The law of attraction (i.e. like attracts like) was first popularised by Abrahams (channeled by Esther Hicks). In recent years, the success of the film, The Secret has helped further spread the concept to the masses. It is also a common view that the bestselling book Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill is introducing a version of this concept.

Abraham explains:

YOU LIVE IN A VIBRATIONAL UNIVERSE. And Law of Attraction (that which is like unto itself is drawn) is sorting it all out. You have much less to do than you thought you did.

It doesn’t really matter because you cannot get it wrong and you will never get it done. Your goal here is to follow your bliss—and in doing so, you will connect with your Source. And when you connect with your Source, the perfect mate, car, home, wellness and life will be yours. The abundance that you seek, in all areas of your life, will be yours. It is law.

^Source http://www.abraham-hicks.com/journal.php?eid=1838

In another excerpt of Abraham:

We are all Vibrational Beings. You're like a receiving mechanism that when you set your tuner to the station, you're going to hear what's playing. Whatever you are focused upon is the way you set your tuner, and when you focus there for as little as 17 seconds, you activate that vibration within you. Once you activate a vibration within you, Law of Attraction begins responding to that vibration, and you're off and running--whether it's something wanted or unwanted

 ^Source http://www.abraham-hicks.com/journal.php?eid=148