As A Man Thinketh
Assessment by Munalula Yuwanga (Zambia)
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?
The main idea James Allen is trying to bring out in this book, As a Man Thinketh is to educate us and make us know that each step in life affects the next one and to explain how they are interrelated. Therefore it is the duty of every individual to always use his brain to think and make decision.
2. What were the seven ideas which were personally most important to you and why? List these seven ideas followed by an explanation after each one as to why it was important to you. Use personal examples from your own life.
The book is divided into seven sections, each describing a specific aspect of thought. These sections are the most prominent and they are also the seven most important concepts to me:
i. Having an objective towards a particular activity
It talks about the strength and importance of having an objective towards a particular activity you want to achieve and all you efforts will be directed there. It is important to have a thought or idea which is well guided with a clear road map which can be easily understood by anyone, just doing things aimlessness. An idea which is well planned is half way achieved.
ii. A good plan still has to be implemented
It is never enough to have a good plan without implementation, but it requires also monitoring and evaluation to assess the impact and progress made. I have recently failed to achieve good results in a number of activities I participated in due to lack of consistence and setting priorities. A good number of my project proposals could not be considered for award due to the same challenges. I regret so much because my project would have helped to mentor children and youth as well as increasing access to education for the Orphans and Vulnerable Children.
iii. Responsibility for one’s own life and destiny
Almost every person I have come cross in my life, seem to be responsible for their lives with powers to determine their destiny. However many people seem to know what is right and what they want, but they fail to achieve, some due to lack of capacity to effect change. I will give the following examples: People know smoking is dangerous and official warning is given by that tobacco manufacturing company, but people still decide to ignore it. Many people have been told about HIV/AIDS but they can’t control their sexual behavior.
iv. Take your time to get peace of mind
In many cases it makes sense in life when you do things at a relaxed pace and because of this aspect you begin to think clearly. This reminds me of the caution that speed kills. You rush, you crush. Therefore it is important to take your time with a peace of mind. I always enjoy life with a peaceful mind even when things have not gone my way.
v. As a man thinketh in his heart that he is
“As a man think in his heart that he is.” Meaning that what you do, brings out what you are thinking. It is always very difficult to differentiate the thoughts of someone from what he does and the results. His thinking and character influences the conditions and circumstances of his life. My boss and one donor highlighted by contribution in the report which was written in their absence. In their separate reactions they indicated that the idea of doing this came from me and it was true.
vi. The oak sleeps in the acorn; the bird waits in the egg; and the in the highest vision of the soul, a waking angel stirs. Dreams are the seedlings of realities.
One of the quotes in this book I have liked reads as, “The oak sleeps in the acorn; the bird waits in the egg; and in the highest vision of the soul, a waking angel stirs. Dreams are the seedlings of realities.” This to me means that every success must start with a dream. Currently i have a dream of constructing a multipurpose youth skills training centre and I am now through with the plan. Now I am looking for the dream funder.
vii. On the job training to learn how things work.
On the job training to learn through practical how things work. It also reminds me about what happened to our vehicle when we hired a bush mechanic to come and work on the faulty. He made more damage than when he found it. This was very frustrating and a good lesson to learn
3. Will these ideas or lessons help you in a practical way, both in your daily personal life and in helping you to create a better world?
Yes these ideas are useful and helpful in my daily life. I appreciated knowing how to make these connections now after reading the book.
4. Quotes: Are there any statements which the author made that particularly got your attention? If so, please quote them and comment as to why they were important to you.
The quotations that were most important to me were:
“Strength and struggle go hand in hand.”
It is our strength which makes us to struggle through difficult times to reach the goal.
“As a man thinketh in his heart that he.”
“The oak sleeps in the acorn; the bird waits in the egg; and the in the highest vision of the soul, a waking angel stirs. Dreams are the seedlings of realities.”
5. Is there anything in the book that you do not understand or are unclear about, or are there ideas which you disagree with and, if so, why?
Nothing I didn’t understand or was unclear to me.
I consider these same questions I am answering for this report as completing exercises. There are exercises in the book that you are to do as part of your life. I am working on them.
7. Was there anything you read in the book that you would like to comment on that was not covered in the previous questions? If so, please comment.
No, I feel the questions covered most of everything that is in the book.
Please rate the following questions on a scale from 1 to 10. Ten is good and one is poor.
A. How interesting was it to read? 9
B. How helpful were the contents? 10
C. How easy was it to understand? 7
D. Would you recommend it to others? 10
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 10
Jonathan Livingston Seagull
Assessment by Munalula Yuwanga (Zambia)
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?
