Okpe Emmanuel – Assessments

As a Man Thinketh

Assessment by Okpe Emmanuel (Nigeria)

1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?

The main idea the author try to convey in this book is the fact that human is a product of his or her thought. The book explains the power of thought over circumstances. The book describes thought as the propelling force behind human achievement or failure. Successes and failure emanate from our thoughts. Thought shapes our character, influence circumstances, impact positively or negatively on our health and play a pivotal role in our achievement. Though thought has the capacity to change our character and make us to reach the summit in life, this may not be feasible without dream. The world is driven by vision and ideas and so life without dream is tantamount to failure. A man of vision rules the world. Dream properly conceived and vigorously pursued will take the dreamer to the apex in his life chosen career. To cap it up, the dream must possess a serene mind set for a turbulent mind cannot travel far in life journey. A calm man has learnt how to govern himself and to adapt with others. This places him above them and grants him the privilege to rule them. The man must therefore rule over his thought and train his mind not to be perturbed by adverse weather condition or to be carried away by a clement weather.

In summary, therefore, the author’s main message to my mind is that, it is what we make out of what we have and not what we are given that separates the achiever from non-achievers.

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 following are the ideas that are most important to me:

i. That man is product of his thought.

My thinking shapes my ambition from the cradle. I have been a tall dreamer who believes that I can reach the apex of my academic career. Looking at my background, I am not worthy to attain this feet in the academic but because I kept reminding myself that I have set a goal that must be achieved today, I have started PH.D. There were obstacles on the way but since my mind set never change, I was never deterred.

ii. The impact of thought on circumstances.

Again, it is clear to me now that the obstacles I have crossed in life were possible only due to thought. Since I did not equate myself with failure, I was able to climb to this level. A particular incidence happened during my Master degree program that would have warrant my withdrawal from the program. But when the thought of withdrawing comes to my mind thought of facing friends and family and convincing them why I had to withdraw speak louder and at the end of the day reign supreme in me. That was what kept me through that program.

iii. The implication of thought on health and body.

Here also, I see clearly how my health can be controlled from within my thought. This year I have not tasted anything drugs all because of the agreement within my thought. At the start of the year, I have told myself that I will not take drug throughout the year and even when there are symptoms of sickness, I will just ignore it. This is nothing but the power of thought.

iv. That man’s thought can affect his achievement in life.

There were projects I have tried to embark on but before I do, I must have concluded that it is not feasible. The consequence has been that it is either I did not attempt at all or fail in such project. I did not understand the effect of my thought on the achievement or otherwise of such project until I was reading through this book. I have come to the realization that if I think that I can achieve anything in life I can and my achievement is not tied to circumstance, favor or fortune.

The most frivolous of ideas can make a whole lot of difference in my life. I have worked with a friend who lost his job with our country’s parliament and was wretched after wards. He conceived an idea of a retreat for some traditional rulers in the oil rich Niger-Delta region and today from the proceeds is living a wealthy life. Personally, I have conceived that dream of becoming a professor in the university. That dream has sustained me to this level academically.

vi. How to be purposeful in pursuing my dream.

In the course of my studies, one thing that has helped me so much is purposefulness in pursuing my dream. I have never used monies meant for my study on any other thing other than the study. I always close my eyes and thought to every other frivolities and see them as a distraction to my dream. This has worked for me not only in y studies but during my marriage too. Making sure I become narrow minded in the pursuit of my dream.

vii. With a serene mind I can weather through storms and negative conditions.

At the risk of sounding proud, one thing that stands me out among my peers is my serene and peaceful disposition. I have hardly reacted rashly to situations. My wife have had confessed to her mother of this trait in me. People’s testimony opened my eyes to it. When confronted with negative situation, the first thing I do is to weigh the consequences of what I say or the action taken at such a time. This has helped me a lot in life. It has made leaders in the church recommend me for a high leadership positions in the church.

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?

From all these ideas and lessons, I have come to understand that before I can change the larger society, I must first of all change my thinking and perceptions that by implication means I must change myself. Since a man is product of his thought, there is nothing I can I achieve with a negative mindset. The implication of this is that with positive attitudes all circumstances in my life becomes an opportunity which I can turn to achievement in my life. Deriving from the above, I will dream bigger than I did before I read this book knowing that men of dream and ideas rule the world. Lastly, I must have to pursue my dreams with single mind, focus and vigor. These ideas can practically be applied as a leader. Having this inbuilt in me can help me change the world around me.

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.

“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.”

I learned here that human mind at birth is like a white chalk board. Whatever is written therein will endure. If we write negative thought, negativity will germinate but if we sow in positive thought, positivity will germinate.

“Man is manacled only by himself; thought and actions are the jailors of fate—they imprison, being base; they are also the angels of freedom the liberate, being noble.”

Man can enslave or redeem himself through the power of his thought. It signifies the role thought play to make or mar a man.

“Not what he wishes and prays for does a man get, but what he justly earns. His wishes and prayers are only gratified and answered when they harmonized with his thoughts and actions.”

This can be explained using the popular adage “if wishes were horses, a beggar would have ride. Mere wishes and prayer without effort amount to failure.

“Even the man whose sole object is to acquire wealth must be prepared to make great personal sacrifices before he can accomplish his object’ and how much more so he who would realize a strong and well-poised life?”

To attain any reasonable height in life endeavor, I must be ready to make sacrifices. There are things that must be traded off in my life. This also apply to nations state.

“Here is an employer of labor who adopts crooked measures to avoid paying the regulation wage, and, in the hope of making larger profits, reduces the wages of his work people. Such a man is altogether unfitted for prosperity.”

Here I learned the virtue of truthfulness, honesty, and sincerity not only in employers/employee relationship but also in life generally. It shows clearly that one cannot make in life through crooked means.

“This being so, man has but to right himself find that the universe is right. And during the process of putting himself right, he will find that as he alters his thought towards thing and other people, things and other people will alter towards him.”

To change the world, I must first of all change myself through my thought and perceptions. Transformation of the larger society starts with transformation of individual character.

“Man is made or unmade by himself. By the right choice and true application of thought, man ascends to the divine perfection.”

Good thoughts with right application will lead me nowhere. But with a combination of right choice and right application sky is only my starting point.

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?

Thought and mind set alone cannot overcome spiritual forces. The author fails to take into cognizance the influence of some invisible forces. I want to believe that it is universally accepted and recognized that there exist some demonic forces and this sometimes has role to play in some people’s destiny. So the place of faith and prayer cannot be completely rule out in our race to our desired destiny. I have personally known people who are brilliant but today could not get anywhere and there is clear evidence that their failure in life cannot be unconnected to factors of evil and demonic powers. There are families because of what atrocities committed by their fathers who are suffering the consequences today. Whatever they lay their hands cannot prosper.

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?

No.

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.

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? 7
B. How helpful were the contents? 8
C. How easy was it to understand? 8
D. Would you recommend it to others? 9
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 9

 

 

Jonathan Livingston Seagull

Assessment by Okpe Emmanuel (Nigeria)

1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?

The main idea that the author try to convey in this book is that “man can overcome limitation through importunity and the strength of his or her character. Human beings are a component of their thought. The Seagull in the story would have remain an average bird or mediocre in life if he was not importunate. The factors of practice and patience can also not be ignored here as it plays a pivotal role in the success recorded by the Seagull. There exist negative circumstances and or background in almost every human life. This can be weathered through if he or she chooses to. Jonathan Seagull for instance realized the potential in him, learn not to remain a mediocre and refusing to accept defeat by circumstances of family background changed his thinking “But no, he thought, I am done with the way I was, I am done with everything I learned. I am a seagull like every other seagull, and I will fly like one. So he climbed painfully to a hundred feet and flapped his wings harder, pressing for shore.” One has to identify himself, his potentials and do all he could to tap that potentials to achieve his goal in life.

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 example from your own life.

a. The first and most important idea that the author try to express in the book is that there is no limitation whatsoever to the level one can attain in life if he or she can try and remain importunate.

We can however be limited only by our thought. Before now, I use to think that certain things are an exclusive preserve of some individuals because of their family background but after reading through this book, it became clear to me that I too can reach apex of my career if I choose to.

b. Daring to be different through importunity and the power of thought in influencing one’s achievement in life.

I learned here that any one that has been a failure can achieve greatness if he changes his or her thinking. To excel therefore, he must learn to think positively and remain resolute that he will make it.

c. One can be defeated only when he accept defeat.

The numbers of times we try and fail to achieve success matter not if one refuses to accept defeat. He or she can keep trying until the desired result is achieved. That means no giving up on anything worthwhile.

d. There are always obstacles as we try to excel in life.

The thought and voices of failure cannot cease in our lives but they must not deter us in our choice to make it in life. But to make it we must close our eyes to the obstacles and forge ahead maybe pretending as though the never existed

e. We can overcome the present by forgetting the past and reaching forth for excellence.

Dwelling in our past defeats or failures will take one nowhere. The past must therefore, be forgotten and life continues.

f.Knowing and understanding one’s potential can go a long way to bring me to the apex of my attainment.

Most people have untapped potentials in them but their thinking limits them from maximizing it. The starting point to greatness from this book is to know and understand one’s potentials. This will propel him or her to crave to utilize this potentials to arrive at his God ordained destination.

g. Many are limited in life because they fear to try.

Opportunities abound for many but fear of failure or mockery has hindered them from daring to attempt.

