Portrait of James Allen

Timeline

Lifetime: 1864 - 1912 Passed: ≈ 111 years ago

Title

Philosopher, Author, Spiritualist

Country/Nationality

United Kingdom
Wikipedia

James Allen

James Allen (28 November 1864 – 24 January 1912) was a British philosophical writer known for his inspirational books and poetry and as a pioneer of the self-help movement. His best known work, As a Man Thinketh, has been mass-produced since its publication in 1903. It has been a source of inspiration to motivational and self-help authors.

Born in Leicester, England, into a working-class family, Allen was the elder of two brothers. His mother could neither read nor write. His father, William, was a factory knitter. In 1879, following a downturn in the textile trade of central England, Allen's father travelled alone to America to find work and establish a new home for the family. Within two days of arriving his father was pronounced dead at New York City Hospital, believed to be a case of robbery and murder. At age fifteen, with the family now facing economic disaster, Allen was forced to leave school and find work.

For much of the 1890s, Allen worked as a private secretary and stationer in several British manufacturing firms. In 1893 Allen moved to London and later to South Wales, earning his living by journalism and reporting. In South Wales he met Lily Louisa Oram (Lily L. Allen) whom he then wed in 1895. In 1898 Allen found an occupation in which he could showcase his spiritual and social interests as a writer for the magazine The Herald of the Golden Age. At this time, Allen entered a creative period where he then published his first of many books, From Poverty to Power (1901). In 1902 Allen began to publish his own spiritual magazine, The Light of Reason, later retitled The Epoch.

In 1903, Allen published his third and most famous book As a Man Thinketh. Loosely based on the Biblical passage of Proverbs 23:7, "As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he," the small work eventually became read around the world and brought Allen posthumous fame as one of the pioneering figures of modern inspirational thought. The book's minor audience allowed Allen to quit his secretarial work and pursue his writing and editing career. In 1903, the Allen family retired to the town of Ilfracombe where Allen would spend the rest of his life. Continuing to publish the Epoch, Allen produced more than one book per year until his death in 1912. There he wrote for nine years, producing 19 works.

Following his death in 1912, his wife continued publishing the magazine under the name The Epoch.

Books by James Allen

As A Man Thinketh Cover image

As A Man Thinketh

Philosophy Non-Fiction
Self Help New Thought Power of Thought

As A Man Thinketh By James Allen : Application of Law of Attraction : This little volume (the result of meditation and experience) is not intended as an exhaustive treatise on the much written-upon subject of the power of thought. It is suggestive ra...

Above Life's Turmoil Cover image

Above Life's Turmoil

Philosophy Non-Fiction
Self Help Self-Discovery

Combining elements of Christianity, Buddhism and Hinduism with concepts dealing with self-discipline, motivation and the power of positive thinking, James Allen's 1910 inspirational book Above Life's Turmoil is a pioneering work in self-help literatu...

The Heavenly Life Cover image

The Heavenly Life

Non-Fiction Religion
Divine Freedom Goodness

Many of us live with the belief that we can achieve heaven or the ultimate peace and happiness only in an after-life. Many of us believe that heaven is a place that is far removed from earth. However, The Heavenly Life by James Allen seeks to convinc...

The Mastery of Destiny Cover image

The Mastery of Destiny

Philosophy Non-Fiction
Self Help Self-Discovery

James Allen’s inspirational and thought-provoking books have inspired millions. In The Mastery of Destiny, he instructs readers on developing self-control, willpower, concentration, and motivation. Through mental discipline, we can create a life of u...

The Path of Prosperity Cover image

The Path of Prosperity

Philosophy Psychology
Self Help Self Esteem Self-Importance Will to Power Spirituality Human Behaviors Inspirational

"I looked around upon the world, and saw that it was shadowed by sorrow and scorched by the fierce fires of suffering. And I looked for the cause. I looked around, but could not find it; I looked in books, but could not find it; I looked within, and...

The Way of Peace Cover image

The Way of Peace

Philosophy Non-Fiction
Self Help New Thought

The Way of Peace is a New Thought book written by James Allen. Although Allen is more widely known for his As a Man Thinketh, it is the lesser known The Way of Peace (1907) which reflects more accurately his New Thought Movement affiliations, referen...

