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Summary: The Power of Positive Thinking
Review: Very worthwhile read. Don't be put off by the direct and immediate declaration that the principles used to write this book are Biblical in nature. Dr. Peale spent his life as Minister of a church and has captured the philosophies taught in the Bible without all the "religous" overhead. If you attend Church every Sunday you'll like this book. If you rarely attend Church you will like this book.Apply the numerous techniques suggested in this book. You will be amazed at how quickly you will see results. I certainly am.
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Summary: It's worthwhile inspiration
Review: I don't want to write another book here, so I'll just say this worthwhile inspirational book didn't help me enough to change my life many years ago. Neither did any of the others and I've read most of them. On the first page, Dr. Daniel A. Poling writes "... Faith in yourself..." It goes overboard, I think, on spiritual mystical faith and not enough practice on faith in oneself. I'll coin a new word; it's more inspirational than actualational. I made my own discoveries and broke through, some fifteen years after I read this book, and some thirty years after I was too paralyzed from fear and grief to even move. But it's still a day by day process of healing and discovery.
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Summary: This book has helped me tremendously
Review: This book was suggested to me by a friend of a friend. I am suffering from gernalized anxiety and mild panic attacks. This book has helped me to cope with my anxiety and stop thinking negatively. It has made me realize that through positive thinking, you are capable to do and overcome anything. It is not something that will happen overnight. You must work at it just like anything else. This book has methods and suggestions on how to improve your life and it does work! I would highly recommend this book to someone who is open minded and ready to change their lives.
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Summary: A great book ! Written by a great man!...
Review: When I first read the first few pages of this book, my instant reaction was that this was bull!. All this talk about "God" and "Christianty", really made me uncomfortable because I am Buddhist and not a Christian. However, after giving this book a thorough read, I have come to the conclusion that the principles in this book could be applied to virtually any religon - and not just Christianity. It has even helped improve the understanding of my own religon, by relating the parables and pharaphrases found in this book!. And even if you're not a religous man - that's okay too!. The principles and the success tips in this book are guarnteed to help improve your life! No matter what it is you're doing! The reason why I like this success book so much, is because it helps an average man develop a sense of spiritualness if he wants to. Faith, in my opinion, provides greater motivation than all motivational books combined. As Sir John Templeton said: "If we have not developed a reservoir of spiritual wealth, no amount of money is likely to make us happy." Religous or non-religous. If you really want a great motivational book that has the potential for a permanent life change for the better than I suggest you give this book an honest try. I hope this was helpful to you.
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Summary: The worst book I have ever read!
Review: Quite simply this book is a waste of time. The only message it has is "Put your faith in God, expect him to provide for you, and your life will be fantastic". If you are not Christian, definitely do not think about buying this book. Hey, even if you are Christian, do not think about buying this book. You'll be wasting your money, and your time.
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Summary: Peale's book: Dated and trite
Review: The reason this book fails has little to do with the subject matter. Sure the discussion of prayer and God ad nauseum tires quickly with the non-pious, but the real problem lies in the repetitious nature of this glib little self-help manual. There is little to be gained from reading the entire book as opposed to the first (or any) 10 pages. In fact, I can save you money by telling you all of Peale's life-improving tips right here: Pray more and put your faith in God-- happiness and confidence to ensue. Further, self-congratulation oozes out of nearly every passage. Peale has clearly enjoyed a long, successful career, but his narcissism, the way he praises the profound effects he has had on others, and generally hypes himself up are sickening. I'm sure nobody complained in 1952, but this book is about as misogynistic a text as I have ever come across. What's more it is loaded with phony science. Passages like, "We [humans] have thousands of little sending stations, and when they are tuned up by prayer it is possible for a tremendous power to flow through a person and to pass between human beings. We can send off power by prayer which acts as both a sending and receiving station." I'm not sure Peale's "sending station" theory holds much weight in today's scientific community; but then, maybe that is not the point. If Positive Thinking is not a verifiable scientifically accurate text, it does read as interesting sociological text from a now closed era in American history. If this book has changed your life, congratulations. For most, however, this book is a relic, and a dull one at that. For you agnostics, read a non-denominational self-help book; for Christians, read the Bible.
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Summary: This book was ok
Review: Someone gave me this book as a gift and looking at the cover, I thought that it would actually be a great book since several million copies were sold. But I read it and it didnt seem to help me as I thought it would. I am not a religious person and this book was filled with Christian stuff. Every other sentence has a reference to god or praying or whatever. And the anecdotes were interesting in the beginning but there were too many of them. Towards the end, I was bored out of my mind. Mr. Peale repeats the same things over and over and over... I think this book didnt help me because I am not a Christian. According to Norman, I probably wouldnt be able to have a positive view of life if I don't pray, read the Bible, and think about god all the time. But I guess it would work or at least be a fairly pleasant read if you are Christian. So, buy this book if youre Christian, and don't buy it if you're not.
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Summary: Highly disappointed by religious overtones
Review: I read half of the book and could not go on any longer. It was splashed with references to "God" and "Believing in Christ" and I could not turn a page without seeing at least 2 references to religion, namely Christianity. I happen to be an atheist, and the religious overtones of this book highly offended me simply because I bought the book having no idea that it was supposed to be this religious. Nowhere on the back covers or the introduction was religion mentioned at all. I believe the methods that the publishers used to market this book was highly misleading. Therefore accounts for the single star I believe this book deserves. And for you, Norman Peale, if you want to indulge in your religious rendezvous in the future, I suggest you not mislead or lie to the readers in your introductions to the book and place the book under "Religion."
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Summary: "Must-have" recording for daily inspiration and motivation.
Review: I purchase this audio set over and over again, as my copy seems to constantly disappear, "gifted" to friends or loved ones in need. No matter what challenges you wrestle with in life, few messages are as timeless and useful as those found in "The Power of Positive Thinking." Norman Vincent Peale's own voice recording of his book is compelling and irresistable. If you don't feel uplifted and empowered after listening, you can't be helped!
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Summary: This book will change your life!
Review: I grew up to believe that God would stick his foot out and trip me when the going got too good; hence, I was wracked with anxiety and sabotaged every good thing that ever happened to me until I read this book. Norman Vincent Peale released me from fear and gave me confidence, peace of mind, and a happy marriage. Most important, he restored my faith and helped me begin a relationship with God. If you suffer from anxiety, lack of self-confidence, inability to sustain relationships, this book is for you!
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