The POWER OF POSITIVE THINKING

Rating:
Summary: "Nothing on earth is greater..."
Review: "than the human mind in potential power." NVP

A Peale classic!!! Another spring cleaning survivor! My copy has been rained on etc. but not ruined! I'm not throwing this one out.

I first read this many, many moons ago in college. My father had passed away during that time and I was unsure I would be able to complete my studies. My mind was flooded with so many worries. My sister gave me this book to read and whenever I would regress to my woe is me mode of thinking, she would snap, "Go read your positive thinking book."!

I've since read other Norman Vincent Peale books and they're all written on the same lines. I would classify them as self-help books but upon a christian foundation; Norman Vincent Peale was a protestant pastor of Marble Collegiate Church in New York City. The power of positive thinking was published in 1952.

My only criticism, and the reason NVP fell from a 5 star grace to 4 is that his ideas fit too much into the traditional American idea of working your way to success and not into the biblical one. The goal of the christian is to become more christ-like in character, not to become a financial success in the American marketplace. But surely there are some people who are genuine christians and are successful that way. But the main thing is the inner character which should reflect Christ's.

The sixth chapter on "fuming and fretting" contains my personal favorite verse to meditate on when my mental balance is being tipped: "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee"-Isaiah 26:3. Obviously, I accepted and applied Norman Vincent Peale's practical advice to meditate on and repeat that verse as an antidote to such a mental state. It works for me but might not work for others, if you do not fully comprehend what that 'Thee' (God) is all about. If you don't know who the biblical God is, grab a Bible and read! It's the only book I've read ten times from cover to cover.

Rating:
Summary: "Nothing on earth is greater..."
Review: "than the human mind in potential power." NVP

A Peale classic!!! Another spring cleaning survivor! My copy has been rained on etc. but not ruined! I'm not throwing this one out.

I first read this many, many moons ago in college. My father had passed away during that time and I was unsure I would be able to complete my studies. My mind was flooded with so many worries. My sister gave me this book to read and whenever I would regress to my woe is me mode of thinking, she would snap, "Go read your positive thinking book."!

I've since read other Norman Vincent Peale books and they're all written on the same lines. I would classify them as self-help books but upon a christian foundation; Norman Vincent Peale was a protestant pastor of Marble Collegiate Church in New York City. The power of positive thinking was published in 1952.

My only criticism, and the reason NVP fell from a 5 star grace to 4 is that his ideas fit too much into the traditional American idea of working your way to success and not into the biblical one. The goal of the christian is to become more christ-like in character, not to become a financial success in the American marketplace. But surely there are some people who are genuine christians and are successful that way. But the main thing is the inner character which should reflect Christ's.

The sixth chapter on "fuming and fretting" contains my personal favorite verse to meditate on when my mental balance is being tipped: "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee"-Isaiah 26:3. Obviously, I accepted and applied Norman Vincent Peale's practical advice to meditate on and repeat that verse as an antidote to such a mental state. It works for me but might not work for others, if you do not fully comprehend what that 'Thee' (God) is all about. If you don't know who the biblical God is, grab a Bible and read! It's the only book I've read ten times from cover to cover.

Rating:
Summary: The Practical Benefits of Belief..
Review: are what you will find in the pages of this book. One afternoon when I was cleaning out my storeroom, I came across a copy of "The Power Of Positive Thinking" in paperback. The edition was from 1956 and had been my father's. I opened the old, yellowed, dog-eared copy and began reading and found that Peale had taken the concepts of an earlier work by Dale Carnegie and elaborated on them with a spiritual twist.

This book can be life-changing, period. If you read it with an open mind and heart and follow the simple and very practical exercises in its pages, you will be changed forever in a very special way. It has stood the test of time and critics, both from the "anything goes, new age" people who say it is too conservative to the "Bible-pounding fundamentalists" who decry its message as heretical. Peale shows us a God who loves us, who is more than ready to give us "every good thing." Yet, if you are not religious in the conventional sense, you will find a new way of thought that will bring peace and harmony to your life through your greatest gift: the power of your mind.

