This I Believe is an international project engaging people in writing and sharing essays describing the core values that guide their daily lives. Over 70,000 of these essays, written by people from all walks of life, are archived here on our website, heard on public radio, chronicled through our books and television programming, and featured in weekly podcasts. The project is based on the popular 1950s radio series of the same name hosted by Edward R. Murrow.

News

Become A Sponsor Of This I Believe

We offer sponsorship packages for businesses and organizations of any size that enable you to target your message to our radio listeners, podcast subscribers (over 175,000), and website visitors (over six million page views last year). Please click here to learn more.

Podcasts

Sign up for our free, weekly podcasts: One features contemporary essays from our NPR series, and one includes essays from the 1950s now airing on The Bob Edwards Show. You can download recent episodes individually, or subscribe to automatically receive each podcast. Learn more.

Gift Shop

This I Believe 1950s Book Edward R. Murrow’s
This I Believe
Paperback Book
Buy Now
This I Believe CD 1 Edward R. Murrow’s
This I Believe CD:
Selections, Vol. 1
Buy Now
This I Believe CD 2 Edward R. Murrow’s
This I Believe CD:
Selections, Vol. 2
Buy Now
This I Believe Journal This I Believe
Journal/Day Planner
Buy Now
This I Believe This I Believe:
The Personal Philosophies of Remarkable Men and Women (Hardcover)
Buy Now
This I Believe II This I Believe II:
More Personal Philosophies of Remarkable Men and Women (Hardcover)
Buy Now
This I Believe Products This I Believe Products: Mugs, hats, shirts, totes and more...
Buy Now

I Quit Carrying a Gun

Robert Powers - Los Angeles, California
As heard on The Bob Edwards Show, March 5, 2010
Robert Powers
Photo illustration

Former Bakersfield, Calif., police chief Robert Powers struggled to make sense of what he saw in his years in law enforcement. He found comfort in the words of religious and mystic texts from around the world, and in his belief that God loves mankind.

Click here for the full essay...

Recently Featured 1950s Essays

Women In Activism

The Hardest Work You Will Ever Do
Photos courtesy Library of Congress and Nubar Alexanian

The original This I Believe and our revival of the series have featured a number of high-profile women working for progress in justice, equal rights and other issues. Click the links below to learn of the beliefs that guided these prominent women.

  1. When Children Are Wanted
  2. A Balance Between Nature And Nurture
  3. A New Control Of Destiny
  4. A Force For Human Dignity
  5. The Power And Mystery Of Naming Things
  6. A Devotion To The Common Good