Michael Alan Singer

{{Short description|American author, businessman, and spiritual leader}} {{Infobox person | name = Michael Alan Singer | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1947|5|6}} | other_names = {{plainlist| * Mickey Singer * Michael A. Singer }} | alma_mater = University of Florida | website = {{URL|untetheredsoul.com}} }} '''Michael Alan "Mickey" Singer''' (or '''Michael A. Singer'''; born May 6, 1947) is an American author, journalist, motivational speaker, and former software developer.<ref>{{Cite podcast |url=https://www.dailygood.org/story/1876/michael-singer-living-from-a-place-of-surrender/ |title=Living from a Place of Surrender |website=Sounds True |publisher=DailyGood |last=Simon |first=Tami |date=December 22, 2017 |access-date=September 26, 2022 |last2=Singer |first2=Michael Alan}}</ref> Singer is best known for his writings on spirituality, meditation, and New Age philosophy, and three of his books on the subject, ''The Untethered Soul'' (2007), ''The Surrender Experiment'' (2015), and ''Living Untethered'' (2022), were ''New York Times'' bestsellers.<ref name="BestsellerJuly2015">{{Cite web |date=July 2015 |title=Religion, Spirituality and Faith - Best Sellers |url=https://www.nytimes.com/books/best-sellers/2015/07/12/religion-spirituality-and-faith/ |access-date=December 5, 2018 |website=The New York Times}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=May 2016 |title=Religion, Spirituality and Faith - Best Sellers |url=https://www.nytimes.com/books/best-sellers/2016/05/15/religion-spirituality-and-faith/ |access-date=September 26, 2022 |website=The New York Times}}</ref><ref name="BN-LivingUntethered">{{Cite web |title=Living Untethered: Beyond the Human Predicament by Michael A. Singer, Paperback |url=https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/living-untethered-michael-a-singer/1140495981 |access-date=March 9, 2026 |website=Barnes & Noble |quote=Now a New York Times bestseller!}}</ref> Singer established the Temple of the Universe, a yoga and meditation center in Alachua, Florida, in 1975.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mickey Singer |url=https://spiritualityandhealth.ufl.edu/events-speakers/mickey-singer/ |access-date=September 26, 2022 |website=Center for Spirituality and Health |publisher=University of Florida}}</ref>

Singer is also involved in the medical software industry. In 1981, he co-founded Medical Manager, now called Greenway Health, which marketed software that helped medical practitioners manage and digitize their billing records.<ref name="Gainesville20051218">{{Cite web |last1=Chun |first1=Diane |last2=Adelson |first2=Jeff |date=December 18, 2005 |title=The ups, downs of Mickey Singer |url=https://www.gainesville.com/article/20051218/news/604189144 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181206103915/https://www.gainesville.com/article/LK/20051218/news/604189144/GS/ |archive-date=December 6, 2018 |access-date= |website=The Gainesville Sun}}</ref> In 2002, Medical Manager and its subsidiaries were bought by WebMD, in an acquisition valued at roughly $5 billion.<ref name="CNET">{{Cite web |date=January 2, 2002 |title=Healtheon/WebMD buys Medical Manager |url=https://www.cnet.com/news/healtheonwebmd-buys-medical-manager/ |access-date=December 5, 2018 |website=CNET}}</ref> Singer continued his work in physician software strategies at WebMD, before resigning in 2005.<ref name="TBBJ-2005">{{Cite web |date=February 9, 2005 |title=Singer resigns from WebMD |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/tampabay/stories/2005/02/07/daily37.html |access-date=December 5, 2018 |website=Tampa Bay Business Journal}}</ref> In 2010, Singer was prosecuted in relation to securities fraud during his time at WebMD, and eventually forfeited $2.5 million in settlements.<ref name="WMBF-TV" />

== Life and career == Singer was born into a Jewish family in New Rochelle, New York, but grew up in Miami.<ref name="Barnett-1999" /> His father was a stockbroker. He earned a bachelor's degree in business from the University of Florida in 1969.<ref name="Barnett-1999">{{Cite web |last=Barnett |first=Cynthia |date=September 1, 1999 |title=Software Metaphysician |url=https://www.floridatrend.com/article/13370/software-metaphysician |access-date=March 1, 2024 |website=Florida Trend}}</ref> An early marriage ended in divorce in 1971.

