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The Magic of Thinking Big
Business Life Motivation & Self-Improvement
First published in 1959, this self-help classic by David J. Schwartz argues that ambition and belief, more than talent or intelligence, determine how far people go. It offers practical techniques for building confidence, defeating excuses, managing fear and setting larger goals in work and life.
- Release Date
- 1959
- Publisher
- Prentice-Hall
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Our Review
About the book
First published in 1959, this self-help classic by David J. Schwartz argues that ambition and belief, more than talent or intelligence, determine how far people go. It offers practical techniques for building confidence, defeating excuses, managing fear and setting larger goals in work and life.
Our review
A mid-century pep talk that still delivers, as long as you can forgive its Mad Men-era worldview.
Schwartz’s core argument is simple and persuasive: people tend to shrink their goals to fit their doubts, and changing how you think about yourself changes what you attempt. We appreciated how practical the book is, with concrete exercises for confidence, conversation, handling setbacks and the habit of making excuses. The tone is upbeat and direct, and for readers who need a push to aim higher, it can be genuinely energizing.
Its age shows, though. Many examples come from the corporate world of the 1950s, with salesmen, executives and a strongly male, suburban frame of reference. The insistence that belief drives success can also gloss over real obstacles like money, health or circumstance. Read it for its motivational spark and its useful exercises, and set aside the parts that feel like a time capsule.
What we loved
- Practical, actionable exercises
- Energetic, encouraging tone
- A clear argument against self-limiting thinking
Keep in mind
- Dated examples and gender assumptions
- Can underplay structural barriers to success
Read it if you like
fans of Dale Carnegie’s How to Win Friends and Influence People, readers of Think and Grow Rich, anyone needing a confidence boost
The verdict
A dated but durable motivational classic that still offers useful tools for anyone thinking too small.
