Book excerpt: The Power of Optimism is an extraordinary collection of condensed classics that can be your guide to living a more fulfilling and happier life. Discover the life-changing power of gratitude and optimism that Christian D. Larson imparts in his meditation on grateful living, The Optimist Creed; Claude M. Bristol’s The Magic of Believing is the unparalleled program to unlocking the success-power of your mind; Florence Scovel Shinn's The Secret Door to Success is the most infectious and the boldest work of self-development you will ever encounter; and A.H.Z. Carr offers a workable, practical program for increasing luck in all areas of your life in How to Attract Good Luck. Abridged and introduced by PEN Award-winning historian Mitch Horowitz, these concise renditions of classic masterworks will put you on the path to experience the metaphysical and psychological dimensions of grateful living.