Best Manifestation Books: 15 Classics and Modern Picks

Manifestation books teach the idea that your thoughts, feelings and

Wellness Article

A stack of old hardcover books beside an open journal, a lit candle and dried lavender on a wooden table

Manifestation books teach the idea that your thoughts, feelings and focus help shape your experience, usually through practices such as visualisation, affirmations, gratitude, scripting and inspired action. The genre runs from New Thought classics of the early 1900s, such as Wallace D. Wattles and Charles F. Haanel, through Neville Goddard and Abraham-Hicks, to modern writers like Rhonda Byrne, Gabby Bernstein and Roxie Nafousi.

Reading list · 15 books in three groups: the classics, the law of attraction era and modern manifesting

Last updated: 5 November 2026

Written by Saj Ali

Reading time: about 8 minutes

How we wrote this article: this list was written by Saj Ali. Every book is a real, widely available title, and each one links to a guide or expert page so you can go deeper.

Quick picks

  • Best place to start. The Secret by Rhonda Byrne, or Manifest by Roxie Nafousi for a modern step-by-step approach.
  • Best classic. The Science of Getting Rich by Wallace D. Wattles: short, clear and the root of much that followed.
  • Best on imagination. Feeling Is the Secret by Neville Goddard.
  • Best for emotions. Ask and It Is Given by Esther and Jerry Hicks.
  • Best for faith and calm. The Universe Has Your Back by Gabby Bernstein.

Contents

  1. How We Chose These Books
  2. The Classics (1910 to 1963)
  3. The Law of Attraction Era (1984 to 2013)
  4. Modern Manifesting (2016 to today)
  5. Where to Start
  6. How to Get the Most From a Manifestation Book
  7. A Note on Reading for Growth
  8. Frequently Asked Questions
  9. Key Takeaways
  10. Explore More on Self Help Supermarket
  11. Sources

How We Chose These Books

We picked books that have stayed in print, shaped the way manifesting is taught today and still offer something practical. The list moves roughly in time order, so you can see how the ideas developed, and each book links to a guide or expert page on our site. For a wider list beyond manifesting, see our best self-help books.

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The Classics (1910 to 1963)

These books come from the New Thought tradition and the early success literature. They are short, often public domain, and still quoted by modern teachers.

  1. The Science of Getting Rich by Wallace D. Wattles (1910). A short, practical classic on thinking in a “certain way”, gratitude and acting with purpose. It inspired Rhonda Byrne to create The Secret. Read next: his expert page, money and abundance mindset.
  2. The Master Key System by Charles F. Haanel (1916). A 24-part course in concentration, visualisation and the power of thought, designed to be read one week at a time. Read next: his expert page, visualisation.
  3. Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill (1937). The best-known success classic: a burning desire, a definite plan, faith and persistence. Read next: his expert page.
  4. Feeling Is the Secret by Neville Goddard (1944). A brief, much-loved book on how feeling and imagination shape experience, including the state akin to sleep. Read next: his expert page, Neville Goddard techniques.
  5. The Power of Awareness by Neville Goddard (1952). Neville’s fullest guide to assuming the feeling of the wish fulfilled and “living in the end”. Read next: SATS and revision explained.
  6. The Power of Your Subconscious Mind by Joseph Murphy (1963). A gentle, practical book on prayer, affirmation and working with the subconscious mind. Read next: positivity.

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The Law of Attraction Era (1984 to 2013)

From Louise Hay to The Secret, these books brought manifesting to a mass audience and added emotional and meditative tools.

  1. You Can Heal Your Life by Louise Hay (1984). Affirmations and self-love from one of the best-loved writers in the field. Read next: her expert page, self-love practices.
  2. Ask and It Is Given by Esther and Jerry Hicks (2004). The core Abraham-Hicks teachings, with 22 processes including the Emotional Guidance Scale. Read next: our Abraham-Hicks guide.
  3. The Secret by Rhonda Byrne (2006). The book and film that brought the law of attraction to a worldwide audience: ask, believe, receive. Read next: our guide to The Secret, law of attraction.
  4. The Attractor Factor by Joe Vitale (2005). Five clear steps for attracting what you want, from one of the teachers featured in The Secret. Read next: his expert page.
  5. Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself by Dr Joe Dispenza (2012). Meditation and mental rehearsal for changing old habits of thought and feeling. Read next: his expert page, meditation.
  6. E-Squared by Pam Grout (2013). Nine playful “experiments” that invite you to test manifesting ideas in your own life. Read next: law of attraction.