The main idea of the author of this book is to teach people about the different ideologies, different people would have even when they respond to matters that are somehow related in nature. However it is not wrong to differ in opinion or approach at any given time, as long as they results are positive. This reminds me of one author who said “There are so many ways to the top of the mountain but the view of the ground will be exactly the same.” Then the other man once told us that “a failure in school is not a failure in life.” The meaning of these two quotations in responding to the question at hand there is no specific formula to a number of challenging circumstances. Just like many people have read this book and answered the same questions again, interesting aspect is that our answer will always be different in one way or another depending on how one understood the question and the concept in the book. However despite the different approaches we all have, the book reminds the reader of the importance of self confidence, and as such we can see how Jonathan outshined all the seagulls.
The seven ideas I found to be most important are:
i. Learning
I find it a pleasure to learn that the more one learns, the better one becomes, and develops the interest to pass on the knowledge to others or becoming a teacher just like the case is with Jonathan.
ii. Strive to be more then average
I leaned also that it is important to strive to be more than the average target. Meaning that if we want to learn more, then we must be willing to try many times before we achieve our goals and master anything along the way. The only secrete to do this is to realize that we are not perfect. Only then that we are going to allow making mistakes and trying again and we are going to have confidence for the second chance. The more you practice, the more you gain experience and become mature.
iii. Irresponsible behaviors
When you look at our point of departure, I see Jonathan being summoned by the Council and Jonathan declared outcast for irresponsible behavior. The gulls closed their eyes and turned their backs upon him, he spent the rest of his days alone, but he flew way out beyond the far cliffs, and learned more each day.
iv. Standing for your beliefs
It is important standing for your believes, Jonathan seagull stood for what he believed in, flying, higher than other seagulls, he did not want to scrabble after fish heads. Jonathan discovered the art of flying all the way from eight thousand meters above sea level at two hundred and fourteen miles per hour reaching terminal velocity.
v. Empathy and humility
It takes empathy to teach one must remember and be open and still ask questions, and admit when we are unsure, and we don’t know, if not we will stop learning. Humility to simplify what we learn, and even to be open to what others teach us, to understand, to listen. It reminds me of this statement; “humility in knowledge, arrogance in ignorance.” The power of tenacity that is not dogged if something, the ability to re-access that something does not work, and requires a different approach.
vi. Teaching and learning
Jonathan became a teacher to others because of his egger to learn and he became to be the first gull to fly fifty miles an hour, then ninety miles per hour and later flies the first acrobatics of any seagull on earth.
vii. Flying with the Flock
We see what happened after many efforts Jonathan failed in flying efficiently and eventually decided to quit and join the Flock, with hope that everyone will appreciate him. But later he discovered how to fly like falcon and was able to set the highest speed limit in the history of seagulls. Through his practices which were motivated by passion and determination he improved and succeeded.
3. How will these ideas or lessons help you in a practical way, both in your daily personal life and in helping you to create a better world? If so, how?
The ideas and lesson found in this book will help me to learn how to relate with other people and how to become a good leader, parent and coach. Because I have learned how love, passion and care can positively contribute to the behavior of any person. I also loved Jonathan’s determination to know all the tips of flying.
4. Quotes: Are there any statements which the author made that particularly got your attention? If so, please quote them and comment as to why they were important to you.
These are the quotes that really did get my attention. They were:
“I don’t mind being bone and feathers, Mum. I just want to know what I can do in the air and what I can’t, that’s all. I just want to know.”
“Jonathan discovered the art of flying all the way from eight thousand meters above sea level at two hundred and fourteen miles per hour reaching terminal velocity.”
5. Is there anything in the book that you do not understand or are unclear about, or are there ideas which you disagree with and, if so, why?
Everything was clear and I understood the ideas in the book.
6. Did the book contain exercises for the reader to complete? If so, did you complete all of the exercises and did you find them helpful?
Yes these same questions I am sending in this report, I consider as doing an exercise. Otherwise there weren’t any exercises in the book.
7. Was there anything you read in the book that you would like to comment on that was not covered in the previous questions? If so, please comment.
There was nothing else I would like to comment on at this time.
Please rate the following questions on a scale from 1 to 10. Ten is good and one is poor.
A. How interesting was it to read? 9
B. How helpful were the contents? 9
C. How easy was it to understand? 10
D. Would you recommend it to others? 10
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 9