Maxwell Maltz

Maxwell Maltz (1899-1975) was an American cosmetic surgeon and author best known for his influential self-help book Psycho-Cybernetics (1960), which popularized the idea that improving one's self-image is key to personal success and fulfillment. Inspired by his observations that many patients remained unhappy despite successful surgeries, he shifted focus from physical to psychological 'inner scars,' drawing on research in cybernetics, hypnosis, and success conditioning. His work became a bestseller, influencing the self-help genre, and he lectured widely while authoring numerous books on personal development.