Thoughts of a pure mind: Find power in your thoughts (Poetry is power Book 1)

Because of the recommendations I had received, I was very surprised at how explicitly Christian the book is; I was expecting a secular "pull yourself up by your own bootstraps" kind of self-improvement book. Instead, the author focuses on prayer and involving God in every aspect of your life; and not just in one or two chapters, but all of them. I'm A few people told me that that this was among the great self-improvement books.

I'm a Christian, so I wasn't opposed to the religious content; it just wasn't what I thought I'd find. With that said, I didn't like how Peale pushed the "health and wealth" gospel. Rather than showing the Christian faith as primarily focused on the spiritual life, Peale described how to use prayer and your relationship with God to succeed materially. Peale outlines his main formula near the beginning: I included some examples below.

Near the beginning, Peale explains that one can use a positive mindset to combat the inferiority complex that many people suffer. He mentions many studies throughout the book, but I don't believe any of them were cited. Every chapter is chock full of anecdotes and stories. There were a few good tips in the book, but overall it lacked enough practical advice to make it worth reading. Learn to slow your pace and delegate work. Explanations of psychosomatic issues. Don't strain so hard. Don't take yourself so seriously. Then it will become a pleasure, not drudgery. Perhaps you do not need to change your job.

Change yourself and your work will seem different. Not prayer in addition to modern medicine, but simply prayer by itself. It tells about death experiences, people hearing or seeing the dead, and other paranormal activities. Prior to reading this, I didn't know that is was a Christianity based self-help book. The information in this book has been rehashed in The Secret and many other self-help books.

I don't know when cognitive behavior therapy CBT was introduced, but this books has lots of techniques from that as well, and CBT has been proven to help eliminate anxiety and depression. In summary, one has to renew our thoughts and speech and this will in turn change our thinking process, whic Prior to reading this, I didn't know that is was a Christianity based self-help book. In summary, one has to renew our thoughts and speech and this will in turn change our thinking process, which in turn will eliminate worry and inner strife.

View all 3 comments. I read this book over 35 years ago, at a stage in my life when I needed to leave home and go out into the world. It did help me then. I decided to re-read it as I am at a different stage in life, will soon be the big 60 and don't want to turn into a grumpy old woman! It is easy to lapse into grumbling and groaning - especially when it is all you hear at work and from the friends who have become negative. Well, I did enjoy the book and it has reminded me that looking at life positively every clo I read this book over 35 years ago, at a stage in my life when I needed to leave home and go out into the world.

Well, I did enjoy the book and it has reminded me that looking at life positively every cloud has a silver lining gives you happiness and confidence.

Just one sentence in the book makes a difference "every time you have a negative thought, replace it with a positive one". As this book was written in , I am now reading a similar book, with excellent reviews, that was written recently, which should be a good contrast. As I will always want my friends and family to enjoy my company, rather than come and see me out of duty, I aim to grow old gracefully and in a good mood: View all 5 comments.

I found this book pretty useless. I understand the power of faith in God, but if you're going to write a whole book you need to have something other than that mantra repeated on every page. There are no practical tips and its written as if he's a grade school teacher talking to his students. Read Pema Chodron instead, or even Martin Seligman's books about optimism and happiness. This whole book read like religious propaganda. DNF'd after the first chapter. Jan 02, Asha Seth rated it really liked it Recommends it for: The Power of Positive Thinking was my first book for and I am glad I chose to start the year surfing on positive sails.

Lately, I have turned quite picky about the books I read owing to the very little time I get to spare. So, just when I find all but raving reviews about this book, I get fortunate enough to receive an audiobook from Reado and all I have to do is plug the earphones and there I go! About this book, I can write for pages together since there is so much the author has generous The Power of Positive Thinking was my first book for and I am glad I chose to start the year surfing on positive sails. About this book, I can write for pages together since there is so much the author has generously shared with his readers.

Consistent selfless efforts poured in the pages only with a purview of improving lives gets me all emotional. Seriously, how often do we think about others while moaning about our own miseries? The central message of this book by the great inspirational writer, Dr. Vincent Peale, is being positive and transforming life, not just your own, but of all those associated with you. Now, I like to read inspirational books. Quite honestly, recollecting a quote every now and then gets my day going. But this book is a whole ocean of positive punch. Yes, it is meant for all those moments when you are on the verge of giving up, frustrated and of course, mostly angry.

Having said that, it is almost undeniable that through most part, the book takes a religious course and that can get the not-so-religious-crowd of readers a little put off. Lessons to learn though would be how one should perceive problems and worries as opportunities for self-improvement. Anger and fear are perhaps, the most destructive of weapons. Killing them needs a lot of love, faith, patience and forgiveness. Keep your heart free from hate, your mind from worry.

Live simply, expect little, give much. Scatter sunshine, forget self, think of others. Try this for a week and you will be surprised. Truly, it doesn't take magic to work miracles, it takes faith.

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View all 4 comments. Apr 09, Jason added it. His book tried to give optimism to a post war culture; it also began the self-help genre. So how does he say that this is possible? Peale was a Christian, but he did not preach pure Christianity to the people. Instead he spoke about faith in God as the basis for achieving what one needs in life.

Peale used the Bible as a basis for many of his claims, and he said that if you have any amount of faith, great things could happen for you. He makes claims to the reader and expects the reader to believe and not doubt. The essence of each chapter is Peale presenting his principles, and then he gives stories as examples of people who have put his principles into practice with success.

This twofold technique of practical principle and story is good for the reader for a number of reasons. The main issue with the book is the question: He states in his book that it has worked for some or even many people, but he has had a lot of readers, and it can be doubted whether or not it will work for everyone. If it did, then there would probably be a lot more religious people than there are.

His message of positive thinking is so ingrained in our culture that we can take it for granted. Much of his message is simple and common sense, although buried within his book are elements of complexity. Most people know that if they are going to succeed at anything, then they must want to and believe they will succeed. These two ideas are really implicit in the quest for success. But in writing his book, Peale found many people burdened by psychological problems of fear, self doubt, and other obstacles preventing them from succeeding.

He believed that if these core problems can be weeded out with faith affirmations, then the person could be free to succeed. The problem is that even if belief is necessary for success, it is not sufficient for success, as it does not guarantee that each person will succeed. Attitude may be a major component of success, but it is not everything. Peale would argue that it is everything. People can fail due to a bad or negative attitude, but even with a good attitude, many people fail at trying to be successful.

There are several elements that go into being successful such as talent, work ethic, education, background, motivation, desire, opportunity, and luck.

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Peale wants to disregard many components of success and say it is mainly faith in your self and God. This is a simplified explanation and it is a simplified approach by Peale to becoming a success. But Peale looks at several aspects of the individual person and not just at the notion of success. He wants to rejuvenate the whole person and eliminate negative problems and become whole, healthy, and happy.

Some of his principles are worthy of being put into practice and some may even work. But they are not the whole picture, and no one can capture what that would be in one book. Everyone does not try to become a great success, but everyone has to deal with problems in this world of which we all look for solutions and better ways of coping and dealing with issues. May 25, Winston rated it did not like it Shelves: My father forced me to listen to this drivel for weeks on end when I was Even then, I did not find the ideas in this book the least bit persuasive or helpful.

I can be happy or unhappy. So what do I do? I am reminded of a particularly callous sermon I had the misfortune of listening to in Japan back in , where a pampered pastor described My father forced me to listen to this drivel for weeks on end when I was I am reminded of a particularly callous sermon I had the misfortune of listening to in Japan back in , where a pampered pastor described the Haiti earthquake victims as happy.

If they were so happy, why were they collecting money for them? How someone can live with such blatant mountains of cognitive dissonance is simultaneously disturbing and infuriating. Peale's friend could easily be shown the error of his ways by someone with more life experience. If I knew someone like that, I would punch him until he realised that happiness is not something that can be "chosen.

All this shows is that even charismatic leaders can be incredibly shallow at times. NVP trots out prayer and dependence on Jesus as a solution when in actual fact, it is the calming of one's mind that actually helps, not the prayer itself. This is nonsense, as numerous prayer studies and the utter dearth of regenerated amputees has already demonstrated.

If you want your life to improve, go out there and do something to make things better. Don't expect this travesty of a book or wishful thinking to do it for you. Aug 10, Barb rated it really liked it. A physician friend of mine told of a patient he had who was suffering with severe stomach pains. He told that patient: Listening to this audio book, read by the author, was a lot like having your great-grandfather read the passage above. But I don't mean to diminish the power of reading the bible or the power of thinking po A physician friend of mine told of a patient he had who was suffering with severe stomach pains.

