It is true that not a few men kill themselves by overwork; but the proportion of such is small to the number who die from violating the laws of health; and death from excessive activity is far preferable to death from rust. The spirits may be exhausted by employment, but they are utterly destroyed by idleness. -from "Choice of a Profession" William Mathews may have been the perfect 19th-century source for advice on personal achievement: in his long, busy life; he was a successful lawyer, newspaper publisher, university professor, and journalist. This collection of essays on making one's way in the world began as an 1871 series of articles for the Chicago Tribune that were reconsidered and expanded for this 1872 book. Mathews shares his still pertinent wisdom on such success-minded topics as: . the concept of luck, and how it is abused . why concentration and focus are key . the importance of maintaining physical health . how to cultivate self-reliance . why originality is vital to success . the necessity of practical talent and knowledge . being economical with your time . being smart about money . and much more. American writer WILLIAM MATHEWS (1818-1909) also wrote Words, Their Use and Abuse (1876), Hours with Men and Books (1877), and Monday-Chats (1877).