Butler-Bowdon.com provides insightful information on key works in the personal development literature.

The site began as the companion website to the publication of my first book 50 Self-Help Classics in 2003. This initial site presented versions of commentaries that appear in the book. Since then, Butler-Bowdon.com has expanded to include material adapted from my subsequent titles in the series.

The 50 Classics concept is based on a belief that every subject or genre will contain at least 50 books that encapsulate its knowledge and wisdom. By creating a list of those landmark or representative titles, then providing commentaries that note the key points and assess the importance of each work, awareness of these key writings is spread to readers who may not otherwise have known of their existence.

50 Self-Help Classics was initially released only in Australia in 2001, then in the UK, US and rest of the world in 2003 by Nicholas Brealey Publishing. 50 Self-Help Classics has been translated into 15 languages and is sold in over 25 countries. In 2004 it won the US Benjamin Franklin Award, and was a finalist in Foreword Magazine's Book of the Year awards.

My second book, 50 Success Classics (2004), covers the landmark works of motivation, prosperity and leadership. Rights have been sold in 13 languages. The third, 50 Spiritual Classics (2005) explores some of the famous writings and authors in personal awakening, and has been translated into 10 languages.

50 Psychology Classics was released in 2007 and has been translated into 12 languages

All works are available in audio format from Audible.com (see links on homepage).
50 Prosperity Classics will be released in audio format in late August 2008.

In the early 1990s, I was working as an adviser at the New South Wales Cabinet Office in Sydney, writing briefing papers for senior ministers. I took a year off to do further study in the UK, but put aside my political economy textbooks to read a growing pile of motivational and self-help literature. On returning to Australia, I spent some time in the Outback, where the idea came to me of writing about the classic books in the self-help literature.

I now write full-time, run Butler-Bowdon.com, and do select speaking engagements. I have a BA (Hons) degree in politics and history from the University of Sydney, and a Masters degree in International Political Economy from the London School of Economics.

I am based in Oxford, UK and travel frequently to Australia, the United States and Asia.

I welcome any comments or questions relating to my work or to this website!