Samuel Smiles (1812–1904) was a Scottish author and government reformer who pioneered the genre of self-help with his most acclaimed work, 'Self-Help; with Illustrations of Character and Conduct' first published in 1859. Born in Haddington, East Lothian, Smiles was initially trained as a doctor, but he became more involved in journalistic and reform initiatives, leading to his entrenchment in the ...