Acres of Diamonds is an essay by Russell Herman Conwell, an American minister, lawyer, and writer. Conwell got the idea for this famous work during a trip to the Middle East. It started as a speech he gave to his former Civil War comrades, and he eventually delivered it across the U.S. and around the world over 6,000 times. The essay's main message is that people don't need to search far for success, wealth, or purpose; often, the resources they need are right where they are. Conwell illustrates this with a story about a man who sold his land to search for diamonds, only for the new owner to find a rich diamond mine on the property. Conwell encourages people to "dig in their own backyard." Conwell's earnings from this speech helped him establish Temple University and support various civic projects. After his death, the proceeds from the essay went to support a homeless shelter in Philadelphia. The work has since become a classic in New Thought literature.