Personal Development Books and their Authors Quiz

Answer: The Power of Positive Thinking

Author of 46 inspirational books and preacher of Marble Collegiate Church for 52 years, Norman Vincent Peale's fourth and best-known book, "The Power of Positve Thinking" has sold over 20 million copies in 41 different languages. He wrote about how anyone could put positive thinking and strong faith to work in their lives. Norman Vincent Peale died in 1993, aged 95 years.

Answer: The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People

Stephen Covey introduces the seven habits one by one, and they build on each other, each becoming more complex than the previous habit. He has since written follow-up books such as "Seven Habits for Highly Effective Families" and "Principle-Centred Leadership".

Answer: Chicken Soup for the Soul

After three years of compliling and rewriting stories, the authors approached publishers. The story is so amazing, I here quote their website, www.chickensoup.com/
"in the first month alone, thirty-three of New York's biggest publishing houses turned them down. Jack and Mark heard, "Anthologies don't sell." "We don't think there is a market for this book." "We just don't get it." "The book is too positive." "It's not topical enough." All totaled, they were rejected by 140 publishers. To top it off, their agent said, "I can't sell this book - I'm giving it back to you guys."

In 1992, Jack and Mark attended the American Booksellers' Association Convention. There, they went from booth to booth talking to editors and sharing their vision of how their book would uplift humanity by helping people open their hearts, rekindle their spirits and give them the courage to pursue their dreams. They left a copy of their manuscript with Peter Vegso, President of Health Communications, Inc. who caught the spirit of the book and soon agreed to publish it."

The website, after listing the multitude of awards given to the book and its many offspring, summarises, "With 80 million copies sold, 65 titles and 37 languages, Chicken Soup for the SoulŪ has made international publishing history. "

Yes, it has, and if you haven't read any of the books, I truly recommend them.

Answer: The Magic of Thinking Big

"The Magic of Thinking Big" is about setting one's goals high and thinking positively to achieve them. Schwartz discovered that successful people were not necessarily different to others, they just had higher goals and expectations; basically, they thought big. The book talks about how to achieve what you want by changing your thought patterns and thought habits.

Answer: Awaken the Giant Within

Motivational speaker Robbins writes about how to harness the powers within us to be successful. The book is sub-titled, "How to Take Immediate Control of Your Mental, Emotional, Physical, & Financial Destiny". Tony is 6'7" and his birthday is on the 29th February, so although he was born in 1961, he claims to be only 11 years old!

Answer: Mars

"Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus" was published in 1992. Gray, an experienced marriage counsellor and seminar leader, explains how to understand differences between the sexes in terms of communication styles, emotional needs and modes of behaviour. He shows how men and women differ in how they express love and how each sex can use this knowledge to improve their relationships.

Answer: How to Win Friends and Influence People

"How to Win Friends and Influence People" teaches skills for communication, relationships, building charisma and persuasiveness. Since it was first published in 1937, the book has sold over 15 million copies.

Answer: Deepak Chopra

Deepak Chopra, M.D. is the author of more than 20 books and 30 audio and video tapes. He also directs educational programmes at The Chopra Center for Well Being in La Jolla, California.

Answer: Rich Dad, Poor Dad

"Rich Dad, Poor Dad" was at first self-published in 1997 and Kiyosaki sold it on his motivational speaking tour, but the book really took off later when publishing company Warner Business Books took it on. Kiyosaki has sub-titled the book, "What the Rich Teach Their Kids About Money--That the Poor and Middle Class Do Not!" Essentially the book teaches that it is not high income that makes a person wealthy, but rather how they learn to manage their money.

He makes many comparisons between his high-income father (Poor Dad) who ended up owning his house and little else, and his friend Mike's father (rich Dad) who constantly worked his money and became very wealthy.

Answer: Edward De Bono

De Bono's books include "The Six Thinking Hats", "Teach Your Child How to Think" and "Teach Yourself How to Think".

Edward de Bono was born in Malta in 1933. During World War 1 he attended St Edward's College, Malta, and graduated in medicine from the University of Malta. He studied as a Rhodes Scholar at Christ Church, Oxford, gaining an honours degree in psychology and physiology and then a D.Phil in medicine and a PhD from Cambridge. He has held appointments at the universities of Oxford, London, Cambridge and Harvard. De Bono is best known for his work on the six thinking hats (red, white, black, yellow, green, blue) which represent different levels of thinking, such as looking at the facts, gut reaction, considering the bad points, the optimistic viewpoint and creative solutions.