This volume contains the complete collection of Wallace D. Wattles writings, one of the most influential authors of the New Thought, who inspired modern books like "The Secret".Wallace sought a complete human being, healthy, purposeful, living in harmony with family and peers, and rich enough to enjoy ALL that is good in life. He saw men and women able to enjoy the things the Universal Source (God) has made available to all, if only we would follow basic rules that HE -over and over and over again throughout history, has tried to communicate via Messages and Messengers. The Wisdom of Wallace, his philosophy and his way of expressing it, are a universal treasure that could certainly contribute to getting us closer to the eternal truth. The truth that there is SOMETHING beyond our understanding which we call many names, and is in all things and in all of us, whether we are rich or poor, religious or not religious.
About the Author: Shortly after his death, Florence Wattles, Wallace's daughter, wrote this letter to Elizabeth Towne, that helps to provide some insights onto Wallace's life: "You knew, didn't you, that he lost a good position in the Methodist Church because of his "heresy"? He met George D. Herron at a convention of reformers in Chicago in 1896 and caught Herron's social vision. I shall never forget the morning he came home. It was Christmas. Mother had put her last dollar into a cuff box and we had placed it beneath an evergreen branch which served for our Christmas tree and which we had illumined with tallow candles and strung with popcorn. Finally Father came. With that beautiful smile he praised the tree, said the cuff box was just what he had been wanting-and took us all in his arms to tell us of the wonderful social message of Jesus, the message which he later embodied in "A New Christ." From that day until his death he worked unceasingly to realize the glorious vision of human brotherhood. For years his life was cursed by poverty and the fear of poverty. He was always scheming and planning to get for his family those things which make the abundant life possible. In the first chapter of "How to be a Genius" he says: "Man's greatest happiness is found in the bestowal of benefits on those he loves." The supreme faith of the man never left him; never for a moment did he lose confidence in the power of the master Intelligence to right every wrong and to give to every man and woman his or her share of the good things of life. When we came to Elwood (Indiana) three years ago, Father began a Sunday night lectureship in Indianapolis. This was our only source of income. Later he began to write for Nautilus and to work out his own philosophy. He wrote almost constantly. Then it was that he formed his mental picture. He saw himself as a successful writer, a personality of power, an advancing man, and he began to work toward the realization of this vision. ... He lived every page of "How to be a Genius." In the last three years he made lots of money, and had good health except for his extreme frailty. I have written this hurriedly, but I think it will give you an idea of the life struggle of a great man -his failure and success. His life was truly THE POWERFUL LIFE, and surely we can say, at least in Elwood, "The name of him who loved his fellow men led all the rest." With all good wishes, I am, Very sincerely, FLORENCE A. WATTLES