The Practice of Autosuggestion

In Short

This book serves as a foundational manual for the method developed by the French pharmacist Emile Coué. It argues that physical and psychological ailments are often the result of negative ideas rooted in the unconscious. By substituting these with a simple, daily affirmation—"Day by day, in every way, I'm getting better and better"—practitioners can supposedly tap into an innate, natural power to heal their bodies and calm their minds. Its enduring relevance lies in its straightforward, accessible approach to the intersection of psychology and personal well-being.

The Story

The narrative begins with an introduction to Emile Coué, a man who transformed his practice from pharmacy to psychology in the early twentieth century. The central argument posits that the human mind is a battlefield between the "will" and the "imagination." When these two conflict, the imagination almost always triumphs, often to our detriment. For example, a person who tries to force themselves to be confident—but internally imagines failure—will succeed only in reinforcing their own insecurity. This is the "law of reversed effort." The core of the method, therefore, is to bypass the conscious, struggling will entirely and speak directly to the unconscious mind through repetition, particularly during the drowsy, suggestible states experienced just before falling asleep or upon waking.

The book transitions from theory to clinical evidence, recounting the success stories of those who visited the clinic. Patients suffering from conditions as varied as asthma, spinal curvature, epilepsy, and alcoholism report significant, often total, recovery. These accounts serve as the evidence for the claim that even organic diseases can be treated—or at least mitigated—when the unconscious is "leavened" with thoughts of health. The author emphasizes that this is not magic or mysticism, but a natural psychological process akin to how we accidentally "catch" the habits or facial ticks of those we live with.

The practical application of the method is detailed through specific techniques. The reader is encouraged to use a string with twenty knots to count the twenty repetitions of the prescribed formula twice daily. Beyond the general formula, the book introduces "particular suggestions"—targeted phrases for managing immediate pain or specific character flaws. For pain, the reader is instructed to repeat the phrase "It’s going" rapidly, like a machine, to bypass the brain’s focus on the sensation of suffering.

The scope expands to include the "education" of children, where parents are encouraged to whisper affirmations to their sleeping infants to instill health and positive character traits. The author then broadens his horizon, suggesting that this method could revolutionize the penal system by treating criminal behavior as a sickness to be cured rather than a sin to be punished. The book concludes by reconciling these psychological findings with religious tradition, suggesting that the "kingdom within" mentioned by the saints is the same unconscious reservoir of power that the method seeks to unlock. Throughout the arc, the message remains consistent: we are the architects of our own internal states, and by choosing our thoughts, we choose our health.

How It Unfolds

The theory of the unconscious The book establishes the premise that human beings are governed by ideas that dwell in the unconscious mind. It explains how these ideas, once accepted, manifest as physical or mental realities, often without our conscious awareness.

The conflict of will and imagination The text details how conscious effort, when applied to a problem we fear, creates a "law of reversed effort" that makes the obstacle seem insurmountable. By struggling, we unintentionally feed the very negative idea we hope to eliminate.

The technique of the formula The reader is introduced to the mechanical practice of repeating the general formula twice daily. This process is intended to bypass the skeptical conscious mind and saturate the unconscious with a positive expectation of betterment.

Addressing pain and specific ailments The narrative moves to the use of "particular suggestions" to treat immediate physical pain or character defects. It provides a specific script, such as the rapid repetition of "It's going," to distract the mind from the sensation of hurt.

Application for the vulnerable The scope shifts to the care of children, detailing how parents can use whispering and caresses to imprint positive suggestions upon their offspring. This section emphasizes the moral responsibility of the parent to curate the atmosphere of the home.

The broader implications The final section explores the potential for this method to redefine justice and link modern psychological practice with age-old religious concepts. It positions the technique as a universal tool for human improvement.

The People

The central figure is Emile Coué, the pioneering practitioner who acts as the steady, pragmatic guide. He is portrayed not as a mystic, but as a man of science who observes that the mind is a tool to be used, not a force to be feared. He remains calm, skeptical of effort, and perpetually optimistic, representing the ideal of a mind in harmony with itself.

The patients—from the "burly peasant" who regained the use of his arm to the "dipsomaniac" who recovered from a life of alcoholism—serve as the living proof of the method. These individuals represent the struggle of the human condition; they are defined by their physical suffering and their initial lack of self-confidence. Through the practice, they transition from helpless victims of their own thoughts to empowered agents of their recovery.

Mlle. Kauffmant represents the application of the method through love and maternal instinct. Her role is to show how the "suggestive power" of a caring person can heal the vulnerable, particularly children. She acts as a bridge between the clinical, mechanical side of the technique and the emotional, human side.

Finally, the reader is positioned as the ultimate subject. The book addresses the reader directly, inviting them to move from a state of conflict and "neurasthenia" to one of self-mastery. The success of the "story" relies entirely on the reader’s willingness to experiment with the method and adopt the role of both patient and physician.

In Its Own Voice

"The efforts we make to conquer an idea by exerting the will only serve to make that idea more powerful."

In the middle of the book, the author explains the mechanism of the 'law of reversed effort' that causes people to fail when they try too hard.

"Day by day, in every way, I'm getting better and better."

This is the famous, rhythmic formula the author instructs readers to repeat twenty times each morning and night.

"If in the past you have been subject to depression, gloom and melancholy forebodings, you will henceforward be free from such troubles."

These lines exemplify the firm, authoritative tone the author uses when describing the promised psychological benefits of the method.

What It's Really About

The book is an argument for the primacy of the unconscious over the conscious mind. It posits that the world we experience is largely a reflection of the ideas we have unconsciously accepted as true. The fundamental question it poses is whether we are victims of circumstance and biological randomness, or if we possess an inherent, underutilized faculty to reshape our own reality. By rejecting the "will" as an effective tool for change, it advocates for a passive, receptive approach to life. It suggests that health and happiness are not external goals to be reached through struggle, but internal states to be cultivated through the careful selection and repetition of positive thoughts.

Why Read It Today

This work will appeal to readers interested in the history of psychology and the early twentieth-century fascination with mental healing. Its tone is earnest and devoid of modern marketing jargon, offering a direct, "no-nonsense" approach that feels remarkably grounded. The experience of reading it is like listening to a quiet, confident lecture from a bygone era; it is soothing, rhythmic, and strangely persuasive.

However, a modern reader must be prepared for the limitations of its period. The clinical claims are stated with an absolute, universal certainty that modern medicine would heavily qualify, and the writing style can feel repetitive, reflecting the very nature of the method it proposes. You may find the gender-normative assumptions about the roles of mothers and the casual references to "neurasthenia" to be artifacts of 1922. Despite these period-specific traits, the core argument—that our internal narrative significantly influences our physical and mental health—remains a recognizable ancestor to modern cognitive-behavioral practices. It stays with you because it challenges the modern obsession with constant "effort" and "willpower," suggesting instead that the most profound changes in our lives might come from the simplest, most consistent habits of the mind.