James Allen was born in Leicester, England in 1864. After the unexpected death of his father, he left school at the age of fifteen in order to support himself and his family. For the next twenty-three years, Allen worked, read, and carefully observed the world around him. It was not until he was thirty-eight that he wrote his first book, From Poverty to Power, one of the first motivational books. His next book, As a Man Thinketh, established his reputation as an inspirational writer. Although his writing career lasted for only ten years, until his death in 1912, Allen produced twenty titles. While Allen was never recognized as a major writer in his own lifetime, his works of motivation and inspiration have influenced millions in the same manner as the words of Dale Carnegie and Norman Vincent Peale. In fact, Allen's work As a Man Thinketh continues to sell and inspire today's generation.