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Self-Investment
The greatest thing a man can do in this world is to make the most possible out of the stuff that has been given him. This is success, and there is no other. Orison Swett Marden Such gems of knowledge are aplenty in the author's books and these books were written long before the modern Gurus descended! 'Every Man builds his own world,makes his own atmosphere.He can fill it with difficulties,fears,doubts and despair and gloom,so that the whole life will be influenced to gloom and disaster:or he can keep the atmosphere clear,transparent and sweet by dispelling every gloomy,envious malicious thought.
Hold the enduring,the immortal thought in the mind,and discord will disappear.'
This is the train of thought running through out this Book,seeking in every word and every page of the Book,Investment in one's own Self.As valid today as it was seventy years back when the Book was written.
Hold the enduring,the immortal thought in the mind,and discord will disappear.'
This is the train of thought running through out this Book,seeking in every word and every page of the Book,Investment in one's own Self.As valid today as it was seventy years back when the Book was written.
- GenresPersonal Development
240 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1911
12 people are currently reading
53 people want to read
About the author
Orison Swett Marden
1,680 books175 followersOrison Swett Marden (1850-1924) was an American writer associated with the New Thought Movement. He also held a degree in medicine, and was a successful hotel owner.
Marden was born in Thornton Gore, New Hampshire to Lewis and Martha Marden. When he was three years old, his mother died at the age of 22, leaving Orison and his two sisters in the care of their father, a farmer, hunter, and trapper. When Orison was seven years old, his father died from injuries incurred while in the woods, and the children were shuttled from one guardian to another, with Orison working as a "hired boy" to earn his keep. Inspired by an early self-help book by the Scottish author Samuel Smiles, which he found in an attic, Marden set out to improve himself and his life circumstances. He persevered in advancing himself and graduated from Boston University in 1871. He later graduated from Harvard with an M.D. in 1881 and an LL.B. degree in 1882. He also studied at the Boston School of Oratory and Andover Theological Seminary.
Marden was born in Thornton Gore, New Hampshire to Lewis and Martha Marden. When he was three years old, his mother died at the age of 22, leaving Orison and his two sisters in the care of their father, a farmer, hunter, and trapper. When Orison was seven years old, his father died from injuries incurred while in the woods, and the children were shuttled from one guardian to another, with Orison working as a "hired boy" to earn his keep. Inspired by an early self-help book by the Scottish author Samuel Smiles, which he found in an attic, Marden set out to improve himself and his life circumstances. He persevered in advancing himself and graduated from Boston University in 1871. He later graduated from Harvard with an M.D. in 1881 and an LL.B. degree in 1882. He also studied at the Boston School of Oratory and Andover Theological Seminary.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
August 2, 2017
This is one more GEM written by Marden, this one in 1911.
I live outside New Orleans and in 2017 New Orleans is experiencing a serious increase in all types of crime including murder. When you see the men doing the crime you realize they are almost all very young men. As I read Self Investment I could not help but think of these men who failed to "invest in them selves" as described in this wonderful book. It is quite possible that the education system has failed them but that is no excuse as Marden points out. In his time he explains how all the tools necessary for self-improvement were so readily available to everyone, rich and poor, that were not available in the recent past. These same people did not have the public libraries and the Internet that people today have making it even easier to access those books, speeches, articles, programs available to everyone either free or at very limited cost.
This is a book that should be read by every young boy and girl starting at the at of 10 to 12 years old. It is a blueprint of sorts as to how to set yourself up for future success. It is much like the bringing a horse to water but you can't make it drink. The same is true of our youth of today. Have they been exposed to what they SHOULD be doing as compared to what they ARE doing to insure their success in life. Looking at the headlines of today papers and news programs, it is obvious that a great many have not done the homework at an early age to insure their later success.
Before you ask your child to read this book, you should read the book first. It would then be my suggestion that you read each chapter with your children and then take the time after each chapter to discuss what you have read and lay out a plan for your children to follow. Then explain to them how just dedicating a small amount of time each day to work on what they have learned will make a huge difference in their life while other children of the same age are not doing this. The difference will quickly set them apart from their peers and set them up for success.
It amazes me that Marden wrote this book in 1911 and the problems he describes with the youth in 1911 are still the same problems being experienced with the youth in 2017. Parents CANNOT rely on the educational system to set their children up for success; therefore it must fall upon each parent to create the environment for their children to help them selves to the information so readily available like this book for just 99 cents as a Kindle version.
Warning, if you think your child is getting this type of education in our schools, think again.
I live outside New Orleans and in 2017 New Orleans is experiencing a serious increase in all types of crime including murder. When you see the men doing the crime you realize they are almost all very young men. As I read Self Investment I could not help but think of these men who failed to "invest in them selves" as described in this wonderful book. It is quite possible that the education system has failed them but that is no excuse as Marden points out. In his time he explains how all the tools necessary for self-improvement were so readily available to everyone, rich and poor, that were not available in the recent past. These same people did not have the public libraries and the Internet that people today have making it even easier to access those books, speeches, articles, programs available to everyone either free or at very limited cost.
This is a book that should be read by every young boy and girl starting at the at of 10 to 12 years old. It is a blueprint of sorts as to how to set yourself up for future success. It is much like the bringing a horse to water but you can't make it drink. The same is true of our youth of today. Have they been exposed to what they SHOULD be doing as compared to what they ARE doing to insure their success in life. Looking at the headlines of today papers and news programs, it is obvious that a great many have not done the homework at an early age to insure their later success.
Before you ask your child to read this book, you should read the book first. It would then be my suggestion that you read each chapter with your children and then take the time after each chapter to discuss what you have read and lay out a plan for your children to follow. Then explain to them how just dedicating a small amount of time each day to work on what they have learned will make a huge difference in their life while other children of the same age are not doing this. The difference will quickly set them apart from their peers and set them up for success.
It amazes me that Marden wrote this book in 1911 and the problems he describes with the youth in 1911 are still the same problems being experienced with the youth in 2017. Parents CANNOT rely on the educational system to set their children up for success; therefore it must fall upon each parent to create the environment for their children to help them selves to the information so readily available like this book for just 99 cents as a Kindle version.
Warning, if you think your child is getting this type of education in our schools, think again.
February 13, 2019
Orison (like Horizon with a silent H) Swett Marden is one of the great American success experts. Much like those who followed him - Earl Nightengale, Zig Ziglar, Jim Rohn, Tony Robbins, and others - Marden lays out in simple, easy to understand language what it takes to succeed in life.
Seeing as the book was written closer to the turn of the last century than this one please expect some of the stories to seem a bit outdated and the science to seem elementary and provincial, but the core knowledge - full control of the self- is as valuable today as the day Marden penned it.
Seeing as the book was written closer to the turn of the last century than this one please expect some of the stories to seem a bit outdated and the science to seem elementary and provincial, but the core knowledge - full control of the self- is as valuable today as the day Marden penned it.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews