Joseph Murphy (1898-1981) was an Irish author, minister, and one of the pioneering voices of the affirmative-thinking philosophy. Born in Ireland, he initially studied for the priesthood and joined the Jesuits before an experience with healing prayer led him to leave and emigrate to the United States in 1922.

Murphy earned a PhD in psychology from the University of Southern California and was ordained as a Divine Science minister. His seminal work, "The Power of Your Subconscious Mind," published in 1963, became an international bestseller and established him as a renowned authority on the metaphysical faculties of the human mind. 

Murphy wrote extensively on the power of positive thinking and auto-suggestion, with his books and pamphlets entering multiple editions, including "How to Attract Money" and "Think Yourself Rich." A popular speaker, he lectured across the United States, Europe, Asia, and South Africa, sharing his insights on unleashing the subconscious mind's potential for personal growth and success. Murphy spent his later years in Laguna Hills, California, where he continued his ministry until his passing in 1981.