How to Get What You Want

How to Get What You Want by Wallace D. Wattles is a classic work of personal development that explores the power of thought, purpose, and disciplined action in achieving success. Written in Wattles' clear and encouraging style, the book presents the idea that lasting achievement begins with a definite vision of what one truly desires. Rather than relying on luck or circumstance, the author argues that people can shape their lives by developing confidence, maintaining a positive mental attitude, and acting with persistence and integrity.

Throughout the book, Wattles emphasizes that success is not simply about acquiring wealth or status but about living a life that reflects one's highest aspirations. He encourages readers to identify meaningful goals, replace fear and doubt with faith, and cultivate habits that support steady progress. The book stresses that thoughts influence actions, and consistent, purposeful effort is essential for turning dreams into reality. According to Wattles, opportunities often arise for those who prepare themselves mentally and remain committed even when faced with setbacks.

Written in a straightforward and accessible manner, How to Get What You Want combines practical guidance with motivational insights that continue to resonate with modern readers. Its central message is one of personal responsibility, optimism, and self-belief. More than a guide to achievement, the book invites readers to recognize their inner potential, approach life with determination, and understand that meaningful success is built through clear thinking, constructive habits, and unwavering perseverance.

Wallace D. Wattles was an American author and a pioneer success writer. A practical author, Wattles encouraged his readers to test his theories on themselves rather than take his word as an authority, and he claimed to have tested his methods on himself and others before publishing them.
Born in the mid 1800s during the War between the States, Wallace D. Wattles experienced a life of failure after failure, until he formulated and put into practice the principles laid out in 'The Science of Getting Rich'.
His daughter Florence notes that in those last years, "He wrote almost constantly. It was then that he formed his mental picture. He saw himself as a successful writer, a personality of power, an advancing man, and he began to work toward the realization of this vision. He lived every page... His life was truly the powerful life."
Although Mr. Wattles died relatively young, and although his work was largely forgotten for years, those who have studied and applied these principles throughout the 20th century have experienced remarkable results. They have gotten rich!
Rhonda Byrne told a Newsweek interviewer that her inspiration for creating the 2006 hit film The Secret and the subsequent book by the same name, was her exposure to Wattles's The Science of Getting Rich. Byrne's daughter, Hayley, had given her mother a copy of the Wattles book to help her recover from her breakdown.