James Allen was a British philosopher and author who lived from 1864 to 1912. He was born in Leicester, England, and was the eldest of three brothers. Allen's father was a businessman, and his mother was a homemaker. Allen was educated at a local grammar school, but he left school at the age of 15 to work in his father's business. Despite his lack of formal education, Allen was an avid reader and a deep thinker. He was particularly interested in the teachings of the New Thought movement, which emphasized the power of positive thinking and the law of attraction. Allen began writing about these ideas in his spare time, and in 1901 he published his first book, "From Poverty to Power." Over the next decade, Allen wrote a series of books that explored the principles of New Thought and offered practical advice for living a more fulfilling life. His most famous work, "As a Man Thinketh," was published in 1902 and has since become a classic of self-help literature. In this book, Allen argues that our thoughts shape our reality and that by changing our thinking, we can change our lives. Allen's writing was widely read and influential in his time, and his ideas continue to resonate with readers today. He died in 1912 at the age of 47, but his legacy lives on through his books and the many people who have been inspired by his teachings.