Wallace Delois Wattles was an American New Thought writer and leader born in 1860. Over his lifetime, Wattles penned many articles, papers, and books, including his three most popular writings; The Science Of Getting Rich (1910), The Science Of Being Well (1910), and The Science Of Being Great (1911). Wallace’s work preceded similar success books such as The Master Key System by Charles F. Haanel (1912) and Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill (1937).
 
Forgotten for decades, his work was recently rediscovered and brought to contemporary understanding by Rhonda Byrne, author of the popular 2006 film and 2007 book, The Secret. Byrne credits The Science of Being Great as one of the inspirations for her writings. "Something inside of me had me turn the pages one by one, and I can still remember my tears hitting the pages as I was reading it. It gave me a glimpse of The Secret,” Byrne told Oprah Winfrey.
 
Wattles’ timeless classics, written over 100 years ago, are still relevant today and are being used by millions of people to improve their lives; causing them to get rich, be well, and be great.Wattles remains personally somewhat obscure, but his work is widely quoted and remains in print in the New Thought and self-help movements.
 
Wattles died in 1911 shortly after The Science of Being Great was published. His daughter, Florence A. Wattles, recalled that "he lived every page" of his books.