Short Answer
In 1910, a small book titled The Science of Getting Rich appeared from the Elizabeth Towne Company, authored by a relatively obscure New Thought writer named Wallace D. Wattles. Though it initially circulated within the metaphysical subculture of the New Thought movement, the book has never gone out of print and has become a cornerstone of prosperity literature, influencing everything from the twentieth-century prosperity gospel to contemporary self-help bestsellers. Its central premise—that wealth is not a matter of luck or competition but of aligning one’s thoughts and actions with a universal creative substance—encapsulates the New Thought movement’s core metaphysics while offering a step-by-step method for material success. This article traces the book’s origins, its place within the broader New Thought context, its main arguments, and its lasting significance.
Historical Context
The New Thought movement emerged in the United States in the mid-nineteenth century, drawing on a rich intellectual stew of Transcendentalism, mesmerism, Swedenborgianism, and the healing practices of Phineas Quimby. Quimby, a clockmaker and mesmerist from Maine, developed a system of mental healing based on the idea that illness was rooted in false beliefs and that correcting those beliefs could restore health. His ideas influenced Mary Baker Eddy, who founded Christian Science, and also Emma Curtis Hopkins, who became a key teacher and organizer of New Thought. By the late nineteenth century, New Thought had splintered into various schools—Divine Science, Unity, Religious Science—each emphasizing the power of mind over matter, the immanence of God, and the possibility of health and prosperity through affirmative prayer and right thinking.
Wattles, born in 1860, was a product of this milieu. He wrote several New Thought books, including The New Science of Living and Healing and Financial Success Through Creative Thought or The Science of Getting Rich. The latter, published in 1910, emerged at a time when America was undergoing rapid industrialization and urbanization, and many people sought practical methods for achieving financial security. Wattles’s book stood out for its direct, no-nonsense approach, stripping away religious terminology and presenting a quasi-scientific method for wealth creation.
Main Narrative
Publication History
The Science of Getting Rich was published in 1910 by the Elizabeth Towne Company of Holyoke, Massachusetts, as a small hardcover priced at one dollar. Elizabeth Towne was a prominent New Thought publisher and editor of The Nautilus, a leading New Thought periodical. The book was later republished under the title Financial Success Through Creative Thought, and a 1917 edition is preserved in the Sourcelibrary.org collection. The work has remained continuously in print, with numerous modern editions and digital versions available through Project Gutenberg.
Author
Wallace D. Wattles (1860–1911) was an American author associated with the New Thought movement. Little is known about his early life, but he wrote several books on health, success, and personal development. His most famous work, The Science of Getting Rich, is often cited as a foundational text in the prosperity gospel tradition. Wattles died in 1911, shortly after the book’s publication, but his ideas have had a lasting impact.
Historical Setting
The book appeared during the Progressive Era, a time of social reform and economic expansion. New Thought had already gained a foothold in major cities, with organizations like the International New Thought Alliance (formed in 1914) and periodicals such as Unity Magazine and Science of Mind. Wattles’s book fit neatly into this culture, offering a metaphysical explanation for wealth that resonated with the optimism of the age. It also reflected the influence of Hindu philosophy, as Wattles acknowledged in his preface, referencing the idea that “One is All, and All is One.”
Main Arguments
Wattles’s central thesis is that wealth is necessary for the full development of the human body, mind, and soul. He argues that poverty is a result of competitive thinking, and that true success comes from creative action. He posits a “Thinking Substance” that underlies all reality and responds to human thought. By thinking in a certain way—what he calls the “Certain Way”—individuals can align themselves with this substance and attract wealth. The method involves clear visualization, gratitude, and acting in a purposeful, efficient manner without competition.
Key Concepts
- The Certain Way: A specific mode of thinking and acting that aligns with the creative principle of the universe.
- Thinking Substance: The formless, intelligent energy that pervades all things and responds to mental images.
- Creative vs. Competitive: Wattles distinguishes between creating new wealth (creative) and seizing existing wealth (competitive), advocating for the former.
- Gratitude and Faith: Maintaining a thankful attitude and unwavering faith in the process is essential.
Reception
Contemporary reviews were largely positive within New Thought circles, and the book sold steadily. According to USA Today, the text is “divided into 17 short, straight-to-the-point chapters that explain how to overcome mental barriers, and how creation, rather than competition, is the hidden key to wealth attraction.” However, critics have noted that the book’s claims are pseudoscientific, with no real proven strategies beyond positive thinking. The Wikipedia article on the book describes it as “essentially a power of positive thinking type of book with no real proven strategies.”
Influence
The book’s influence extends far beyond the New Thought movement. It directly inspired the prosperity gospel, a Christian movement that teaches that God wants believers to be wealthy and healthy. Kathleen Hladky’s 2012 article in Religion Compass traces the explosion of prosperity gospel since the 1980s, noting its roots in movements like the Faith movement, which often cites Wattles’s ideas. The book also influenced later self-help authors, including Napoleon Hill and Rhonda Byrne, whose The Secret (2006) echoes Wattles’s law of attraction. Today, The Science of Getting Rich is widely available and continues to be recommended in business and personal development circles.
Editions
The original 1910 edition was followed by a 1917 edition titled Financial Success Through Creative Thought. Modern editions are numerous, including paperback, hardcover, and digital formats. Project Gutenberg offers a free ebook version, and the Sourcelibrary.org site provides scanned images of the 1917 edition.
Where to Read
The full text is available online at Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org/files/59844/59844-h/59844-h.htm) and in scanned form at Sourcelibrary.org (https://sourcelibrary.org/book/the-science-of-getting-rich-wattles). Many modern print editions are in print from various publishers.
Why It Matters in New Thought History
The Science of Getting Rich is significant because it bridged the metaphysical teachings of New Thought with practical, worldly ambition. While earlier New Thought focused primarily on healing and spiritual growth, Wattles explicitly applied the movement’s principles to financial success. This helped broaden New Thought’s appeal to a middle-class audience seeking material advancement. The book also contributed to the later institutionalization of prosperity teachings within Christianity, as the prosperity gospel drew on Wattles’s ideas. For students of New Thought history, the book is a crucial text that demonstrates the movement’s evolution from a healing cult to a broader philosophy of personal empowerment and success.
Primary Sources
- The Science of Getting Rich by Wallace D. Wattles (1910, Elizabeth Towne Company). The original edition, available in archives.
- Project Gutenberg ebook #59844 (2019). A free digital edition of the 1910 text, transcribed from the original.
- 1917 edition scanned at Sourcelibrary.org. Shows the alternate title Financial Success Through Creative Thought.
- The Nautilus magazine (edited by Elizabeth Towne). Periodical that published Wattles and other New Thought writers.
FAQ
What is the main premise of The Science of Getting Rich?
The book argues that wealth comes from aligning one's thoughts and actions with a universal 'Thinking Substance' through a 'Certain Way' of thinking and acting, emphasizing creative rather than competitive efforts.
How did The Science of Getting Rich influence the prosperity gospel?
Wattles's ideas about using faith and positive thinking to attract wealth were adopted by later prosperity gospel teachers, who integrated these concepts into Christian theology, claiming that God wants believers to be prosperous.
Is The Science of Getting Rich considered a scientific work?
No, critics describe it as pseudoscientific, relying on metaphysical claims rather than empirical strategies. It is essentially a power-of-positive-thinking book with no proven investment methods.
Leave a Reply