Updated November 2, 2026 · reading data through September 2026
The Power of Positive Thinking
by Norman Vincent Peale
A minister argues that your habitual thoughts shape your results, and offers practical exercises in faith, affirmation and visualization to build confidence. It is a warm, plainspoken guide to replacing self-doubt with a more hopeful outlook. Read the full description
Best for: Readers seeking an old-school, faith-flavored guide to confidence and optimism
The Power of Positive Thinking is #44 on BookWard's Top 100 books for November 2026, with a BookWard Score of 66 out of 100. It is new on the chart this month.
BookWard review of The Power of Positive Thinking
4 of 5 stars 4.0 out of 5, from 132 reader ratings
BookWard rates The Power of Positive Thinking 4.0 out of 5. That is the average of 132 reader ratings on Open Library (4.08), adjusted toward the typical book so that a small number of ratings cannot inflate it. Beyond the rating, it is #44 on BookWard's Top 100 books; 4,185 readers want to read it, 378 are reading it right now and 131 have finished it.
How this rating works
BookWard’s rating is calculated, not hand-scored. We take the average rating readers have given the book on Open Library and adjust it toward the typical book: adjusted = (n × average + 25 × 3.8) ÷ (n + 25), where n is the number of ratings. A book needs at least 50 ratings to be rated. The rating reflects how readers received the book, not whether it is right for you. Your own ratings on your shelf are private and are not part of this number.
The Power of Positive Thinking: reading interest over the past 12 months
Sources: Open Library’s public reading-log and ratings data (dump of 2026-09-30), Wikipedia page views and Wikidata. Monthly counts are exact; they show relative interest among readers of these public sources, not total readership.
Ranked against the other books on this list, The Power of Positive Thinking’s reading interest has run from #87 to #99 over these 12 months. Interest rank blends shelf adds, Wikipedia page views and rating activity, each compared with the other 99 books that month.
Shelf adds by month
The Power of Positive Thinking was added to Open Library readers’ shelves 301 times in the past 12 months, peaking in November 2025 with 38 (51% above its monthly average of 25). Over the latest three months (Jul 2026 to Sep 2026) shelf adds were down 15% on the three months before. 88% of the adds were “want to read”, 9% “currently reading” and 3% “already read”.
Want to read Currently reading Already read
Wikipedia page views
Its Wikipedia article was viewed 61,318 times in the past 12 months, peaking in January 2026 with 6,539 views. The latest three months were down 21% on the three before.
Source: Wikimedia monthly page views for the article The Power of Positive Thinking.
What the data says about The Power of Positive Thinking
- Moderate swings. Monthly shelf adds averaged 25 with some ups and downs.
- Busiest and quietest months. November 2025 was its busiest month (38 adds), about 3.5 times its quietest, August 2026 (11).
- Against its genre. It had 85% fewer shelf adds than the average Self-help book on this list.
- Share of the list. It accounts for 0.3% of all shelf adds recorded for the Top 100 over these 12 months, #93 of 100.
- Its age. First published in 1952 (74 years ago), it is older than 83% of the books on the list.
Each finding is computed from the public data above and shown only when the numbers support it.
The Power of Positive Thinking on the Top 100: rank history
First charted in November 2026. The chart gains a point with every monthly update, so its peak, climbs and falls will show here as they happen.
| Month | Rank | Score |
|---|---|---|
| November 2026 | #44 | 66 |
Is The Power of Positive Thinking rising or falling?
Holding steady Its weekly, monthly and yearly ranks are close together, so interest is steady rather than spiking.
On Open Library, The Power of Positive Thinking ranks #87 this week, #80 this month, and #164 over the past year. A longer bar means a higher position. Comparing the three windows shows whether readers are arriving faster than the book's long-term pace. Readings as of 2026-11-02.
Why The Power of Positive Thinking made the Top 100
The Power of Positive Thinking made the list mainly on momentum (+24.1 points) and being read right now (+20.1 points). Its smallest contribution is rising (+2.9). The BookWard Score blends five public signals, each scored from 0 to 100 and weighted as shown.
The reading-now, rating and rank signals come from Open Library’s public data, not from BookWard’s own readers. The score measures reading interest, not quality or sales. How the score works.
Open Library reader stats for The Power of Positive Thinking
Source: Open Library public reading logs, as of 2026-11-02. BookWard’s own monthly snapshots are added to the picture, and anonymous BookWard reader data will be layered in as the community grows.
More readers have The Power of Positive Thinking open right now than 64% of the other books on this list. These counts come from one public source, so they show relative interest rather than total readership.
Where it sits among Self-help books
It is #8 of the 14 Self-help books on this month’s list.
About The Power of Positive Thinking
What it’s about
Norman Vincent Peale, a minister, wrote this 1952 self-help book as a practical guide to the problems of everyday living. His central claim is that most obstacles are mental in character, and that people who choose to believe in success, rather than defeat, give themselves a real advantage. He opens with ten rules for overcoming feelings of inadequacy, including picturing yourself succeeding and repeating Bible verses daily.
The chapters lean on anecdotal case histories, and the techniques are mostly affirmations and visualizations rooted in a biblical outlook. Peale argues that happiness is a choice, that worry gets in its way and should be dropped, and that prayer can ease physical and emotional troubles. One chapter turns to winning others over, with advice such as remembering names and praising people generously. Scholars and health experts reviewed it poorly, but ordinary readers took to it. It suits anyone who wants an earnest, encouraging push toward confidence, calmer nerves, and better relationships at home and at work.
At a glance
- First published
- 1952
- Genre
- Self-help
- Also described as
- non-fiction
- Length
- about 276 pages (the median across its editions)
- Original language
- English
- Languages
- editions in 3 languages listed on Open Library
- Editions
- 91 on Open Library
From Open Library and Wikidata public records. Missing rows mean the records do not list that fact.
What reading it is like
At about 276 pages it is a medium-length read: roughly 6 hours at an average reading pace (about 250 words a minute, 300 words a page). Audiobook and edition lengths vary.
The premise
A minister and speaker argues that the way you think shapes how your life unfolds. He offers faith-based advice and practical mental habits aimed at building confidence and hope.
What you’ll get
- Encouraging, upbeat advice
- Simple mental exercises
- A classic self-help voice
You might skip it if you prefer research-backed psychology to inspirational, faith-flavored guidance.
Pairs well with: The Power of Your Subconscious Mind · Think and Grow Rich
Keep exploring the chart
Also on the chart at #43 and #45
Questions about The Power of Positive Thinking
What rank is The Power of Positive Thinking on the Top 100 books?
The Power of Positive Thinking is #44 on BookWard's Top 100 books for November 2026, with a BookWard Score of 66 out of 100. It is new on the chart this month.
Is The Power of Positive Thinking rising or falling?
Holding steady. Its weekly, monthly and yearly ranks are close together, so interest is steady rather than spiking. On Open Library, The Power of Positive Thinking ranks #87 this week, #80 this month, and #164 over the past year.
Why is The Power of Positive Thinking on the Top 100?
The Power of Positive Thinking made the list mainly on momentum (+24.1 points) and being read right now (+20.1 points). Its smallest contribution is rising (+2.9).
How many people are reading The Power of Positive Thinking right now?
Open Library's reading logs show 378 readers currently reading The Power of Positive Thinking, 4,185 who want to read it and 131 who have logged it as read (as of 2026-11-02). These are counts from one public source, not all readers.
How much interest has The Power of Positive Thinking had over the past year?
301 Open Library shelf adds in the past 12 months (peak November 2025, 38); latest three months down 15% on the prior three; 61,318 Wikipedia views in the past 12 months (down 21% over the latest three months). Figures come from Open Library and Wikipedia public data.
Who is The Power of Positive Thinking best for?
Readers seeking an old-school, faith-flavored guide to confidence and optimism.
Ask a question about The Power of Positive Thinking
Ask about this book's chart history, reading interest, or who it is for. Answers come from this page's data and can be wrong.
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How we know
This page is built from public data: Open Library’s dated reading-log and ratings dumps, Wikipedia page views, Wikidata, and BookWard’s own monthly Top 100 snapshots. The interest rank blends shelf adds (45%), Wikipedia page views (30%), rating activity (10%) and, for months where a snapshot exists, BookWard’s own score (15%), each as a percentile among the Top 100 books. Every month shown is real data; nothing is estimated. Rankings reflect reading interest, not quality or sales, and can be affected by data gaps. Last updated November 2026. Read the full methodology.
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