More than just a book, it is a guide to living your life with a maximum of joy. I thank Dr. Peale for his wonderful gift to all of us, "The Power Of Positive Thinking." (P.S. If you find this book a little too heavy in religious emphasis, try reading Dale Carnegie's "How to Stop Worrying and Start Living" which does a great job in a more expanded fashion and is full of examples and practical steps).

Rating:
Summary: spiritual guidnace
Review: As someone else wrote here, when I first opened this book and the author opened up with a lot of religious discussion I was ready to put the book down. However, I kept reading and found this book to be a very helping guide to healthier thinking. I'm glad I read it.

Rating:
Summary: Life Changing
Review: I actually bought this book at a Good Will for $1.00. I had it on the shelf for about two weeks before i finally picked it up, having read a million 'self-help' type books in whole life with not much success, i was skeptical. This book is AWESOME. Following the Faith principles is changing my life. It gives specifics steps to techniques. There really is power in what we think and believe. I have seen and experienced real results in the past month using these techniques and principles. This is the best book i've ever read. My faith is stronger than it's been in the 10 years I've been a Christian, my hope is alive, my confidence not only in God and Jesus is stronger, but my confidence in my own God given abilities is stronger and getting stronger. In the beginning ... God spoke ... his words created all of creation ... his words were power ... we are made in his image. The Bible says, as a man thinks, so is he. This book teaches how to think, act and speak positively and how to call upon God's power, how to practice FAITH. The Bible says that the 'Righteous LIVE by Faith'. When we are full of faith, we have 'life' in us, when we have no faith, we have death. Hopelessness, doubt, fear, create death in our members, faith, fills us with LIFE, joy, peace, assurance, confidence. Buy this book and FOLLOW, diligently the principles and techniques outlined ... you won't be disappointed.

Rating:
Summary: Christian 'Think & Grow Rich'
Review: In the words of the author, this book teaches positive thinking "not as a means to fame, riches or power, but...to overcome defeat and accomplish worthwhile creative values in life."

Where Napoleon Hill's Think & Grow Rich encourages the reader to get in touch with a generic 'Infinite Intelligence', The Power of Positive Thinking is openly and unapologetically Christian. If you aren't open to evangelical Christianity, this book is not for you. If you are open, this book will help set you free.

Based primarily on Biblical affirmation statements, prayer and a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, it will help you to choose the right attitude, energize yourself, increase your expectations (and reach them), avoid worry and defeat, and focus on the truly important things in life.

Humble and not at all preachy, Norman Vincent Peale openly shares his own struggles with negative thinking, and tells how others have helped him overcome it. He rightly lets us know that positive thinking does not guarantee our success, but it does bring it much closer to the realm of possibility.

The language is somewhat dated, but the principles are timeless. As Peale says, "The way of life to which this book is a witness is very wonderful. It is not easy. Indeed, it often is hard, but it is full of joy and hope and victory." If you are ready to experience joy, hope and victory, this is the place to start.

Larry Hehn, Author of Get the Prize: Nine Keys for a Life of Victory

Rating:
Summary: The Power of Being a Good Christian
Review: That should be the title of the book. Positive thinking? Um, very minimal. Oh yeh, did I mention you need to think postively? This book refers alot to the Bible. I don't have any problems with that, but I thought the title is pretty misleading. If you don't convert to Christianity after reading this book, I don't know what will. This book leans more to God for help than positive thinking. OK, maybe postive thinking is thinking about God, but how about people not religious? Again, not the best title. I got fooled by the title, decided to read it anyway, and was very disappointed.

Rating:
Summary: Change Your Thinking- Change Your Life
Review: This book has been around for decades, and there's a reason why new editions keep coming out- it works. If you're looking to change your way of thinking to attract positive things into your life; learn specifically how to pray for help in every arena of your life; this is the book to read, and reread. A handy guide to reference when life's controlling you instead of you controlling it, (or your reaction to life), The Power of Positive Thinking will leave a remarkable stamp upon your life, improving it forever. Highly recommended.

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful...A Classic!!
Review: This book helps one at home and at work!

There are always two ways of seeing a situation, any given situation. Peale puts it in simple language and does not try to loose the reader in psycho-babble.

GREAT BOOK~~

Rating:
Summary: Life Changing Book
Review: This book, or more importantly the concepts and wisdom contained therein, will change your life. It is the type book that you will want to pick up again and re-read. It never gets old.