Leading the charge for the positive thinking movement, Norman Vincent Peale was considered a visionary by many in his day. Many decades later, his contributions are recognized worldwide. Peale’s formal background was in theology, and his works reflect many of the teachings of Christianity.

A native Ohioan, Peale moved east for college and eventually landed in New York City as a pastor. Best known for authoring “The Power of Positive Thinking” in 1952, he also collaborated with a nearby psychotherapy clinic on several books. The mass appeal of his self-help techniques continues today.

Peale’s friendly, uplifting mantras can apply to the lives of readers from a variety of religions and circumstances. He later served as president of the American Foundation of Religion and Psychiatry, which had grown out of the partnership with the clinic. Peale died in 1997 at age 95, but he lives on through the work that he left behind.