For James, writing empowering books and giving entertaining seminars are the joys in his life. He always makes the best investment he can with words and wisdom, heart and soul, spirit and time, and energy and enthusiasm.
James aims to make a real difference in this world through the Power series of books, seminars and personal development tools that he is creating. These will have a profound positive impact upon the quality of life of people who put the Power philosophy into practice.
James Lee Valentine has an unquenchable passion for life and an incredible desire to experience life fully. His commitment is to design and live a life that works so well, all who see it are moved by it, wanting to attain maximum health, wealth, wisdom and happiness for their own lives, too.
I had the personal pleasure of meeting James for lunch last week with Mrs. Socorro Ramos, grand matriarch of National Book Store, when James was in Manila for a short visit. I asked him to share his favorite books with us.
2. The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran –Gibran, a poet, artist and philosopher, was born in 1883 near Mount Lebanon, a region that has produced many prophets. The Prophet is arguably his most mystical and powerful work. Sit in solitude and gently absorb his words, and you will undoubtedly come to a realization that this book contains the wisdom of the ages.
3. Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach – What a powerful and enthralling story that unfolds from this smallest of books. Ride the wind with this one-in-a-million bird, Jonathan Livingston Seagull, who leads us on a journey of great spiritual awakening.
4. The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery – Another beautiful book, small in size but powerful in scope. Who says that books must be large to be meaningful? This enchanting story will captivate the hearts of children of all ages, from nine to 99 years old.
5. In Tune With The Infinite by Ralph Waldo Trine – If classics are timeless, it is certainly true for this book written over 100 years ago. It has stood the test of time because its perennial truth is stated so clearly. This truth is that by recognizing the power of our thoughts and harmonizing our own with the Divine will, we will attract the abundance of the universe.
6. Three Magic Words by U.S. Anderson – This is a book about the greatest idea in the world – a splendid secret revealed in just three words: "You are God" – an idea so startling, so wonderful that it can start you on an adventure that will bring you everything you ever wanted.
7. Think And Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill – This book, written 65 years ago, is the first self-help book I ever read and is still a classic. Some 10 million readers have made this one of the greatest self-improvement bestsellers of all time.
8. Pure Power by James Lee Valentine – The largest in my series of 20 Power books, this is the modern equivalent of Think and Grow Rich, but one that packs a more powerful punch! Having absorbed more than 30 self-help bestsellers in researching material for Pure Power, I would say this is without doubt the most empowering personal development book available today.
9. The Times Atlas Of The World – Size wise, this is a gargantuan book, almost one meter long by half a meter wide and weighing some three kilos. However, if you’ve a table strong enough to support it, I’d highly recommend you dive into its pages. If travel or geography is one of your loves, this book can literally bring every valley, every river, every town within your grasp.
10. Thesaurus – As an author, the most valuable tool I have at my disposal, and one that I literally couldn’t write effectively without, is a thesaurus. This is a dictionary-style book with lists of synonyms – these are words of the same or similar meaning. For any word smith seeking to improve his or her craft, a thesaurus of any kind is worth its weight in gold. Get one now!