Beyond Words Publishing
An independent Oregon publisher known for illustrated books and mind-body-spirit nonfiction, including The Secret.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Beyond Words Publishing is an independent American book publisher headquartered in Hillsboro, Oregon, in the Portland metropolitan area. Founded in Hawaii in 1983 by Richard Cohn, Bob Goodman, and Cindy Black, the company initially concentrated on highly produced coffee-table books featuring photography, nature, and regional subjects. It later developed a stronger identity in New Age and, in more recent terminology, mind-body-spirit nonfiction, while also publishing books on health, personal growth, Native American wisdom, creativity, relationships, and children's subjects. The company began with an ambitious visual-publishing model. Its first title, Within a Rainbowed Sea, appeared in 1984 and presented Christopher Newbert's marine-life photography in an unusually elaborate package, including a goatskin binding and a koa-wood presentation box. The book received substantial design and printing recognition, but its production costs and high retail price contributed to severe financial pressure. A second photographic title, Molokai: An Island in Time, followed in 1985. Beyond Words relocated from Hawaii to Oregon in 1986 and was incorporated there. By 1988, after twelve titles, the company had not yet become profitable, and co-founder Bob Goodman had departed. A dispute involving printer Dynagraphics and U.S. National Bank also exposed the company's difficulty meeting printing obligations. During the 1990s, Beyond Words broadened its list beyond luxury photographic books. It published roughly ten titles a year by the middle of the decade and added personal growth, health, Native American spirituality, women's interests, and children's books. The company also experimented with unconventional marketing, including sales through tourist attractions, fundraising programs, and cooperative promotion with other publishers. In 1990 it was the first publisher of John Gray's Men, Women and Relationships; Gray later moved to another publisher with Beyond Words' approval and achieved much wider recognition with Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus. The publisher faced renewed financial difficulty in 2004 and considered bankruptcy protection before attracting a new investor. That year, Masaru Emoto's Hidden Messages of Water became its first major commercial success after the company had issued more than 250 titles. The book reached The New York Times bestseller list and sold approximately half a million copies according to contemporary accounts. Beyond Words subsequently entered a national distribution arrangement with Atria Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, in 2006. The partnership helped distribute Rhonda Byrne's The Secret, which Beyond Words published after company participants encountered the associated film. The book became a major bestseller in 2007, receiving prominent placement on Amazon and The New York Times list and generating a historically large reorder from Simon & Schuster. Beyond Words has also published or distributed works associated with authors such as John Gray, Masaru Emoto, and Rhonda Byrne. Its operating model emphasizes close collaboration among editors, designers, printers, and authors, particularly on visually distinctive or gift-oriented books. The company remains privately held and continues to publish a relatively small annual list, principally in nonfiction and mind-body-spirit categories, while also handling international wholesale distribution and media releases through Beyond Distribution.
History
Beyond Words Publishing was created in 1983 in Hawaii by Richard Cohn, Cindy Black, and Bob Goodman. Cohn had recently left his family's furniture business after its sale and was seeking a new professional direction. A connection with a photographer, combined with the founders' interest in New Age ideas and business education, led to the creation of a company initially focused on premium illustrated books. Its first publication, Within a Rainbowed Sea, appeared in 1984. Built around Christopher Newbert's marine photography, the book was produced as a luxury object rather than a conventional trade paperback. Its elaborate binding and presentation case helped it win numerous design awards, but the expensive production process created a difficult business foundation. Molokai: An Island in Time followed in 1985, and both titles required substantial printing expenditures. Beyond Words moved to Oregon in 1986, where it was incorporated and eventually based on Richard Cohn's farm near Hillsboro. The early business encountered distribution and cash-flow problems. An initial arrangement with Waldenbooks for the first two titles did not continue, and the company accumulated significant debt. By 1988, Goodman had left and the company had published twelve books without becoming profitable. A legal dispute over printing bills resulted in a jury award involving Dynagraphics and U.S. National Bank. The company nevertheless continued, publishing titles such as The American Eagle and gradually moving toward New Age philosophy, spirituality, and personal-growth subjects. In 1990, Beyond Words published John Gray's Men, Women and Relationships. Gray later moved to another publisher, with Beyond Words' support, and achieved international prominence through Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus. During the 1990s, Beyond Words expanded its editorial range to include wellness, Native American wisdom, creativity, women's interests, children's books, and other inspirational nonfiction. By 1994 it had moved its headquarters closer to the Portland airport, and by 1995 it was issuing about ten books annually. Its marketing included sales at zoos and other tourist attractions, fundraising channels, and cooperative campaigns with other publishers. The company also partnered with Flying Rhino Productions. Beyond Words struggled again in 2004 and considered bankruptcy protection before receiving new investment. The same year brought a turning point when it published Masaru Emoto's Hidden Messages of Water. After more than 250 previous titles, the book became a bestseller and sold approximately half a million copies according to the company's historical account. In 2006, Beyond Words moved into offices in Hillsboro's Tanasbourne area and formed a national distribution relationship with Atria Books, a Simon & Schuster imprint. The Atria relationship coincided with the company's most visible success. After company participants encountered material associated with The Secret, Beyond Words published Rhonda Byrne's book. In 2007, it became a leading seller on Amazon and appeared on The New York Times bestseller list. The distributor placed an unusually large additional order, helping turn the title into a global publishing phenomenon. Beyond Words has also operated as a wholesaler for international distribution and used its Beyond Distribution subsidiary for videos and other media. The company remains privately held and based in Hillsboro. Its editorial approach continues to emphasize close cooperation between authors and in-house editorial, design, and production staff. Although its early luxury photography program gave way to a broader trade list, the combination of attractive packaging, inspirational nonfiction, and direct or partnership-based marketing remains central to its identity.
