‘If I had read this book when I was a young man, my life would have been very different .’ — Such was the remark made to me by a friend on returning Smiles’s ‘Self-Help,’ which I had given him to read. I was very much struck by the observation; and while thinking of the immense effect which this incomparable book has produced in England, and of the universally favorable reception which the Italian translation has received in this country, I received a letter from Signor G. Barbera, in which he invited me to write a book simiilar to the English one, but illustrated by Italian examples.

“I was much astonished at his thinking me equal to the work: but his valuable suggestion greatly delighted me, and I accepted his proposal with much cordiality.” — Michele Lessona , in Volere e Potere.

“‘Volere e Potere’ (‘Will is Power’). Such is the title of a very interesting popular work just issued by the eminent Florentine publisher G. Barbera. The history of this production is rather curious. It may not be known that the most remarkable literary success achieved of late years in Italy(where literary successes are the rarest of all events)has fallen to the lot of Mr. Samuel Smiles’s admirable ‘Self-Help,’ an Italian version of which, published some time ago at Milan, has since gone through several editions, and still appears to be in continual demand. The idea of the book was a novelty for Italians, and the moral which it inculcates one so eminently deserving of being enforced upon all classes of the public of Italy, that the question soon arose whether it would not be advisable to extend the sphere of its utility by promoting the publication of a similar book, specially designed for Italian readers, and in which the examples of patient industry and of untiring perseverance in the persuit of a fixed design should be drawn from home materials. An association founded in Florence with the express object of stimulating the educational movement among the people, offered a prize of 3000 lira. for the best production of the kind, and all the literary men of Italy were invited to compete. M. Lessona, an agreeable writer upon popular subjects, has already entered the lists, and printed his work (‘Volere e Potere‘) without waiting for the award of the committee appointed to decide between the rival competitors.” — Standard .

“Une grande sagesee qu’on pourrait appeler la splendeur du bon sens, comme Platon definissait le beau la splendenr du vrai — tel est le caractere qui distingue surtout ‘Self-Help’. Ce livre, si populaire chez nos voisins, repond admirablement aux idees de la familia anglo-saxonne. Recevra-t-il chez nous le meme accueil? Je l’espere, mais il aura aussi, je le crains, plus d’un vieux prejuge a combattre. En France, n’a-t-on point trop compte sur les institutions politiques malgrre la duree ephemere des gouvernements? L’Etat peut faire du premier venu un ministre; il ne sauralt en faire un grande homme, il meme un fonctionnaire integre et capable. I1 est donc ben de chercher a d’autres sources ces energies morales qui developpent et regenerent les societes.” — Revue des Deux Morndes .