This is Earl Nightingale, by Earl Nightingale.
18 Feb
One of the best investments I’ve EVER made in my life was a small book called:
This is Earl Nightingale.
by Earl Nightingale.
It was published in 1969, and I have an original copy I bought on Amazon for maybe $15.
I’ve obsessively read books since I was younger, and so many of them are phenomenal….but this is THE ONE BOOK I would grab out of my house if it was on fire.
I’m not a very religious person, and I consider this book, the closest thing I have to a Bible.
BUT NEVILLEEEEE….WHY IS THIS BOOK SO GOOD??
The book is just transcripts of a 5-minute radio spot Earl Nightingale used to do in the 1960’s.
He did over 5,000 of these small radio shows about various topics (he was like a blogger back in the day, but his medium was radio).
The book contains about 80 of these transcripts. Each being an average of 3 pages each.
Theoretically I can read each chapter in about 30 seconds. However every damn time I pick up this book, I read one or two chapters, and it literally takes me 10+ minutes or more.
The reason is each chapter is so incredibly thought-provoking, and mind-shifting, and new-idea-giving that they make me sit there and THINK.
THE WAY I USE THE BOOK:
It’s pretty damn simple:
If I’m confused, pissed off, sad, or lazy (or in some similar state that is not desirable)….I pick up this book and open a random chapter.
Within a few minutes of reading, I generally have a paper/pen out and am jotting out the quickest solution to my problems.
It’s almost like a sure-fire way to make me feel better since it gets me thinking RATIONALLY about an issue I may have, rather than just “oh poor me complain complain complain” shitty circular thinking that gets you no where.
I HOPE YOU ENJOY!
I have no affiliation with Earl Nightingale. Or am trying to get anyone to buy the book for any reason whatsoever.
Just thought I’d share what I consider to be one of the greatest investments in myself I’ve ever made.
Reading the book over tea in Kerala, India.
I refer to this book when I have a problem. It’s like a Bible, except without all the fiction.
I love this book. Such a tiny investment has yielded huge results.
A sampling of some of the chapters. I randomly open the book and start reading. Never fails.
Well you’ve made me very curious. I will certainly check it out!
You should….you can thank me (well….actually Earl Nightingale) later!
Hi Nev,
Hey, I was wondering if by any chance your book by Earl Nightingale is the original 1969,
This is Earl Nightingale
Author:Earl Nightingale
Publisher:Garden City, N.Y., Published in co-operation with J.G. Ferguson Pub. Co. by Doubleday, 1969.
Edition/Format: Book : English
I am looking for the first edition and can’t find it for sell anyplace, I have many searches out for it. The book would be for a person who had the original book signed by Earl Nightingale, however it got chewed up by her dog, now she would like the original book bound with the signed page inclosed… anyway if you are interested in selling it, I would be interested in buying it.
Or, if you known of any other ideas of where I can find the book, please pass on any information you have.
Thank you for your time and assistance.
Anne*
Make it a Great Day!
Not for sale…love that thing :-)
There is a copy on Ebay right now that is signed, its $275. It has the 1969 publication date.
Nev,
Thanks for this. I agree with every word – although that is usually the case.
How’s the hand and have you kept up with your shots?
Lar
Yup….finished the 2-week sequence of shots half in the United States, and half in India (that was a big ordeal on its own….)
Nev, how do I get a hold of that book? I’m checking for it on amazon and used copies are like $50….yikes. Know anywhere I can pick up a copy? Thanks for the blog!
- Tom
I’m looking for it as well. Found audio on Audible, which might have similar themes. http://www.audible.com/pd/ref=sr_1_2?asin=B009VRGWKU&qid=1361201123&sr=1-2
Seems after this blog post Amazon is all out as well as others….check the comments on this post, other people have been finding it at random online bookstores
what ? u shaved ??
and yep, take it from an old timer – Big Earl was and still is the MAN
The guy was a rock .
Sometimes I shave. Sometimes I don’t :-)
Apparently “Our Changing World” (which is the radio program the book was based on) was the #1 syndicated program in broadcasting at the time!
Kerala eh?