But I don't mean to diminish the power of reading the bible or the power of thinking positively. One point that stuck with me was that if you are expecting the worse outcome your actions will unconsciously bring that about. He stated it better: If in our thoughts we constantly fix attention upon sinister expectations of dire events that might happen, the result will be constantly to feel insecure. And what is even more serious is the tendency to create, by the power of thought, the very condition we fear.

There was a lot of good stuff here. Though, like most self-help books, it became a little repetitive. But, I think the advice is solid and it is worth a read. Better yet, listen to it read by the author. Apr 09, Heidi rated it it was amazing. Every time I read this book, I tell myself I should read it every year. And then I forget for seven or eight years before stumbling across it again.

THOUGHT POWER

But it always seems to appear in my life when I need it, so I guess that's okay. Norman Vincent Peale gives chapter after chapter of tangible ways to feel happier. Some of the examples are a little dated now those darned Communists better not take over the country! Coming from an unapologetically Christian Every time I read this book, I tell myself I should read it every year. Coming from an unapologetically Christian point of view, Peale talks about improving self-image repeat ten times a day, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Much more helpful to me than the modern Secret-type self-help books. Apr 05, Princesskelly rated it did not like it. I have always considered myself to be optimistic and positive.

I had high hopes for The Power of Positive Thinking when I started reading the book, but no matter how hard I tried to stay positive I just could not get passed how ridiculous I felt for reading it. The general premise of this book is to think about the things that you want or need, pray, go see a counselor, and God will provide for you.

Peale offers up easy and simplistic minute practical formulas, coupled with simple steps and rules to make life better. After the first hundred pages, I was fairly confident that I understood the message of the book: Peale suggests that using this three-point-program, Peale harnessing the power of prayer will help you manifest untapped energy. He suggests that those who maintain a constant conversation with God are happier because they know that God is always with them. Peale posits the basics of psychology here, arguing that a realizable wish and a vivid picture in your mind are all you need.

Again, this is basic psychology. If you picture failure, you will fail. In this book, Peale references hundreds of anonymous scholars and professionals who all endorse his ideas, but he rarely goes beyond basic namedropping to gain credibility for his ideas. No, I am far too peppy and positive in my real life to waste energy on hating things.

It just bored me. Oct 24, Tom Barnes rated it it was amazing. As a child Norman was shy and retiring and had a terrible inferiority complex. This book will show you how powerful the mind can be. Be prepared for a spiritual journey like no other the journey you've always been waiting for.

You didn't find this book it found you.

The Power of Positive Thinking by Norman Vincent Peale

Now let the journey begin. Would you like to tell us about a lower price? If you are a seller for this product, would you like to suggest updates through seller support? You are invited to embark on a journey deep into your own thoughts and emotions. You will learn the tremendous power in your own thoughts. You will develop a stronger sense of control and clarification.

You will experience a clearing of misconceptions to reveal your own pure thoughts. Here is where you will develop a greater sense of empowerment. Your mental empowerment will strongly influence your confidence at work, in relationships, at school, during competitions, and in life.

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I have always loved poems. I am always looking for ways to help my brain think creatively about a situation. I really like how this book had a positive spin as well. THIS book will actually leave you feeling better about life. The great thing about a book of poems is that there is usually something for everyone, no matter your personal taste.

At first I thought that the bold text was the introduction. It had me wondering a few times until I figured that out. Overall this would be a great book for anyone. The paperback as a gift is also a really good idea. Although, the work bills itself as a being able to shape your mind, the book is actually a poetry collection of the personal thoughts of the author. There are some technical errors throughout the book that can be distracting and the prose itself is very raw in style and delivery. That being said, if you are looking at poetry that is very ambitious and profound in the base concept alone, and can overlook some of the aforementioned setbacks, then this makes for a quick, honest read of personal thoughts regarding an-all-too complex world.

I found this volume of Calvin Bland's poetry enlightening and at times very thought provoking. A few of my favorites are Depression, the deepest puddle, Black Skin, Ghetto greatness, and Excuse the excuses. One person found this helpful. This collection of poetry is simply worded, and yet, profoundly constructed.