Editing Self-help (section)

===Early 20th century===

In 1902, [[James Allen (author)|James Allen]] published ''[[As a Man Thinketh]]'', which proceeds from the conviction that "a man is literally what he thinks, his character being the complete sum of all his thoughts." Noble thoughts, the book maintains, make for a noble person, while lowly thoughts make for a miserable person. [[Napoleon Hill]]'s ''[[Think and Grow Rich]]'' (1937) described the use of repeated [[Optimism|positive thought]]s to attract happiness and wealth by tapping into an "[[Infinity|Infinite]] Intelligence".<ref name=Starker>{{cite book|last=Starker|first=Steven|year=2002|title=Oracle at the Supermarket: The American Preoccupation With Self-Help Books|publisher=Transaction Publishers|page=62|isbn=0-7658-0964-8}}</ref>{{rp|62}}<ref>{{Citation |last=Borgerson |first=Janet |title=[Opening] |date=2024-05-14 |work=Designed for Success: Better Living and Self-Improvement with Midcentury Instructional Records |pages=83–88 |url=https://doi.org/10.7551/mitpress/14467.003.0009 |access-date=2025-03-20 |place=Cambridge, MA |publisher=The MIT Press |isbn=978-0-262-37786-7 |last2=Schroeder |first2=Jonathan}}</ref>

In 1936, [[Dale Carnegie]] further developed the genre with ''[[How to Win Friends and Influence People]]''.{{r|Starker|page=63}} Having failed in several careers, Carnegie became fascinated with success and its link to [[self-confidence]], and his books have since sold over 50 million copies.<ref>{{cite book|last=O'Neil|first=William J.|year=2003|title=Business Leaders & Success: 55 Top Business Leaders & How They Achieved Greatness|publisher=[[McGraw-Hill Professional]]|pages=35–36|isbn=0-07-142680-9}}</ref>