As A Man Thinketh by James Allen (1903)

Summary: As a Man Thinketh is an essay by James Allen, originally self-published in 1903. The book explores the idea that a person's thoughts have a powerful influence on their circumstances and experiences in life. The central premise of the book is that our thoughts shape our character and determine the quality of our lives. Allen argues that by controlling our thoughts and focusing on positive, uplifting ideas, we can transform our lives and achieve success and happiness. The book also discusses the importance of taking responsibility for our thoughts and actions, and the role that self-discipline and determination play in achieving our goals.

Born in England 1864, James Allens father was struggling in the textiles business, his father traveled to New York City to seek employment when Allen was 15 years old. Sadly, he was robbed and murdered just days after his arrival. Allen was forced to leave school and worked to help support the household. Holding onto the intelectual practice of reading and writing that his father instilled in him, Allen studied his fathers books on ethics, religion and philosophy during his lunch breaks and well into the evenings. Feeling stuck and without direction, he was striving to find purpose and meaning for life. In 1889, Allen found new employment outside of the factory working as a secretary and continued to contemplate the world religions and it became clear to him that the underlying message was self-development and inner refinement. He began writing his own thoughts and in 1903, Allen wrote As a Man Thinketh to encapsulate the idea that our thoughts are causative and that thought is the cause of oneself. The title may have been inspired by the proverb, “As he thinketh in his heart, so is he.”

James Allen writes from personal life experiences of mental building himself up and out of despair and the struggle he experienced as a youth. From the publication of this book forward he would publish a book a year until his death in 1912. This book would go on to inspire Napoleon Hill, Dale Carnegie, Marxus Garvey, and many others. By directing our thoughts toward greatness and achieving personal goals, he teaches that we don’t attract what we want so much as we attract what we are.

As James Allen wrote himself, "This little volume (the result of meditation and experience) is not intended as an exhaustive treatise on the much-written-upon subject of the power of thought. It is suggestive rather than explanatory, its object being to stimulate men and women to the discovery and perception of the truth that “They themselves are makers of themselves” by virtue of the thoughts which they choose and encourage; that mind is the master weaver, both of the inner garment of character and the outer garment of circumstance, and that, as they may have hitherto woven in ignorance and pain they may now weave in enlightenment and happiness."

Chapters:
00:00 - Introduction
01:30 - Thought and Character
06:11 - Effect of Thought on Circumstances
24:51 - Effect of Thought on Health and the Body
28:56 - Thought and Purpose
33:27 - The Thought-Factor in Achievement
39:12 - Visions and Ideals
46:18 - Serenity

Credits:
Text - James Allen
Audio Narration - Randy Scott

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