Singer studied economics at the University of Florida, and was awarded a master's degree in 1971. While working on a doctorate program, Singer reportedly had a spiritual awakening and went into seclusion to focus on meditation and yoga.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Contributor: Michael Singer |url=https://www.huffpost.com/author/michael-singer |access-date=June 27, 2021 |website=HuffPost |language=}}</ref> After refusing to write a dissertation, Singer wrote and submitted his first book, ''The Search for Truth'', to his professor instead. One professor on the committee got Singer in contact with a publisher, Shanti Publications, which published ''The Search for Truth'' in 1974.<ref name="Singer74" /> This experience inspired him to establish the Temple of the Universe in 1975, a meditation center in Alachua, Florida, open to everyone regardless of religion.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |title=Michael A. Singer |url=https://tou.org/about/ |access-date=June 27, 2021 |website=Temple of the Universe |language=}}</ref> That same year, Singer published his second book, ''Three Essays on Universal Law'', exploring themes of karma, fate, and love.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Three Essays on Universal Law: The Laws of Karma, Will, and Love |url=https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/2108498 |access-date=October 4, 2022 |website=Goodreads |publisher=Amazon}}</ref>

In 1981, he co-founded Medical Manager, which marketed software that helped doctors manage their patient and billing records. Medical Manager was taken public in 1997, registering $45 million in stock.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Shepherd |first=Gary |date=April 28, 1997 |title=Medical software firm registers $45M in stock |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/tampabay/stories/1997/04/28/story5.html |access-date=December 5, 2018 |website=Tampa Bay Business Journal}}</ref> In 2000, Medical Manager was recognized by the Smithsonian Institution for its achievements in information technology.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ferradaz |first=Irene |date=April 5, 2000 |title=Medical Manager to join Smithsonian |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1320&dat=20000405&id=EOARAAAAIBAJ&sjid=cesDAAAAIBAJ&pg=1759,1116245&hl=en |access-date=December 5, 2018 |website=The Gainesville Sun |page=9}}</ref> In 2002, Medical Manager was bought by WebMD, in an acquisition valued at roughly $5 billion after buying each share for $55 each.<ref name="CNET" /> As part of the deal, Singer remained at WebMD as the company's executive vice president of physician software strategies, and chief software architect of WebMD Practices Services, which Medical Manager was incorporated into.<ref name="TBBJ-2005" /> On February 9, 2005, Singer resigned from the company.<ref name="Chandler-2005">{{Cite news |last1=Chandler |first1=Doris |last2=Fisher |first2=Lise |date=February 10, 2005 |title=Singer quits company he founded |work=The Gainesville Sun |url=https://www.gainesville.com/story/news/2005/02/11/singer-quits-company-he-founded/31683614007/ |access-date=October 4, 2022}}</ref> In 2006, Medical Manager was renamed Emdeon, and was sold by WebMD to Sage Software, a private equity firm, for $565 million;<ref>{{Cite news |date=August 9, 2006 |title=Sage buys Emdeon division in $565M deal |work=Healthcare IT News |url=https://www.healthcareitnews.com/news/sage-buys-emdeon-division-565m-deal |access-date=October 4, 2022}}</ref> five years later, Sage Software was bought out by Vista Equity Partners, an investment firm based in San Francisco, for $320 million.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Terry |first=Ken |date=September 27, 2011 |title=Sage Practice Management Software Sold At Big Loss |work=InformationWeek |url=https://www.informationweek.com/clinical-information-systems/sage-practice-management-software-sold-at-big-loss |access-date=October 4, 2022}}</ref>

Singer published his third book, ''The Untethered Soul'', in 2007.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Singer |first=Michael A. |title=The Untethered Soul: The Journey Beyond Yourself |publisher=New Harbinger Publications |year=2007 |isbn=9781608820498}}</ref> In the book, Singer explores themes of yoga, the meaning of life, and New Age philosophical theories on the concept of self.<ref name="Harris-2015" /> The book rose to popularity in 2012 after Singer appeared on ''Super Soul Sunday'' to promote it, giving his first ever televised interview to host Oprah Winfrey.<ref>{{Cite interview |last=Singer |first=Michael A. |interviewer=Oprah Winfrey |title=Michael Singer on How to Free Yourself of Negative Thoughts |url=https://www.oprah.com/own-super-soul-sunday/how-to-free-yourself-of-negative-thoughts-video_1 |date=August 5, 2012}}</ref> After the interview, ''The Untethered Soul'' was featured as a ''New York Times'' bestselling book, Singer's first book to do so, where it spent seven weeks on the list.<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 7, 2012 |title=Paperback Advice & Misc. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/books/best-sellers/2012/10/07/paperback-advice/ |access-date=October 4, 2022 |website=The New York Times}}</ref> Singer continued his thesis in ''The Surrender Experiment'', published in 2015, ''Living Untethered'', published in 2022, and ''Wisdom Untethered'', published in 2026.

