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Summary: the essence of success
Review: Many books have been written on success, but this book condenses the wisdom of all of them. Bristol talks about suggestion, visualization, the mirror technique and telepathy. All success books use this in one form or another. The instructions are practical and they do work. You must be persistant at these techniques, perhaps for years, but they do work and bring astounding results. Bristol gives case histories of the use of these techniques that are very enlightening. I have read of other uses of it. Hunter Davies wrote a book about the Beatles and he quoted Paul McCartney as saying that anyone can be a success if he tells himself this often enough. Hard work is essential of course, but suggestion is certainly a most powerful assistant.
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Summary: Nutty!!!
Review: Most books, like Norman Vincent Peale's "Power of Positive Thinking" correctly promote positive thinking as a FIRST STEP toward success (action is the second step). But "The Magic of Believing" claims that belief is the ONLY thing that's necessary for success! It claims that belief ALONE can control external events. This book is a perversion of the true classics of positive thinking. For example, it implies that the only reason humans don't grow back a lost limb (the way some lizards do) is because they've simply made up their mind that they can't!!! Never mind that in all of recorded history there is no record of a human growing back a lost limb. Apparently the three-legged cat I saw once was similarly closed-minded. I learned long ago that just because I believe something doesn't mean that it will automatically come true. I learned it at about the age of six. I didn't get the seat at the head of the class I just KNEW I was going to get. Turning our dreams into reality takes hard work and effort. I should think everybody would have learned that by now. But I guess some people never learn. This book is full of silly statements. Towards the beginning of the book the author claims that, while on board a cruise, he made up his mind that the captain would invite him to the captain's table. Sure enough, even though he never met the captain, the captain suddenly walked up to him and invited him to sit at the captain's table. That's funny, because many times I have strongly believed that someone would act a certain way, only to be surprised to see them act very differently than I expected. But I guess this author's beliefs are just more powerful than mine because his beliefs can control other people's behavior. Either that, or he just wants to sell his book. This book also contains a perfect " out " for when its philosophy Inevitably fails. The author states that if someone else believes differently than you do, their beliefs will counteract your own. This is the perfect excuse because someone else will ALWAYS believe differently than you do. So the author can't lose! Why are there so many uncritical reviews of this book? I think the reason is that most people don't read it at all. They probably think to themselves: "Positive thinking is a good thing. This book is about positive thinking. Therefore, this must be a good book." So they never find out how silly this book really is. The eminent psychologist Albert Ellis writes that "magical thinking " of the type espoused in books like this can actually lead to frustration and unhappiness. If you want to buy a self-help or motivational book, there are much better books than this one available from Amazon.com: ...
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Summary: One of the Best Books of My Life
Review: Of all the self-help and self-improvement books I have read in my life, this one is best. Claude Bristol wrote "The Magic of Believing" in the late forties when the subconscious mind was less understood. He only knew that there was some kind of powerful psychic force that exists, that can be tapped for man's good. Intuitively, I think I have always known this. I first learned it in college, when I made an effort to change my beliefs about what is possible -- and made the Dean's List for the first time in my life. The mind is like a thermostat, and once set at a level of accomplishment, it will not allow the individual to exceed that set level. The thermostat is really what you believe is possible for you. When "the area of the possible" expands for you, your accomplishments will expand as well. This is not really "magic," it only seems that way. It is really natural forces at work that are not completely understood, yet may be used for your benefit. I reread this book every few years. I am always amazed at the insights it contains.
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Summary: Don't Just Read...try it and see
Review: The application of the principles in this book can change you life. I heard about this book through an online egroup I belong to. I found an egroup dedicated to the study of this book and read about a number of people who had read the book and applied the principles. I have seen these principles work in my own life. Ironically, a six figure education is not likely to have given you the real knowledge of self outlined in this and similar books. I recommend reading and applying the principles in this book with the short book "It Works" by RJH and "Power of Your Subconscious Mind" by Joseph Murphy. If you are interested in interacting with others who have applied these principles, do a search on yahoo groups using the title of the books and read some success stories. Try it and see!
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Summary: Don't Just Read...try it and see
Review: The application of the principles in this book can change your life. I heard about this book through an online egroup I belong to. I found an egroup dedicated to the study of this book and read about a number of people who had read the book and applied the principles. I have seen these principles work in my own life. Ironically, a six figure education is not likely to have given you the real knowledge of self outlined in this and similar books.
I recommend reading and applying the principles in this book with the short book "It Works" by RJH and "Power of Your Subconscious Mind" by Joseph Murphy. If you are interested in interacting with others who have applied these principles, do a search on yahoo groups using the title of the books and read some success stories.
Try it and see!
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Summary: the magic of wasting your money
Review: The entire book could have been condensed into 4 pages. There are alot of better self-improvement books available that can actually help you. Don't waste your time on this antiquated, silly nonsense.
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Summary: Changed my life!
Review: The Magic of Believing, by Claude M. Bristol was one of the best books I've ever read. A close friend of mine had an older copy of this book and lent it to me, after reading it, I had to purchase my own copy and have read it several times. After practicing the methods written in the book, I've seen significant changes in my life and those around me. Trust me, read it, learn it and practice it. I changed and so can you. Darren Spinner, Massachusetts.
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Summary: A Great Idea
Review: There's nothing like an idea that's finally found its time. I first read this book when I was twelve years old. I was amazed by it, amazed by its simplicity and its formulas for success. If you are a success driven person then this book is for you. It contains valuable suggestions for harnessing the power of the subconsious mind and predates the bio feedback revolution of the 70's by decades. Also, a good follow up book to read after this would be Maxwell Maltz's "Psycho Cybernetics" which also was a book that was ahead of its time.
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Summary: Beleive it!
Review: This book has been the cornerstone of my personal philosophy for over twenty years. The power of belief is very strong, and this book provides all the knowledge one will ever need to bring the power of belief into ones life. Especially motivational are the numerous anecdotes in which Bristol illustrates how belief changes lives. Read this book, accept it's teachings. It will change your life, if you believe.
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Summary: My favorite book on positive thinking & visualization!
Review: This book is a winner! Bristol has always held a special place on my bookshelf, and I've given away more copies of his book than I can count. I've used his imaging techniques for thirty years with great success. More people should learn how to use their minds to help them achieve their goals. Hey . . . it really works! What you see in your mind's "eye," coupled with strong emotion and positive action, is what you WILL receive sooner or later. I highly recommend this wonderful book--The Magic of Believing. It's a classic! (Bonnie Turner, author of THE HAUNTED IGLOO)
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