A Book of Secrets: Studies in the Art of Self-Control

Horatio W. Dresser was a New Thought religious leader and author in the United States, speaking to audiences in major cities throughout the country. His books were best sellers and considered the mainstream of the New Thought movement.

Dresser saw Christian Science and New Thought as linked in what he called the "mind cure" movement, but disliked the public emphasis on Christian Science as opposed to what he saw as the "more rational" New Thought.

Scholars have selected A Book of Secrets as being important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. From social adjustments to the secret of self-help, Dresser presents ideas and information that can drive positive change today.

The history of New Thought started in the 1830s, with roots in the United States and England. As a spiritual movement with roots in metaphysical beliefs, New Thought has helped guide a variety of social changes throughout the 19th, 20th, and into the 21st centuries. Psychologist and philosopher William James labelled New Thought "the religion of healthy-mindedness" in his study on religion and science, The Varieties of Religious Experience.