The Magic of Believing: The Science of Setting Your Goal and Then Reaching It (Paperback)

by Claude M. Bristol (Author), Nido R. Qubien (Foreword) "Is there some force, or factor, or power, or science-call it what you will-which a few people understand and use to overcome their difficulties and..." (more)
Key Phrases: mirror technique, World War, New York, Mind Stuff (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

MILLIONS OF READERS HAVE PROVED THAT THE MAGIC OF BELIEVING WORKS WONDERS!

For more than four decades success-oriented Americans have turned to the no-nonsense, time-tested motivational techniques described in The Magic of Believing to achieve all their long- and short-term goals: a better job, an increased income, a happier marriage, or simply a good night's sleep. Now it's your turn to put Claude M. Bristol's special "magic" into your life and into action!

His tough-minded, hard-hitting message speaks directly to You. It has yielded proven results for forty years and remains as fresh and focused as ever. Learn how to:

* Harness the unlimited power of the subconscious mind and make your dreams come true
* Protect your thoughts and turn them into achievements
* Use "the law of suggestion" to step up your effectiveness in everything you do
* Apply the power of your imagination to overcome obstacles
* And much more!

If you seek to become more assertive in business, more fulfilled at home, more influential in your dealings with others -- you can believe in MAGIC!

About the Author
The late Claude M. Bristol was a lawyer, lecturer, investment banker, and foreign correspondent. He is the coauthor of the long-time bestseller, TNT: The Power Within.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 180 pages
• Publisher: Fireside (April 1, 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0671764128
• ISBN-13: 978-0671764128
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (81 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #50,027 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

106 of 107 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "The Magic of Believing" Claude Bristol, February 9, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: The Magic of Believing (Mass Market Paperback)

I first heard about "The Magic of Believing" in 1973,listening to Larry Glick's late-night talk show on WBZ Boston -- he was absolutely sold on it and kept bringing on celebrity guests who felt the same way, and I eventually bought a copy. I was skeptical going in, and for a while after - this was'nt the first self -help book I had read and not the most polished in style. But there was something about it -- the down-to-earth commonsense of the author I think (Bristol seems to have been above all a practical guy)-- that kept me reading it to the end. I started to do some of the mechanical things -- aids to visualization -- he suggested, figuring what the hell, what's to lose?. I decided the goal to set was to move up from my earnings at the time ($20k per year) to three times that amount -- virtually "impossible" where I was working. To cut to the chase. A year later I was making $80,000 per year, I kept doing better each year and I am still doing well. Things fell into place without any planning too many to relate. I gave up a salaried job I hated in order to free-lance but without any real prospects for doing well at it -- the idea was to tread water until I found something I liked better. But a first client appeared out of nowhere and referred me to another. Work kept coming in and did not stop. Every year I did better. I don't really know how it works, and I don't particularly care. I do know it worked for me -- and still does, and not just financially. So do I believe Bristol was on to something? You bet your life I do. I have also had a chance to observe other people for whom things seem to work out well, none of whom have read this book. They confirm one of its basic principles. People tend to get what they expect -- they fulfil their own prophecies. In general, optimists thrive, the pessimists don't. What this book shows is that these attitudes are not "givens" -- to an extent they can be self-generated.

103 of 107 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the Best Books of My Life, January 7, 2002

By	Stogie Chomper - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Magic of Believing (Mass Market Paperback)

Of all the self-help and self-improvement books I have read in my life, this one is best. Claude Bristol wrote "The Magic of Believing" in the late forties when the subconscious mind was less understood. He only knew that there was some kind of powerful psychic force that exists, that can be tapped for man's good. Intuitively, I think I have always known this. I first learned it in college, when I made an effort to change my beliefs about what is possible -- and made the Dean's List for the first time in my life.

The mind is like a thermostat, and once set at a level of accomplishment, it will not allow the individual to exceed that set level. The thermostat is really what you believe is possible for you. When "the area of the possible" expands for you, your accomplishments will expand as well.

This is not really "magic," it only seems that way. It is really natural forces at work that are not completely understood, yet may be used for your benefit.

I reread this book every few years. I am always amazed at the insights it contains.

39 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars You Can Run But You Cannot Hide..., September 7, 2006

By	John P. Morgan "Light Coach" (Beautiful San Dimas, CA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This review is from: The Magic of Believing (Mass Market Paperback)

I find human beings fascinating. We go through life thinking that somehow the world is outside of us, that things just seem to happen to us, that there really is no way to get ahead in life so stop complaining...nobody will listen anyway, right? Most of us just settle for the leftovers...fighting over the scraps like scavenger dogs and yet within the heart and soul of each of us there lives a King...a Queen...that desires to come forth and lay claim to what is rightfully ours to express, extend, and experience. But how do we do this? How do we go from rags to riches? How do we step away from our past and into a glorious present?

By believing...

I see you smirking. I know, I know, you've heard that before. But did you really believe or did you just pretend to believe when in fact you did believe you just believed that you didn't believe even though you were still believing? Got it?

We cannot escape believing. We believe even when we don't believe. It's not a question of whether or not we are believing, it becomes a matter of what we are willing to believe. I once believed that God was out to get me. Everywhere I went I met with dissapointment, failure, and rejection. I believed that I was cursed and you could not talk me out of it no matter what. And then I got this book. I don't exactly know how it came into my experience, but there must have been a smidgen of optimism in my fog of despair to allow some clarity to shine through.

While reading this book I had an ephiphany. I am the writer, the director, the producer, and the star actor of my own show. My Life is my very own production. Let's just say that bad things really did happen in my life. Good things could've been happening at the same time but I believed in the "bad" more than the "good". And guess what? I expected bad things to happen. I literally looked forward to bad things to happen. I must've because they kept on happening! I focused on the negative, the tragic, the dissapointment, the discouraging and that is exactly what I got.

Focus = Reality.

So where is your focus right now? Are you focused on paying the lousy bills or are you focused that the universe is truly abundant and that you are entitled to a prosperous life? Do you pass a mirror and stick your tounge out at the reflection or do you look yourself in the eyes and tell yourself that you forgive yourself for anything that you may have done. The only time that it is ever too late is the time you are "no more". I don't care if you're 9...I don't care if you're 99...the time to create your life is NOW!

This book is a great read BUT you must be willing to apply its truths. You must be willing to put aside the self-imposed nonsense and accept for yourself a greater, more beautiful vision. You will become what you desire to be if you keep that vision in front of you and you keep, keep, keep believing.

Remember what Henry Ford said, "Whether you think you can or you think you can't, you are correct..."

May you believe in new possibilities...

Peace & Blessings.