One week of inspiration #5 (by Mitch Sisskind)

For twenty years I have written audio programs on business, health, and spirituality for the Nightingale-Conant Corporation in Niles, Illinois. Why, a program I wrote on corporate management has sold tens of thousands of copies -- despite the fact that I can hardly "manage" to get through the morning! And that's not all. I once wrote that a good way to slow down a frenzied lifestyle was to buy a pet tortoise -- despite the fact that tortoise trafficking is a violation of Federal law!

Anyway, this video presents Earl Nightingale, co-founder of Nightingale-Conant, giving a short lecture on Edgar Allen Poe. Although I never met Earl Nightingale I have been told that he possessed one of the most endearing traits anyone can hope for: the habit, in conversation, of correcting other people's grammar. Along with this, he managed to write one of these three minute talks (about 1500 words) five days a week for more than forty years. Mostly they were on radio, but also apparently on TV for at least a while. Recently, the huge self-help best seller called "The Secret" is a blatant ripoff of Earl Nightingale's principle that "you are what you think about." (God help me.) On the other hand, Earl didn't exactly make that up either. Google "The New Thought Movement" and you'll learn a lot about Babbittry and Philistinism. You might even learn how to make some money, goddamnit!

Comments

[Noah Burke]

And I thought I had problems.

[Nin Andrews]

I always loved the idea from the book of Proverbs: "as a man thinketh in his heart, so he is." And the interpretations from self-help books that you can think your way to wealth, health, bliss and oh, so much more. My favorite ad (I think it used to be in the magazine, Pacific Spirit) was one for a CD that could give you instant breasts. All you had to do, the ad claimed, was sit back, relax, and think your body had huge bosoms. The CD, evidently, could help you think this thought. And yes, it would happen! There were even testimonials . . .

And to think, I never bought the CD!!!