James Allen was born in Leicester, England, in 1864. After the unexpected death of his father, he left school at age fifteen in order to help support his family. For the next twenty-three years, Allen worked, read, and observed the world around him. At age thirty-eight, he wrote From Poverty to Power, one of the first motivational books. His next book, As a ManThinketh, established his reputation as an inspirational writer. Although his writing career lasted only ten years, until his death in 1912, Allen produced twenty titles, which continue to motivate and inspire.