Beyond Words

Twenty-five years ago, we began our first publishing endevors with no prior publishing experience and lots of enthusiasm. Today, we count over 250 titles published, nearly 10 million books in print, and even more lives changed through our expanded media distribution efforts.

We created our company based on the central belief in the power of collaboration, essentially creating a new paradigm for the way books can be published and produced. Traditionally, an artist brings his or her ideas to a publisher, signs a contract, and virtually does not see the work again until the book is designed, typeset, and printed. At Beyond Words, we knew from the beginning that  collaboration is a key part to creating outstanding books—and we invite the author or artist to be a part of the process of creation.

Our belief in the power of partnership is also reflected in our commitment to the booksellers who play such a key role in bringing our books and DVDs to the world. We are proud of the network of loyal customer-friends we have developed over the years. Indeed, without them, we would not still be here, doing what we love, today.

When we started publishing in 1983, we also made a commitment to excellence. Our intention was to produce the finest books that had ever been done and to approach the subject matter in an unlimited way—without compromise. What evolved was a synergy and a magic that not only produced magnificent books, but that also gave birth to the company and our mission.

The secret to our success was not having any preconceived ideas about what was or wasn’t possible. We didn’t have any nagging voices in the backs of our heads saying, “You shouldn’t,” or “You can’t.” We weren’t afraid to fail, because we didn’t know what failure looked like. We approached it as a labor of love, rather than a commercial venture. And when our first book, Within a Rainbowed Sea, was done, somehow we had created this miraculous book that has won over thirty awards, has been used as a presidential gift of state, and is included in three presidential libraries.

As other projects found us—or we bumped into them!—we branched out from art and coffee table books, trying our hand and publishing titles in many different genres, including fiction, children’s literature, native wisdom and natural healing.

Over time, we’ve narrowed our focus to the best non-fiction for adults in the field of Mind, Body, and Spirit, which includes spiritual lifestyles, the relationship of science and spirit, spiritual parenting, holistic health and healing, and global native wisdom. This field calls to us most strongly, as we believe that our work can truly change people's lives.

We look forward to the many ways we can continue to be “Partners in Transformation”—with our co-publisher, Atria Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, as well as with our authors, the booksellers we serve, and most of all, our readers.