Norman Vincent Peale is an American minister and author widely regarded as one of the founding figures of the modern positive thinking movement. Born in Bowersville, Ohio, he became a minister and pastored Marble Collegiate Church in New York City for over 50 years, building one of the most prominent pulpits in the country. He rose to international acclaim with his bestselling book The Power of Positive Thinking, published in 1952, a work that blended Christian faith with practical psychology to argue that optimism, self-belief, and positive affirmation could transform everyday life. The Power of Positive Thinking spent over three years on the New York Times bestseller list and went on to sell millions of copies worldwide, establishing an entire genre of faith-based self-help writing that influenced generations of later authors. Beyond his bestselling work, he co-founded Guideposts magazine and remained an influential religious and cultural figure throughout the mid-20th century, though his theology and political ties drew criticism from some contemporaries within mainstream Christianity. Known for his optimistic, faith-inflected approach to self-improvement, Peale's work continues to shape modern self-help writing and inspire readers across the world.