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Thoughts Are Things [Annotated]
Prentice Mulford wrote Thoughts Are Things in 1889, long before more well-known, contemporary authors began writing about the power of thought. Despite being over 100 years old, this is still a very popular book on the power of thinking. Mulford explains we have, in effect, two minds: the mind of the body & the mind of the spirit. The mind of the body is limited & fights change. The mind of the spirit trusts in the Supreme Power which made all things & knows that anything is possible if you believe. Long before the law of attraction became widely known, Mulford theorized that what we talk about & think about is what we attract. He explains that if people talk about disease or suffering, they will eventually bring these to themselves. He also notes that the surest way for a woman to become ugly is to be discontented, cross, complaining, or envious of others. He therefore encourages calling on the help of what he terms the "Supreme Power" to get into the thought current of things that are healthy, natural, strong and beautiful, leaving negative thinking behind.
*** This Ebook Features Dynamic Chapter Navigation Links for a Premium Reading Experience Plus BONUS Video Content.
Prentice Mulford (1834–1891) was a noted literary humorist and California author. In addition, he helped found the New Thought movement.
Mulford was born in Sag Harbor, New York and, in 1856, sailed to California where he would spend the next 16 years. During this time, Mulford spent several years in mining towns, trying to find his fortune in gold, copper, or silver. After leaving the mining life, Mulford ran for a position on the California State Assembly in Sacramento. Although he was nominated, he ultimately lost the election. He returned to San Francisco and began writing for a weekly newspaper, The Golden Era. Mulford spent five years as a writer and editor for various papers and was named by many San Franciscans a "Bohemian," for his disregard for money. Mulford states in his autobiography, "poverty argued for us possession of more brains" (Prentice Mulford's Story 130). He became known for his humorous style of writing and vivid descriptions of both mining life as well as life at sea. In 1872, Mulford returned to New York City, where he became known as a comic lecturer, author of poems and essays, and a columnist for The New York Daily from 1875-1881. Mulford was also instrumental in the founding of the popular philosophy, New Thought, along with other notable writers including Ralph Waldo Emerson. Mulford's book, Thoughts are Things served as a guide to this new belief system and is still popular today.
*** This Ebook Features Dynamic Chapter Navigation Links for a Premium Reading Experience Plus BONUS Video Content.
Prentice Mulford (1834–1891) was a noted literary humorist and California author. In addition, he helped found the New Thought movement.
Mulford was born in Sag Harbor, New York and, in 1856, sailed to California where he would spend the next 16 years. During this time, Mulford spent several years in mining towns, trying to find his fortune in gold, copper, or silver. After leaving the mining life, Mulford ran for a position on the California State Assembly in Sacramento. Although he was nominated, he ultimately lost the election. He returned to San Francisco and began writing for a weekly newspaper, The Golden Era. Mulford spent five years as a writer and editor for various papers and was named by many San Franciscans a "Bohemian," for his disregard for money. Mulford states in his autobiography, "poverty argued for us possession of more brains" (Prentice Mulford's Story 130). He became known for his humorous style of writing and vivid descriptions of both mining life as well as life at sea. In 1872, Mulford returned to New York City, where he became known as a comic lecturer, author of poems and essays, and a columnist for The New York Daily from 1875-1881. Mulford was also instrumental in the founding of the popular philosophy, New Thought, along with other notable writers including Ralph Waldo Emerson. Mulford's book, Thoughts are Things served as a guide to this new belief system and is still popular today.
135 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1908
311 people are currently reading
1062 people want to read
About the author
Prentice Mulford
241 books68 followersPrentice Mulford was a literary humorist and a co-founder of the New Thought movement.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
February 20, 2019
Have you ever thought about some of your BEST $1.00 purchases. 99 cents to be exact?
My dollar spent and 2.5 hours of my time reading this book....was a valuable purchase.
I already shared my thoughts with a friend this morning - even debated about writing a review.... but let me give it a try.
I felt energized from reading “Thoughts Are Things”.
It was a great antidote (reading about our material mind vs. the Spiritual mind), ......
after recently reading about a man’s mind that was suicidal, in “Halibut on the Moon”, by David Vann.