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 awareness that there is no limit to what I can attain in life will enable me to keep trying and never to give up on anything I am doing. What is important is my thought. If I think I can make it then nothing else matters because my defeat comes only if I accept it. Again I cannot fear obstacles because am already aware their existence. Nothing worthwhile comes easy. I came from a very poor background and to reach the level I am today in my education, I had to make do with the past and face current challenges. All these were made possible because early in life I realized I have potentials that must be maximized. I therefore, never fear to make attempt.

In trying to create a better world, this has taught me that nothing is impossible. A perfect world may seem a mirage but a better world is a possibility if the afore mentioned lessons are applied diligently.

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.

“A single wingtip feather, he found, moved a fraction of an inch, gives a smooth sweeping curve at tremendous speed. Before he learned this, however, he found that moving more than one feather at that speed will spin you like a ritIe ball”

I learned here the difficulties in trying to make additional success. Moving more than one feather” Just one feather and the effect could be diseasterious but a winner never quit, he can only forge ahead.

“There’s a reason to life! We can lift ourselves out of ignorance, we can find ourselves as creatures of excellence and intelligence and skill. We can be free! We can learn to fly!”

That there is a reason or a purpose for living. No man on earth exist for nothing. I must therefore have to identify my reason for living and pursue it with vigor to have it achieved. Also that knowledge play a significant role in iberating our soul from defeat.

“The old seagull looked at him kindly. Yes, my son? Instead of being enfeebled by age, the Elder had been empowered by it; he could outfly any gull in the Flock, and he had learned skills that the others were only gradually coming to know.”

Age is never a limitaion in life. At whatever age, life goal can still be attained if there is the will.

“You will begin to touch heaven, Jonathan, in the moment that you touch perfect speed. And that isn’t flying a thousand miles an hour, or a million, or flying at the speed of light. Because any number is a limit, and perfection doesn’t have limits. Perfect speed, my son, is being there.”

That in everything I do, I must not be too cnscious of the speed at which I attain success butto aspire to be perfect. Again, that patience and practice pays.

“The trick, according to Chiang, was for Jonathan to stop seeing himself as trapped inside a limited body that had a forty-two inch wingspan and performance that could be plotted on a chart. The trick was to know that his true nature lived, as perfect as an unwritten number, everywhere at once across space and time”

Look at the potentials in me and not the limitation(s)

“You have less fear of learning than any gull I’ve seen in ten thousand years.”

I should not entertain fear in attempting to learn new things.

“The gull sees farthest who flies highest.”

“Your whole body, from wingtip to wingtip,” Jonathan would say, other times, “is nothing more than your thought itself, in a form you can see. Break the chains of your thought, and you break the chains of your body, too.”

This is the power of thought over human being. Our lives are controlled from the thought relm, weak thought produced weak result while strong will produced excellent result.

“As simply and as quickly as that, Kirk Maynard Gull spread his wings, effortlessly, and lifted into the dark night air. The Flock was roused from sleep by his cry, as loud as he could scream it, from five hundred feet up: “I can fly! Listen! I Can Fly!”

Spoken word has power to motivate, affect our character and change our thinking

“Look at Fletcher! Lowell! Charles-Roland! Judy Lee! Are they also special and gifted and divine? No more than you are, no more than I am. The only difference, the very only one, is that they have begun to understand what they really are and have begun to practice it.”

Knowing and understanding the potentials one is endowed with can go a long way in helping to change our thinking about breakthrough in life.

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?

So, I have not encountered anything in the book that I do not understand or ideas that I disagreed with. The book makes an interesting reading and plenty lessons to learn.

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?

No.

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.

The lessonson this book are beyond description. Almost every line of the book has a lesson especially for the indolent who think that making it in life is only a function of our background and human efforts has no place in what his or her achievement

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? 6
D. Would you recommend it to others? 9
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 9

 

 

Keys to Success

Assessment by Okpe Emmanuel (Nigeria)

1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?

The book main idea is how readers can explore 17 tested principles of success to transform their lives from failure to success. It is clear from the book that no man is born a failure. Failure comes to man as a matter of choice. Those who choose to succeed will definitely do so while those who plan to fail will remain a failure. The starting point of success is well defined goal which the author described as definiteness of purpose. This coupled with discipline, positive attitude, team work and faith will drive one to the land of milk and honey. The value of mastermind which I understand as team work cannot be over emphasized. It is an uphill task trying to succeed alone. No man has ever attained outstanding success in anything without applying the mastermind principle. These principles cannot work without personal discipline. The book opens one’s mind to a whole lot of instructions, insight and opportunities which if explore will take him to sit among the comity of successful men of this world.

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 following are the ideas that are most important to me:

i. The value of definiteness of purpose in the life of successful men.

The message here is that one must be focused, definite and determine in whatever he laid his hands upon. The goal must be clearly defined, strictly followed up and conscientiously implemented. Successful men are not in the habit of approaching their goals absent mindedly but are meticulous in attending to their identified goal.

ii. How to establish a mastermind alliance

Establishment of mastermind is a pre-requisite for a successful attainment of a noble goal. No man is an island and so the need to work with people of like mind to achieve this goal. Though, caution must not be thrown to the wind so that wrong choices are not made in trying to select whom to work with. The choice of whom to work with must therefore be diligently done to avoid regret.

iii. How to enforce self discipline

Success in life is not for indiscipline people, for instance one who is not disciplined with time, use of money how can he be successful in business? Successful men are highly disciplined and strict. In short, discipline should be a habit to a man and not a choice.

iv. The importance of team work

A well organized team will not only enhance the chances of success but will boost productivity. As mentioned earlier, one can hardly succeed alone. With a well coordinated network of men of like passion, ideas and vision, success is simplified.

v. Lesson from adversity and defeat

Necessity they say is the mother of invention. In the midst of adversity and defeat, one will be forced to think and coin out solution to human challenges. But when all is rosy and smooth, chances are that they will be relaxed.

vi. How to cultivate creative vision

Creativity adds value to whatever one find himself doing. A little difference in the business or product can make it sell faster and bring the company to a great success. For instance, in Nigeria here, people were giving to drinking water tied in nylon but some one thought of sanitizing the water and ceiling in a well packaged nylon and today it is a big industry.

vii. Time and money management

This is heart of the matter. “Time na money” is a very popular parlance in my country. The due goes together. Without proper time management, huge amount of money will be lost. A good time manager is as well a good money maker.

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?

I have personally made it a point of duty to ensure that before I embark on any project, I will sit down and have my goal defined, see that I have the capacity to follow it up and be determined to accomplish it. I must be definite and focused and avoid any form of distraction.

This is now a success made easy for me. I have learnt how to employ master mind alliance to be able to actualize my dream. I cannot pursue my dream alone and so have to work with other associate who have similar dream with me to reach my target.

Discipline is not negotiable for me if I must hit my target on record time. I must have a well planned and workable time table to guide me and also be very prudent in money management.

I am already imagining how I will be coordinating the team that will be working with me. I have been lecturing people on team work before now but have not really had opportunity to put it into use in my life. I have determined on reading this book to apply it in my life directly.

I have suffered adversity and defeat in my life severally. One thing I have comfortably taking out of it is the ability to continue without given up. While in those adversities, I have discovered so many things that added value to my life and this will continue unabated.

Creative mind has been a challenge in my life. The ability to think creatively has been a difficult task to me but now the secret have been unraveled from the reading of these books. I will set aside time to meditate, try to ensure that ideas that flash through my mind are properly registered and stored in my subconscious mind so I can utilize it when needed.

Time management will not pose a challenge to me. From my training in the church, I have become so use to keeping time that it is part of me to arrive at the venue of any meeting well ahead of time.

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.

“There is no scarcity of opportunity. There is only a shortage of imagination.”

Opportunities abound in our time but it is open only to those with eagle eyes and only very few people has this eyes. People especially from my part of the world are giving to short cut in achieving success almost in everything they do. The ability to sit, think and use idea seem a waste of time to many and so opportunity easily elude them.

“Our most precious natural resource is not our mineral deposits or our beautiful forests. It is the mental attitude and imagination of people of every generation who have mixed education to deliver goods and services that improve the lives.”

Again in my country, we are so dependent on our natural resources that our leaders seem to have become bankrupt ideally. Countries like UAE that has no natural resources but depend on ideas fare better than countries with abundant natural resources. The most valuable and precious resources therefore is idea and not diamond, gold or petroleum.

“If you can see an opportunity as quickly as you can see the faults of others, you will soon succeed.”

Human beings are very quick in finding other people’s faults but are very slow in discovery opportunity. We are too used to fault finding but lack ability to proffer solution to the same fault.

“One single idea may have greater weight than the labor of all the men, animals and engines for a century.”

Ideas rule the world. The technology will enjoy today are all a function of some people’s ideas. Life is made easy today through ideas. Men were exerting physical labor to achieve so little but now much can be achieved in less time with less energy through ideas. Our mode of transportation, agriculture and office work has been made simple through technological ideas.

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?

I was able to comprehend and digest the content of the book and am fully set to put the lessons therein to practice.

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?

None.

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 such thing

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? 8
B. How helpful were the contents? 9
C. How easy was it to understand? 9
D. Would you recommend it to others? 9
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 9

 

 

Psycho-Cybernetics

Assessment by Okpe Emmanuel (Nigeria)

1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?

The main idea here is how to leave a successful and fulfilling life through improvement of self image. Improvement of self image according to the author is possible through the application of the science of cybernetic. Cybernetic in our modern usage is the system of control and communication in machines and animals, this the author believes can be achieve in man and he tagged it Psych-cybernetics. Though man cannot be reduced to machine yet, the human in the author’s view function more if not more perfectly than the computer. What matter here therefore is for man to understand the working of his brain and he is transformed from a failure to a successful and fulfilled man. The idea of a new world is totally a function of human knowledge and understanding. Man has to think to make this world a better place to live.

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 following are the ideas that are most important to me:

i. Whatever goal I set for myself in life is achievable if myself image is improved upon.

I have discovered on reading this book that I give up pursuing a goal just because I feel not qualified or not important like other people who are there. I have come to understand that that is a function of myself image. The way I look at myself, my interpretation of whom I am play a serious role in fulfilling my dream. I made myself the small or little potato. To overcome this, I have to see myself differently. In the mirror of my heart I see myself a champion, a victor and a winner.

ii. No matter how battered one’s self image must have been, it still can be improved upon.

No situation is too bad to be changed. No matter where I am today in terms of my status, I can improve upon it and be better. This is possible only through building a positive self image.

iii.Myself image is a figment of my imagination.

What I think about myself matter a lot as it impact on me either negatively or positively. If I see myself a success, I will no doubt be a success. My perception of myself affects me more than what others think of me. This means it is what I conceive of myself that I am made up of. My life consists of positive and negative and I can work to focus on the positive side as myself image. I can change the picture of myself by understanding who I am realistically and accept it to be so.

iv. That I must accept myself irrespective of my look.

Here I learned that I must first and foremost understand who I am so that I can make adjustment where necessary. If I have failed in the past I can forgive myself of all wrong doing and forge ahead. It is not useful dwelling in my past as though there is no future again.

v. That I can also win the battle against negative conscience in my life.

I understand from the book that every human being have two sides to life-the positive and the negative. That we through the choice we make in life can permit either of the two to dominate and rule our lives. I have therefore resolved that my life will be dominated by the positive side of life. I will therefore think and speak positive things to my life every day.

vi. That loneliness is a killer disease that must be conquered.

Loneliness kills faster than aids in my opinion. It is a root to through which many evil germinate in human mind. It gives birth to fear which separate one from his creative power. It conquers faith in human life thereby limiting one from exploring his potential.

vii. My virtue of creative mind.

One very important lesson I learned here has to do with the potency of mind watch. By constantly watching my mind I will be able to filter negative thoughts and mould a better me. I will increase my imaginative power and be determined to hit my goals in life.

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?

I will put my electronic computer (midbrain) to a productive usage by tasking it having understood that it can function better than computer, This I will do by setting goals for myself and work towards achieving them with a changed self image.

Before reading this book, I have almost given up in life due to challenges. But given up is not the solution but changing of myself image. The challenges in life have battered my life but now I have committed myself to changing myself image, rebuild my life and start life afresh.

Again, I understand that what I call a battered life is only a figment of my imagination as other people are looking forward to be where I am. Why will I destroy what I have suffered to build over time because of my negative perception of my life. I have woken up to the reality of life. I must have to rebrand my life beginning with myself image and refresh my hope of a fulfilled life again.

The starting point of this rebranding is the acceptance of myself the way I am. The knowledge of the fact that every man at one point or the other have made mistake in their lives have strengthened my faith in myself. No man is perfect and so whatever my past may have looked like must remain in the past so I can forge ahead in life

Before now, I use to think that morning and showing unnecessary remorse over a long period of time, wearing a long face to show frustration will attract human sympathy thereby change one’s life for good. This is nothing but negative thought and the consequence is always negative. Rather than looking for human sympathy, I will now think inward, meditatively search for solution which I now understand will come through positive self image.

To try as much as can to avoid loneliness. Through creative mind locate something and be always occupied. Having known the implication of loneliness, I must avoid it like a plaque.

I have started subjecting my mind to critical watch daily starting from the day I read this book. It is the secret of creativity. The word today is run by ideas and idea is born from a creative mind.

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.

“Within your midbrain is a very small electronic computer, a tape recorder, an automatic servo-mechanism, a success mechanism that you operate like electronic computer, a goal-striving mechanism that helps you move forward your goals.”

My brain is a divine computer that should function better than the electronic device called computer. I picture my brain now as mechanism through which to achieve my life goals. I have not put my brain to it optimal use before now.

“Your self-image is the picture of yourself. It is your opinion of yourself. It is your value judgment about yourself. And this image of yourself you carry with you out into the world; it helps shape the caliber of your experience.”

My real person is the image of me inside me. What I make of myself is what I will be in life and not other people’s perception of me. I have to think and look at myself positively.

“You must understand that happiness comes from accepting yourself for the imperfect person that you are.”

Until one accepts the person of himself, he will hardly be happy. First and foremost, no one is perfect and so I must accept myself with all the weaknesses and imperfection in me.

“Living today in yesterday is not living; it is perishing.”

Living in the past is very harmful to human soul. Not been able to forget past event or inability to forgive oneself of past failure is tantamount to perishing. It is no life worth living

“The death-in-life way is no way to live; you must live or perish.”

This reminds me of a man that was popularly called “dead alive” in my village as we were growing up as children. Some life is not worth living. Living without impacting or living a foot print on the sand of history is not a worthwhile life. It is better to live and by that I mean, living to impact on other people and the world at large.

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?

There is nothing unclear to me in the book that I do not understand. I find the second part of the book (Question and answer) very interesting. That part touched on majorly emotional side of humanity. They teach moral lessons when critically digested are capable of transforming life. I think it still remains a portion that I will have to read over and over again.

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?

No.

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.

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? 6
B. How helpful were the contents? 7
C. How easy was it to understand? 8
D. Would you recommend it to others? 9
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 8

 

 

Success through a Positive Mental Attitude

Assessment by Okpe Emmanuel (Nigeria)

1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?

The main idea shared here is on how to motivate oneself and others through Positive Mental attitude. This the author did by sharing so many illustrations both positive and negative of others so readers can learn lessons from them. Motivation according the author is that which induces action or determine choices. It also refers to hope or other forces which starts an action in an attempt to produce specific results. The twenty chapter book shows clearly how readers can achieve physical, mental, and moral; health, happiness, wealth; or any other worthwhile goal but cautioned that the attainment of such must not be at the expense of the law of God neither should it trample on the right of other individuals. In trying to motivate readers, the author uses challenging examples like his encounter with Andrew Carnegie who challenged him to devote his twenty years to the study of American achievers.

Again the book shows the most important living person: I and my Positive Mental Attitude. The book speaks to me specifically as it has changed my orientation about progress, achievement and attainment of worthy goals in my life.

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.

i. That the most important person in this life is no other person but me.

Here I understand that no one in the world is more relevant and important than me. This is by no means arrogating power to my personality but an understanding of the part I can and have to play as a person in changing the world. It defines to me the role and debt I own the world. It suggests to me that I have a very important gap that cannot be filled without me. After reading through this piece, I feel challenged to try and do something a little more, add more courage to touch lives in little corner thereby changing my small world.

ii. That with PMA I can change the world for good

The gap I have to fill in life can hardly be filled without PMA. To accomplish the role I have to play in changing the world positively, I have to build a good PMA. I owe the world a lot and must strive to contribute my quota in order to make the world a better place for the generation yet unborn. Sitting down and complaining will not move world an inch in the right direction. I must start and the right time is now.

iii. After reading this book, every cobweb in my thinking have been cleared away

There are cobweb beclouding people’s good ideas and this has hindered them from achieving what they ought to have achieved in life. The cobweb was clearly defined in the book and I have taken time to address and have them cleared out of my way. My own cobweb before now was the assumption that only the rich and their lineage will continue to enjoy the goodies of the word. But now, I understand that with good PMA I too can get there.

iv. The secret of getting things done

That the secret of getting things done is to do it now and avoid procrastination. Procrastination is a killer of dream and as such must be annihilated from my life. One other secret is the ability to do some more. Again, I am the type that does things and get discouraged easily when the expected result is not forth coming. I am also use to looking at circumstances around me and feel that it is not conducive for certain things to be done. All that I have realized are only procrastination and an attempt to kill my dreams. I have now gotten the courage not to give up almost at the point of arrival.

v. I have learned the wisdom of using OPM to make money.

The book taught me how to use other people’s money to make more money but with honesty and integrity. Simple wisdom, good planning through PMA I will sit at home and watch my money making more money for me. I have read thoroughly the examples of people in the book and am equipped to go out and practice it.

vi. How to find satisfaction on my job

That I can find satisfaction on my job when I have a clearly defined goal to attain. This is made possible by accepting the roles giving to me and setting my goals which will define my bearing on the job. The goals I set will be turned to a challenge that will be pursued with vigor and vitality such that nothing comes in between me and the attainment of the goals.

g. How to enjoy good health, wealth and live long

Good health comes from good food and exercise. The example of Rockefeller is a pointer to this. Making money must not take my attention from God, obeying simple hygiene and taking enough rest.

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?

Having understood the important place I occupied on earth, and with a changed PMA, I am better equipped not only to change my life but the world around me. From the lessons I learnt here, I can now motivate myself and others to reach their goals in life. I can teach people how to use OPM to attract wealth and riches thereby impacting positively to the world and by implication change the world. I can now derive pleasure in the job I do irrespective of the status and role giving to me. I can also live in good health and be happy in life.

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 burden of learning is on the person who wants to learn, not on the person who wants to teach.”

Learning is a choice. The person who wants to learn has a bigger role to play and must show himself teachable. A teacher may try his best to impact knowledge must without the effort of the learner; the effort will be in futility and the impact will be minimal.

“Anything in life worth having is worth working for.”

In my country, people wish everything can be gotten on the platter of gold or through short cut. We are too much in a hurry to get rich and by that fail to abide by the rules of getting riches. They prefer cutting corners. But whatever is worth getting is worth working and anything gotten without labor to my mind never last. Anything gotten through ones sweet is pleasurable using it.

“To despise nothing except selfishness, meanness, and corruption. To fear nothing except cowardice, disloyalty, and indifference. To covet nothing that is my neighbor’s except kindness of heart and his gentleness of spirit. To think many, many times of my friends and, if possible, seldom of my enemies.”

I learned here that nothing that has to do with moral decay should be once associated with me. I should rather concentrate on how to be of help to my friends than think about how to revenge my enemies.

“Remember, that money is of the prolific, generating nature. Money can beget money, and its offspring can beget more.”

This teaches me industry, hard work and commitment to making money using money. I will site a simple and local example here. During my under graduate days, I was combining studies with farming and had to rely on the use of the theory (money beget money) to survive. Even while I was in school, I was using money to farm for myself. I will pay laborers so that my farm work was going on.

“You don’t have to be ashamed to be failure.”

There is no one in life that has never experience failure. Failure is not a crime and to be ashamed of failure is to fear to make attempt and is tantamount to failure. Thanks to the account documented here in this book on prominent inventors, their record of failures before they finally got it right serves as a good encouragement to those who fear failure.

“Where there is nothing to lose by trying and everything to gain if successful, by all means try. Do it now!”

Here I learned that I have virtually nothing to lose trying. Making an attempt at any worthwhile venture in life rather is profitable. By trying, I only learn rather losing.

“I feel that my work is only a token payment of my gratitude to a higher Power for bringing me and my brother under this influence.”

The lesson I learned here is that my contribution to change humanity and the world is only a token of my appreciation to God for what He has impacted on me. I owe virtually everything in life to God and so whatever I do to humanity is a function of God’s influence on and cannot be attributed to my wisdom.

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?

No such thing.

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. I have completed all the exercise and they are very useful to me. Through the exercise, I have known or can guess my own success quotient.

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.

None.

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? 8
C. How easy was it to understand? 8
D. Would you recommend it to others? 10
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 9

 

 

How to Win Friends and Influence People
Assessment by Okpe Emmanuel (Nigeria)

1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?

This book is quite different from every other ones I have read.The techniques taught on how to win friends and influnce others opened my eyes to many different things in life. I was rather confused about the difference between between power and influnce but the book brought out in clear term these diferences. Winning friends has to do with thinking like and placing yourself in their positions. The book explicitly point out human nature- every body want to or feel important in his or her own way. Until we see them so and reckon with them as such, it will be difficult to win them to our side. If self esteem, self importace means so much to people that they can go insane only to be recognised, then we have no reason whatsoever to neglect it in any human being. This is why we must also abhore criticism like a plague. We cause more harm when we try to correct through criticism. The example of Crowley, a notorious criminal who said Under my coat is a weary heart, but a kind one, one that would do nobody any harm. This is the heart of a typical human being. By human nature, we tend to justify all our actions be they good or bad. But identifying with the evil doers, placeing oneself in their shoes, their heart will be free to accept the correction intended for them.

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.

a. How to handle people

Having the understanding that people often justify every of their actions, it become easier for me to handle people. The simple rule here is to stop criticizing them. “People don’t criticize themselves for anything, no matter how wrong it may be”. When dealing with people we should be in mind that we are not dealing with creature of logic but of emotion, people with prejudices and motivated by pride and vanity. I was astonished to read in this book that bitter criticism made Thomas Hardy to give up forever the writing of fiction. The best is to take after Benjamin Franklin who said “I will speak ill of no man, but speak all the good about everybody.” The best way to handle people is to give them sincere and honest appreciation. Before we correct, it is good to first of all sincerely and honestly appreciate the good work they have done. I heard a story of a couple who practice this lot. The husband will tell the wife for instance that this soup is very sweet though the salt seems to be excess.

b. Things that we must do if we want people to like us.

To start with, the best and only way to make people like you is to develop genuine and sincere interest in them. I remember an incidence that happened between me and a course mate while in the university. I saw that she was in a bad mood that day in the lecture hall. I went close to her and try to find out what went wrong. Initially she was not ready to talk because of the weight of the matter but after the lecture, she called me aside and explained everything to me in detail. At the end she made a comment. She said you are going to make a good husband. I tried to probe why and she said because I easily showed interest in people. That incidence brought us very close till now.

If you want to make people like you, show interest in them. Be concerned about them, try to know and address them by their name properly especially those with titles. In my country here you risk been sued for misspelling some people’s name or failing to write their titles properly.

c. How to make people think in your way

This tactics though not very easy is practicable. The way to start is avoid argument. Rather than arguing with people, show respect for their opinion and as much as possible admit your faults before them. I have heard stories of people who hate people arguing with them. They only want you listen when they talk. Don’t even interrupt their talk.

d. What it takes to be a leader

To be a leader is a daunting task as it comes with many challenges. This has to do with the character, charisma and conduct of the leader. A leader must praise and appreciate the laity honestly. The least of improvement on the job of his followers must be acknowledged and reckoned with. He must be someone that is ready to admit his faults and criticize himself before criticizing others. He should make it a point of duty to encourage his followers.

e. How to criticize

How can leaders criticize and remain respected? It takes wisdom to do this. From this too, I have learned that to criticize and be respected the leader should indirectly point out people’s faults. I heard of a woman who suspected her husband to be unfaithful rather than picking quarrel with him she looked for a better platform to address it. One day the husband was preparing for trip. In the course of packing his bag, packaged a pack condom inside the bag. That sends a whole message to the husband on sighting it at his destination. By this the woman avoided open confrontation which could have resulted to fight.

f. The effect of admitting ones’ mistakes as a leader.

When a leader admits his mistakes, he makes his followers better learners. In our contemporary time, leaders always want to be right. Our people are not even helping matters as everybody want to sing the praise of the leader thinking that will be put them in the leader’s good book. This will not let the leader know his faults or the errors his is committing.

g. The secret of Socrates

The secret is to try as much as possible to begin by getting a positive response from the other person first. This help set the listener in the affirmative direction. When a person says no from the onset he becomes egocentric and will hardly say yes later. He would want to keep his ego and will hardly recant his initial word. But when he is made to say some yes, he will also want to be a man of his word and stick to his yes.

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?

Having read this book I will treat every human being with utmost respect knowing that they are important and want to be treated as such. There are rarely people no matter how poor or uncivilized we may think they are who do not attach some level of importance to themselves. I will also from hence know how and when to criticize people. I have learned to criticize indirectly.

Again, I will show sincere and genuine concern to people though not because I want them to appreciate me but as a natural rule in life. By showing unbiased, concern to people around me, I am not only fulfilling a moral obligation but also a divine call.

To make people think in my own way, I will rather listen keenly with rapt attention than argue with them. Giving someone a listening ears make him or her open up on so many hidden facts. Things which ordinarily he or she would not have spoken about will be let out when we pay good attention to them. Attempt to interrupt or trying to win argument will make some sensitive people not to speak out.

I will try from now to show example of good leader in my small circle. By this I mean, I will appreciate, commend and reward every good performance of my laity. I will also admit my faults before them openly. Nothing is wrong if I fail in my responsibility and admit such before the people I am leading. This I will practice from now on.

I will as much as possible avoid criticism as a leader. In short, I if there is anything I have learned and will take seriously from this book is the fact that I will not criticize any more. Anything it will take me to abide by this rule, I am ready to do. I have read and seen the damage criticism have caused in people’s life and will avoid it like a plague.

As I stated earlier, I will from hence forth admit my mistake before my followers and everywhere, be it in my home before my wife and children. When I am at fault, I will admit it.

I will practice the Socrates secret in my discussion with people. Trying to get as many positive responses as possible from people at the start of discussion.

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 reason why rivers and seas receive the image of a hundred mountain streams is that they keep below them. Thus are able to reign over all the mountain streams. So the sage wishing to be above men, putteth himself below them; wishing to be before them, he puteth himself behind them. Thus, though his place be above men, they do not feel his weight; though his place be before them, they do not count it an injury.”

Here I learn the virtue of humility. Humility is the ladder with which young men climb to the top. Pride they say, goes before a fall. With humilty, we learn and receives many things from others.

“Don’t be afraid of enemies who attack you. Be afraid of the friends who flatter you.”

I have being flattered by a friend before and I now understand better. I was in a business with him and almost on a daily basis he will shower me with flattery by calling me some sweet names, promises that he cannot keep and so on. Today we parted ways and I am not ready to anything to do with even if he shows genuineness in his action.

“I shall pass this way but once; any good, therefore that I can do or any kindness that I can show to any human being, let me do it now Let me not defer nor neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.”

For some of us that are Christians, it is like failing to preach to a sinning soul and you later hear that he is dead. When we have opportunity to touch lives it has to be done without procrastination.

“Every man I meet is my superior in some way. In that I learn of him.”

No human being is destitute of knowledge in his life. There is always one thing or the other to learn from people we meet. The challenge however is that pride blind our eyes to all that. When we humble ourselves and accord people whom we come across respect, we will learn something new from them.

“Do unto others as you would have others do unto you.”

It is a simple rule. Whatever you expect from people do same if not more unto others. This in my mind will make one understand how easy or hard it is to do that task. For instance, people complain here that others hardly call their phone line, my response to them have been that they should call that same person and know how he is faring.

“Hatred is never ended by hatred but by love.”

Another simple and logical rule. When you are hated and you reply with love, the stony heart of the person will be broken down.
“By fighting you never get enough, but by yielding you get more than you expected.”

This is a lesson for politicians who always believe that power can be gotten through fighting. Some will go to the extent of shedding blood to get power or wealth. It is not by fighting but by yielding. In other words by submission.

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 can think of.

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?

No.

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.

The day I started reading this book, I felt as if I should know the author facially. So many practical and living examples that really enriched the book. The author is too fascinating.

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? 10
B. How helpful were the contents? 9
C. How easy was it to understand? 9
D. Would you recommend it to others? 10
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 10

 

 

Real Magic
Assessment by Okpe Emmanuel (Nigeria)

1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?

The main idea expressed in this book is the fact that miracle can be created in our everyday lives. This is feasible by first and foremost creating a miracle mind set. This author is explicit in his explanation that miracle is still within our reach. The book show clearly concrete ways to get to purpose and that is through service to others and unconditional love. The book also revealed the way to enlightenment-through suffering, through outcome and through purpose. Whatever happens to us on earth here has its purpose and so we should try to endure and learn the purpose why we are allowed to pass through such experience. Most a times, we will not understand immediately. That makes the circumstance weigh us down seriously but when we get the enlightenment we appreciate God for allowing it happen to us.

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.

a. How to create miracle in my everyday life.

Miracle can be created through enlightenment in other words knowledge or awareness. What we do not know remain strange to us. Life is a journey and the writer here listed three stages of this journey thus; enlightenment through suffering, enlightenment through outcome and enlightenment through purpose. These stages create in us enlightenment and it through enlightenment that miracles are created in our everyday life.

b. How to create a miracle mind set

The author listed fourteen keys to creating miracle mind set but I will concentrate on those that I think are real and applicable to me. These are as below:
To affirm myself as a non-limit person
To develop a new mindset towards the concept of intuition. This I will do by practicing how to listen to and follow my intuition daily.
To learn through knowing rather than doubting and fearing.
To live according to my spiritual self first and then my physical self
To ask nothing of anyone and practice unconditional acceptance.
To practice daily meditation

c. How to create magic in relationship

Creating magic in my relationship begins with the awareness of who I am; the components of my being. That I am made up of body, mind and soul. My ability to unit these components will help me to relate well with others. It Is until I am able to love myself that I can equally love others because I can only give what I have. The central ingredient in the magic of relationship is love. To create magic in my relationship therefore, I must have to observe the following:
Relinquish my need to be right; Allow some space in my togetherness; Eliminate the ideas of ownership from my mind by seeking to enjoy one another rather than possessing one another and I will not bother to understand everything

d. Magic in prosperity

To create a magic in prosperity, it is needful for one to forget his or her old way of thinking and develop a new way of imagining possibility.

e. The purpose of suffering

Everything that happens to man on earth has its purpose so is suffering. What we are passing trough now has a very useful lesson for us to learn. Circumstances do not make us but reveal us. In suffering the real man in us is manifested. It is said that until gold is pass through the fire, its real value remain concealed.

f. Magic in personal Identity

The person we assume ourselves to be matters much in life. If we build in our sub-consciousness some lie over time and have come to accept them as truth, it will affect our personality. I will experience magic in my personality when I consistently repeat some axiom to myself regularly like- I am a miracle, I can make it in life, I have overcome.

g. How to meditate

Learning to meditate begins with a thought within me. It is like every other learning method in life. It has to be approached with open mindedness. Meditation allows one to empty himself of the endless hyperactivity of mind and attain calmness. It teaches one to be peaceful, remove stress and aid one to receive answer where exist confusion.

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?

I will devote my life to seeking enlightenment, knowledge and awareness. I will also be patient to endure the journey of life allowing myself to pass through these three stages of life journey.
Having learned how to create miracle in my life, these principles will be my guiding light for the rest of my life.

To affirm myself as a non-limit person; To develop a new mindset towards the concept of intuition. This I will do by practicing how to listen to and follow my intuition daily. To learn through knowing rather than doubting and fearing. To live according to my spiritual self first and then my physical self. To ask nothing of anyone and practice unconditional acceptance. To practice daily meditation
To create magic in my relationship, I will abide by these rules; Relinquish my need to be right; Allow some space in my togetherness; Eliminate the ideas of ownership from my mind by seeking to enjoy one another rather than possessing one another. I will not bother to understand everything. I have resolved to forget my old, archaic way of thinking and develop a new way of imagining possibility in order to create magic in my prosperity. I now understand that suffering is for a purpose. I will wait patiently in it until the purpose is manifested in my life. I will be looking out for those things in that suffering or circumstance I am going through that is beneficial to me.
The person I assume myself to be matters much in life. If I build in my sub-consciousness some lie over time and accept them as truth, it will affect my personality. I will experience magic in my personality when I consistently repeat some axiom to myself regularly like- I am a miracle, I can make it in life, I have overcome.
I have learned that there are no rules in meditation. Meditation is allowing myself to go into another realm that is free of limitation. This I will do from hence forth.

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.

“There are no accidents; everything I am experiencing is in some way necessary for me to move ahead to the next step.”

Experience they say is the best teacher. What one experience he understands better.

“There is only one corner of the universe you can be certain of improving and that’s your own self.”

Many try to change a whole nation without first changing themselves. Before we can think of changing a society, let try to change ourselves first.

“Men’s many desires are like coin he carries about in his pocket. The more he has, the more they weigh him down.”

This signifies the vanity of riches. The more one possesses, the more trouble he causes for himself.

“Complete possession is proved only by giving. All you are unable to give possesses you.”

Those who have wealth but cannot share with others are possessed by the wealth. They are controlled by the wealth.

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?

I am not very comfortable with the idea the author shared about the spirit being and his explanation of meditation. These two things put together seem to me like an astral travel or astral projection. This is a personal opinion any way.

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?

None.

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.

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? 6
B. How helpful were the contents? 7
C. How easy was it to understand? 7
D. Would you recommend it to others? 8
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 7

 

 

Giant Steps
Assessment by Okpe Emmanuel (Nigeria)

1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?

The main idea the author expressed here is a clear inspiration on how a small inconsequential decision can make a whole lot of difference in our lives. The author demonstrated how we can be inspired by small action to take a giant steps that will improve our quality of life. Using specific tools, Robbins simplifies the power of little decision making on redefining our quality of life as well as our relationship. These actions in the view of the author have a significant impact on our health, finance, relationship and even emotional state. The author’s ten day mental challenge and master of evaluation is a practical way to overcome mediocrity in life. We are challenge not to dwell in our problems but on the solution so he encouraged us to spend 10 percent of our time on the problem but 90 percent on the solution.

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 following are the ideas that are most important to me:

i. The Dream of Destiny

Here I understand that nothing valuable can happen in our life until we dream about it first. Dream here is like an architectural design that guide or lead us in the route to successful life. The idea must first be conceived inform of dream then we can follow the pattern showed in the dream to accomplish the dream.

ii. How to get what I really want

The key to achieving our dream is to identify what is preventing us from taking action. Most a times procrastination hinders many people from achieving their dreams in life and the author clearly identify this as a plot to put off pains. But rather than putting of pains, we experience more if not worse of the pains by avoiding doing what we ought to do. Nothing taking action according to the author is much more painful than just doing it. Nothing can be better stated than this. Inaction is like a killer disease.

iii. The effect of what we belief on our success

Our belief is a strong determinant factor in our success. It is the force that determines what we try or fail to try. Our belief tells us what we are capable of doing, what is possible and what is impossible to us. If we believe in some empowerment, on positive ventures our lives we be shaped towards success and not failure.

iv. That I can get solution to a problem through question
One very important thing in human life is curiosity. Curiosity makes us to ask question and through questioning we probe into some vital truth and solution to human problems. Through questioning we cut through obstacles and challenges in life. Eventually, when we think, which is a continues process in human life, we are engaging in question and answer. To change our life for good therefore, we must examine and change the kind of questions we ask.

v. How emotions can direct our actions

I learned here that I am the author or in-charge of my emotion. I can create or change it at any moment. So if I feel some negative emotions, I have the power to change it to positive emotion. The author gives a clue here. A realization that we have handled such negative emotional state before and what we did to turn that state around. We can also try to remember any or some happy moment in my life and picture my emotional state then.

vi. The ten-day mental challenge

The mark of a true champion is consistence. The rule is refusal to dwell on any un-resourceful thoughts or feelings. Refuse to indulge in any disempowering question or devitalizing vocabulary or metaphor. Within this period, we are to be certain that our entire focus is on solution and not problem. One thing that is central here is discipline as we are required to start afresh if we find out we defaulted even on the ninth day.

vii. The key to an expanded life.

Experience make certain what we belief. We rely extensively on what we have experience to shape our belief especially as to what we are and what we are capable of doing. Our experience also makes us uniquely different from every other person on this planet earth. This is because our experience varies in life. We have to imagine our experience as tools that can be laid out in whatever pattern and shape we want it.

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?

I will first conceive my ideas inform of dream then I will follow the pattern showed in the dream to accomplish the dream.
It clear to me now that the key to achieving my dream is to identify what is preventing me from taking action. In the past, procrastination hinders me from achieving my dreams but will never be again.
Knowing the implications of my belief and the extent it will impact on my success or failure in life, I now know what to believe. I believe that I will make it in life.
Answers are found in question. I will continue to ask reasonable question that will lead me to a sound answer and solutions.
The state of my emotion plays a significant role in what I achieve in life. I understand from this book how I can control my emotion for better. I will recall how I have at one point over come negative emotional state and turn on my state on happiness.
I will be consistent in whatever I lay y hands on and is refuse to dwell on any un-resourceful thoughts or feelings. I will again disengage myself from any disempowering question or devitalizing vocabulary or metaphor. I have also started the ten-day mental challenge.
I will rely extensively on my past experience to shape my belief especially as to what I am and what I am capable of doing. I have to see my experience as tools that can be laid out in whatever pattern and shape I want it.

