Notes to Myself: My struggle to become a person

Originally published in 1970 by Real People Press, this book became an unexpected bestseller and cultural phenomenon of the self-help movement. The simple, honest format and universal themes resonated with readers seeking authentic personal growth.

The book consists of brief, diary-like entries exploring Prather's journey of self-discovery and personal growth. Written in a stream-of-consciousness style, it addresses themes of authenticity, relationships, fear, love, and the challenge of becoming one's true self. The entries range from profound insights to everyday observations, creating an intimate portrait of one person's psychological and spiritual development.

The book appeared during the height of the human potential movement and became emblematic of 1970s spiritual seeking. Its success demonstrated the public hunger for authentic, non-academic approaches to personal growth. Prather's vulnerable, honest tone influenced a generation of self-help authors and made psychological introspection more accessible to mainstream readers.

Prather wrote the book as personal journals without initially intending publication. The book remained on bestseller lists for years and sold millions of copies worldwide. Its success led to numerous sequels and established Prather as a major voice in the personal development movement. The book's simple format—short paragraphs on numbered pages—became a template for later self-help books.