James W. Newman; Author of Self-Help Books

James Ward Newman, a pioneer in the self-help field and an early advocate of self-esteem in books and lectures, has died. He was 71.

Newman, whose books included “Release Your Brakes,” died Thursday night in Los Angeles of abdominal cancer.

In 1961, Newman founded the organization PACE, an acronym coined from Personal and Company Effectiveness, and he was president of the organization until his death. His four- to six-day seminars targeted audiences ranging from company sales staffs to teenagers.

In 1988, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors named Newman chairman of the county’s Task Force to Promote Self-Esteem and Personal Responsibility.

“The human brain is the smallest, most efficient computer ever constructed by unskilled labor,” Newman typically began a seminar in 1967.

Although he utilized psychiatric principles, Newman was neither a certified psychiatrist nor psychologist. But he was an experienced speaker, writer and pitchman whose early jobs included radio and television announcer, door-to-door salesman and advertising writer.

Born in Jacksonville, Ill., and raise in Webster Groves, Mo., Newman studied at Washington University, Westminster College and Iowa State University and served as a Navy officer during World War II.

Newman was a member of boards of the Thomas Jefferson Research Center, the Network Connection and the National Speakers Assn.

He was also a veteran magician and was a member of Hollywood’s Magic Castle.

Survivors include his wife, Nan Murphy Newman; a son, James W. Newman Jr.; a daughter, Colby Smith; and two brothers, William and Robert Newman.

The family has asked that memorial donations be made to cancer research. No services are planned.