Wednesday, 13 December 2017

As a Man Thinketh - Book Summary & Review



As a Man Thinketh
James Allen

‘As a Man Thinketh’ has long been read by millions of people seeking joy, success, and health through the power of thought and its effect on life. James Allen insists upon the power of the individual to form his own character and to create his own happiness. Thought and character are one, he says, and as character can only manifest and discover itself through environment and circumstance, the outer conditions of a person s life will always be found to be harmoniously related to his inner state."

In his book, Allen emphasizes on the two essential truths of life, one, that we are what our thoughts have made us because thought leads us to action. And that we are the architects of our future. By mastering our thoughts, we can change our lives. A man is the sum of his thoughts.
Our actions change pattern of events. In turn, these patterns constitute our character. And our character or personality begins with our thoughts.
Attitude and action – are closely related. Underachievers tend to disappoint themselves because they think very little of themselves from the beginning. Attitude problems often have severe consequences. Yet, there’s a very simple solution.
If our thoughts shape our character, it’s only logical that changing our thoughts will change our character, too. By changing the nature of their thoughts, pessimistic people might find more things to smile about.
When one attempts to master their thoughts, they can do much more than eliminate negative characteristics. A person brings joy, strength, peace and wisdom to their life, author refers to it as Divine Perfection.
Unmanaged thoughts are the biggest obstacle; negative attitudes can destroy the things we cherish and love.

The world we live in doesn’t just shape us – we shape it, too!
Blaming failure on external factors is something we’re all guilty of. It might make us feel better, but it only sets us back. Our circumstances are closely linked to our character. We shape our world just as much as it shapes us. Our character is not just a mere product of circumstances rather it has considerable influence over what kinds of situations we end up in.

It’s not always clear whether character or circumstance exerts more influence on any given situation. Thus, figuring out someone’s character from their circumstances is impossible. Likewise, we can’t always predict the circumstances someone will end up in by examining their character.

Work toward better health and other goals by cultivating positive thoughts.

Some of us age gracefully, while some of us do not. One factor to consider is our attitude. Our thoughts have a powerful influence on both our character and circumstances. They likewise have an impact on our bodies too. Negative thoughts have many unfortunate side effects: a higher heart rate, poorer sleep, headaches, and also, wrinkles from all that frowning!

On the other hand, thinking thoughts of joy, lightness and makes us feel happier and younger, too! So if you want to feel better about your body, try directing your thoughts toward feeling better.

Directing your thoughts is crucial if you want to achieve any sort of goal. This means letting go of all thoughts that distract you from your goals. This isn’t easy but your mind is like a muscle; with practice, you can train it to think more effectively and positively.

We are solely responsible for our ability to succeed, so dream big!

It’s crucial that we understand that our ability to free ourselves lies in our hands. No matter the circumstances we face, we should stay true to our values and dreams. Our dreams give us the drive to turn our goals into achievements. Dreaming let us discover new worlds.

If you master your thoughts, thereby changing your character and your circumstances for the better; you’ll discover that life itself is full of serenity. It takes time to get there, but there’s no doubt that it’s worth it.

Ruchika Verma


James Allen (28 November 1864 – 24 January 1912) was a British philosophical writer known for his inspirational books and poetry and as a pioneer of the self-help movement. He is perhaps one of the greatest writers of this century; he portrays the Truth clearly, eloquently and with no misunderstanding. His best known work, As a Man Thinketh’, a timeless piece, has been mass-produced since its publication in 1903. It has been a source of inspiration to motivational and self-help authors.

You can purchase this wonderful book from Amazon




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