Singer currently hosts ''The Michael Singer Podcast'' with the media company Sounds True, which is recorded at his meditation center, Temple of the Universe.<ref>{{cite web|access-date=2026-01-09 |language=en-US |title=Michael Singer Podcast |url=https://resources2.soundstrue.com/michael-singer-podcast/ |website=Sounds True}}<!-- auto-translated from German by Module:CS1 translator --></ref> He also collaborates with the motivational speaker Tony Robbins.<ref>{{cite web|access-date=2026-01-09 |author=Tony Robbins |date=2023-03-17 |title=LET IT GO! Surrender to Happiness with Michael Singer {{!}} Tony Robbins Podcast |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7TxEzMF3s8}}<!-- auto-translated from German by Module:CS1 translator --></ref>

=== Securities fraud scandal === On December 22, 2009, in relation to his time at WebMD, Singer was prosecuted by the Department of Justice, along with other members of Medical Manager's top management staff, for securities fraud.<ref>{{Cite web |title=U.S. v. SINGER |url=https://www.leagle.com/decision/infdco20091223a40 |access-date=December 10, 2018 |website=Leagle |language=}}</ref> Medical Manager's business dealings were previously investigated by the FBI and IRS, who executed a search warrant on Medical Manager's offices in Florida and New Jersey in 2003.<ref name="Chandler-2005" /> On January 11, 2010, Singer entered into a deferred prosecution agreement and agreed to forfeit $2.5 million in settlements.<ref name="WMBF-TV" /> Following this, the charges against Singer were dropped.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Clark |first=Anthony |date=January 13, 2010 |title=Charges being dropped against ex-Medical Manager CEO Singer |url=https://www.gainesville.com/article/20100113/News/604137796 |access-date=December 5, 2018 |website=The Gainesville Sun |language=}}</ref> Six executives of Medical Manager eventually pleaded guilty to their roles in the scheme.<ref name="WMBF-TV">{{Cite web |date=March 22, 2010 |title=Myrtle Beach man guilty in securities fraud scheme |url=https://www.wmbfnews.com/story/12068987/myrtle-beach-man-guilty-in-securities-fraud-scheme/ |access-date=June 27, 2021 |website=WMBF-TV}}</ref> Singer has contended he was framed by another top executive, who Singer says invented the fraud story in order to "work a deal" with the FBI to reduce their own punishment. These claims remain unverified.<ref name="Gainesville20051218" />

== Publications == Singer has published six books in the spirituality genre.

=== ''The Search for Truth'' (1974) === ''The Search for Truth'' (1974) is Singer's first book.<ref name="Singer74">{{Cite book|last=Singer|first=Michael Alan|title=The Search for Truth|publisher=Shanti Publications|year=1974|isbn=978-0914374039|location=Alachua, FL}}</ref> According to Singer, this book was written at the request of his professor at the University of Florida. After Singer refused to write a doctoral dissertation, the professor suggested he at least write and turn in something and give him "something to read".<ref>{{Cite book|last=Singer|first=Michael Alan|url=https://archive.org/details/surrenderexperim0000sing|title=The Surrender Experiment: My Journey into Life's Perfection|publisher=Harmony Books|year=2015|isbn=978-1629535401|location=New York, NY|url-access=registration}}</ref>

=== ''Three Essays on Universal Law'' (1975) === ''Three Essays on Universal Law'' (1975) is Singer's second book, which continues along the theme of his previous book.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Singer|first=Michael Alan|title=Three Essays on Universal Law: The Laws of Karma, Will, and Love|publisher=Shanti Publications|year=1975|isbn=978-0914374077|location=Alachua, FL}}</ref>

=== ''The Untethered Soul'' (2007) === ''The Untethered Soul'' (2007) is Singer's first ''New York Times'' bestseller.<ref name="BestsellerJuly2015" /> It is a collection of lectures which cover topics on yoga, philosophy, the concept of self, the meaning of life, and the theory of mind.<ref name="Harris-2015">{{Cite web |last=Harris |first=Nicole |date=January 27, 2015 |title=Book Review: 'The Untethered Soul' |url=https://wanderlust.com/journal/book-review-untethered-soul/ |access-date=December 6, 2018 |website=Wanderlust |language=}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/alexandra-allam/the-ways-the-untethered-s_b_7423004.html|title=The Ways the Untethered Soul Is Changing My Life|last=Allam|first=Alexandra|date=2015-05-22|website=Huffington Post|language=en-US|access-date=2018-12-07}}</ref> The book caught the attention of talk show host Oprah Winfrey, with whom Singer later gave his first televised interview.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.supersoul.tv/tag/michael-singer|title=Michael Singer Archives|website=SuperSoul.tv|language=en-US|access-date=2018-12-06}}</ref>