Ever since reading Radical Simplicity by Jim Merkel I’ve had a hankering to go there someday and witness the Kerala Phenomenon first hand. I know it has its issues, but its an intriguing model nonetheless.
I’m interested in your choice of Cuba and now Kerala.
You up to something Nev? ;-)
Nah….just visiting with parents. I didn’t even know what Kerala was before this trip :-)
(FYI I’m typing this comment from Kerala)!
Haven’t heard of the Kerala Model….but wikipedia’d it. Apparently they’ve done a very good job with education in this state and also economic development.
I was just pulling your leg.
You youngsters are so far ahead of me with your understanding of how to apply the technology at our disposal these days, I become curious when one of you does something radical like turn off your phone and head to an unplugged part of the world, farmers market or some such thing. (things I take for granted ;-)
Enjoy your time away! How is the hand doing by the way?
I once got chomped on the leg, while out for a run, by a dog. Those puncture wounds are a bit of a shock to look at Eh?
Looks like this book is out print. It still might be worth paying a premium to get a decent used copy of it somewhere like Amazon or Abe books. Unless Earl Nightingale has a similar book that’s still available new.
Prob out of print….you’ll have to buy old copies (I like getting old copies, they seem more stoic)!
Check the comments to see where others have got a hold of it
First off thanks for sharing this, Neville! I love finding out about the “hidden” gems that successful people prize.
To help others out I found this handy page to lists some online sources for buying the book.
http://www.openisbn.com/price/038508501X/
Looking forward to checking it out!
Just ordered mine from here for $11. AND for every book you buy they donate a book.
http://www.betterworldbooks.com/book-id-038508501X.aspx?AFID=44#allavailable
Much Success!!
Good find! Hope others can grab it too still
There are a bunch of copies of the book on Abe Books for under $20.
Any idea if this book shares content with “The Essence of Success”? I can’t find it on my shelf at the moment, but I remember it had a similar format.
And yes, oh yes, the things I owe Mr. Nightingale. I’ve been listening to his programs for 30 years. I have all of his audio programs from Nightingale Conant. And several books. And a library of cassettes that were published as a monthly subscription called “Insight”. One side was Mr. Nightingale, the other a guest speaker. I haven’t listened to *those* in years. Thanks for the reminder. Time to digitize!
I have both books…..this one is better (although essence of success is good too….I would grab This is Earl Nightingale if my house was on fire).
Earl puts out only top-notch stuff. I admire his passion for putting out QUALITY.
For those who are curious, you can pick it up for about £20 ($30-35) on abebooks here: http://www.abebooks.co.uk/servlet/SearchResults?bt.x=0&bt.y=0&sts=t&tn=this+is+earl+nightingale
Would probably be cheaper if your from the U.S.A as the shipping costs will be cheaper
Thanks for sharing the find!
Hey Nev,
Thanks for sharing this. I hope your hand is feeling better.
To everyone searching for a reasonably priced copy of the book…I found several copies on AbeBooks for around $20-30. Search for the title instead of the ISBN number and you will find a larger selection.
Hand is about 85% back to normal now.
Looks like a lot of people have been finding it there!
I was just going through my head of all the projects I have to do and wind up getting analysis by paralysis. I could sure you use something that can help me get focus and tackle what must get done. Thanks for sharing this great piece of information. How’s the cow wifi reception. Maybe they could design the wifi routers into different objects like cows and penguins instead of just a standard router look.
Hahaha….in Kerala and thankfully have decent WiFi during a labor union strike (can’t go anywhere cause all roads closed)
Somebody got the $12 edition on bn.com before I could get to it. So I got the $56 one instead off some amazon reseller. Thanks yo. Looking forward to reading it.
Cheerio, rock on yo
Honestly it doesn’t matter if it’s $100 …..TOTALLY worth it.
Nice, just got a copy off Abe’s for $25.
For those who don’t want to spend $ for the book or want some Earl goodness while you wait for yours to ship, I HIGHLY encourage you to download all 36 episodes of his Direct Line show here for free: http://archive.org/details/The_Direct_Line
I’ve made it a practice to listen to them while at the gym and have almost gotten through them all twice now.
