Orison Swett Marden

Orison Swett Marden (1848–1924) was an American author and editor known for early self-help and success writing. Born in New Hampshire, he studied at Boston University and later earned a medical degree at Harvard University. Marden wrote widely on character, ambition, and personal achievement, reaching a large popular audience in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. In 1897 he founded *Success* magazine and served as its editor, helping to shape a growing market for motivational advice and business-minded inspiration. His best-known book, *Pushing to the Front* (1894), became a bestseller and influenced later success literature.