The Magic of Thinking Big: The motivational bestseller on the power of positive thinking

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About This Book

The Magic of Thinking Big by David J. Schwartz argues a single, repeated premise: success is determined not by the size of your brain, but by the size of your thinking. Schwartz frames belief as the "thermostat that regulates what we accomplish." When you genuinely believe something can be done, your mind goes to work finding ways to do it; when you believe it's impossible, your mind proves why. This conviction—not raw intelligence—separates achievers from brilliant people who fail.

The book functions as a training program, providing both the what-to-do and concrete how-to-do-it exercises. Its core themes include:

Believe big. The size of your success matches the size of your belief; never sell yourself short.
Action cures fear. Indecision and postponement fertilize fear, while constructive action conquers it.
Build confidence through behavior. Sit up front, make eye contact, walk 25 percent faster, speak up, and smile—managed motions change emotions.
Manage your memory bank. Deposit only positive thoughts and refuse to recall the negative ones that grow into "mind monsters."
Think and visualize big. Use the big thinker's vocabulary, see things as they can be, and practice adding value to things, people, and yourself.
Avoid the triviality trap. Keep your eyes on the big objective and ask, "Is it really important?"

Schwartz closes with the creative I-can-do-better attitude, the discipline of capturing ideas before they escape, and the success formula: do what you do better, and do more of what you do. Throughout, his message is practical and unwavering—capacity is a state of mind, and you can deliberately enlarge it through daily practice.

Key Takeaways

1.Belief is the thermostat of achievement—what you genuinely believe you can do shapes what your mind helps you accomplish.
2.Action cures fear, while indecision and postponement only magnify it.
3.You can change attitudes by changing behavior—smiling, eye contact, and standing tall create real confidence.
4.Guard your memory bank: deposit only positive thoughts and refuse to recall negatives that grow into "mind monsters."
5.Visualize what can be, not just what is, and practice adding value to things, people, and yourself.
6.Avoid the triviality trap by repeatedly asking, "Is it really important?" and keeping your eyes on the big objective.
7.Capacity is a state of mind—success comes from thinking guided well, not from superior intelligence.

Top Highlights

This incident, familiar to thousands of former Navy men, illustrates just one point: action cures fear. Indecision, postponement, on the other hand, fertilize fear.

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Look at things not as they are, but as they can be. Visualization adds value to everything. A big thinker always visualizes what can be done in the future. He isn’t stuck with the present.

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When you believe something is impossible, your mind goes to work for you to prove why. But when you believe, really believe, something can be done, your mind goes to work for you and helps you find the ways to do it.

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Capacity is a state of mind. How much we can do depends on how much we think we can do. When you really believe you can do more, your mind thinks creatively and shows you the way

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Practice adding value to people. As you move higher and higher in the world of success, more and more of your job becomes “people development.” Ask, “What can I do to ‘add value’ to my subordinates? What can I do to help them to become more effective?” Remember, to bring out the best in a person, you must first visualize his best.

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the thinking that guides your intelligence is much more important than how much intelligence you may have.

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Remember, the thinking that guides your intelligence is much more important than how much intelligence you have.

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In marriage the big objective is peace, happiness, tranquillity—not winning quarrels or saying “I could have told you so.”

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In working with employees, the big objective is developing their full potential, not making issues out of their minor errors. In living with neighbors, the big objective is mutual respect and friendship—not seeing if you can have their dog impounded because once in a while it barks at night.

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pleasure; avoid words that create unpleasant images of failure, defeat, grief. Stretch your vision. See what can be, not just what is. Practice adding value to things, to people, and to yourself. Get the big view of your job. Think, really think your present job is important. That next promotion depends mostly on how you think toward your present job. Think above trivial things. Focus your attention on big objectives. Before getting involved in a petty matter, ask yourself, “Is it really important?” Grow big by thinking big!

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AI Review

4.0/ 5

Based on Glasp's analysis of highlights from 5 readers, this is a consistently resonant motivational classic whose belief-and-action message clearly stuck with readers, even if its ideas are simple and frequently repeated.

Pros

+Strong reader consensus around the core idea that belief drives capacity
+Highly actionable techniques like making eye contact, front-seating, and walking faster
+Memorable, quotable principles such as action cures fear
+Practical exercises for adding value to things, people, and yourself
+Encourages a forward-looking, big-picture mindset over triviality

Cons

−Ideas are simple and heavily repeated across chapters
−Anecdotal evidence rather than rigorous research
−Some examples and language feel dated

Glasp AI analysis based on highlights from 5 readers.

Who Should Read This

Ideal for early-career professionals, salespeople, and aspiring managers who feel held back by self-doubt, fear, or negative thinking rather than lack of ability. It suits readers who want concrete, repeatable habits—not theory—for building confidence and an achievement mindset. Those wanting empirical psychology or nuanced argument may find it dated and repetitive, but anyone seeking an actionable motivational reset will find practical value.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is The Magic of Thinking Big about?

It argues that success depends on the size of your thinking, not your intelligence. David Schwartz shows how belief, action, and a positive mindset generate the skills and energy needed to achieve goals.

Who is the book for?

It's aimed at professionals, salespeople, and anyone held back by self-doubt or fear who wants concrete habits to build confidence and pursue bigger goals.

What are the key lessons?

Believe big, take action to cure fear, manage your "memory bank" by storing only positive thoughts, build confidence through behavior, and keep your focus on the big objective rather than trivial matters.

Is it worth reading?

Yes, if you want a practical motivational reset. The advice is simple and repetitive, but readers consistently highlight its memorable, actionable principles.

What does "action cures fear" mean?

Schwartz argues that indecision and postponement strengthen fear, while taking constructive action dissolves it. Isolate your fear, then do something about it immediately.

How does the book say I can build confidence?

Through managed physical actions—sit up front, make eye contact, walk 25 percent faster, speak up, and smile big. Confident action produces confident thinking.

What is the success formula in the book?

Do what you do better (improve quality) and do more of what you do (increase quantity), combined with the daily "How can I do better?" attitude.

How to Apply What You Read

1.Practice the five confidence techniques daily: be a front seater, make eye contact, walk 25 percent faster, speak up, and smile big.
2.Spend ten minutes each morning asking, "How can I do a better job today?" and how you can add value to others.
3.Write down every good idea immediately so it doesn't escape, then review and develop the ones worth pursuing.
4.Ask "Is it really important?" before getting upset over petty matters, redirecting energy to big objectives.
5.List your five chief assets and remind yourself you are better than you think you are before tackling new challenges.

Discussion Questions

Q1.Do you agree that belief matters more than intelligence for success? Where have you seen this play out in your own life?
Q2.Which of the confidence-building behaviors—eye contact, front-seating, walking faster—do you find easiest or hardest to adopt?
Q3.Can you recall a time when taking action dissolved a fear you'd been avoiding?
Q4.What "mind monsters" or negative recurring thoughts do you keep withdrawing from your memory bank, and how might you bury them?
Q5.How do you distinguish between trivial matters and the big objectives worth your energy?
Q6.Is the book's heavy repetition a strength that reinforces its message or a weakness that dilutes it?
Q7.How might you practice "adding value" to the people, things, and work around you this week?