The Magic of Thinking Big: Read this to succeed at anything – really

Finally got around to reading this staple of the self-help genre, and I’m genuinely glad I did. David Schwartz has a way of making "big thinking" feel like a tangible skill rather than some abstract concept. I found the section on "Excusitis" particularly convicting because it highlights how often we hide behind age, health, or lack of intelligence to avoid taking risks. While the 1950s business-man vibe is undeniably strong, the underlying principles of belief and action are timeless. It’s one of those books that serves as a mental reset button whenever you start feeling small or stuck. If you can look past some of the archaic social norms, there is absolute gold in these pages for anyone looking to level up their career or personal life. It really is a must-read for building a resilient, positive mindset.

After hearing about this from my mentor, I decided to dive in and see if the hype was real. I wasn't disappointed at all! The book teaches you how to stop being your own worst enemy by expanding your vision of what is possible. I’ve read a lot of modern productivity books, but many of them seem to just repackage what Schwartz wrote back in the fifties. The way he breaks down how to "think big" in terms of relationships and income really helped me identify where I was playing small. It’s more than just "positive thinking"; it’s about creating a psychological environment where success becomes inevitable. Even though some of the language is a bit "old school," the mojo this book carries is undeniable. It’s a genuine classic for a reason.

As someone who struggles with procrastination, the chapter on "curing the fear of action" was worth the price of the book alone. David Schwartz hits you with the reality that waiting for the "perfect time" is just a sophisticated way of being afraid. I gotta say, the writing style is very punchy and keeps you engaged, though it does get a bit repetitive toward the end. It's interesting to see where so many modern motivational speakers get their material, as this seems to be the source code for many of them. Just be prepared for the 1950s workplace dynamics which haven't aged well at all. If you can read it for the principles rather than the specific social examples, you'll get a lot out of it. Definitely a solid addition to any personal development library.

Pick this up if you need a serious kick in the pants to start moving toward your goals. I was skeptical about a book from 1959 being relevant today, but the psychology of confidence hasn't changed much in sixty years. Schwartz explains that success is a result of the size of one's thinking, and he provides actual exercises to help you expand that mental horizon. I loved the advice on "memory bank deposits"—intentionally putting positive thoughts into your mind so you can draw on them during tough times. It’s a practical guide that doesn't just tell you to "be happy," but shows you how to build a foundation for genuine achievement. Yes, it’s a bit dated in its view of women, but the core wisdom is still incredibly potent. I’ve already recommended it to three colleagues this week!

Ever wonder why some people with less talent seem to get further in life than those with high IQs? This book answers that question by focusing on the power of belief and the "magic" of refusing to think small. It's an incredibly motivational read that makes you feel like you can take on the world after just a few chapters. I particularly enjoyed the section on how to turn defeat into victory by learning from every setback rather than moping about it. The tone is very encouraging and "can-do," which is exactly what I needed during a recent career transition. It’s a timeless classic that opens your mind to possibilities you might have previously dismissed as "impossible." Seriously, don’t let the old-fashioned examples stop you from absorbing these life-changing lessons.

Look, I know some people find these old-school books cringey, but there’s a reason this one is still in print after all these years. The advice on how to treat others and how to command respect through your own self-image is gold. Schwartz reminds us that we are exactly what we think we are, and if we think small, our lives will stay small. I found the "action cures fear" mantra to be particularly helpful in my daily life as a manager. I did find the author's reference to Hitler in the solitude chapter to be a very strange and off-putting choice, though. It definitely reminded me that I was reading something from a different era. Overall, it's a very solid motivational tool if you can filter out the occasional weirdness and the 1950s social tropes.

This classic self-help guide provides a fantastic blueprint for anyone wanting to escape a mediocre mindset. I especially loved the concept that action cures fear; it’s a simple shift, but seeing it laid out with practical steps made it click for me. Truth is, the book is a product of its time, so you have to filter out the rigid gender roles where women are mostly relegated to supportive wives. If you can get past that 1959 lens, the advice on visualization and goal-setting is remarkably fresh. I found myself highlighting dozens of passages about how we see ourselves compared to how the world sees us. It’s definitely a motivational powerhouse, even if some of the "real-life" anecdotes feel a bit like unverifiable parables. The first half is definitely the strongest part of the entire experience.

The chapter on 'Excusitis' was the highlight for me, but the rest of the book felt like a bit of a mixed bag. Frankly, the author’s perspective on women is so archaic it’s almost comical, and it really pulled me out of the experience several times. He talks about "the wife" as if she’s a household appliance meant to support the husband’s "big thinking" without having any ambitions of her own. Beyond that, the advice is quite standard for the self-help genre—think positive, work hard, and visualize success. It’s not that the advice is bad; it’s just that it’s been done better and more inclusively in the years since this was published. It’s worth a skim for the historical value, but I wouldn't call it the "bible" of success like some people do.

To be fair, the core message here is quite powerful, but I struggled with the delivery. The book relies heavily on "anecdotal evidence" involving nameless characters like "a baker" or "a salesman I know," which makes the advice feel less grounded in reality. I also found the repetitive nature of the chapters a bit exhausting; he could have easily made his point in 100 pages instead of nearly 300. That said, his breakdown of "Excusitis"—the disease of the failure—is brilliant and very relatable even today. We all make excuses for why we aren't where we want to be. I think it’s a decent read for the historical context of self-help, but I’d suggest taking the more "magical" claims with a grain of salt. It’s helpful, but certainly not a perfect book by any means.

Not what I expected given the glowing reputation this book has in entrepreneur circles. While I appreciate the core message of positivity, I found the author’s tone frequently condescending and his examples incredibly dubious. He constantly references unnamed friends or random businessmen to prove his points, which makes the whole thing feel manufactured. Plus, the ending was genuinely jarring—bringing up Hitler as an example of solitude-driven success felt like a massive lapse in judgment, even for a book written decades ago. The blatant misogyny is also hard to ignore, as it implies women aren't capable of the same "big thinking" as men unless it's in a domestic context. I’d recommend Napoleon Hill or even modern writers over this if you want something that doesn't feel so incredibly dated and problematic.