As a Man Thinketh by James Allen
Several books have made an impact on my thoughts and perception over the years. Where ‘AI Superpowers’ by Kai-Fu Lee made me ponder about our future, ‘The Future of Humanity’ by Michio Kaku explained to me that humans need to genetically engineer themselves for a successful journey across the universe. I also went to the world of Narnia, which was so explicitly described by C. S Lewis. On the other hand, J. R. R. Tolkien took me along on a journey with the Hobbit. I was shown the life of Steve Jobs in the biography written by Walter Isaacson while David McCullough’s biography of The Wright Brothers emphasized the struggles of how the first airplane was invented. Each book has impacted me profoundly by the thoughts shared by these authors. While listing the books that have made the most significance in my life, I believe “As a Man Thinketh” by James Allen remains on the top of my list. After all, thoughts do govern life.
“As a Man Thinketh” was first published in 1903. The content it comprises will have an impact on the readers’ mind just the way it changed my perceptions when I first read it in 2003. It is more of a self-help manual to acquire the habit of positive thinking. The seven chapters of the book are aptly titled as Thought and Character, Effect of Thought on Circumstances, Effect of Thought on Health and the Body, Thought and Purpose, The Thought-Factor in Achievement, Visions and Ideals, and Serenity.
Allen, a British author, has used simplicity when discussing the wonders of a thought. He continuously reiterates that our life is a result of how we think. He carves out thought-provoking sentences in each paragraph. He writes, “Man is made or unmade by himself; in the armory of thought he forges the weapons by which he destroys himself; he also fashions the tools with which he builds for himself heavenly mansions of joy and strength and peace.”
Allen’s conversational style in which he has written this book makes me want to read it again. I never felt as if he was being assertive. He was sharing philosophical information and opinion that was as realistic in 1903 as it is in 2020.
I was impressed by Allen’s example where he symbolized the human mind akin to a garden. He shares that just like a gardener needs to keep the flowers and the grass in a garden clean by taking away unwanted weeds, we too must keep our minds clean by taking away unwanted, worrying thoughts. Allen writes, “A man’s mind may be likened to a garden, which may be intelligently cultivated or allowed to run wild; but whether cultivated or neglected, it must, and will, bring forth. If no useful seeds are put into it, then an abundance of useless weed seeds will fall therein, and will continue to produce their kind.”
Allen also highlights that a man’s character is revealed by the circumstances he faces. He writes, “Circumstance does not make the man; it reveals him to himself.” The aspect of this book I like the most is that Allen has described the impact of thought on our life, health, body and our circumstance. The book is sort of a manual on how to think with positivity. We are aware that our negative thoughts have an impact on our health. We contract diseases and have to fight with depression because of what we think. Allen writes, “Effect of Thought on Health and the Body…Disease and health, like circumstances, are rooted in thought. Sickly thoughts will express themselves through a sickly body… Strong, pure, and happy thoughts build up the body in vigor and grace. The body is a delicate and plastic instrument, which response readily to the thoughts by which it is impressed, and habits of thought will produce their effects, good or bad, upon it.”
One of the most interesting and thought-altering phrases from the book is, “to desire is to obtain, to aspire is to achieve.” I have been following this phrase ever since I read this book. It holds the essence of achieving success be it personal or professional. When we desire, we are only willing to complete a task for the sake of it. However, when we aspire, we go an extra mile ahead with our efforts and achieve success while facing surmounting odds.