The Life Triumphant Cover image

The Life Triumphant

Philosophy
Self Help Self-knowledge

Are you tired of ignoring your conscience? Do you want to to follow the inward guide to wherever it may lead? Are you ready to realise your full potential even though those around you may have no idea how to relate? Then The Life Triumphant is for yo...

Byways to Blessedness Cover image

Byways to Blessedness

Philosophy
Self Help

James Allen instructs us on how to improve our life and spiritual well-being through the power of positive thinking. He teaches us to live in the present and appreciate the moment. Allen asserts that the power of each person to form his own character...

Light on Life’s Difficulties Cover image

Light on Life’s Difficulties

Non-Fiction
Self Help

When a man enters a dark room he is not sure of his movements, he cannot see objects around him, or properly locate them, and is liable to hurt himself by coming into sudden contact with them. But let a light be introduced, and immediately all confus...

From Passion to Peace Cover image

From Passion to Peace

Philosophy
Self Help

The first three parts of this book, Passion, Aspiration, and Temptation, represent the common human life, with its passion, pathos, and tragedy. The last three parts, Transcendence, Beatitude, and Peace, represents the Divine Life—calm, wise and beau...

Eight Pillars of Prosperity Cover image

Eight Pillars of Prosperity

Non-Fiction Business
Energy Economy Sympathy Integrity

It is popularly supposed that a greater prosperity for individuals or nations can only come through a political and social reconstruction. This cannot be true apart from the practice of the moral virtues in the individuals that comprise a nation. Bet...

Foundation Stones to Happiness and Success Cover image

Foundation Stones to Happiness and Success

Non-Fiction Psychology
Self Help Mental Fitness

This is one of the last books written by James Allen. Like all his works it is eminently practical. He never wrote theories, or for the sake of writing, or to add another to his many books; but he wrote when he had a message, and it became a message...

All These Things Added Cover image

All These Things Added

Non-Fiction Religion
Self Help New Thought

In seeking for pleasures here and rewards hereafter men have destroyed (in their hearts) the Temple of Righteousness, and have wandered from the Kingdom of Heaven. By ceasing to seek for earthly pleasures and heavenly rewards, the Temple of Righteous...

Morning and Evening Thoughts  Cover image

Morning and Evening Thoughts

Religion
Thoughts Discipline Faith British

Morning and Evening Thoughts was published in 1909 and it provides a thought for each morning and evening of the day for a month.

The Divine Companion Cover image

The Divine Companion

History
Self Help Divine Life Spirituality Peace

It cannot be said of this book that James Allen wrote it at any particular time or in any one year, for he was engaged in it over many years and those who have eyes to see and hearts to understand will find in its pages the spiritual history of his l...

Out from the Heart  Cover image

Out from the Heart

Drama
Truth Self Help Discipline Virtue Honesty Life Forgiveness

James Allen teaches us how to purify our hearts through the fundamental lessons of virtue: physical discipline, mental discipline, doing your best, self-honesty, and forgiveness. If assiduously practiced, these principles will lead to a blessed life...

Man: King of Mind, Body, and Circumstance  Cover image

Man: King of Mind, Body, and Circumstance

Philosophy Religion
School Problems Life Humanity Ignorance

The problem of life consists in learning how to live. It is like the problem of addition or subtraction to the schoolboy. When mastered, all difficulty disappears, and the problem has vanished. All the problems of life, whether they be social, politi...

The Shining Gateway Cover image

The Shining Gateway

Philosophy
Self Help Pilgrimage Philosophical Humanity Experiences Meditation

Students of the works of James Allen all over the world will welcome with joy another book from his able pen. In this work we find the Prophet of Meditation in one of his deepest and yet most lucid expositions. How wonderfully he deals with fundament...

Life Triumphant: Mastering the Heart and Mind Cover image

Life Triumphant: Mastering the Heart and Mind

Are you tired of ignoring your conscience? Do you want to to follow the inward guide to wherever it may lead? Are you ready to realise your full potential even though those around you may have no idea how to relate? Then The Life Triumphant is for y...