The Strangest Secret

Earl Nightingale

About the Author

Nicknamed the "dean of personal development," Earl Nightingale (1921–1989) was an American radio speaker and author. Renowned for his orations and literature on cultivating personal success, he earned a Gold Record for the spoken word. His influence can still be seen in self-help and personal development literature and talks.

About the Book

"The Strangest Secret" teaches that you become what you think and was first introduced as a motivational speech in 1956. It highlights the power behind personal beliefs and how those affect personal success. Nightingale motivates readers to shift their thinking to accurately reflect their desires and goals.

Summary

This motivational classic centers around the power of thoughts and beliefs to shape one's life. Its seven key points are:

The Core Message: The central theme is "You become what you think about." Thoughts have power and influence your circumstances. By focusing on positive, productive thoughts, you can shape your reality.

The Law of Attraction: The Law of Attraction suggests that dominant thoughts attract similar outcomes. Positive thinking leads to positive outcomes, while negative thinking has the opposite effect and can lead to failure and dissatisfaction.

Setting Goals: Set clear and specific goals. Work diligently toward a well-defined purpose for success.

The Power of Belief: Confidence and self-belief are essential for achieving success.

Action and Persistence: Success requires action, not merely thoughts. Take consistent, purposeful steps toward goals and persist through challenges.

Personal Responsibility: Take responsibility for your life and outcomes. You have the power to control your destiny through your thoughts and actions.

The Success Formula: Nightingale’s success formula for achieving goals and reaching potential includes:

Deciding what you want,

Writing down desires,

Making a plan,

Taking action toward achieving it.

This book has been praised for its clarity and practicality in explaining how attitude and mindset play critical roles in personal success and fulfillment.

Frequently Asked Questions

+What is the book about?

"The Strangest Secret" reveals that thoughts are the keys to success and fulfillment. Thoughts shape reality. Positive thinking and goal-setting are critical for personal success.

+How long is the book?

The original radio recording of this book was about 30 minutes long. Book versions vary in length by edition from about 96 to 112 pages.

+Does the book have famous quotes?

"We become what we think about."

"A man's life is what his thoughts make of it."

"People with goals succeed because they know where they're going."

"Success is the progressive realization of a worthy ideal."

+When was the book written?

The original spoken word album was released in 1956 and has been published in book form multiple times since then.

+Are there different versions of the book?

Since 1956, many different versions of this book have been published. They are available in print, online, and other languages.

+What category does this book fall under?

You can find this and other books to read for a growth mindset under the list online for an Entrepreneurship Book Club Membership.

+Where can I get the book?

Can’t wait to get into "The Strangest Secret"? Secrets of Success has it for members, along with other top reads and personal development resources.

+What are similar books I can read?

Similar books by prominent authors include Napoleon Hill’s "Think and Grow Rich" and Dale Carnegie’s "How to Win Friends and Influence People."

+Does the book have ratings or reviews?

Click here to read reviews of this book.

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Other Books by Earl Nightingale:

The Strangest Secret (1957)

Lead the Field (1968)

The Essence of Success (2007)

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“Don't let the fear of the time it will take to accomplish something stand in the way of your doing it. The time will pass anyway; we might just as well put that passing time to the best possible use.”

Earl Nightingale

Reader Reviews

Motivational talks are inspirational. This short 30-page book has proven itself over decades to work.

I'd recommend this book to anyone who feels that something is missing in their life, who feels stuck, and wants to feel successful again. I say again because most children feel successful as they learn and grow. But at some point, people stop learning and growing, and also stop feeling successful.

This book was first spoken over the radio and later transcribed into written text. It guided us as to how we can again feel successful.

Kirk R. C.

So I am not a big book fan because usually it’s a lot of fluff, but this book feels like it gets the point across in the perfect amount of words. This is in a language that most people can understand and relate to. Keeping this book with me to read over once in a while when I feel my thoughts drifting. I even bought 3 more to give to my family who struggle with these things, so hopefully it helps them like it helped me.

Haley B.

This is basically the written version of “The Strangest Secret” by Earl Nightingale that you could probably find on YouTube. But taking the time to sit down and read it with a pen and a highlighter brings a whole new meaning to your lifelong pursuit of success. Know what you want, EARN your way, and THINK about your goal obsessively! I believe in you, and so does Earl Nightingale.

Collin

We all need reminders of our own power. We were created with the amazing ability to envision what we want and the ability to morph into who we want to be. With such incredible power at our beck and call, who are we serving to be less than we can be? The world is full of possibilities and prosperity for each of us. I enjoyed the author's way of expressing that fact.

J R W.

If you need a kick in the pants about following a dream, this book is for you. Recommended to me by a friend. I still pick this up every once in a while for a quick re-read. Short read and tells a great story. Reminds you of the power of positive thought and not giving up on your dreams. Read the look inside feature.

Tanner C.

Simple formula, focusing on what YOU really, really want, repetition and persistence, gradually living and having your heart’s true desire♥️

Carolann

Although this book is short, it gets straight to the point. The message is so simple, yet so many miss out and never get close to achieving what they could if they only knew what lies within. If you struggle to attain your goals, this book's for you. If you can't seem to get out of the rut of daily life, this book's for you. In fact, if you want to improve your life in any way, this book's for you.

R. H. H.

Nightingale distills his lifetime of research on human motivation into a simple success formula- the very same one that propelled his own achievement. The Strangest Secret is a practical guide for accelerated prosperity so that you can quickly rise to the top, becoming one of the top 5 percent who succeed in your field.

Manoj K.

among many others

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The Strangest Secret

Earl Nightingale

About the Author

About the Book

Summary

Frequently Asked Questions

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Other Books by Earl Nightingale:

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Earl Nightingale

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