God's Salesman: Norman Vincent Peale & the Power of Positive Thinking

by Carol V. R. George and Carol V.R. George

Book Overview

Norman Vincent Peale is one of the most influential religious figures in recent American history. Preacher, author, editor, public personality, and religious innovator, he sparked the post-War revival of religion with his 1952 bestseller, The Power of Positive Thinking (which has sold over 15 million copies worldwide and is still selling 3000 copies weekly). His message of Practical Christianity helped drive the religious revival of the 1950s, putting...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0195074637
• ISBN13: 9780195074635
• Release Date: January 1993
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
• Length: 302 Pages
• Weight: 1.48 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 6.4" x 9.5"

Customer Reviews

A Scholarly Look at Dr. Peale

In a dispassionate, academic view, Carol George describes the rise of Dr. Norman Vincent Peale from relative obscurity to international prominence. The book is divided into three sections: the man, the movement, and the message. Peale started in a Methodist setting. His family was active in the denomination and Peale attended Ohio Wesleyan, where he earned average grades. Peale is described as a loner who is comfortable with a crowd of 4,000, but ill at ease with in a small group.Peale was a avid reader. This habit was part of his persona throughout his successful career. She goes on to talk about his first pastorate and how the passion for travel was cultivated.Dr. Peale's work was his hobby. He threw himself into it totally. He wanted to make Christanity practical, doable, applicable to the everyday world. In radio's "golden age" Dr. Peale took to the air to propagate the Gospel. In applying what he preaches, he advocated living as opposed to overindulgent self-reflection. His thoughts were, "The overly examined life would inevitably discover problems therefore,'The best was to live is just to live.'"Many of us continue to be blessed by the legacy of this man of God. His good works remain. The fruit of his labors are still sprouting. This book tells how it all started.