William James and New Thought: The Psychology of Healthy-Mindedness
William James's concept of healthy-mindedness, developed in The Varieties of Religious Experience, both described and legitimized the New Thought movement's…
↗An independent historical reference
The history of New Thought, in context.
Explore the people, ideas, books, and organizations that shaped a movement from its nineteenth-century origins to the present.
People, ideas, and movements that shaped New Thought
Find your starting point
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Follow a thread through history.
Start with a person, trace an idea, or go directly to the sources.
01 / THE STORYHistory & timelineFollow the movement from early influences to a lasting legacy.
02 / THE PEOPLEKey figuresMeet the teachers, writers, and organizers behind the ideas.
03 / THE TEXTSBooks & publicationsDiscover the works that helped New Thought circulate.
04 / THE EVIDENCEPrimary sourcesRead history through documents, archives, and original voices.
AN INTRODUCTION
TO NEW THOUGHT
TO NEW THOUGHT
The movement, briefly
What is New Thought?
New Thought grew from a loose network of nineteenth-century mental healing and metaphysical movements. Its writers and teachers explored the relationship between mind, spirit, and everyday life. Over time, their ideas took shape in books, magazines, organizations, and churches.
This reference follows that history through documented people, publications, and events, while distinguishing historical accounts from the beliefs they describe.
Read the introductionExplore by era
A movement across time.
Before 1870Roots & precursorsMental healing, Transcendentalism, and the ideas that came before.
1870–1890A movement emergesTeachers, healing circles, and new metaphysical communities.
1890–1915Ideas in printConventions, magazines, and books carried New Thought outward.
1915–1945Institutions growOrganizations and churches gave the movement lasting form.
From the bookshelf
The movement in print.
Books and periodicals carried New Thought across cities, countries, and generations. Explore the works that helped define its vocabulary and reach.
Explore influential booksContinue exploring
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↗How this reference works
Curiosity, with sources.
Our aim is to make the history of New Thought easier to explore, with attention to original texts, credible research, and the context behind each claim.