach to the book.
We saw that some did not want to read because of religious reasons. Even if you are not Christian, you can learn a lot from the book and it is recommended. You can simply jump over the religious aspects or you can read them in an objective way. This is a book that is mainly focused on positive thinking as a foundation of success and happiness.
Controversy
While The Power Of Positive Thinking is a really great read, we need to acknowledge the fact that some of the principles that are presented are based on anecdotes or on statements that are not properly referenced. It is a little bothersome to see statements like “according to a renowned physicist” since there is no mention about the name of that physicist. This is exactly why the book is highly controversial and many believe that just ramblings are presented. You may have problems in believing what you read if you have a pure math based foundation and belief system.
A Really Good Read
While many use terms like “incredible” or “horrible”, all based on personal opinions, if you are able to maintain a high objectivity level, there is absolutely no way to deny the fact that “The Power Of Positive Thinking” by Norman Vincent Peale is a book that has to be considered since it can help improve one’s mindset. It is not at all difficult to read and you will just need an open mind to be able to take in that part of the information that is really good for you. After all, we are all individuals and ideas need to be adapted to our own way of thinking.