William Walker Atkinson, also known to his admirers under the esoteric pseudonym Yogi Ramacharaka, from a young age became fascinated by the ideas of the New Thinking movement, which helped him overcome the breakdown caused by overwork and stress. Having moved to Chicago, he participated in the publication of a number of magazines, wrote articles and books. During his subsequent career, he wrote and published not only under his own name, but also under various pseudonyms. In the 1890s he became interested in Hinduism, and after 1900 he devoted considerable effort to the spread of yoga and Eastern occultism. His books still have many readers.