I told my friend Sharon, ( thank you Sharon), this morning how this recharged my inner strength and power. It’s not that I have ‘never’ heard some of the concepts in the book....but by being presently engaged with these enlightened ways of being, and thinking, I felt myself RISE UP... [I bet you want to say, “you go girl”]....haha!
I became clear - I DON’T want to spend the remainder of my life feeling as if age - old age - sickness - and slumpy-negative-moods are inevitable. It’s just NO FUN!
I was reminded AGAIN....about the power of our words- and the difference we CAN make to experience the gifts of life. My muscles instantly felt stronger and my chubby fatty spots on my body melted away. [ I know everyone would read this book if their fatty spots instantly melted away]......😊
DON’T MIND ME....I’m in a goofy mood. ITS THIS BOOKS FAULT!
Getting serous now....(ha)...
The book talked our our two selves. Our lower self can only live and exist as men and women have lived and existed before us. The higher self craves freedom from the limitations, pain and disabilities of the body.
Much more is said about our lower and higher selves.....and as we follow along - it’s as though our ( WHATEVER MIND WE ARE LISTENING WITH), is really getting it....
It all sounds abstract, yet at the same time we understand, are getting it. We are like a magnet to THIS INVISIBLE SOMETHING - WE JUST KNOW! It’s EMPOWERING.
The author talked about the material mind and how it judges entirely from a material or physical standpoint.
The physical mind sees the body as an instrument for the mind or real self to use in dealing with material things.
The material mind becomes sad when we think about our body decaying.
“The spiritual mind attaches little importance to decay.... knowing in such decay that spirit or the moving force of all things is simply taking the dead body or the rotten tree to pieces, and that it will build them up again as before temporarily into some other new physical form of life and beauty”.
The author has a lot to say about raising children - ways they come into the world with their own ‘self’. He talks about older-parents who are supported by their adult children. He says that if the adult child is merely giving from a sense of duty, the parents have their spirits wounded and starved because they ‘feel’ they are endured
encumbrances. Unless real love goes with the gift or service - everyone is suffering.
“Genuine heartfelt love is literally life giving”.
Prentice Mulford....( first book I’ve read by him), offers valuable powerful motivating advice ( for lack of a better word).....to contemplate. This is not a ‘foo-foo-touchy-feely’...book. Very sound insightful wisdom.
Mulford has A LOT to say about all the important things in life.......a child’s mind, sickness, uncompromising opposition, our thoughts and how to manage them, thinking negatively, blame, aging, happiness, the protesting mind, suffering, success, worries, hindering thoughts, moderation, eating moderately because great pleasure comes from moderation, gentleness, kindness, loss, grief, death, healing, and love....
AND MORE!
Mulford says, “we need to be careful of what we think and talk. Because thoughts runs in currents as real as those of air and water. Of what we think and talk we attract to us a current of thought. This acts on your mind or body for good and ill”.
He also talks about our relationship to nature.
“Trees are always giving out an element of life as necessary to man as the air he breaths.
”Communion with nature is something far above a sentiment. It is a literal joining with the Infinite Being. The element received in such joining and acting on mind and body, is as real as anything we see or feel”. LOTS MORE ABOUT HOW CRUCIAL NATURE IS TO OUR WELLNESS!
This small book is PACKED FILLED WITH VALUE ...
A READER COULD HIGHLIGHT SOMETHING ON EVERY PAGE
THIS WOULD MAKE AN INTERESTING BOOK CLUB DISCUSSION. It would bring out personal conversations of everyone’s life journey.
I think most us us DO KNOW when we are being self damaging - too critical of thyself or another. We also DO KNOW when we CHOOSE TO RISE OURSELVES HIGHER....but I’m not so sure we are confident in re-directing negative thoughts easily.
HECK....I COULD write pages on this book. It was written in 1908. A man ahead of his time.
Buy your own copy if interested. It’s a quiet gift for YOURSELVES. ....
Nobody calls you ‘Dear Sugar’....as Cheryl Strayed did so lovingly in “Tiny Beautiful Things”....but if you liked that book - ( I loved it) - then there is a great chance you’ll like this too.
I FEEL KINDA POWERFUL TODAY. I’m also satisfied with daily accomplishments ......(exercise, diet, work chores done, inner voice is happy....even time for an hour soak with my Audiobook companion..
This book contributed to my well being!!!!!!!
Wishing wellness and joy to all my friends - and to those who aren’t!
My dollar spent and 2.5 hours of my time reading this book....was a valuable purchase.
I already shared my thoughts with a friend this morning - even debated about writing a review.... but let me give it a try.
I felt energized from reading “Thoughts Are Things”.
It was a great antidote (reading about our material mind vs. the Spiritual mind), ......
after recently reading about a man’s mind that was suicidal, in “Halibut on the Moon”, by David Vann.
I told my friend Sharon, ( thank you Sharon), this morning how this recharged my inner strength and power. It’s not that I have ‘never’ heard some of the concepts in the book....but by being presently engaged with these enlightened ways of being, and thinking, I felt myself RISE UP... [I bet you want to say, “you go girl”]....haha!
I became clear - I DON’T want to spend the remainder of my life feeling as if age - old age - sickness - and slumpy-negative-moods are inevitable. It’s just NO FUN!
I was reminded AGAIN....about the power of our words- and the difference we CAN make to experience the gifts of life. My muscles instantly felt stronger and my chubby fatty spots on my body melted away. [ I know everyone would read this book if their fatty spots instantly melted away]......😊
DON’T MIND ME....I’m in a goofy mood. ITS THIS BOOKS FAULT!
Getting serous now....(ha)...
The book talked our our two selves. Our lower self can only live and exist as men and women have lived and existed before us. The higher self craves freedom from the limitations, pain and disabilities of the body.
Much more is said about our lower and higher selves.....and as we follow along - it’s as though our ( WHATEVER MIND WE ARE LISTENING WITH), is really getting it....
It all sounds abstract, yet at the same time we understand, are getting it. We are like a magnet to THIS INVISIBLE SOMETHING - WE JUST KNOW! It’s EMPOWERING.
The author talked about the material mind and how it judges entirely from a material or physical standpoint.
The physical mind sees the body as an instrument for the mind or real self to use in dealing with material things.
The material mind becomes sad when we think about our body decaying.
“The spiritual mind attaches little importance to decay.... knowing in such decay that spirit or the moving force of all things is simply taking the dead body or the rotten tree to pieces, and that it will build them up again as before temporarily into some other new physical form of life and beauty”.
The author has a lot to say about raising children - ways they come into the world with their own ‘self’. He talks about older-parents who are supported by their adult children. He says that if the adult child is merely giving from a sense of duty, the parents have their spirits wounded and starved because they ‘feel’ they are endured
encumbrances. Unless real love goes with the gift or service - everyone is suffering.
“Genuine heartfelt love is literally life giving”.
Prentice Mulford....( first book I’ve read by him), offers valuable powerful motivating advice ( for lack of a better word).....to contemplate. This is not a ‘foo-foo-touchy-feely’...book. Very sound insightful wisdom.
Mulford has A LOT to say about all the important things in life.......a child’s mind, sickness, uncompromising opposition, our thoughts and how to manage them, thinking negatively, blame, aging, happiness, the protesting mind, suffering, success, worries, hindering thoughts, moderation, eating moderately because great pleasure comes from moderation, gentleness, kindness, loss, grief, death, healing, and love....
AND MORE!
Mulford says, “we need to be careful of what we think and talk. Because thoughts runs in currents as real as those of air and water. Of what we think and talk we attract to us a current of thought. This acts on your mind or body for good and ill”.
He also talks about our relationship to nature.
“Trees are always giving out an element of life as necessary to man as the air he breaths.
”Communion with nature is something far above a sentiment. It is a literal joining with the Infinite Being. The element received in such joining and acting on mind and body, is as real as anything we see or feel”. LOTS MORE ABOUT HOW CRUCIAL NATURE IS TO OUR WELLNESS!
This small book is PACKED FILLED WITH VALUE ...
A READER COULD HIGHLIGHT SOMETHING ON EVERY PAGE
THIS WOULD MAKE AN INTERESTING BOOK CLUB DISCUSSION. It would bring out personal conversations of everyone’s life journey.
I think most us us DO KNOW when we are being self damaging - too critical of thyself or another. We also DO KNOW when we CHOOSE TO RISE OURSELVES HIGHER....but I’m not so sure we are confident in re-directing negative thoughts easily.
HECK....I COULD write pages on this book. It was written in 1908. A man ahead of his time.
Buy your own copy if interested. It’s a quiet gift for YOURSELVES. ....
Nobody calls you ‘Dear Sugar’....as Cheryl Strayed did so lovingly in “Tiny Beautiful Things”....but if you liked that book - ( I loved it) - then there is a great chance you’ll like this too.
I FEEL KINDA POWERFUL TODAY. I’m also satisfied with daily accomplishments ......(exercise, diet, work chores done, inner voice is happy....even time for an hour soak with my Audiobook companion..
This book contributed to my well being!!!!!!!
Wishing wellness and joy to all my friends - and to those who aren’t!
August 14, 2017
"Why, human thought is a real element, a real force, darting out like electricity from every man's or woman's mind, injuring or relieving, killing or curing, building fortunes or tearing them down, working for good or ill, every moment, night or day, asleep or awake, carving, moulding and shaping people's faces and making them ugly or agreeable."I read - and re-read - each chapter of this book. There's a great deal of wisdom in it and I love Mulford's writing style and train of thought. I shall definitely be reading it again at some point - it needs to be read with an open mind.
November 23, 2011
Timeless, a must read! This book will forever change the way you think about life!
October 20, 2013
There are some moments where this work dates itself: especially when Mulford talks about the powers or spiritual practices of the "Indian" or "Chinaman". He was referring to those folks in the vernacular of his day, but I still found some of those passages cringe worthy.
If you can get beyond that, he has some solid ideas and practices in this work. Read it if you want to know more about the power of thought and belief from one of the founders of the New Thought movement.
If you can get beyond that, he has some solid ideas and practices in this work. Read it if you want to know more about the power of thought and belief from one of the founders of the New Thought movement.
August 28, 2017
This is an intriguing book, first published in 1889, that puts other 'Law of Attraction' style books of today in the shade. This book is not a fast read for you find yourself pondering awhile about what you just read; not just because it strikes a chord, but also because the writing style is fascinating too.
August 26, 2016
Thoughts are things is a rare find. It was defiantly thought provoking and powerful. Every chapter hit home. I found it so interesting, ahead of its time and extremely well written. Loved it, I gave me a new perspective on a few concepts. Looking forward to reading it again.
June 12, 2012
read it 2 yrs ago and as i was going through some changes and looking for "things" and "thinking" alot. How nice when just the right things show up at just the right time.
March 26, 2014
Thoughts are Things was written in 1889 and having read it, I'm totally amazed by it. Yes, the writing is old fashioned, but once you get past that and into the meat of it, you will find food for the mind and spirit. An amazing read.
Read
January 11, 2009So far, I find that if I had read this book several years ago, I wouldn't have needed to buy more than 1/2 of the books on my shelves now. This book says it all. wow.
April 6, 2016
Very captivating for a book published in 1889. Books like The Secret and E squared are spinoffs of this book. Reading it with the Patanjali yoga sutra ,it's completely astounding to see the concept of duality well defined as the mind of the body and mind of the spirit. While in Hindu scriptures the aim is towards transcending dualism towards oneness, this book explains the material mind as the slave of spiritual mind. Interesting read.
January 5, 2008
Great book about the power of thoughts written in the late 1870's and is a precursor to "The Secret" and all that bull. Prentice Mulford is right on, instead of talking about the law of attraction and how to become rich he talks about spiritual transmutation. Read it.
August 14, 2018
Way ahead of his time. Must read!
April 26, 2015
To learn from a contemporary of Emerson, from a person who valued the essence of a person is a strength-generating process -- I understand the transcendent movement to be one which cultivates the energy of a person in constructive and binding ways, constructive in a visible and non-visible sense, and binding in a way that frees the hand for greater layers of constructive thought and action. The action is the drive of the movement, to make visible through motion what is invisible in a static moment.(from 2013)
2014 - November 30th - "The body is always an external correspondence of your mind or spirit." It is an important idea to carry with me through the week. Thoughts should be revisited regularly. When they crystallize it is harder to see what is happening, -- one sees what has happened, and may not perceive current reality.
1st time -- 2011
2nd time -- 2013
3rd start - May 2014
end -- ?
2014 - November 30th - "The body is always an external correspondence of your mind or spirit." It is an important idea to carry with me through the week. Thoughts should be revisited regularly. When they crystallize it is harder to see what is happening, -- one sees what has happened, and may not perceive current reality.
1st time -- 2011
2nd time -- 2013
3rd start - May 2014
end -- ?
August 29, 2017
Every reasoning mind should read and study this book
The underlying principle of Mulford's work, that thoughts are a real force that influences tangible reality, needs to be at the heart of every endeavor taken by leaders, entrepreneurs, authors, and influencers. This book is a starting place for people who want to create for themselves a better world, and who want to shape the world to be a place of wonder.
The underlying principle of Mulford's work, that thoughts are a real force that influences tangible reality, needs to be at the heart of every endeavor taken by leaders, entrepreneurs, authors, and influencers. This book is a starting place for people who want to create for themselves a better world, and who want to shape the world to be a place of wonder.
March 16, 2009
This is one of those books I can't believe was written in the 1890s and just kinda slipped by unnoticed. Mulford's ideas about thoughts as things are articulate, ahead of his (and our) time in his understanding of the simplicity of the field and its material manifestation. His advice offers practical applications for living with a better awareness of reality.
March 17, 2017
Very powerful title that encapsulates the book very nicely. Is like reading the start of NLP, from 100 years ago.
You can listen or read this book for free from Librivox
https://librivox.org/thoughts-are-thi...
You can listen or read this book for free from Librivox
https://librivox.org/thoughts-are-thi...
February 13, 2012
This collection of essays was originally published in 1889. Due to his dated writing style it took me a couple of tries to get into the first essay. Once I did, it was all over. I couldn't put this book down. The last couple of essays are a bit over the top but I found gems of thought among them.
Favorites Essays: One Way to Cultivate Courage & The Infinite Mind in Nature.
Great book if you want to provoke your mind to think beyond the material plane of existence.
Favorites Essays: One Way to Cultivate Courage & The Infinite Mind in Nature.
Great book if you want to provoke your mind to think beyond the material plane of existence.
April 3, 2015
"Our thought is the unseen magnetic, ever attracting its correspondence in things seen and tangible."
Very good read for anyone trying to grasp the concept of thoughts manifesting life. Guard your thoughts!
Very good read for anyone trying to grasp the concept of thoughts manifesting life. Guard your thoughts!
November 2, 2017
PRofound book, honest and strikingly simple wisdom shared on topic. I feel the genuineness of the writer when he suggests turning to the supernatural, power or God to change things that you fight to change.
October 21, 2008
Great views!
February 2, 2014
Excellent! I still can't believe he wrote this in the 1800's! I will call on this book again in the future and recommend it to anyone.
April 5, 2019
It's an old book with a lot of still-relevant ideas.v
January 21, 2024
This old book advocates the idea of “attracting what you want by focusing on your thoughts”. A summary of many modern self-help books. The main idea is: focus on positive thoughts. Don’t dwell on past bad experience. Your thoughts will determine your body state and health.
Overall, not a bad book but I have read too many of these kinds of books to feel entertained by this specific book.
Highlights:
Your thoughts shape your face, and give it its peculiar expression. Your thoughts determine the attitude, carriage, and shape of your whole body. The law for beauty and the law for perfect health is the same. Both depend entirely on the state of your mind; or, in other words, on the kind of thoughts you most put out and receive.
In brief think of strength and power and you will draw it to you. Think of health and you get it.
The thoughts of decay and death are things and forces. When we keep them so much in mind we add elements of decay to the body.
If we analyze what we fear, we shall find we are in mind trying to deal with too much at once of the thing feared.
We need to be careful of what we think and talk. Because thought runs in currents as real as those of air and water. Of what we think and talk we attract to us a like current of thought. This acts on mind or body for good or ill.
Overall, not a bad book but I have read too many of these kinds of books to feel entertained by this specific book.
Highlights:
Your thoughts shape your face, and give it its peculiar expression. Your thoughts determine the attitude, carriage, and shape of your whole body. The law for beauty and the law for perfect health is the same. Both depend entirely on the state of your mind; or, in other words, on the kind of thoughts you most put out and receive.
In brief think of strength and power and you will draw it to you. Think of health and you get it.
The thoughts of decay and death are things and forces. When we keep them so much in mind we add elements of decay to the body.
If we analyze what we fear, we shall find we are in mind trying to deal with too much at once of the thing feared.
We need to be careful of what we think and talk. Because thought runs in currents as real as those of air and water. Of what we think and talk we attract to us a like current of thought. This acts on mind or body for good or ill.
March 14, 2021
The first half of this book was GREAT! But after chapter 9 - I felt like it was unnecessary filler.
One of my favorite quotes - for how thought provoking it is today, with the impact of technology and our endless multi-tasking and distractions, was
“When we dress, eat, walk or do anything with mind placed on something else, we are making the present act irksome; we are training to make every act irksome and disagreeable… and the longer we continue to put it out the more force we add to it, and the more likely it is then to be realized in the physical world.”
It struck me as prescient. How much of our lives really IS lacking appreciation and gratitude and awareness. We are constantly trying to do at least two things at once. e.g. eating while watching TV, but really not savoring or noting either activity. It's sad, and it's definitely motivated me to be more mindful, more present, and as Prentice Mulford would say, more deliberate.
One of my favorite quotes - for how thought provoking it is today, with the impact of technology and our endless multi-tasking and distractions, was
“When we dress, eat, walk or do anything with mind placed on something else, we are making the present act irksome; we are training to make every act irksome and disagreeable… and the longer we continue to put it out the more force we add to it, and the more likely it is then to be realized in the physical world.”
It struck me as prescient. How much of our lives really IS lacking appreciation and gratitude and awareness. We are constantly trying to do at least two things at once. e.g. eating while watching TV, but really not savoring or noting either activity. It's sad, and it's definitely motivated me to be more mindful, more present, and as Prentice Mulford would say, more deliberate.
January 26, 2023
what a privilege to discover this literary treasure
In an age of distraction, it’s a privilege to discover Mr Mulfords writing. As a highly evolved soul, his words reflect the depth of his thoughts. Words hijacked by modern day so-called self help and personal development gurus, repackaged, rebranded into talk shows, books, podcasts and catchy “Laws of” this and that, and “Secrets of” this and that. And this great mind of Preston Mulford stands silently, while others profit from his thinking.
In an age of distraction, it’s a privilege to discover Mr Mulfords writing. As a highly evolved soul, his words reflect the depth of his thoughts. Words hijacked by modern day so-called self help and personal development gurus, repackaged, rebranded into talk shows, books, podcasts and catchy “Laws of” this and that, and “Secrets of” this and that. And this great mind of Preston Mulford stands silently, while others profit from his thinking.
July 28, 2018
This book was written more than one hundred years ago. It's a little hard to be interesting. I would rather recommend its contemporary ''As A Man Thinketh by James Allen'', one of my all-time-favorite books, which is more readable and far better.
September 17, 2020
ch 4: Timidy is ofteb the result of looking at too many difficulties at terrors at once
ch 12: As we find the good in all, we get good, from all.
:- a man nay perish of thirst surrounded by springs of cold water, and of he know not of such springs there are none for him.
ch 12: As we find the good in all, we get good, from all.
:- a man nay perish of thirst surrounded by springs of cold water, and of he know not of such springs there are none for him.
April 27, 2022
Another new age writings about Mind. The author argue that we are part of Divine being in the universe, and thus our mind could control everything. What our mind thinking Thus could be materialize in this realm.
May 20, 2022
Outdated but still some of it feels very relevant. Thought provoking and I like the focus on good thoughts build us up...I am not one for toxic positivity but not concentrating so much on shitty events feels like a step towards a more balanced life to me :-)
May 9, 2018
Some very good thoughts. Worth the read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews