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As A Man Thinketh Keepsake Edition As A Man Thinketh by James Allen

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annamikulec's review against another edition

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informative inspiring reflective fast-paced

4.0

wholcomb's review against another edition

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5.0

I read this book a couple years ago. It is a short book but has a lot to it. Recently I downloaded the audio, sat by a river and listened to it. Some parts I listened to repeatedly because I really wanted to internalize what Allen was saying. Like, "Circumstance does not make the man; it reveals him to himself." or “You are today where your thoughts have brought you; you will be tomorrow where your thoughts take you.” Those are areas to reflect on. This book is well worth the short time invested in reading it.

narendradityanalwa's review against another edition

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5.0

What an excellent book!

This small book is such a bliss to read that I found myself thinking why many self-help/motivational books are so boringly divided into definitions and codes. The prose is so ravishing that I would prefer it over a hundred others clean with executable principles and neat diagrams.

First half gave me a feeling of a Gita interpretation. A good part of the book resonates with this verse of Lord Krishna (Gita 6:5) :

uddhared atmanatmanam
natmanam avasadayet
atmaiva hy atmano bandhur
atmaiva ripur atmanah.

A man must elevate himself by his own mind, not degrade himself. The mind is the friend of the conditioned soul, and his enemy as well.

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"Here is a youth hard pressed by poverty and labor. Confined long hours in an unhealthy workshop; unschooled and lacking all the arts of refinement. But he dreams of better things. He thinks of intelligence, or refinement, of grace and beauty. He conceives of, mentally builds up, an ideal condition of life. The wider liberty and a larger scope takes possession of him; unrest urges him to action, and he uses all his spare times and means to the development of his latent powers and resources. Very soon so altered has his mind become that the workshop can no longer hold him. It has become so out of harmony with his mind-set that it falls out of his life as a garment is cast aside. And with the growth of opportunities that fit the scope of his expanding powers, he passes out of it altogether. Years later we see this youth as a grown man. We find him a master of certain forces of the mind that he wields with worldwide influence and almost unequaled power. In his hands he holds the cords of gigantic responsibilities; he speaks and lives are changed; men and women hang upon his words and remold their characters. Sun-like, he becomes the fixed and luminous center around which innumerable destinies revolve. He has become the vision of his youth. He has become one with his ideal."

"Keep your hands firmly upon the helm of thought. In the core of your soul reclines the commanding Master; He does but sleep; wake Him. Self-control is strength. Right thought is mastery. Calmness is power. Say unto your heart, “Peace. Be still.”"

Guide us O Lord, for our paths are full of thorns.

suvata's review against another edition

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5.0

A classic first published in 1902, this 45 page book is jam-packed with thoughts on the nature of man. With gems such as: “Cherish your visions; cherish your ideals; cherish the music that stirs in your heart, the beauty that forms in your mind, the loveliness that drapes your purest thoughts, for out of them will grow all delightful conditions...”. This book is not to be read but to be absorbed into your very consciousness.

saarahn's review against another edition

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5.0

Captivating

This book featured such an intriguing concept, that of a man's thoughts are what he becomes, I personally have to agree. Mr. Allen writes, ' As he thinks, so he is; as he continues to think, so he remains.'

But then as I was reading it, I adapted the habit of evaluating Mr. Allen's beliefs: for example if man's thoughts are what build his character, then surely a man's thoughts should be held accountable for man' actions, how exactly does one go about punishing one's thoughts?

Then there was the idea that circumstances are of little importance, they only assist one in learning about oneself- circumstances reveal your true nature. I agree with this, but not completely. For, if this were indeed true then one would assume that man does not learn from circumstance, and that circumstances have no role in shaping man. This is erroneous, if we are to judge on the basis of experience. To learn from our experiences, we are required to reflect on our past circumstances.

Despite this, I enjoyed the book: it certainly got me thinking and that is the most beautiful gift any book can provide. I plan to read it again.

solely's review against another edition

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5.0

Amazing Small Book

This small book of a masterpiece is a must read. The ideas of James Allen is not something that I’m new too but the way he wrote it was masterfully beautiful. This will knock your sense and really start thinking pure.