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Modern Manifesting (2016 to today)

Recent writers pair manifesting with self-love, healing and practical action, and many draw on psychology as well as spirituality.

  1. The Universe Has Your Back by Gabby Bernstein (2016). Turning fear into faith, with simple daily practices. Her own book guide suggests it as a strong place to start (Gabby Bernstein, Book guide). Read next: manifestation.
  2. Super Attractor by Gabby Bernstein (2019). Methods for manifesting centred on feeling good, alignment and trust. Read next: manifestation.
  3. Manifest: 7 Steps to Living Your Best Life by Roxie Nafousi (2022). A modern, step-by-step method that pairs manifesting with self-love and practical action. Read next: her expert page, manifesting relationships.

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Where to Start

  • New to manifesting? Start with The Secret or Roxie Nafousi’s Manifest, then read our manifestation guide.
  • Like short classics? Read Wattles, then Neville’s Feeling Is the Secret; both can be read in an afternoon.
  • Want emotional tools? Try Ask and It Is Given alongside our Abraham-Hicks guide.
  • Want calm and faith? Gabby Bernstein’s books blend manifesting with meditation and inner healing.
  • Want to compare approaches? Our manifestation methods compared article sets the law of attraction beside Neville Goddard and Reality Transurfing.

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How to Get the Most From a Manifestation Book

  • Read slowly. Many of these books were written to be studied, one chapter or lesson at a time.
  • Practise as you read. Try one exercise, such as a gratitude list or a short visualisation, before moving on.
  • Keep a journal. Note what you try and what you notice.
  • Pair ideas with action. Almost every author on this list stresses acting on your intentions, not only thinking about them.

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A Note on Reading for Growth

Reading self-help books is sometimes called bibliotherapy, and research suggests that structured self-help reading can support wellbeing for some people. A 1997 meta-analysis found that bibliotherapy was linked with improvements in mild to moderate low mood (Cuijpers, 1997). Treat these books as a source of ideas and practices, and use what helps you.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best book on manifestation?

Many readers start with The Secret by Rhonda Byrne. For a classic, The Science of Getting Rich by Wallace D. Wattles is short and clear; for a modern method, try Manifest by Roxie Nafousi.

What is the best manifestation book for beginners?

The Secret or Manifest: 7 Steps to Living Your Best Life are both easy to follow and practical.

Which Neville Goddard book should I read first?

Feeling Is the Secret is short and a good introduction; The Power of Awareness goes deeper.

What book inspired The Secret?

Rhonda Byrne has said that The Science of Getting Rich by Wallace D. Wattles inspired her to create The Secret.

Are there free manifestation books?

Several classics, including The Science of Getting Rich and The Master Key System, are in the public domain in many countries and widely available free online.

What is the best Abraham-Hicks book?

Ask and It Is Given is the most complete introduction and includes the Emotional Guidance Scale.

Which Gabby Bernstein book is about manifesting?

Super Attractor focuses most directly on manifesting; The Universe Has Your Back focuses on faith and letting go of fear.

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Key Takeaways

  • Manifestation books teach that thoughts, feelings and focus help shape experience.
  • The classics are Wattles, Haanel, Hill and Neville Goddard.
  • The Secret (2006) brought the law of attraction to a worldwide audience.
  • Ask and It Is Given adds emotional tools such as the Emotional Guidance Scale.
  • Modern writers like Gabby Bernstein and Roxie Nafousi pair manifesting with self-love and action.
  • Read slowly, practise as you go and keep a journal.

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Explore More on Self Help Supermarket

Use these pages alongside this one:

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Sources

  1. Bernstein, G. Which Gabby Bernstein book to read? A guide to Gabby’s books. gabbybernstein.com. https://gabbybernstein.com/gabby-bernstein-book-guide/
  2. Cuijpers, P. (1997). Bibliotherapy in unipolar depression: a meta-analysis. Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry, 28(2), 139-147. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0005-7916(97)00005-0

Self Help Supermarket guides are for general information and are not a substitute for professional medical or psychological advice.