Confidence

by Norman Vincent Peale

Using the Scripture as his guide, Dr. Peale shares invigorating and confidence boosting ways to, with God’s help, lift yourself up in the face of conflict, helping readers find ways to be enthusiastic in the face of difficulty, conquer stress when it seems insurmountable and overwhelming, and being a confident Christian that friends and loved ones turn to when they’re facing their own difficulties.

Genres: Self Help, Christian

145 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2013

About the author

Dr. Norman Vincent Peale (1898–1993) was a minister and author (most notably of The Power of Positive Thinking) and a progenitor of the theory of "positive thinking".

Peale was born in Bowersville, Ohio. He graduated from Bellefontaine High School, Bellefontaine, Ohio. He has earned degrees at Ohio Wesleyan University (where he became a brother of the Fraternity of Phi Gamma Delta) and Boston University School of Theology.

Raised as a Methodist and ordained as a Methodist minister in 1922, Peale changed his religious affiliation to the Reformed Church in America in 1932 and began a 52-year tenure as pastor of Marble Collegiate Church in Manhattan. During that time the church's membership grew from 600 to over 5000, and he became one of New York City's most famous preachers.

Reviews

[Kelvin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won this book in a giveaway from goodreads.

Funny how sometimes you hear something you need to hear at just the right time. Coincidence? I think not. Thank you to Guideposts for putting out this collection of essays from the late Norman Vincent Peale.

Like most people I was introduced to Mr Peale when I read his classic The Power of Positive Thinking. This little book instills that same positive thinking in the reader. Whether Mr Peale is talking about being an asset to yourself or things worth living for, you finish each chapter with a little more pep in your step. A very good book for anyone that needs a little pick me up.

[Nicki · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book through Goodreads First Reads.

I read this book in one evening, soaking most of it up, pausing to process for a moment or two when something profound called for more reflection. This book was just what I needed at the time I needed it. Lacking confidence in myself and the Lord after more than three months of unemployment, my prayers feeling flat and stale, this book has helped to redirect me. It is profound and timeless, and the author has a gift for touching the human soul and addressing arguments that he knows are likely to come from the reader after he makes a significant claim or statement. The book is filled with Biblical truth and supported by scripture and real-life examples.

There are a couple reasons, however, why I need to give the book four instead of five stars. The first is that in every chapter, Peale talks about people of "this generation" or how things are "these days." I have not lived as long as he did, nor seen as many generations as he had, but I simply can't buy into his seeming belief that humans or society are as a whole worse now than in the past. After all, the past contains slavery, child labor, and the denial to women the right to vote.

On that note, my second reason is that some of the language is sexist. While the message is timeless and genderless, Peale usually uses "he" or "man" instead of gender-neutral terms, and most of his stories are about men. I'm not sure when this book was written--it was published this year although the author died in 1993. Nonetheless, while my intellect can dismiss such language as coming from a certain time, place, and person, it certainly interrupts the message that I need and so many others desire. The most difficult passage for me was on page 113, where he states that women "in this country today" need more strength. I think women, more likely to be single parents than ever before, without the luxury of a financially and emotionally supportive spouse and strong communities behind them--are called to be, and are, stronger than ever before.

Regardless of these small faults, this book has an excellent message. While I read it in one night, I would recommend taking it a chapter a day during difficult times, and using the message to guide your prayer, thoughts, and actions, throughout the day. I plan to read the book again and do just that.

[Charles · Rating 3 out of 5]

As it was a short and uplifting book, a lot of chapters seemed very parallel and much of the book became very tedious because of it. There were about a dozen messages being portrayed that meant the same thing, however, were just worded differently. As somebody who used to be religious, but fell on hard times, I didn't find it re-introducing me to the wonder of Christianity as much as I had hoped. A lot of the messages and black and white "God will give you what you need if you ask for it," sadly made me shake my head with feelings of patronization and over simplifying such a complex subject matter. While I enjoyed the book, unfortunately I found too many lessons I used to follow that hardly panned out the way most of this book said it should. This isn't the book's fault, obviously, however some of it was hard to get through because of this.

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this book through a giveaway here on Goodreads. Anyways I just started reading the book and haven't gotten to finish it just yet or get very far into it. I really enjoy every Norman Vincent Peale book I've read and this one has been no different. I've been lacking a lot of confidence in myself lately and this book has been exactly what I needed. It's really good so far and I can't wait to finish it.

[Sunita Raheja · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has excellent message . I would recommend to read this book during a difficult times and use the message to guide your prayer , thought and action throughout the day. This book is worth for all those who really wants to get strength their difficult times when they feel alone . But this will help to provide strength .
7 minutes ago

[Serge Larose · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is something soothing about Norman Vincent Peale's books. When I find myself needing a boost, I'll read one of his books and feel great afterwards. I enjoy his use of encounters with people and how he incorporated this into his books. Like real life testimonials. Here are some of the ideas or sayings that I retained from the book.

Honesty is the first principle for having better ways to better days.
Self knowledge is the beginning of wisdom.
Believe it into greatness - another way for positive visualization
God pours his illimitable resources into us, fills in our requests
When you fail, make sure to fail forward- Charles F. Kettering
Our times, just like all times, are very good times, if we know what to do with them
The world belongs to the enthusiast who keeps cool

[Helfren · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting book. The content is really good and using the parallels of confidence with the word from the Gospel itself is just spectacular. I love the way the writer is very peculiar with the style of word delivery making the book very readable and very easy to follow. A+ for me for the wording style and how it all pans out into an old train of wisdom.

[Santopo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book from Norman Vincent Peale. It's short but full loaded with great ideas. Very inspiring

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was a lucky winner of this book here on Goodreads. I really liked this book. You can tell that the passages included here were written quite a while ago, but the advice contained is still very relevent. I look forward to reading more of Norman Vincent Peale's books.

[Joe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Received this book from a Goodreads giveaway.

This was my first time reading anything by Dr. Peale and I found it an enjoyable read. He uses some great scriptures to help encourage people in there daily lives.

[Kelsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

i love the book

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

A collection of Norman Vincent Peale's sermons centering around the idea of confidence. This is a very encouraging and positive book. Excellent book to help establish perspective.

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good, upbeat, confidence building material! Self-fulfilling prophecy in many ways with biblical evidence to support text!

[Katherynne Boham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yet another great read by Norman Vincent Peale. I've got positive affirmations on my bathroom mirror! Confidence, here I come.

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book, easy read. Lots of good pointers.

[Paul Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book, I enjoyed reading confidence. Enlightenment if you can grasp the concept of self.

[Philip Edwards · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another Great Book!