Talk:Og Mandino

Latest comment: 11 years ago by Toothpick605 in topic How to improve the list of books

Matthew McConaughey edit

The previous Matthew McConaughey addition on Og Mandino is indeed an error.

The sentence, "His works, based on fundamental Christian beliefs, were also heavily influenced by the likes of Napoleon Hill, Matthew Mcconaughey[1], W. Clement Stone, and Emmett Fox." is incorrect in that Matthew McConaughey himself was influenced by Og Mandino's works, not the other way around. Og Mandino (1923-1996) was certainly not influenced by the Hollywood actor Matthew McConaughey.

As noted in the (previously referenced) external link: http://www.austinchronicle.com/issues/vol15/issue1/film.mcconaughey.html,

"And then, underneath a stack of magazines, he saw a paperback: The Greatest Salesman in the World, a bestselling How-to-Discover-Your-Own-Potential book by inspirationalist Og Mandino." - this refers to McConaughey being influenced by the book 'The Greatest Salesman in the World', written by Mandino. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Lawrencec (talkcontribs) 22:59, 30 October 2006 (UTC)

cleanup edit

This article needs serious cleanup. Things to do include:

  • formatting the bibliography properly
  • rewriting the opening paragraph so it is clearer
  • reformatting all the tables so they are easier to read
  • taking the "favorite things" list and turning it into prose
  • and, ideally, adding some more references.

I don't think I have the energy at the moment... phoebe (brassratgirl) /(talk) 21:47, 14 January 2007 (UTC)Reply

note this version had a better opening paragraph. phoebe (brassratgirl) /(talk) 21:50, 14 January 2007 (UTC)Reply
What on earth is it where the article says he was colorblind, then claims his favorite color was green? Cleanup, indeed. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Cyberherbalist (talkcontribs) 07:59, 1 January 2008 (UTC)Reply

Og Mandino Photo edit

  • After clean-up, this article deserves a photo of the author and his books. Thanks.Dragonbite 00:00, 14 June 2007 (UTC)Reply

the greatest? edit

"discovered the greatest secret of success in all ventures"??????????????????????????????????????????? —Preceding unsigned comment added by Shullbit (talkcontribs) 01:16, 20 December 2009 (UTC)Reply

Please rephrase your question (if it is a question) lucidly and without tiresomely repeated punctuation. Thank you. -- Hoary (talk) 01:29, 20 December 2009 (UTC)Reply

nonsense and needs a complete rewrite edit

This article is nonsense, and needs a complete rewrite, with reliable sourcing. Woogee (talk) 23:33, 20 December 2009 (UTC)Reply

I don't understand your edit summary "Family tree: removing nonsense" for your removal of the family tree. To me, the family tree was one of the few parts that made sense. It was trivial, yes; superfluous, probably; but unusually free of bovine by-product.
As I understand it, Mandino was a purveyor of poppycock. This of course is an American business with a long tradition; its long and continuing success is, I suppose, a matter that would interest social psychologists and others. I'll have to see whether Wendy Kaminer says anything about this exponent. (Offhand I can't think of any other book that treats material such as this intelligently.) -- Hoary (talk) 01:29, 21 December 2009 (UTC)Reply
You mean, besides the fact that it wasn't sourced at all, and even if it had been, it would have been to the census records, which are a primary source and therefore not a reliable source? Woogee (talk) 05:46, 21 December 2009 (UTC)Reply
Yes. But it did make sense. -- Hoary (talk) 15:39, 21 December 2009 (UTC)Reply

PS: No, despite its considerable coverage of Napoleon Hill, Kaminer's I'm Dysfunctional, You're Dysfunctional: The Recovery Movement and Other Self-Help Fashions has nothing to say about Mandino (or Stone). I looked for their names in its index: nothing there. I also looked in an encyclopedia (I forget its title) of "popular psychology", published by Greenwood. This has entries for Scientology, Transcendental Meditation, and other nostrums, but Mandino doesn't appear in its index let alone get an entry. -- Hoary (talk) 03:53, 21 December 2009 (UTC)Reply

How to improve the list of books edit

It would be good if the list of books written by Mandino included the publication year of each book in brackets after each book title. I think that I have a copy of "The Greatest Miracle in the World", so I may be able to do it for this one. ACEOREVIVED (talk) 18:41, 4 July 2012 (UTC)Reply


I have "The Greatest secret in the World":[1972] and "The Choice":[1984]. Once we get a full list, we should update the page. Toothpick605 (talk) 01:23, 15 April 2013 (UTC)Reply

Birthplace edit

The article contradicts itself if he was born in Framingham or Natick, Massachusetts. They are 3 miles apart.18:32, 26 January 2015 (UTC)