Think Big: Unleashing Your Potential for Excellence [Paperback]

Ben Carson M.D. (Author), Cecil Murphey (Contributor)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 7, 2006

This book is for you if your life is a series of shattered dreams. This book is for you if you have no dreams at all. It's for you if you've bought the lie that you'll never amount to anything. That's not true. Your life is BIG---far bigger than you've imagined. Inside these pages lie the keys to recognizing the full potential of your life. You won't necessarily become a millionaire (though you might), but you will attain a life that is rewarding, significant, and more fruitful than you ever thought possible. The author of this book knows about hardship. Ben Carson grew up in inner-city Detroit. His mother was illiterate. His father had left the family. His grade-school classmates considered Ben stupid. He struggled with a violent temper. In every respect, Ben's harsh circumstances seemed only to point to a harsher future and a bad end. But that's not what happened. By applying the principles in this book, Ben rose from his tough life to one of amazing accomplishments and international renown. He learned that he had potential, he learned how to unleash it, and he did. You can too. Put the principles in this book in motion. Things won't change overnight, but they will change. You can transform your life into one you'll love, bigger than you've ever dreamed.

Editorial Reviews

From the Author

Ben Carson is the director of pediatric neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins University and the author of two best-selling books, Gifted Hands and Think Big. A widely respected role model, he shares motivational insights with inner-city kids and corporate executives alike. He serves on the board at Yale University and on the board of the Kellogg Company. He lives in Baltimore, MD. Gregg Lewis is a freelance writer with 25 years experience in the publishing industry. The author or coauthor of more than 30 books, he lives with his wife and five children in Rome, Georgia --This text refers to the Mass Market Paperback edition.

From the Back Cover

This book is for you if your life is a series of shattered dreams. This book is for you if you have no dreams at all. It's for you if you've bought the lie that you'll never amount to anything. That's not true. Your life is BIG---far bigger than you've imagined. Inside these pages lie the keys to recognizing the full potential of your life. You won't necessarily become a millionaire (though you might), but you will attain a life that is rewarding, significant, and more fruitful than you ever thought possible. The author of this book knows about hardship. Ben Carson grew up in inner-city Detroit. His mother was illiterate. His father had left the family. His grade-school classmates considered Ben stupid. He struggled with a violent temper. In every respect, Ben's harsh circumstances seemed only to point to a harsher future and a bad end. But that's not what happened. By applying the principles in this book, Ben rose from his tough life to one of amazing accomplishments and international renown. He learned that he had potential, he learned how to unleash it, and he did. You can too. Put the principles in this book in motion. Things won't change overnight, but they will change. You can transform your life into one you'll love, bigger than you've ever dreamed. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Zondervan (February 7, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0310269008
• ISBN-13: 978-0310269007
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.2 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (47 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #57,893 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

54 of 56 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must read book for my children and their teachers!, April 12, 2002

By 

Bruce V. Culver - See all my reviews

This review is from: Think Big: Unleashing Your Potential for Excellence (Mass Market Paperback)

I was very pleased with Dr. Carson's first book, "Gifted Hands" and found his moving story of childhood turnaround, through the influences of his Mother, reading and God to provide refreshing proof that we can positively influence lives.

Taking the time to read and understand Dr. Carson will demonstrate that he is an ordinary man like you and I, problems and all. He deals with problems and mistakes with the following philoshopy of living:

T - Talents/time
H - Hope
I - Insight
N - Nice

K - Knowledge

B - Books
I - In-Depth
G - God

Do not judge this to be simplistic and trite...Dr. Carson explains with vivid examples how he utilizes this philosophy not only to live by, but to spread hope to those, like him that once had no hope in life.

I highly recommend this book, not only as an inspirational story about a current day medical hero, but as a book that can provide the framework to live your life or develop strong, positvie traits in your children.

Note: this book stands on its own merits and does not require previous reading from Dr. Carson's first book, "Gifted Hands". I read "Gifted Hands" shortly after reading "Think Big".

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A life altering must read for young and old., January 4, 2000

By 

Mr. Scott Collins (New York, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Think Big: Unleashing Your Potential for Excellence (Mass Market Paperback)

I found Dr. Carson's book to be incredibly moving and useful in daily life. It perfectly depicts the powerful influences of our childhood and what can happen when the messeges you hear are possitive and uplifting. My wife is 3 months pregnant with my child and I intend to limit the TV time, like Dr. Carson's mother did. The books she encouraged him to read as a youngster opened up his creativity and broke down walls. I will not forget this very powerful message.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The blue print to success, December 16, 2002

By 

P. A Lewis "[e-mail]" (St Louis, MO United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Think Big: Unleashing Your Potential for Excellence (Mass Market Paperback)

This book was particularly interesting Dr. Carson has given us the road map to success and we should put our youth as well as ourselves on this path of achieving greatness. I admire Dr. Carson who did not let peer pressure or neighborhood gossip distract him off the path of success. When I read this book there were some things that I am going utilize such as talent, being nice, ethics, books and most importantly god on my path of success in achieving my career goals. For about a year now I have shut off my cable and every night I read after getting home from work which has made a remarkable improvement in my life.

Books have become my best friend in shaping my mind and to increase my cognitive being in ways that are beyond my imagination. Whenever there is a subject that I have no knowledge of my local library has been my greatest source of information. Knowledge is power and a tool for success.