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CHEERFULNESS AS LIFE POWER: The Unseen Force Behind Success and Prosperity - Orison Swett Marden (1899)
CHEERFULNESS AS A LIFE POWER: The Unseen Force Behind Success and Prosperity - by Orison Swett Marden (1899) — HQ Full Book.
Orison Swett Marden, the father of modern success writing and founder of Success Magazine, laid the foundation for the personal development genre with his emphasis on positive thinking, self-discipline, and relentless perseverance. His works became a blueprint for future motivational giants, including:
- Napoleon Hill (Think and Grow Rich) – Expanded on Marden’s belief in visualization and the power of thought to manifest success.
- Dale Carnegie (How to Win Friends and Influence People) – Adopted Marden’s principles of optimism and personal magnetism in human relations.
- Norman Vincent Peale (The Power of Positive Thinking) – Championed Marden’s philosophy that mindset shapes reality.
- James Allen (As a Man Thinketh) – Echoed Marden’s conviction that thought determines destiny.
- Earl Nightingale (The Strangest Secret) – Reinforced Marden’s teachings on self-belief and the law of attraction.
In Cheerfulness as a Life Power, Orison Swett Marden explores the transformational force of a sunny disposition, arguing that a cheerful heart is not just a pleasant accessory to life, but a vital source of energy, resilience, and influence. Drawing on his trademark mix of inspirational anecdotes, practical insight, and moral philosophy, Marden builds a compelling case that cheerfulness is not only good for the soul—it’s essential for success, happiness, and human connection.
This compact but powerful volume—part philosophy, part encouragement, part life guide—shows how joy, optimism, humor, and good nature are not luxuries, but necessities in a world so often weighed down by anxiety, seriousness, and fatigue. Marden’s work invites readers to cultivate joy deliberately, to treat cheerfulness not as an accident of temperament, but as a chosen life power—one that can be nurtured like any other virtue.
Through a rich blend of character studies, real-life examples, and practical observations, the book serves both as a remedy for modern life's tensions and a manual for those who wish to live more joyfully and successfully.
Chapter Summaries:
I. What Vanderbilt Paid for Twelve Laughs
The Laugh Cure: Marden begins by telling of William H. Vanderbilt, who once paid dearly for something most take for granted—laughter. This sets the stage for the book’s central thesis: that laughter and joy are healing forces. Marden describes how humor and cheer have the power to lift spirits and even cure physical ailments, a theme he expands throughout the book.
A Cheap Medicine: Cheerfulness is depicted here as nature’s own medicine—free and accessible to all. Marden emphasizes that joyfulness improves mental health, physical vitality, and social harmony.
Why Don’t You Laugh?: This section challenges readers to reflect on their own seriousness or somberness. Why do we stifle laughter in adulthood? Marden argues for the daily embrace of mirth as a life-affirming choice.
II. The Cure for Americanitis
A Worrying Woman: Marden presents a character sketch of a perpetually anxious woman, illustrating how worry diminishes life quality. He urges readers to release chronic stress and lighten their mental load.
Our Hawaiian Paradise: Here, he contrasts the laid-back, joy-filled attitudes of the Hawaiian people with the anxious rush of American culture. Their happiness, he suggests, comes from simplicity, gratitude, and presence.
A Weather Breeder: A humorous metaphor for those who “breed” bad moods the way certain weather conditions breed storms. Marden uses this image to encourage readers to stop contr
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