Also came across this link for an mp3 of Earl’s “The Strangest Secret” with an introduction by Mark Victor Hansen:
http://www.markvictorhansen.com/mp3/strangest_secret.mp3
I’ve listened to ALLLLL of those. Multiple times each. have them on my iphone.
Also checkout the Strangest Secret:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Y5g2Pe08uc
I know he’s one of the founding fathers of personal development. And since you turned me on to the Boron Letters, I trust your recommendations for sure.
Oh….Earl’s stuff is primo quality. Checkout The Strangest Secret also:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Y5g2Pe08uc
….I’ve listened to it 300+ times over the years
Ok, the Amazon reseller that I attempted to buy this book from notified me that they couldn’t fill my order at $56. So, I’m at the library now checking it out. Would have been nice if Google won the legal battle on its out of print / public domain book project. This begs the question: Whats to stop me from having this book scanned for personal consumption? Not gonna pay $100 for it
Uh … Scratch that last comment. The library would let me leave the building with their copy. I guess it IS worth a hundred bucks.
Meant to say that the library wouldn’t let me leave the building with their copy. So, I just bought a copy from an Amazon reseller for $110.
Absolutely love Earl Nightingale. Holy shit, I haven’t read him in years, but this post inspired me to go back to his work. He’s the best. Better than Napoleon Hill, Charles Haanel, and all of those old American philosophers/businessmen. Reading his work gave me a much needed boost of motivation. Thanks, Neville.
Nev, you should check out books by Orison Swett Marden. He was one of the people who heavily influenced Earl Nightingale.
Here is the wikipedia page about him:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orison_Swett_Marden
People like Henry Ford, Thomas Edison, Harvey Firestone and J.P. Morgan cited his writing as inspiration.
Dear Neville,
Thanks a lot for forcing this book out of stock in every store front on the planet.
No, really, I mean it. I used my internet prowess and undeniable timing to procure a used, original hardcover, and guess what? It is signed by Jesus himself. Or maybe you know him better as Earl Nightingale?
I went OCD to get this book as you recommended, since listening to his ‘direct line’ sessions during long walks in the park completely changed my depressing outlook on life.
I have used my energy to create a chocolate factory run by dogs, in a quaint suburb of los angeles. The Husky taught me first hand how important snickers bars are to their kind, so I embraced the lesson, and now following my dreams.
Please contact me if you are interested in investing in the seed round. We need experienced animal handlers like yourself to help us with the many challenges that arise from teaching animals to make world class chocolate products.
All my best,
As I respect your views and unconventional way of thinking, I was hoping that you could give me an outside perspective on a problem I am having. I think that there is potentially a market for a website that allows buyers and sellers of information to connect. For instance, I think that salespeople would like to buy contact info from people that know who the decision-makers are at a company. I feel that most people know something that might be of value to others. The problem: What other kinds of information might people have that others find valuable enough to pay for? Notehall already does class notes, but I think that there must be other forms of info that is valuable.
Your perspective and thoughts are greatly appreciated.
Thanks!
Anyone have a clue where I can find this book? I searched everywhere!
Two ideas: 1) local used book stores, especially those that don’t sell via the web brokers. 2) Wait a year. That’s what I’m doing. The various web services will have more copies. Unless Nev stokes the fire again.
In the meantime, Mr. Nightingale published *tons* of stuff in various formats. This book is a gem, but Mr. Nightingale was always on target. I don’t think I’ve ever heard or read anything of his that was bad. I recommend with “The New Lead the Field” (audio series). It’s pretty easy to find (heh, until this blog post hits?)
Ok, still not available anywhere. Anyone want to sell me their copy? Or perhaps scan into an ebook?
Sounds like an interesting book. You’ve definitely got me curious now, too. I might just check it out sometime.
It took all this time, but a hardcover copy finally showed up on amazon. Can’t wait to start reading it! Thanks for the recommendation!
Great post thank you Nev!
I have found a copy on Amazon but the price is now £350 Yikes! :-)
http://www.amazon.co.uk/This-Is-Earl-Nightingale/dp/038508501X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1364675406&sr=8-1