Customer Reviews

As A Man Thinketh

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I have to say, that I was ready for the content, so it was particularly impactful. I just finished reading "Ask and It Is Given" and had most recently read through the chapter titled "Accurate Thought" in the book titled "The Law of Success" published by Orne Publishing. In fact, the day I was introduced to "As a Man Thinketh," I had just read about "Accurate Thought" the night before. I was walking through my office building, and this guy I know, totally unprompted and in a random manner, pops "As a Man Thinketh" out of his pocket and thrusts it toward me and said, "Hey, man, have you ever read this book." I looked at the title and laughed out loud. Sometimes God talks to us in such an overt manner that it's scary (in a good way). I downloaded the book immediately to my Kindle and read it that same night. I'm probably going to read it again tonight. And will continue to re-read it. After reading it, I woke up the next morning with such a sense of certitude and confidence. The ability to shape my destiny through accurate thought gives me a refreshing sense of freedom, because I can create that which I choose to experience. Awesome book!

I've read this book several time, it's very short, and I learn something new every time. Such beautiful writing style, it's simple and elegant at the same time. The title says it all, "as a man thinketh", and when you are blessed enough to finish this book you will conclude that as you think, so shall you be. It's the secret in "think and grow rich" too and that is one of my favorites also. In summary, do yourself a favor and invest in this book because it will pay you back for the rest of your life.

In my opinion, this book is a classic read towards changing ones mind to get into a positive flow. Positive thoughts will lead to a healthier body. Highly recommend. This book would make a nice gift...

Mind is the Master power that moulds and makes,
And Man is Mind, and evermore he takes
The tool of Thought, and, shaping what he wills,
Brings forth a thousand joys, a thousand ills: --
He thinks in secret, and it comes to pass:
Environment is but his looking-glass.
by James Allen

James Allen was the first to fully recognize the power that resides in us all, in that our thoughts are what manifests our reality. Most people have difficulty in recognizing that thoughts are things, and as Ella Wheeler Wilcox writes, "their airy wings"..."bring you back whatever went out from your mind."

Allen was the pioneer, the forbear of such notables as Norman Vincent Peale and Maxwell Maltz; he was the profoundly insightful messenger who made us realize the potent power we possess to affect our lives, rather than the proverbial leaf in the wind to be strewn about at the whim and storms of life, as was once accepted, internalized, and surrendered to. The only person to reach this truth before James Allen, was the father of psychology, William James when he stated, "The greatest discovery of my generation is that human beings can alter their lives by altering their attitudes of mind."

In developing his philosophy, Allen said, "I looked around upon the world and saw that it was shadowed by sorrow and scorched by the fierce fires of suffering. And I looked for the cause. I looked around, but I could not find it. I looked in books, but I could not find it. I looked within, and found there both the cause and the self-made nature of that cause. I looked again, and deeper, and found the remedy."

James Allen was born in Leicester, Central England in 1864. He wrote nineteen books--his most famous being, As a Man Thinketh, written in 1902, translated into five major languages. The title was influenced by a verse in the Bible from the Book of Proverbs chapter 23 verse 7, "As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he." Even though it was his most concise and eloquent work--the book that best embodied his thought--he somehow failed to recognize its value, and his wife Lily persuaded him to publish it. James Allen tells us how thought leads to action, and he shows how to turn dreams into realities. His philosophy is said to have brought success to millions. His words induce the realization, helping us internalize, that circumstance is not the designer of our future, but rather, at the mercy of the intention of our thoughts.

Can this small book change your life? It can. For some the words may be frightening, perhaps unwelcome, because his discovery informs us we are in control of our lives and stronly implies the resposibility is ours; we can change our habitual thoughts, the very things that govern our destiny. For many, his truth will spell liberation, as he so eloquently writes in the book as no other can:

"Men and women are makers of themselves by virtue of the thoughts they choose and encourage. The mind is the master weaver, both of the inner garment of character and the outer garment of circumstance, and that, as they may have been hitherto woven in ignorance and pain, they may now be woven in enlightenment and happiness."

Joe Arrigo
Author of, Fostering Cooperation: Power and Harmony through People
and, The Secret Factor for Uncommon Sales Success

"As a Man Thinketh" is one of the pioneering works of the modern inspirational and self-help literature. More of a long essay than a proper book, it was first published in 1902 and it brought its author James Allen enough of a success that he was able to dedicate all of his energies to writing from then on. The book's title is an allusion to a verse in King James Bible "As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he." (Proverbs 23:7) However, the context in which the verse was written differs somewhat from the main theme of this book. The verse was meant to war the reader not to be deceived by the outward appearances but to pay attention to one's true motives. However, Allen used it a springboard into the discourse over the way that our internal states of mind determine our actions and situations in life - almost the exact opposite of what the biblical verse was implying.

This book is a gem of virtue ethics and personal responsibility. Too many self-help books aim to work on external manifestations of deeper internal problems, but this book firmly aims to change our actions through changing the underlying thoughts that lead to those actions. This is a difficult task, but it is something that is admirable and worth striving for. The book reinforces this point in many well-written and accessible ways. In fact, "As a Man Thinketh" is a beautiful example of clear and straightforward writing that has stood the test of time. The book is truly inspiring without being maudlin. It is very short, and therefore easy to read in a single sitting. Nonetheless, much of its charm lays in the fact that it can be read and reread over and over again. As long as the human condition remains as it is, this book will remain relevant.

Short, sweet, and to the point. This is a great book to begin to look at how our thoughts impact our actions. Change your thoughts and you begin to change your behavior and eventually you change the results you get in life. This book opened my eyes to how many things were influencing my thoughts out of my awareness. Negative news and negative people should be avoided because they influence your thoughts and create fear, worry and self-doubt. It teaches you to seek out healthier people and sources who instead influence you to reach higher levels of personal success. This is classic book with a great message.

I stumbled across this book after listening to quotes from the book in a funkadelic song called: good thoughts bad thoughts. I am a true believer in self help books and this is one of the first and best. some other good ones are the power of believing, master key system and invisible valium.

The Great Depression produced so much positive perceiving literature. This one is
a classic. Read it as soon as possible.

I have read thousands of books in my life, was sure I'd read it all, and then I discovered this publication, from more than a century ago. While I would quibble a little bit with small parts of it--I believe humans are relational beings, and I do wish Allen had written more of that in these books--overall I find this book to be filled with truths. In fact, it seems to me to be a nearly-perfect Christian Buddhist, or Buddhist Christian, worldview, and fits what I've been searching for well.

This books is very interesting and relevant to the 21st century. After the first chapter, the reader will be captivated by the language and analogies used to convey the point. Great book. You'll desire to read it again and again throughout the years.