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As a Man Thinketh: Book Review

This story originally appeared on the Gents Cafe Newsletter. You can subscribe here.


When it comes to book reviews I feel as though it is always the same books on rotation. I read so many reviews on “Rich Dad Poor Dad” and “Think and Grow Rich” that when I got around to reading them the excitement of discovering the pearls of wisdom didn’t have the same effect. I’m not saying they aren’t good books but I feel many have picked up the habit of only reading books that are trending and not venturing to discover what good literature is out there. Let’s test that theory with a book I don’t think I ever saw trending, a book that I discovered when I began my personal development journey. The book I’m referring to is “As A Man Thinketh” by James Allen.

As a Man Thinketh is a self-help book by James Allen, first published in the early 1900s. It is a short book, only 134 pages long. If you have an hour or two, you can read it in one sitting, it is packed with wisdom and insights into the power of thought. The book is divided into 26 chapters, each of which explores a different aspect of the relationship between thought and reality.

Allen argues that our thoughts create our reality and that we can change our lives by changing our thoughts. He writes: “A man is literally what he thinks, his character being the complete sum of all his thoughts.”

Allen also emphasizes the importance of self-discipline and positive thinking. He writes: “Self-control is strength; Right Thought is mastery; Calmness is power.”

Here are some of the things I liked about the book:

– The writing is clear and concise.

– The ideas are well-organized and easy to understand.

– It contains practical advice that can be applied to everyday life.

– It is inspiring and motivating, to say the least.

There are a couple of things I didn’t like about the book:

– It can be a bit repetitive at times

– Also it is not very specific in terms of how to change one’s thoughts. But, I can’t exactly expect a book to get someone to figure out their HOW.

Overall, I enjoyed As a Man Thinketh. I would recommend it to anyone interested in learning more about the power of thought and how to improve their life.

Dear reader, in conclusion, allow me to part with two quotes from the book that I found particularly inspiring:

“Men are anxious to improve their circumstances, but are unwilling to improve themselves; they therefore, remain bound.”

“The outer conditions of a person’s life will always be found to be harmoniously related to his inner state.”


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