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The Magic Story
This Is A New Release Of The Original 1900 Edition.
- GenresSelf Help
66 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1900
About the author
Frederick Van Rensselaer Dey
36 books2 followersFrederick van Rensselaer Dey (February 10, 1861 – April 25, 1922) was an American dime novelist and pulp fiction writer.
He was born on February 10, 1861 in Watkins Glen, New York, to David Peter Dey and Emma Brewster Sayre. He attended the Havana Academy, and later graduated from the Columbia Law School. He practiced law and was a junior partner of William J. Gaynor. Dey took up writing while recovering from an illness. His first full-length story was written for Beadle and Adams in 1881.
Dey married Annie Shepard Wheeler, of Providence, Rhode Island, on June 4, 1885 and they had two children. After a divorce he married Haryot Holt (c. 1857–June 16, 1950) on April 1, 1898.
In 1891, Street & Smith hired him to continue the series begun by John R. Coryell, on the adventures of Nick Carter. Most of his Nick Carter stories appeared under the pseudonyms "A Celebrated Author" and "The Author of 'Nick Carter'". He wrote over a thousand Nick Carter novelettes, comprising over forty million words, all written longhand. Dey also worked as a newspaper reporter.
Writing as "Varick Vanardy", he created "The Night Wind", who appeared in stories from 1913 to the early 1920s. Collected into 4 books, these have been recently reprinted by Wildside Press: Alias, The Night Wind (1913), Return of the Night Wind, The Night Wind's Promise, The Lady of the Night Wind (1918).
He was born on February 10, 1861 in Watkins Glen, New York, to David Peter Dey and Emma Brewster Sayre. He attended the Havana Academy, and later graduated from the Columbia Law School. He practiced law and was a junior partner of William J. Gaynor. Dey took up writing while recovering from an illness. His first full-length story was written for Beadle and Adams in 1881.
Dey married Annie Shepard Wheeler, of Providence, Rhode Island, on June 4, 1885 and they had two children. After a divorce he married Haryot Holt (c. 1857–June 16, 1950) on April 1, 1898.
In 1891, Street & Smith hired him to continue the series begun by John R. Coryell, on the adventures of Nick Carter. Most of his Nick Carter stories appeared under the pseudonyms "A Celebrated Author" and "The Author of 'Nick Carter'". He wrote over a thousand Nick Carter novelettes, comprising over forty million words, all written longhand. Dey also worked as a newspaper reporter.
Writing as "Varick Vanardy", he created "The Night Wind", who appeared in stories from 1913 to the early 1920s. Collected into 4 books, these have been recently reprinted by Wildside Press: Alias, The Night Wind (1913), Return of the Night Wind, The Night Wind's Promise, The Lady of the Night Wind (1918).
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
July 25, 2012
sum it up for you.
1. people have two entities: the negative and positive. your success depends on which one you embrace.
2. a promise of wealth in the future is nothing compared to a piece of silver in your hand today.
I wouldn't say I agree with the second point, that is totally contra-investment. First point is still great though
1. people have two entities: the negative and positive. your success depends on which one you embrace.
2. a promise of wealth in the future is nothing compared to a piece of silver in your hand today.
I wouldn't say I agree with the second point, that is totally contra-investment. First point is still great though
April 19, 2022
Cute little old book I found in a yard sale, worth a read
September 8, 2026
¿En serio este libro fue un éxito de ventas leído por millones de personas?
Típica parábola donde te inducen a confiar en ti y tus posibilidades. Nada del otro mundo. Perseverancia, confianza y objetivos claros. 🤷🏻♂️
No está mal, pero muy manido.
Típica parábola donde te inducen a confiar en ti y tus posibilidades. Nada del otro mundo. Perseverancia, confianza y objetivos claros. 🤷🏻♂️
No está mal, pero muy manido.
December 3, 2019
Favorite Book!
April 30, 2025
Saya selalu percaya jika membaca buku menjadi sebuah pengalaman yang juga memiliki makna spiritualitas tersendiri.
Semenjak saya memberlakukan sistem membaca untuk belajar dan hiburan, saya membagi pola membaca saya secara bergantian. Saya tidak lagi membaca buku untuk FOMO. Saat penat, saya baca komik atau novel. Ketika sedang mendalami ilmu baru, tentu saya akan banyak membaca buku dalam topik terkait.
Ketika saya hendak memperdalam bacaan tentang hukum LOA karena bulan ini saya memiliki 3 klien privat Mindset Shifting, saya menemukan buku ini di perpustakaan kesukaan @disperpusip_sidoarjo 😁
Makna sukses yang dijelaskan dalam buku ini terkait dengan keinginan yang kita fokuskan. Meskipun kamu menjadi pekerja biasa atau IRT, jika itu keinginan terbesarmu, maka kamu adalah orang sukses. Betapa banyak orang di dunia ini yang tidak bahagia karena menjalani hidup tidak sesuai keinginan terdalamnya?
Buku tipis, tetapi ajaib. Tidak perlu teori berat untuk membuka pikiran. Masih banyak hal ajaib lainnya yang bisa kamu baca dalam buku ini.
