Argues that individuals must work hard to achieve their own fulfillment, discusses the importance of perseverance, energy, and courage, and warns of the abuse of money

Self-help: With Illustrations of Conduct and Perseverance

Smiles, Samuel

Business & Money

Penguin??Books

A bestseller immediately after its publication in 1859, Self-Help propelled its author to fame and rapidly became one of Victorian Britain's most important statements on the allied virtues of hard work, thrift, and perseverance. Interpreted by some as a paean to personal avarice, Smiles's most celebrated book is in fact a practical and engaging tribute to the working- and lower-middle classes, in whom he identified the capacity for self-improvement and for whom he tirelessly advocated the right of social advancement. Part practical guide, part proverbial testament, part secular hagiography, this literary hybrid turns biography into an inspirational medium that awakens the reader to their own potential and instills the desire to succeed. Smiles's book is the precursor of today's motivational and self-help literature, although its vision is significantly more cosmopolitan than that of most books in an ever-expanding genre.

Self-Help (Oxford World's Classics)

Biographies & Memoirs

Oxford University Press

A bestseller immediately after its publication in 1859, Self-Help propelled its author to fame and rapidly became one of Victorian Britain's most important statements on the allied virtues of hard work, thrift, and perseverance. Interpreted by some as a paean to personal avarice, Smiles's most celebrated book is in fact a practical and engaging tribute to the working- and lower-middle classes, in whom he identified the capacity for self-improvement and for whom he tirelessly advocated the right of social advancement. Part practical guide, part proverbial testament, part secular hagiography, this literary hybrid turns biography into an inspirational medium that awakens the reader to their own potential and instills the desire to succeed. Smiles's book is the precursor of today's motivational and self-help literature, although its vision is significantly more cosmopolitan than that of most books in an ever-expanding genre. About the Series: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the broadest spectrum of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, voluminous notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.

Arts & Literature

Self-Help was one of the great success stories of Victorian publishing. It sold twenty thousand copies in the year of its publication and nearly a quarter of a million by the end of the century. It was translated into many languages, including Japanese. In the context of the current debate about the de-moralising effects of the welfare state, Self-Help seems as relevant as the day it was published. After well-meaning politicians from all three parties have tested state welfare to destruction, Smiles offers a surer basis for a more enduring consensus.

Self-Help

Economics

Inst of Economic Affairs

They were the giants of the age whose works still dominate the British landscape; self-made men who, through their own intelligence, creativity and hard work, became the architects of the industrial revolution. No wonder that the Victorian writer and social reformer Samuel Smiles admired them and no wonder his biographies of these master engineers were so popular, handed to factory workers at the end of their apprenticeships as a sign of what could be achieved by industrious men from humble backgrounds.It was during the 18th and 19th centuries that British engineers built a magnificent system of lighthouses, canals, railways, roads and bridges - works which are still in use today and loved as much for the elegance of their design as for their utility. It was a triumph of man's ingenuity, as engineers surmounted formidable technical and physical obstacles.James Watt pioneered the steam engine, which would provide 'what all the world desired - power', but there was near bankruptcy along the path to success, with Watt complaining of the 'rascality of mankind'. George Stephenson began life as a colliery worker, and his first invention, the miners' safety lamp, was aimed at a danger he understood all too well. Yet this was overshadowed by his second - and most famous invention - the steam locomotive. Smiles marveled at such engineering feats, but his account is also filled with anecdotes which create a vivid, arresting picture of the men themselves.

Lives of the Engineers: Selections from Samuel Smiles

History

Mit Pr

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

El Carácter (Spanish Edition)

Soulère, Emilio Augusto

Wentworth Press

Lives of the Engineers: History of Roads. Metcalfe. Telford

Franklin Classics

The Life of Thomas Telford, Civil Engineer: With an Introductory History of Roads and Travelling in Great Britain

Europe

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Smiles, Samuel. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by Smiles, Samuel

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Smiles, Samuel. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Self-help: With Illustrations of Conduct and Perseverance

Self-Help (Oxford World's Classics)

Self-Help (Oxford World's Classics)

Self-Help

Lives of the Engineers: Selections from Samuel Smiles

El Carácter (Spanish Edition)

Lives of the Engineers: History of Roads. Metcalfe. Telford

Lives of the Engineers: History of Roads. Metcalfe. Telford

The Life of Thomas Telford, Civil Engineer: With an Introductory History of Roads and Travelling in Great Britain

The Life of Thomas Telford, Civil Engineer: With an Introductory History of Roads and Travelling in Great Britain