Wallace D. Wattles (1860–1911) was an American New Thought writer best known for The Science of Getting Rich (1910). [1] Over a century later, his short book is still in print and widely read, especially by people interested in gratitude, clear goals and the law of attraction. [1]
Who is Wallace D. Wattles?
Much of Wallace Wattles’ life is still a mystery. Wikipedia describes him as “personally somewhat obscure”, yet his writing “has been widely quoted and remains in print in the New Thought and self-help movements.” [1]
Most of what we know comes from his daughter Florence, who wrote about his life in The Nautilus magazine soon after he died. She wrote that he was born in 1860 and had little formal education. [1] The 1880 US census lists him as a farm labourer living with his parents in Nunda Township, Illinois. [1]
In 1896 he met George Davis Herron, a minister who preached a form of Christian Socialism. The meeting changed the direction of his life. [1] Wattles later ran for public office twice as a Socialist Party candidate, in 1908 and 1910, though he did not win either race. [1]
He became part of the New Thought movement, gave Sunday night lectures in Indiana, and wrote for The Nautilus, edited by Elizabeth Towne. She also published his books. [1] He studied the writings of Hegel and Emerson and told readers who wanted the philosophy behind his work to read them too. [1] [2]
Florence said her father “lived every page” of his books. She described how he “formed a mental picture” of himself as a successful writer and then “worked toward the realization of this vision”. [1] He died on 7 February 1911 in Ruskin, Tennessee, aged 51, and was buried in Elwood, Indiana. As a mark of respect, businesses in the town closed for two hours on the afternoon of his funeral. [1]
His ideas in brief
- Create, don’t compete. Add value instead of fighting over it.
- Picture it clearly. Hold a definite image of what you want.
- Be grateful. Keep a thankful outlook every day.
- Act where you are. Do today’s work fully and well.
At a glance
Known for: The Science of Getting Rich
Topics: Gratitude, clear goals, creative thinking, action
Era: New Thought, early 1900s
Books: The Science of Getting Rich, The Science of Being Great
Read free: Project Gutenberg
Good fit if
You enjoy classic self-help writing and want a short, plain-spoken book about gratitude, having a clear picture of what you want, and doing your present work well.
Our take
A short classic of the New Thought era that is free to read today. Read it for its ideas on gratitude, creating rather than competing, and acting where you are, and keep in mind the style and promises of its time.
Wallace D. Wattles’ key ideas
These come from The Science of Getting Rich, which is free to read on Project Gutenberg. Tap a card to read more.
From the competitive to the creative
The central idea of The Science of Getting Rich is that a person must “pass from the competitive to the creative mind”. [2] In other words, instead of fighting others for a share of a limited pie, you focus on creating something new and useful.
Wattles wrote that worrying about others getting ahead drops you back “into the competitive mind”. He believed “there is enough for all” and that “there is never any hurry on the creative plane”. [2] “You do not have to beat anybody in business,” he wrote. [2]
A clear and definite mental image
Wattles believed in knowing exactly what you want. A person, he wrote, “must form a clear and definite mental image of the things he wishes to have, to do, or to become” and keep that image in mind. [2]
This is the same habit his daughter described in his own life, when he “formed a mental picture” of himself as a successful writer and worked toward it. [1] It is also one reason his book is often linked with the later law of attraction movement. The official channel of The Secret has even shared a full reading of the book in its “Secret Wisdom Library”. [3]
Gratitude
Gratitude is probably the most practical part of the book. Wattles wrote that “the whole process of mental adjustment and atonement can be summed up in one word, gratitude.” [2]
He saw thankfulness as a guard against negativity: “Without gratitude you cannot long keep from dissatisfied thought regarding things as they are.” [2] When we dwell on dissatisfaction, he argued, we fix our attention on the common and the mean. [2] For him, gratitude was something to practise every day rather than only when things go well.
Efficient action: act where you are
Wattles insisted that thinking alone is not enough. In his chapter on efficient action, he told readers to “begin to do what you can do where you are; and you must do ALL that you can do where you are.” [2]
He believed progress comes from doing your current role well: “The world is advanced only by those who more than fill their present places.” [2] He also wrote, “Do not wait for a change of environment before you act; get a change of environment by action.” [2] And he warned against rushing ahead: “Do not try to do to-morrow’s work now; there will be plenty of time to do that when you get to it.” [2]
Give more in use value
A thread of fairness runs through his book. Wattles told readers to “give every man more in use value than you take from him in cash value; then you are adding to the life of the world by every business transaction.” [2]
He was firm about it: “if you are in a business which does beat people, get out of it at once.” [2] This reflects his earlier commitment to Christian Socialism and social reform. [1]
The desire for more life
Wattles believed that wanting to grow is natural and healthy. “The normal desire for increased wealth is not an evil or a reprehensible thing,” he wrote; “it is simply the desire for more abundant life; it is aspiration.” [2]
He saw growth in broad terms: “The object of all life is development.” [2] He also wrote his book in plain language on purpose, saying he had “sacrificed all other considerations to plainness and simplicity of style, so that all might understand.” [2] Like many books of its era, it uses confident language. Modern readers often take its gratitude and action ideas as habits to try, not promises.
Videos with Wallace D. Wattles
Wattles died long before video, so these are public-domain readings and summaries of his books, checked one by one.
Start here
Summaries and explainers
Full readings
Articles about Wallace D. Wattles
Wallace D. Wattles’s books
His books are in the public domain, so you can read them free on Project Gutenberg or buy modern print editions.
Read free: The Science of Getting Rich on Project Gutenberg. [2] [4]
Find his books in your country: US · UK · Canada · Australia · India.
Where to read and listen free
Because his work is in the public domain, it is free to read and hear. Project Gutenberg hosts several of his books, and LibriVox volunteers have recorded audio versions. [4] [1]
Modern print and audio editions are easy to find in the US, UK, Canada, Australia and many other countries.
What the Research Shows
Wattles wrote more than a century before modern positive psychology, but two of his core habits, keeping a grateful outlook and picturing the life you want, have since been studied by researchers.
- Gratitude. People who regularly wrote down what they were grateful for reported higher wellbeing and more optimism than comparison groups. [5]
- Visualising your best possible self. Regularly imagining your best possible future self raised positive mood over several weeks. [6]
Frequently asked questions
Who was Wallace D. Wattles?
An American New Thought writer (1860–1911), best known for The Science of Getting Rich.
When was The Science of Getting Rich published?
In 1910, by Elizabeth Towne, publisher of The Nautilus magazine.
What is the book’s main idea?
To move from a competitive to a creative mindset, hold a clear picture of your goals, be grateful and act well where you are.
Why does gratitude matter so much in his work?
He wrote that the whole process “can be summed up in one word, gratitude”.
Is his work free to read?
Yes. It is in the public domain and available on Project Gutenberg.
How is he linked to The Secret?
His book is often linked with the law of attraction, and The Secret’s channel shares a reading of it.
What else did he write?
The Science of Being Great, How to Promote Yourself and other New Thought titles.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Wallace Wattles
- Project Gutenberg: The Science of Getting Rich by Wallace D. Wattles
- The Secret by Rhonda Byrne: The Science of Getting Rich, The Secret Wisdom Library (YouTube)
- Project Gutenberg: Works by Wallace D. Wattles
- Emmons and McCullough, Counting Blessings Versus Burdens, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 2003
- Sheldon and Lyubomirsky, How to increase and sustain positive emotion: The effects of expressing gratitude and visualizing best possible selves, Journal of Positive Psychology 2006
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