=== ''The Surrender Experiment'' (2015) === ''The Surrender Experiment'' (2015) is Singer's second bestselling book.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Richards |first=Carl |date=2016-09-19 |title=Stubborn Grudges Yield Little. Time to Change Your Investing. |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/20/your-money/stubborn-grudges-yield-little-time-to-change-your-investing.html |access-date=2018-12-05 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> In the autobiography, Singer describes his journey of how he became interested in meditation, how he started the Temple of the Universe and the Medical Manager Corporation, among other things.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/cassandra-vieten/experimenting-with-surren_b_7515194.html|title=Experimenting With Surrender|last=Vieten|first=Cassandra|date=2015-06-05|website=Huffington Post|language=en-US|access-date=2018-12-06}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.theglobalyogi.com/book-review-surrender-experiment/|title=Book Review: The Surrender Experiment|date=2017-09-13|website=The Global Yogi|language=en-US|access-date=2018-12-06}}</ref> Singer mixes his life story with teachings of his philosophy, and the central theme of the book is his attempts at "surrendering yourself to life itself", and not letting his personal ego intervene with the flow of life. He identifies ''The Three Pillars of Zen'' (1965) by Philip Kapleau and ''Autobiography of a Yogi'' (1946) by Paramahansa Yogananda as his influences, naming them responsible for starting his lifelong exploration of Zen and spirituality.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.shelf-awareness.com/issue.html?issue=2069|title=Thursday, August 22, 2013: Dedicated Issue: New Harbinger Publications|website=www.shelf-awareness.com|access-date=2018-12-06}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Clark |first=Anthony |title=Mickey Singer is back in the spotlight with autobiographical book |url=https://www.gainesville.com/story/business/economy/2015/07/26/mickey-singer-is-back-in-the-spotlight-with-autobiographical-book/31224168007/ |access-date=2025-02-16 |website=The Gainesville Sun |language=en}}</ref>

=== ''Living Untethered - Beyond the Human Predicament'' (2022) === ''Living Untethered'' (2022) continues Singer's thesis from ''The Untethered Soul''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Living Untethered - |url=https://untetheredsoul.com/living-untethered |access-date=2022-09-27 |language=en-US}}</ref> It became a ''New York Times'' bestseller, Singer's third book to do so.<ref name="BN-LivingUntethered" /><ref name="NHAuthorBio">{{Cite web |title=Michael A. Singer - New York Times Bestselling Author |url=https://untetheredsoul.com/michael-singer |access-date=March 9, 2026 |website=untetheredsoul.com |quote=MICHAEL A. SINGER is the author of #1 New York Times bestseller The Untethered Soul and New York Times bestsellers The Surrender Experiment and Living Untethered}}</ref>

=== ''Wisdom Untethered - The Time for Questions'' (2026) === ''Wisdom Untethered: The Time for Questions'' (2026) is Singer's sixth book, published by New Harbinger Publications on March 16, 2026.<ref name="WisdomUntethered-NHP">{{Cite web |title=Wisdom Untethered |url=https://www.newharbinger.com/9798900220345/wisdom-untethered/ |access-date=March 9, 2026 |website=New Harbinger Publications}}</ref> The book uses a dialogue format to address topics including relationships, decision-making, fear, and surrender.<ref name="WisdomUntethered-Amazon">{{Cite web |title=Wisdom Untethered: The Time for Questions |url=https://www.amazon.com/Wisdom-Untethered-Questions-Michael-Singer/dp/B0FZGXCK5L |access-date=March 9, 2026 |website=Amazon}}</ref> Singer announced the book in December 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |title='Living Untethered' Author Michael Singer Announces 'Wisdom Untethered' — See the Cover! (Exclusive) |url=https://headlinesociety.com/2025/12/18/living-untethered-author-michael-singer-announces-wisdom-untethered-see-the-cover-exclusive/ |date=December 18, 2025 |access-date=March 9, 2026 |website=Headline Society}}</ref>

== References == <references />

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Singer, Michael Alan}} Category:Living people Category:1947 births Category:21st-century American male writers Category:Health care company founders