At the dawn of the twentieth century, George H. Lorimer knew the secret of success. He rejected the ideas of his popular contemporary, Horatio Alger?work hard, show good manners, be patient, and Fortune will find and reward you. Instead, Lorimer advised, make your own luck, take advantage of opportunities, be aggressive. He put forth these ideas in a series of letters from a fictitious wealthy Chicago businessman to his son about to enter Harvard and later the family business. First published in the Saturday Evening Post, they were collected in 1902 in a book that became a national bestseller. Pulitzer Prize winner David Mamet?s Glengarry Glen Ross introduction reminds us why Lorimer?s wise counsel is still relevant for us today.

George Horace Lorimer (1867 - 1937) born in Louisville, KY. He worked in a meat-packing company and as a grocer before becoming a reporter. He was hired as literary editor of the Saturday Evening Post in 1899 and was quickly promoted to editor-in-chief. Under his stewardship, the Post published Jack London, Willa Cather, Stephen Crane, and many other leading literary figures of the day. He was also responsible for commissioning Norman Rockwell's first covers for the magazine.