As a Man Thinketh Paperback – 20 April 2018

Beautifully produced book with an attractive cover. The teaching in this is invaluable and concise. Indeed, I would say it is extraordinary and powerful, despite its simplicity. I believe it’s essential reading for everybody, young and old. Anybody can benefit from this and put its principles to practice. I have bought many copies for friends and will probably buy many more. These superb and clear insights can help anyone along the journey through life, and make that life a remarkable and enriching one. This book is out of copyright so many people are publishing it. I found this edition to be the best option for its attractive design and low price. This book does not profess any religious doctrine. It is a powerful ethical statement, eminently practical in its insights, for people of any faith or no faith.

Really nice book must be learned in the schools.

James Allen (who died in 1912 aged only 48) was a British writer who became known for his inspirational books. He was a pioneer of the self-help movement. As a Man Thinketh, published in 1902, is his most famous book. More modern inspirational writers have often used it. His thesis is that our thoughts make or break our lives and that high ideals, great thoughts and the capacity for self-sacrifice create success and contentment. It is this strong moral foundation that makes the book's ideas so powerful. It seems to me that some more modern positive thinking books make our thoughts into a magical force that somehow attract whatever we want to us, without asking us to examine the morality behind our desires.I enjoyed this book. Like many other older inspirational books about positive thinking and success, it is full of commonsense, without hype or magic. Although Allen seems to be very much a humanist, in that he makes it clear that man is his own saviour and there is no other, there is much in this book that people of all religions and none can agree upon. In fact, it reminded me a lot of the kind of 'muscular Christianity' espoused by Victorian adventurers and soldiers, and of the ideal of the 'English gentleman'. This is a great heritage and one that, sadly, is fast being forgotten in our age.As most self-help books seem to do, it does omit one important point. Other people have desires and dreams and they may well clash with ours; in fact, they may not be moral at all. Hitler dreamed of a Third Reich with no Jews. Saddam Hussein dreamed of making his regime an absolute nuclear power. These thoughts and dreams affect people. often in terrible ways, and there are many lesser examples. We do not have control over this, so we can never have complete control over the outcome of our own lives. Only in a fairly stable and prosperous country could people possibly have the illusion that their thoughts and desires alone can control their destiny, or even that getting wealth and success is a possibility. It is a luxury to be grateful for!

Ever wondered about cause and effect? Ever pondered upon that gnawing problem in your life that you feel sure you have the power to resolve, you just can't quite get a hold of it? Problems losing your temper, feeling low self-esteem? Do you feel positive, but are not being able to convert those thoughts into action? Read this book!At 60 odd small pages of large print this can probably be read in an hour. But do not let quantity be confused with quality - for this book could be read and re-read thousands of times in a life without decrease in profit to the reader.Quite simply, Mr Allen explains how our thoughts shape us. Us as characters, us as personalities. Us as our personal appearance, us as our neatness and tidiness, or lack thereof. Us as our temper and anger, or us as serene and self-possessed. Us as thinkers and poets, or us as degenerates and slobs. We are what we think!This book does not transform you in and of itself. What it does do is provide an eloquent and inspiring reminder to yourself - you are who you want to be. No excuses, no pretending, no whining. Allen lays down a challenge; experiment with the prinicples of clean, virtuous, wholesome, uplifting, kind, polite and generous thought, and see what happens in your life. Conversely, if you wish to be honest with yourself; ask and experiment at what results have only ever come through selfishness, laziness, slobbery, vanity, perversion, and the grovelling thoughts and feelings associated therewith.Upon the discovery that, as Mr Allen states, the law of thought is governed by the law of the harvest, i.e., you reap what you sow, it will become evident to any reader that the task in front of them is to first get rid of the dry, dusty, barren land of their mind, laying fresh, fertile new soil in its stead. Then, to plant the most nutritious and delicious seeds of thought, goals and high and glorious desires. Next, to cultivate and tend the same with care, and then, in the fulness of season, to reap with joy the abundant rewards and fruitage of such labours.

Great read, easy to digest, definitely a book to return to and study. Will be looking at his other books.

Not obvious at first look.Sweet and sour......wisdom of dripping pure gold,but the book like a comic.... ummmm

A very good read

Been on the lookout for a book like this for around 5 years. One that hits home about how powerful the mind can be having experienced its power firsthand. This book will uplift you and should be taught as mandatory in our children’s upbringing. Recommended to all.