Peter McWilliams

American self-help and computer book author, poet, and activist (1949-2000)

2 quotes in the MindQuotes library.

About

Peter McWilliams was a prolific American writer, known for his self-help books and accessible computer guides. He began publishing poetry as a teenager and later achieved success with bestsellers like 'The TM Book' and 'How to Survive the Loss of a Love'. In the 1980s, he made computers understandable to the general public. Diagnosed with lymphoma and AIDS, he became an advocate for medical marijuana, leading to his arrest and untimely death.

Major works

The TM Book (1975)non-fiction
How to Survive the Loss of a Love (1976)non-fiction
The Word Processing Book (1982)guide
The Personal Computer Book (1982)guide
You Can't Afford the Luxury of a Negative Thought (1988)non-fiction

Key milestones

1975Co-authored 'The TM Book', which reached #1 on the New York Times bestseller list for three weeks.
1997Arrested for cultivating medical marijuana, despite California's Proposition 215.
2000Dies in Los Angeles at age 50, awaiting sentencing, after his bail conditions prohibited marijuana use.

Themes

Self-helpPersonal computingIndividual libertyMedical cannabisPoetry

Sources: id.loc.gov · latimes.com

“I see nothing wrong with the human trait to desire. In fact, I consider it integral to our success mechanism. Becoming attached to what we desire is what causes the trouble. If you must have it in order to be happy, then you are denying the happiness of the here and now.”

— Peter McWilliamsTheme · Personal Development

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“One of the great joys of life is creativity. Information goes in, gets shuffled about, and comes out in new and interesting ways.”

— Peter McWilliamsTheme · Creativity

Create visual