- 2007
The Secret achieves bestseller status
[1]Rhonda Byrne's The Secret becomes the publisher's most prominent commercial success.
- 2006
Atria Books distribution agreement
[1]Beyond Words begins national distribution through Simon & Schuster's Atria Books imprint.
- 2004
Breakthrough with Hidden Messages of Water
[1]Masaru Emoto's book becomes a major commercial success for the publisher.
- 1990
First John Gray publication
[1]The company publishes Men, Women and Relationships by John Gray.
- 1986
Move to Oregon
[1]Beyond Words relocates and incorporates in Oregon.
- 1984
First title published
[1]Within a Rainbowed Sea launches the company's premium photographic-book program and receives extensive design recognition.
- 1983
Company founded in Hawaii
[1]Richard Cohn, Cindy Black, and Bob Goodman establish Beyond Words Publishing.
Products and positioning
An independent, author-collaborative publisher combining visually distinctive production with mind-body-spirit, personal-growth, wellness, and inspirational nonfiction.
Illustrated photography book · 1984
Within a Rainbowed Sea
Beyond Words' first book, featuring Christopher Newbert's marine-life photography. It was designed as a luxury collectible, with an elaborate goatskin binding and a koa-wood presentation box. The title established the company's early emphasis on high-production-value visual publishing and received major recognition from design and printing organizations.
Photography and regional history · 1985
Molokai: An Island in Time
A photographic book by Richard Cooke III about the Hawaiian island of Molokai. It followed the company's debut title and continued its initial focus on premium coffee-table books centered on place, landscape, and visual storytelling.
Relationships and personal growth · 1990
Men, Women and Relationships
John Gray's early relationship book and the first work by Gray published by Beyond Words. The title marked the company's movement from primarily photographic books toward practical New Age and personal-development nonfiction.
Mind-body-spirit nonfiction · 2004
Hidden Messages of Water
Masaru Emoto's illustrated book about claimed relationships between water crystals, words, intentions, and environmental influences. It became Beyond Words' first major commercial breakthrough and reached The New York Times bestseller list.
Self-help and motivational nonfiction · 2006
The Secret
Rhonda Byrne's book associated with the law-of-attraction movement. Beyond Words published it after exposure to the related film, and the title became a major bestseller distributed nationally through the Atria Books relationship.
Marketing campaigns
- 2006The Secret launch and distribution campaign
United States · International markets
Beyond Words published Rhonda Byrne's The Secret and used its Atria Books distribution relationship to support national circulation. The book was promoted in the wider media ecosystem surrounding the film and law-of-attraction movement.
Outcome. The title reached major bestseller lists and generated a very large additional order from Simon & Schuster.
- 1995Alternative retail and cooperative promotion
United States
Beyond Words promoted books through tourist attractions such as zoos, fundraising programs, and co-marketing arrangements with other publishers. The approach sought to reach readers outside conventional bookstore channels.
Outcome. The initiatives supported the company's expansion into a broader nonfiction and children's list, although no independently reported campaign metrics are specified.
Brand decisions
2006
Establish national distribution through Atria BooksStrategyBackground
The privately held publisher needed broader distribution capacity for its growing mind-body-spirit list.
Action taken
Beyond Words entered a national distribution agreement with Atria Books, a Simon & Schuster imprint.
Aftermath
The arrangement supported the national rollout of The Secret and other Beyond Words titles.
2004
Secure new investment during financial distressStrategyBackground
Beyond Words was struggling and had considered seeking bankruptcy protection.
Action taken
The company brought in a new investor and continued operating.
Aftermath
The same year, Hidden Messages of Water delivered the company's first major commercial success and improved its position.
1986
Relocate and incorporate in OregonStrategyBackground
The company needed a more sustainable operating base after its early Hawaii publishing venture encountered high production costs and limited profitability.
Action taken
Beyond Words moved to Oregon and established its long-term base in the Hillsboro area.
Aftermath
The relocation enabled the company to continue publishing while it shifted from luxury photography toward a wider nonfiction list.
Recent events
- 2007
The Secret becomes a breakout bestseller[1]
Product launch · Product generation
Beyond Words publishes Rhonda Byrne's The Secret, which rapidly gains bestseller visibility and prompts a large distributor reorder.
- 2006
Beyond Words begins Atria Books distribution partnership[1]
M&A
The publisher establishes a national distribution arrangement with Simon & Schuster's Atria Books imprint.
- 2004
Hidden Messages of Water becomes a bestseller[1]
Product launch
Masaru Emoto's title gives Beyond Words its first major commercial success and reaches The New York Times bestseller list.
- 1990
Beyond Words publishes John Gray's early relationship title[1]
Product launch
The company becomes the first publisher of John Gray's Men, Women and Relationships.
- 1988
Printer litigation highlights early financial strain[1]
Lawsuit
A court dispute involving Dynagraphics and U.S. National Bank concerns unpaid printing obligations connected with Beyond Words titles.
- 1986
Beyond Words relocates to Oregon[1]
Other
The company moves from Hawaii to Oregon and is incorporated there.
- 1984
Within a Rainbowed Sea wins major design recognition[1]
Other
The company's debut photographic book receives multiple awards and is recognized by the Printing Industries of America.
- 1983
Beyond Words Publishing is founded in Hawaii[1]
Other
Richard Cohn, Bob Goodman, and Cindy Black establish the independent publishing company.
Sources2 sources
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