In justice to myself, I think it well to state that this work has been somewhat hastily prepared from the notes used by me in certain lectures, the lessons give herein practically being the syllabi of said lectures. In the lectures, and in this work, my one and only purpose has been to acquaint the students with the means of developing and effectively using the mighty forces latent within him - personal magnetism and psychic influence.

To this end, I have scarified all pretensions to literary style, all attempts to secure felicity of diction. I have felt that I had a message to deliver, and I endeavored to deliver it promptly, clearly, and plainly, without any attempt at "fine writing". If a homely word seemed to express my thought, I used it. If a slang term or semi-slang phrase seemed to fit in, in it went.

I trust that my critics will spare themselves the trouble of pointing out my many defects of style and composition - I fully realize these things. I have subordinated everything else in my endeavor to make this work plain and practical. This is an explanation, not an apology.

With the above understanding between us, I submit this little work to your kind consideration. Whilst fully cognizant of its defects, I still feel that it will be helpful to some of the many who are endeavoring to overcome unfavorable environments, for which it may serve as a guidepost, pointing out the past to better things. I feel that it will do its share of the work of removing fear thought from the minds of men, of replacing "I can't" with "I can and I will." I feel that I must do these things, for it contains within it the germs of a mighty truth.