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Is The Science Of Being Great Worth Reading For Self-Improvement?
2026-03-24 05:55:43
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4 Answers
Ian
Favorite read:
When I Devoted Myself to Science
Contributor
Firefighter
I loaned my copy to a friend who’s big into stoicism, and their reaction surprised me. They called it 'Emerson meets a pep talk'—which tracks! Wattles blends transcendentalist vibes with punchy directives. Chapter 3’s breakdown of 'the power of purpose' is gold, though the repetitive structure might irk some. If you’ve read 'The Magic of Thinking Big,' this feels like its grittier ancestor. Worth it for the historical context alone, but skip if you’re allergic to earnest, pre-psychology era optimism.
2026-03-26 05:47:07
5
Gideon
Favorite read:
Unlearning You
Bibliophile
Photographer
You know that feeling when a book just clicks? For me, 'The Science of Being Great' did that during a slump. Wattles’ core idea—that greatness stems from relentless focus, not innate talent—flipped my perspective. I’d been obsessing over shortcuts, but his bluntness ('The weak wait for opportunities; the strong create them') shook me awake. It’s not about flashy tactics; it’s about cultivating an unshakable mindset. Pair this with 'Psycho-Cybernetics' for a knockout combo on reshaping self-image.
2026-03-27 21:01:21
18
Andrew
Favorite read:
His Billion-Dollar Secret
Honest Reviewer
Translator
Three takeaways stuck with me: 1) Wattles treats self-doubt like a math problem—solvable through logic. 2) His 'no excuses' tone borders on harsh, but that’s the point. 3) The book’s brevity (under 150 pages) means zero fluff. Perfect for commute reads if you’re tired of fluffy modern advice. Just don’t expect TED Talk smoothness—this is more like a stubborn uncle’s life lecture.
2026-03-28 05:30:21
15
Priscilla
Favorite read:
The Illusion of Happiness
Bibliophile
Student
Wallace D. Wattles' 'The Science of Being Great' has been sitting on my shelf for years, and I finally cracked it open last month. At first, I was skeptical—another early 20th-century self-help book? But there’s a raw, almost rebellious energy to Wattles’ writing that feels refreshingly direct. He doesn’t dance around vague affirmations; he hammers home the idea that greatness is a practice, not an accident. The book’s insistence on aligning thought with action reminded me of modern cognitive-behavioral techniques, just wrapped in old-school phrasing.
That said, some parts haven’t aged gracefully. The language can feel overly rigid, and his focus on 'the Certain Way' might frustrate readers who prefer concrete steps. But if you’re into philosophical groundwork—like how James Allen’s 'As a Man Thinketh' explores mental discipline—this complements it well. I ended up dog-earing chapters on persistence, which cut deeper than I expected.
That said, some parts haven’t aged gracefully. The language can feel overly rigid, and his focus on 'the Certain Way' might frustrate readers who prefer concrete steps. But if you’re into philosophical groundwork—like how James Allen’s 'As a Man Thinketh' explores mental discipline—this complements it well. I ended up dog-earing chapters on persistence, which cut deeper than I expected.
2026-03-28 12:19:24
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4 Answers2026-03-24 02:24:43
Ever since I stumbled upon 'The Science of Being Great,' I've been on a relentless hunt for similar books that crack the code to personal power. What sets these gems apart is their focus on mindset shifts—books like 'Think and Grow Rich' by Napoleon Hill or 'The Power of Now' by Eckhart Tolle don’t just preach motivation; they dissect the mechanics of self-mastery. 'The 48 Laws of Power' by Robert Greene takes a grittier approach, blending historical anecdotes with ruthless pragmatism.
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Does The Science of Being Great explain how to achieve power?
4 Answers2026-03-24 05:24:36
The book 'The Science of Being Great' by Wallace D. Wattles is more about personal mastery and self-actualization than raw power in a conventional sense. It dives into principles like mental discipline, purpose, and aligning with universal laws to elevate oneself. It’s not a Machiavellian guide to dominance but rather a philosophical take on inner strength. The idea of 'power' here is transformative—like the quiet confidence of a martial artist rather than the flashy aggression of a brawler.
Wattles’ approach resonates with me because it frames greatness as something cultivated through consistent thought and action, not coercion. It’s less about controlling others and more about mastering your own potential. The book’s emphasis on visualization and persistence reminds me of how athletes or artists train—power comes from refinement, not force. If you’re expecting a playbook for manipulation, you’ll be disappointed. But if you want a blueprint for enduring influence, it’s gold.
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3 Answers2026-04-30 15:22:19
I've read a ton of self-improvement books over the years, and the ones that really stick with me are those that blend personal anecdotes with solid research. Books like 'Atomic Habits' by James Clear or 'The Power of Habit' by Charles Duhigg dive deep into the psychology behind behavior change, citing studies that explain why certain strategies work. What I love about these is how they translate complex research into actionable steps—like how habit loops form or why tiny changes can lead to big results. They don’t just feel motivational; they’re grounded in neuroscience and behavioral science.
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