Semenjak saya memberlakukan sistem membaca untuk belajar dan hiburan, saya membagi pola membaca saya secara bergantian. Saya tidak lagi membaca buku untuk FOMO. Saat penat, saya baca komik atau novel. Ketika sedang mendalami ilmu baru, tentu saya akan banyak membaca buku dalam topik terkait.
Ketika saya hendak memperdalam bacaan tentang hukum LOA karena bulan ini saya memiliki 3 klien privat Mindset Shifting, saya menemukan buku ini di perpustakaan kesukaan @disperpusip_sidoarjo 😁
Makna sukses yang dijelaskan dalam buku ini terkait dengan keinginan yang kita fokuskan. Meskipun kamu menjadi pekerja biasa atau IRT, jika itu keinginan terbesarmu, maka kamu adalah orang sukses. Betapa banyak orang di dunia ini yang tidak bahagia karena menjalani hidup tidak sesuai keinginan terdalamnya?
Buku tipis, tetapi ajaib. Tidak perlu teori berat untuk membuka pikiran. Masih banyak hal ajaib lainnya yang bisa kamu baca dalam buku ini.
January 13, 2020
As a story, this book is missing something. It’s really 2 stories, and they go together, but could fit better. As a life-improvement lesson, the book is great.
I’ve rated it as a story, because that’s probably how you’ll read it. It’s even possible that you’ll find yourself doing what I did. Double-checking because surely you’ve missed a last section that brings the two stories together and gives a few more answers…but nope. That’s all there is. In addition, the book is, imo, poorly written, with “big” words used where small ones would do better. Especially in the 2nd tale, often the words used feel forced, the flow doesn’t feel right.
So, why read it? Because in the midst of all of that, there are life lessons like this: Man should not be blinded to whatsoever merit exists in the opportunity which he hath in hand, remembering that a thousand promises for the future should weigh as naught against the possession of a single piece of silver.
I’ve rated it as a story, because that’s probably how you’ll read it. It’s even possible that you’ll find yourself doing what I did. Double-checking because surely you’ve missed a last section that brings the two stories together and gives a few more answers…but nope. That’s all there is. In addition, the book is, imo, poorly written, with “big” words used where small ones would do better. Especially in the 2nd tale, often the words used feel forced, the flow doesn’t feel right.
So, why read it? Because in the midst of all of that, there are life lessons like this: Man should not be blinded to whatsoever merit exists in the opportunity which he hath in hand, remembering that a thousand promises for the future should weigh as naught against the possession of a single piece of silver.
June 17, 2023
Interesting concept - we have two selves: one is our "plus" version, and the other is our "minus". Visualize who of the two you want to be, and you'll be "occupied" by it. The "plus" version has an upright posture, is determinate, decisive, social, has belief in the self, takes advantage of every opportunity to evolve and improve the self, while helping others to achieve the same for themselves.
The "minus" version is the opposite.
In short: see your improved self taking real form and action before your own eyes and you'll accomplish anything you set your mind to.
The "minus" version is the opposite.
In short: see your improved self taking real form and action before your own eyes and you'll accomplish anything you set your mind to.
June 1, 2023
We have two ways to approach life
Looking for good and expressing gratitude for all that we have or negative and finding blame and fault for all that happens to and around us.
Second sometimes we become blinded to what is right in front of us for hopes of bigger and grander things. Sometimes we just need to stop and take inventory of what is right in front of us and build upon that before we move on to “bigger” and “grander” things
Looking for good and expressing gratitude for all that we have or negative and finding blame and fault for all that happens to and around us.
Second sometimes we become blinded to what is right in front of us for hopes of bigger and grander things. Sometimes we just need to stop and take inventory of what is right in front of us and build upon that before we move on to “bigger” and “grander” things
April 17, 2025
I can appreciate the "rules" that the story states for a successful life, but from a certain perspective, some parts can be interpreted as old style "alpha-male" inspo. Which puts a bad taste in my mouth.
The book forgets that not everybody is born with the same amount of privilege and barriers in life.
It may be inspirational if you take the words with a grain of salt, so it's not terrible but a little outdated for my taste.
The book forgets that not everybody is born with the same amount of privilege and barriers in life.
It may be inspirational if you take the words with a grain of salt, so it's not terrible but a little outdated for my taste.
September 23, 2021
The first half of the book seems like filler and hype for the second part of the book. Which is simple and short. I like message. It’s not a great book (or story) by any means, but the message is legit.
September 6, 2021
I dunno. I almost feel like it was a self fulfilling prophecy for Dey himself.
July 7, 2022
Boring
I didn't like this book. Dragging, boring, and a complete waste of my time. Everything the Author had to say is at the end in less than a paragraph.
I didn't like this book. Dragging, boring, and a complete waste of my time. Everything the Author had to say is at the end in less than a paragraph.
November 18, 2014
While containing a few worthwhile precepts, The Magic Story is merely a mystical, humanistic repackaging of simple Biblical truths contained in Joshua 24, Proverbs 23, Ecclesiastes 9, Matthew 7, Ephesians 4, etc.
April 12, 2012
Loved it...very inspiring.
March 16, 2015
Greate and short classic, must read book.
June 29, 2015
Short and inspiring story written over a century ago. Clearly a forerunner of The Secret and other similar books.
August 2, 2016
A lot of nonsense in the beginning. The last few chapters was the only relevant parts.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews