James Allen
James Allen was a British philosophical writer born in 1864.
After his father's murder when he was 15, Allen worked in manufacturing to support his family.
At 38, inspired by Leo Tolstoy, he retired to pursue a simple life of contemplation with his wife and daughter in Devon, England.
There, he wrote 19 works over nine years, focusing on the power of thought to improve personal capabilities.
His most famous book, As a Man Thinketh, published in 1902, became a classic in the self-help genre.
Allen's works continue to influence people worldwide, including the New Thought movement, despite his lack of fame or wealth during his lifetime.
He died in 1912.
