What is New Thought?
New Thought is a spiritual and philosophical movement that took shape in the United States during the 19th century. Its writers focused on the role of thought and belief in daily life. The Greats Within presents classic New Thought writing for study and listening, including Florence Scovel Shinn and Wallace D. Wattles.
A short history
The movement is often traced to American writers and teachers of the 1800s, including Phineas Quimby. By the late 19th century it had spread through books, lectures, and independent churches. It was never a single denomination. This page is a historical sketch, not a statement that the ideas work.
Key authors on this site
- Florence Scovel Shinn (1871–1940), The Game of Life and How to Play It (1925)
- Wallace D. Wattles (1860–1911), also known as Wallace Wattles, The Science of Getting Rich (1910)
Where quoting a writer is not cleared, the app uses original labeled summaries and affirmations instead of inventing a quotation. See the Editorial Method.
New Thought and later popular names
In the 20th century, some popular books reused New Thought language under names such as the law of attraction. Historically, New Thought is older and broader than that branding. The Greats Within does not claim that either framework produces results.
How the app presents it
The Greats Within is Lifestyle educational listening, independently produced by Five Explorers Press, LLC. It is not a church, not therapy, and not professional advice. Each session labels quotations, summaries, and affirmations. Narration is AI text-to-speech.
FAQ
What is New Thought?
New Thought is a spiritual and philosophical movement that took shape in the United States during the 19th century. Its writers focused on the role of thought and belief in daily life. The Greats Within presents classic New Thought writing for study and listening. It does not claim that the ideas produce results.
Who are New Thought authors?
Many writers are associated with the movement. This site has pages for Florence Scovel Shinn and Wallace D. Wattles, whose cleared public-domain books we quote.
Is New Thought the same as the law of attraction?
Later popular books reused some New Thought language under names such as the law of attraction. Historically, New Thought is older and broader than that branding. The Greats Within presents classic texts for study. It does not claim that either framework produces results.
Is this a church or therapy?
No. The Greats Within is Lifestyle educational listening, independently produced by Five Explorers Press, LLC. It is not a church, not therapy, and not professional advice.
How does the app present New Thought?
Each daily session uses labeled summaries, quotations from cleared public-domain editions where quoting is allowed, and original affirmations. Narration is AI text-to-speech. See our Editorial Method.
Coming soon to iPhone and Android. No signup form — this opens mail to support@greatswithin.com.