One Simple Idea

How Positive Thinking Reshaped Modern Life

By: Mitch Horowitz

Narrated by: Mitch Horowitz

Length: 10 hrs and 35 mins

Publisher's Summary

From the millions-strong audiences of Oprah and The Secret to the mass-media ministries of evangelical figures like Joel Osteen and T. D. Jakes, to the motivational bestsellers and New Age seminars to the twelve-step programs and support groups of the recovery movement and to the rise of positive psychology and stress-reduction therapies, this idea - to think positively - is metaphysics morphed into mass belief. This is the biography of that belief.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2014 Mitch Horowitz (P)2014 Random House Audio

Outstanding Popular History of New Thought!

If you could sum up One Simple Idea in three words, what would they be?

"AS one thinks..."

What did you like best about this story?

The objective and insightful tone set by author/narrator Mitch Horowitz.

Which scene was your favorite?

Boston's role as America's New Thought center at the last turn of the century.

If you could give One Simple Idea a new subtitle, what would it be?

The Science of American Optimism.

Any additional comments?

It's curious that so many of the Non-American figures in the story--especially Sweden's Swedenborg and Britain's Troward--were unable to spark similar popular movements abroad. Coue' in France had the most "American" mass following in his nation.

P.S.Listeners should stick around for the postscript interview with Horowitz--he shares some compelling insights into the mysterious R.H. "It Works!" Jarrett.

POWERFUL and inspiring history of New Thought!

I am in school to become a religious science/ Science of Mind minister with Centers for Spiritual Living. Science of Mind is "a philosophy, a practice, and a way of life" that has ABSOLUTELY changed my world, how I experience it and how I move through it. Horowitz did an excellent job of researching and detailing the history of New Thought and the positive thinking movement. I learned SO MUCH! I agree with some of the limitations Horowitz puts forth. I think of them as our "growth edges", the crux of which is precisely that which inspires me to be among the many new faces in the New Thought movement to go beyond these edges in new ways for a new time. THIS STUFF WORKS! It so worth improving upon it, distilling it, and sharing it boldly and with greater conviction with the world.

Positive thinking shaped my life

I loved the book. If you ever wanted to find a way to learn about the occult, positive new thought thinker (I made that up), you just found Pandora’s box. What amazes me and yet with no surprise, so many of our daily activities, healings, meditations, mantras etc, etc all come from the occult and yet, most people frown upon the idea…hmmm

An Interesting listen

I hesitated to by this book because I thought it might be a dry history, but I found it engaging and enlightening. Mitch Horowitz does a good job telling a story and educating the listener about the characters in the new thought /positive thinking arena. I recommend this book.

Confused with another book by the same title

I personally think that the title of this book is misleading. I finished the whole book begrudgingly... I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone and I feel as though I wasted my own time. Good voice acting otherwise.

A great primer.

A Tour de force in my humble opinion. An excellent crystallisation of the history and influence of Positive thinking. Read this for a great understanding of where 'The Secret' and it's ilk came from.