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.

“Muscles get stronger with use, and so it is with your decision making muscles.”

This means the frequent we make use of our brain to take decision, the stronger and better our decision making ability will become.

“Whatever we focus on determine how we feel.”

If we focus on fear, we become fearful, but if we focus on faith we become courageous.

“Man’s mind stretched to a new idea never goes back to its original dimension.”

Knowledge gained by experience can hardly be reversed rather it will be built upon.

“If we all did the things we are capable of doing, we would literally astound ourselves.”

That is to say, if we harnessed properly all the potentials in us, we will be astonished at what we can achieve.

“Go put you creed into your deed.”

Put your writing, theory, plans, and proposals into action. Walk the talk rather than talk the walk.

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?

No such thing

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, the ten-day mental exercise and I have completed it and find it very useful and helpful.

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

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? 8
B. How helpful were the contents? 7
C. How easy was it to understand? 9
D. Would you recommend it to others? 9
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 9

 

 

The New Dynamics of Winning
Assessment by Okpe Emmanuel (Nigeria)

1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?

This is another classic in my opinion; it touches the real character of leadership. Using sport psychology, the author brought to the fore what it take win in life and to rule as leader. Mind set is what determines the ultimate performance of a champion, not talent or ability. To start with, champion must have the desire to win within them before embarking on the training. Champions are made through inner drive. The existence of a strong inner drive acting as a propeller is what separates a champion from a mediocre. Champions also know that there is prices attached to winning and are always ready to pay such prices. “Winners work at doing things the rest of the population won’t even consider trying.” The Olympian within is critical to winning as a champion. Performance is only a reflection of internal worth and not a measure of it. Equating this leadership, the virtue of integrity becomes indispensible. A leader must be held by his or her words. The must be a commitment to human values like honesty, responsibility, and concern for others as a true leader. A good leader should always expect the unexpected. Above all, he or she must be a leader that empowers others with the understanding that power multiplies only when you share it.

2. What were the seven ideas which were personally most important to you and why? List these ideas followed by explanations after each one as to why it was important to you. Use your examples from your own personal life.

i. Champions are made through inner drive.

Nothing worthwhile can be achieved in life without an inner propelling force. One must first and foremost be motivated from within before he or she can apply other external force or principle to achieve his or her goals in life. In school, for instance, the student must possess an inner drive to go to school before thinking of where the money and other logistics will come from.

ii. To be a winner, there is a price to pay

Nothing seems to be more true or real than this. When goals are set, the next most important thing to think of is the sacrifice (s) attached to the set goals. There are always things to sacrifice and examples abound from the sporting arena to studying to attain a certificate or leadership position in a society. The sport men and women know that a lot of frivolities have to be cut off their lives if they must train to get to the top. The student understand that he or she has to burn the mid night candle to excel and leaders no doubt know that they have to earn the respect of their followers by demonstrating integrity.

iii. That victory must be visualized from the onset

Victory and failure is a function of the mindset of the contender. From the beginning of any venture, one must visualize him or herself to have won. Sighting the example of Dr. Wayne Dyer that our belief system is so powerful that thoughts can actually cause things to happen in the physical. What we think in mind can be translated to real life. To win in life therefore, we must first conceive it in our mind, meditate upon it and translate it to reality. That invariable means that we should first of all see the victory in our mind eyes before we dive into the intended project.

iv. There exists enormous strength through mental toughness.

Here the virtue of patience and endurance in whatever we do is explicitly demonstrated. We have to endeavor to learn from the experts, never rush to be successful and listen to our body. Again, in addition, one must focus on the desire result and avoid distraction. One should as well expect the unexpected and prepare for the raining day.

v. That one must be coachable to attain the desire height in life

To be coachable simply means to be teachable. One can never stop learning in life. Man entire life is a circle of learning and as a saying goes; we die when we sop learning. However, the virtue of humility is prominently demonstrated here because one must be humble to allow himself to be coached by a subordinate.

vi. Quality of leadership

Some valuable qualities of leadership are clearly spelt out by the author. A leader is never too big that he or she can’t bend down to help others. They have no mind of their own but works with the mind of others. Leaders not only seek opinions but rule by the opinions or ideas of people. A good leader is a good listener, he hardly criticizes and he is firm and fare to all.

vii. Beyond the arena

The creeds of champions are written like a gold letter on this page:

To be true to yourself
Make each day your masterpiece
Help others
Read good books
Make friends a fine art
Build a shelter against a rainy day
Pray for guidance, and give thanks for your blessing every day.
Above all, every theory learned here has to be translated into the game of life. The example of a baseball player Magic Johnson who played so selflesslessly as though the baseball means nothing but life to him is insightful. In the game of life, we must do what we love doing and not necessarily what will fetch us fame or money.

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?

I will work on my inner drive knowing that it is the propelling forces that will make me a champion in life. The inner drive when in place can take me places.
Knowing that there is a price attached to every achievement in life, I will prepare my mine mind and be equipped to pay any price attached to any endevour I venture into. Nothing good comes easy and only those who are ready to pay the supreme sacrifice win in life battles.
I have learned from this book that I have to visualize victory from the start of the race. This I will do by meditating or conceiving in my mind eyes that I have won the victory. It is possible for me to think victory in my mind and translate it to real life.
I will put my mental toughness to use from now. By that I mean bringing to bear the virtues of endurance and patience in everything I do.
I will humble myself and allow anybody that has the know how to coach me. I will be ready to be taught by anyone irrespective of his or her class so long as he or she possesses the requisite knowledge.
The quality of leadership I learned here will be put to use from my home to the church and other public organizations. I will humble myself and never feel too big that I can’t bend down to help others. I will also works with the mind of others seek their opinions before taking decisions. I will be a good listener and much as possible avoid criticism and be firm and fare to all.
I am going to write the creed of champion and paste in a strategic place that I will read through it to remind myself every day. It is a very useful lesson.

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.

“Champion don’t shrink from risk.”

This means to be champion, such a person must have the courage to take risk he is not the types that falter in risk taking.

“Most of our hurdles in life are self-imposed limitations that can be overcome if we never, ever give up on ourselves.”

What most people call hurdles is actually opportunity to others. It is laziness that makes such a hurdle before their eyes and by implication, it becomes a self-imposed limitation.

“There are no mistakes or failure, only lesson.”

With the eyes and mind of a champion every experience is a lesson and not a mistake or a failure.

“But there are no rewards in anything unless you try.”

There is no harm in trying. If you fail to try you can never get anything right.

“Having power is like drinking salt: the more you consume the thirstier you become.”

Power they say corrupt and absolute power corrupt more absolutely. Those who seek for power are never satisfied with it.

“When it start to hurt, you start to win.”

This is simply the strength to endure adversity or the ability to turn obstacles to success. It implies turning stumbling blocks to stepping stone.

“If you have to fail, fail big.”

Champions take big risk so that if they succeed they succeed big time and if they fail the fail big.

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?

No such thing.

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. Fortunately, I concluded the reading on a Sunday and commenced the exercise on Monday as schedule on 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.

No.

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? 8
C. How easy was it to understand? 8
D. Would you recommend it to others? 9
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 9

 

 

Leadership for Dummies

Assessment by Okpe Emmanuel (Nigeria)

1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?

The main idea conveyed in this book is the concept of leadership that relies on teamwork and consensus building to achieve set goals. Leaders according to the authors have the ability to inspire people to go beyond what they think they are capable of doing, making it possible for a group to attain a goal that was previously thought unattainable. Leaders should be able to elicit cooperation from their followers, listen to their needs and put their needs ahead of his or her personal needs. Leaders in the view of the authors carry people along by inspiring their trust, acting consistently and motivating them through his words and deeds. Leaders are people who are also ready to take responsibility and are accountable. Above all, leaders must possess emotional maturity, wisdom and humility. The book again separate in a clear term leadership from managers. While leaders ask what and why questions, managers ask the how? Some qualities of leadership which the authors believe can be learned are also listed in the book.

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.

a. What it takes to be a leader

The authors believe that leaders are made not born. Through quality training anybody can be a leader and also lead well. Their argument is that under the right circumstances, everyone has the potentials to be leader at any level. Leadership is a set of qualities that causes people to follow. Leadership is not by size or speed. What this means is that the biggest or fastest may not necessarily be the leader. Everybody has the potential to be a leader, circumstances create leaders and leadership begins by accepting responsibility. The thesis here is that even the so called born leaders receive training to become better leaders. The examples of Napoleon and Bill Clinton will suffix here.

b. The art of leadership

One very challenge of leadership is the ability not just to make choice by the right choice and at the right time. All leaders are constantly been asked to make choice which varies among goals, mission and people. There are skills that those who lay claim to leadership must possess. This will distinguish them from people who merely occupy positions. One key skill of leadership is decision making. This is closely followed by setting direction and by this the authors mean choosing among various goals. Leaders also must be abreast with the art of mediation especially among his followers. He or she should sharpen his or her listening skill. Leaders who really want to lead must be equipped with the skills above.

c. Leadership and vision

Vision simply refers to doable goals. Group may co-exist and move on smoothly until they are challenged by task that requires reasoning which is above the group. At this point, leader with vision is needed to take the group to the promise land. Vision help leaders to attract commitment and energize people, establish standard for excellence, and stay ahead of the game. A visionary leader set benchmark, link the present with the future by building on the present then envision the future. Vision can be developed because it is based on reality. It is thinking beyond available resources and responding to diminishing resources.

d. Team building

One very important aspect of leadership is building effective and efficient team. A well built and well led team has the capacity to achieve great thing but only through a well coordinated team leader. The goals of the organization may be too complex for one single head to tackle and achieve so the need for a team. In a team, the leader ensures that the job is shared, done by team activity and created by the team. This will give all team members a sense of belonging.

e. Ten Characteristics of leadership

Here are the ten characteristic leaders must possess in order to be an excellent leader.

Leaders are eager

Leaders are cheerful

Leaders are honest

Leaders are resourceful

Leaders are persuasive

Leaders are cooperative

Leaders are altruistic

Leaders are courageous

Leaders are supportive

Leaders are assertive.

vi. Mastering leadership skills

Effective leaders possess some skills that differentiate them from people who just occupy position. These skills must have to be mastered properly so they can operate with ease. Mastering these skills is possible through preparation, keeping an open mind, discipline, keeping constant touch with group, be a good listener, putting others before yourself.

vii. Effective leaders seek the truth and adjust their sights according to what they learn.

These leaders know to listen to the meaning of words rather than simply to the words themselves. This refers to the ability of leaders to filter words, to distinguish and understand words in its proper perspective.

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 reason for my enrolment in this program is to sharpen my leadership skills. This program is a tool for sharpening my leadership skill and it will help qualify me as a good leader. My argument is base on the premise that through quality training anybody can be a leader and also lead well. I have found the right circumstances through this leadership training program to develop my potentials and be prepared for any leadership opportunity that will come my way.

This book has trained me on how to take decision and make right choice at the right time. I am well equipped through this book to face the challenge of making choice among goals, mission to pursue in an organization and the people to man certain sensitive positions. This will differentiate between me and some other leaders who have not under gone leadership training anywhere. Again I have learned the art of mediation as well as sharpened my listening skills which will aid me in resolving nagging issues among people.

The book has also broadened my personal vision and the vision for my community, the country and the world at large. Should I be made a leader today, I already have in my kitty the vision to pursue immediately I assume office. I will set a doable goal for myself and my followers. Any group I lead from now, I will look out for a challenge that is beyond the group’s comprehension and find a solution to it. In essence I have learned from this book the importance of vision as a leader. Vision help leaders to attract commitment and energize people, establish standard for excellence, and stay ahead of the game. A visionary leader set benchmark, link the present with the future and building on the present then envision the future. All these I will put into practice in the church where I currently lead a small group of youths.

I have taught this subject of team building severally in workshops and seminars yet I was enlightened the more from this book. The importance of team building in effective and efficient leadership can never be over emphasized. A well built and well led team has the capacity to achieve great thing but only through a well coordinated team leader. As I stated above, I will experiment all these with the small group of youths I current over see in the church.

I will ensure that the ten characteristics of leadership are not only properly understood and digested but put into practice now and any other place I find myself in a leadership position in the future.

The whole essence of practicing these skills is to master them. Effective leadership begins with possessing these skills and mastering them will stands such leader out among his equals. Proper mastering of these skills will help me operate with ease. Mastering these skills is possible through preparation, keeping an open mind, discipline, being in constant touch with group, be a good listener, putting others before myself.

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.

“Every French soldier carries a marshal’s baton in his knapsack”

This shows the potentials in every human being at any choosing career. Any career one choose in life, he or she has the potentials to reach the peak.

“Nobody can know everything and nobody can do everything.”

This is a fact of life. The earlier a leader understands this better for him. This will make a leader to humble himself to seek the opinion of his laities.

“The people who move on in this world are the people who get up and look for circumstances they want, and, if they can’t find them, make them.”

This has to do with people who are ambitious in life. These are those not only look for opportunities but create one where none exist.

“He has decided to live forever or die in the attempt, and his only mission each time he went up was to come down alive.”

This signifies importunity. The inner drive within someone that make him or her not to give up in life. It is either we get it or nothing else.

“I will help other out of a fellow-feeling.”

This simply implies that one should render assistance out of human feelings and not on the basis of sentiment.

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?

Yes. The authors argument that there are no born leaders seem incomprehensible to me. I have leaders manifesting the leadership skills outlined in the book without the formal training stated in the authors. Examples abound among traditional leaders in my country.

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. I have completed all the exercise and they are very useful to me.

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.

None.

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? 8
B. How helpful were the contents? 7
C. How easy was it to understand? 9
D. Would you recommend it to others? 9
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 8

 

 

Maximum Achievement

Assessment by Okpe Emmanuel (Nigeria)

1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?

The main idea expressed in this book is how to explore and emulate past achievers and apply same ideas, concepts and principle(s) to achieve the results we want to achieve in life. The author shows readers the way to unlock individual potentials for personal greatness so as to be happy and successful, to get more of the things they really want in life. Life does not depend on spinning the dials of life hoping for a lucky break, as if one were playing a slot machine, but on doing what other established, successful men have done that gave them break though. The book contains the very best that has ever been discovered about individual achievement, in one place, free of jargon or complexity, ready to be put into action. The author used combination of his personal life experience and other successful men before him to lay down some proven law of success.

2. What were the seven ideas which were personally most important to you and why? List these seven ideas followed by an explanation after one as to why it was important to you. Use personal examples from your own life.

i. The masterpiece of my life.

That I can’t hit a target I can’t see. That one can’t accomplish much in life without an idea of what he or she want. To attain any goal in life therefore, one must first become absolutely clear about what he or she want. A serious minded person who wants to unlock the extraordinary power that lies within him must have a clearly defined and well coordinated goal he is pursuing. He should have understanding of what exactly “success” means to him. It only on this basis that he can boldly say he has decided on what his life would look like and have made it into a masterpiece. Goal setting is an important element of this regard.

ii. Understanding of basic laws in life

The author’s universal laws-man made and naturals are an eye opener to me. From the law of control which teaches how to take control of situation in my life to law of belief which state clearly that what I belief I can achieve. All these add up to build up my faith in myself. Belief is so strong a factor in human life to the extent that without it, it is virtually impossible to achieve any worthwhile goal or objective in life.

iii. The Master Program

Nothing happen to human by accident but everything that happens to us in life is a function of our mind set. Everything you become and accomplish is determined by the way we think; by the way we use your mind. We can change a failure mind set to success mind set. Everything that happens to you, everything you become and accomplish is determined by the way you think, by the way you use your mind. As you begin changing your mind, you begin changing your life. Our “master program” explains how we have been put on a form of autopilot, starting from an early age. It teaches us how to begin taking control of your internal guidance system, and how to remove influences and obstacles that have been interfering with your happiness without our knowledge and ways to alter our master program to make it more consistent with the results we want.

iv. Mastering Human Relationships

Here I learned that art of getting along well with other people. This is very important because a lot of people have missed great opportunity just because they lack good human relationship. People with good manners, superior approach and team spirit go higher in with than people with the opposite. The author has explicitly explained through the various laws how this can be achieved. For instance, the law of indirect effort which states that you can get everything in your relationship with others more easily by approaching them indirectly rather than directly.

v. Mastering Personal Relationships

The mastering of personal relationship over time is a good sign of a matured mind. The choice of whom we live with coupled with the nature of our home and family life go a long way to determine the extent of our achievement in life. It is an obvious fact that a man with a troublesome home can hardly go far in life. This again has a negative impact on the life of the children born out of such relationship. This book taught how to build an enduring relation thus: where it begins, self-acceptance, self awareness, self-disclosure etc.

vi. Mastering Home Life

Learning these laws is not enough on its own but it must be mastered. This is the key enduring relationship. I have already made the choice of whom to live with but will apply these laws build my home and family to the taste I want.

vii. Mastering the Art of Parenting

This is a chapter in the book I took so personal as a beginner of family life. Here I am taught the role of parenting, what children are and are not, the place of love in parenting, acceptance of my children and how to teach my children.

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?

I must clearly define my goal in life and work towards it having known that I cannot hit target I can’t see. The target therefore must be very visible and clear to me before I start off in pursuit of the achievement. As a serious minded person who wants to unlock the extraordinary power that lies within me I must have a clearly written and well coordinated goal to pursue. I have also understood what exactly “success” means to me and the implication of failure in life. I have therefore made success a masterpiece and goal setting is an important element of this regard.

The universe is guided my laws, rules and regulations without which there will be anarchy and chaos. I have carefully studied these universal and manmade laws and I am ready to abide by and practice them to the later. I have learned how to take control of situations in my life. I have overcome so many ugly situations by just the power of belief. I having been telling myself since I read this book to believe that it is still possible to achieve my dream and this has helped me tremendously.

I have learned from here that nothing happen to human by accident but everything that happens to me in life is a function of my mind set. My reasoning plays a very pivotal role in my achievement so I am now mindful of what I allow to filter through my mind. I can now change failed mind set to successful mind set.

The next most important thing to do is to master these laws. One lesson I learned when reading this book is that though there are many information on how one can master universal laws of success, only about five percent of the population are financially independent and I have told myself that I will not fall into same trap.

I will give interpersonal relationship a central and pivotal place in my life as it places me on a vintage position to achieving my set goals in life. The importance of this cannot be over emphasized as it has caused many a serious setback in life. Good manners, superior approach and team spirit will be a top priority in my life from hence forth. I will also apply and adhere to the laws of relationship spelt out in this book strictly from now hence forth.

I have learned my role as a parent, how to express love to my children and how to correct them. All these I will put into practice, I will also refer back to this answers giving here anytime I fall short of ideas on how to practice this laws.

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.

“Within every adversity is the seed of an equal or greater opportunity or advantage”

Adversity is not strange to us as it is almost a second nature of everybody especially from our part of the world. What is strange though is the fact that we have not been able to comprehend the opportunities/advantages it present.

“If necessity is the mother of invention, then pain seems to be the father of learning.”

Pain as used above will force us to learn new thing just as necessity forces man to discover things

“You can measure how well you are doing in your relationships by one simple test: laughter.”

This cannot be clearer to me than what I experience in my home. A day without laughter in the home is like hell.

“Problem in life are almost invariably people’s problems. They come with hairs on top, and talk back.”

Most of one’s problems in life are hardly his personal problems but other people’s problems.

“The only good thing about fear, if anything good, is that it is learned, and because of this it can be unlearned.”

Considering the damage fear causes to human life and the knowledge that it is learned and can be unlearned is a great thing that has happen to me.

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?

No.

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?
No.

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.

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? 8
C. How easy was it to understand? 8
D. Would you recommend it to others? 9
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 9

 

 

Unlimited Power

Assessment by Okpe Emmanuel (Nigeria)

1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?

The main idea expressed in book centered on how to harness the power of the mind to achieve one’s goal in life. In the book, the author show how we can achieve extra-ordinary quality of life that we dream and desire. The book described as the new science of personal achievement lay step by step ways to perform at the peak of human endeavor. One very essential ingredient in the book is the mastery of communication: the way we communicate with others and the way we communicate with ourselves ultimately determine the quality of our lives. In this book, one is exposed to ways of gaining financial and emotional freedom as well as achieving leadership height and building self confidence that will enable leaders maintain successful life style.

2. What were the seven ideas which were personally most important to you and why? List these seven ideas followed by an explanation after one as to why it was important to you. Use personal examples from your own life.

a. The difference that makes the difference

The second chapter of the book opened with so pathetic but challenging story. I am still wondering if I can read a more challenging story than that of W. Mitchel who suffered a third degree burnt yet strived to make ends meet only to suffer another terrible ill-luck-a plane crash that left him half paralyzed, from the waist down, for life. This no doubt was a test of his faith, values, patience, and ability to persist. The challenge here is that the man used this opportunity to become a better person in life rather than allowing it to destroy his life. On the contrary John Belushi who was wealthy and enjoyed all the affluence life can offer died a bloated, out-of-control drug abuser. What created the difference in how people respond to life experiences and challenges is their perception through communication of the situation and the action they take. This then is the difference that makes the difference.

b. The Power of State

What make people perform optimally at one time and fail abysmally at other time? The author gives the answer as the state of one’s neurophysiologic state. Understanding state therefore is the key to understanding change and excellence. Our behavior is usually the function of the state we are in. Before we can perform optimally, we must as matter of necessity put our self in the state of resourcefulness. The author state in a clear term how we can run our brain effectively and produce the result we anticipated. This according to him is by altering our internal state and our physiology.

c. The seven lies of success

This will strike anybody reading through the pages of this book for the first time to his or her bone marrow. What is the correlation between lies and success because the general belief is that successful people must be honest. The author employed this word lies here as a metaphor meaning that we do not exactly know how things are. It means that irrespective of how much we may have belief in a concept, we should be open minded enough to take a look at it from another perspective and be ready for a continuous learning.

d. The Birth of Excellency: Belief

The belief here is different from creed or doctrine. It is a guiding principle, dictum, faith, or passion that can provide meaning and direction to life. It is also the prearranged, organized, filters to our perception of the world. It plays a pivotal role in the way our brain function. If accept anything to be true and the signal is registered in the brain, it tailored the direction of action will take as regard that particular thing in our lives.

e. How to handle resistance and solve problems

Man behavior can hardly be effectively directed in the direction, pace and speed you want. This process can be step up if the proper methodologies are applied. This is by developing the right rapport, understanding meta-programs and learning how to calibrate others so you can deal with them or their terms. By this we can effectively handle resistance and solve problem.

f. Leadership: The challenge of excellence

A leader must be someone who takes absolute charge of his life. He possesses the ability to form internal representations of himself and produce the states that lead to success and power. The challenge for excellence in leadership is clearly defined in the belief and focus of such leader. Does he belief and focus on creating wealth and making people happy? Does he possess the ability to persuade people? Etc. Leadership is a burden and the bearer must learn the art of bearing it.

g. The secret of success is making your vocation your vacation

Making your vocation your vacation is again related to enjoying or taking pleasure in your vocation. The bible says for instance that whatever our hand findeth to do we should do it with all our might. This is how to make your vocation your vacation. Anything we lay our hands to do must be done with ultimate interest, dedication and devotion.

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 story of W. Mitchel who suffered a third degree burnt and a plane crash but still struggled to rise to the top challenged me in no small way. I have personally learned from the story that with the right perception nothing is impossible in life. If such a one can make it in life, then I, blessed with all functional human parts must go a little higher than him.

I have started practicing this in my life. A good example is changing my state from depression to happiness. I am unemployed after making diligent efforts to train myself up to the Master level and a PHD student. This sometimes causes depression for me when I think about my condition deeply. But this book has opened my eyes on how I can change my state of mind from depression to happiness. Honestly, it is working for me.

From the seven lies of success I have learn how to be open minded and not to be absolutely rigid about some belief I have before now. I have learned to take a second look at things and examine them from another perspective and be ready for a continuous learning. This again is helping me in my match towards the success I desire.

What I strongly belief I achieve. That is the extent to which belief work in one’s life. After reading this book I have come to belief very strongly that I will achieve my dream in life irrespective of the negative circumstances on my way.

I understand that in handling people, the right approach must be employed. The right approach is by developing the right rapport, understanding meta-programs and learning how to calibrate others so I can deal with them or their terms.

To be an excellent leader I must takes absolute charge of my life, form internal representations of myself and produce the states that lead to success and power. My belief and focus is to create wealth and make people happy. This I can do trough persuasion and eliciting people’s strategy. I also understand now that leadership is a burden that is why I am learning art of bearing it.

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.

There are so many interesting quotes in this book but I want to restrict myself to these few.

“Nothing has any meaning except the meaning we give it.”

To my mind, nothing exist like failure except I belief there is one. Failure is the meaning I give to a particular circumstance in life. If for Instance I attempt an examination and could not get it right the first time and I tell myself that it is not a failure, it is not a failure but an attempt.

“One person with a belief is equal to a force of ninety-nine who have only interest.”

This portrays the power of belief. Showing or indicating interest on something is just not enough; we have to belief and take action.

“Belief in limit creates limited people.”

Our belief set limitations for us. So many people could not go far in life because they belief they cannot make it. I know a friend who has concluded that in their family they are born to be poor and so no matter what they do, they cannot make it in life.

“When I work, I relax; doing nothing or entertaining visitors make me tired.”

This is the virtue of work. A message of a man who is hard working and takes pleasure in the work he does. It signifies how pleasurable it is to work, labor and be successful.

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?

No.

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. I have completed all the exercise and they are very useful to me.

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.

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? 8
B. How helpful were the contents? 9
C. How easy was it to understand? 8
D. Would you recommend it to others? 9
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 9

 

 

Goals

Assessment by Okpe Emmanuel (Nigeria)

1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?

The main ideal expressed by the author in this book is on how goal setting can help people attain their objectives faster than they expected. The author outlined in the book what it takes to turn life of frustration into fulfillment. The book clearly shows effective strategies for setting goals and achieving them on or before record time. Through the twenty one strategies outline in the book, readers can achieve their set goals no matter how big. One way to ensure set goals are achieved is by determining one’s strength, building his or her self-confidence and self-esteem. The book exposed one’s mind to proven methods of conquering problems and overcoming obstacles and challenges that comes our ways on a daily basis. Tracy says by following the simple and easy to apply methods and techniques in the book, one can experience transformation from poverty to affluence and satisfaction. Those who write their goals down and make plans to achieve them and work on their plan every day are better off than those who only conceive their goal without writing it down.

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.

i. How to take charge of one’s life

The starting point to taking charge of one’s life is by learning to accept responsibility. This is when transformation from childhood to adulthood takes place. It is obvious from the book that it is wrong for people to continue to justify their negative situation and failure. Rather than blaming others for negative situation, people should learn to take responsibility for their situation and develop a new strategy to overcome the situation. The strategy manifest in the new decisions and choices people make. The theory of Locus of Control which states that people with internal Locus of Control are self-directed and are in complete control of their life is a serious lesson for readers.

ii. How to determine true goals

What is most important in goal setting is self-discipline. After a carefully study of the seven keys to goal setting and the twelve steps to achieving goals readers who choose to apply t life them to their life will have breakthrough. The question then is: what do we really want in life, are these goals achievable? Following from the questions, the best way to achieving goals is by first of all writing them down, determining how to follow up on them, identifying obstacle to achieving the set goals.

iii. How to set and achieve goals

The best ant-dot to achieving goals is to avoid self-delusion. Self-delusion is capable of frustrating one’s effort thereby discouraging the person from pursuing his or her goals. What follows after that is to be in full control of your money and believe in your-self that you can make it. Beliefs they say always become reality. Goals without deadline can hardly be achieved. Deadline or timeline must be set to achieving the goal. Above all, efforts must be made to properly ensure that obstacles to achieving the goals are identified and strategies to overcoming them are put in place.

iv. How to improve family life and relationship

This is vital because the quality of one’s family life and happiness determine to a very large extent the level of achievement he or she can attain in life. If one’s family is unhappy, it will be difficult for him or her to make appreciable progress. Attaining happy family begin with designing an ideal family life and relation that is feasible.

v. Effect of relating with the right people in achieving my goals.

The starting point to progress is identification and association with people of like mind. In a business for instance, you have to identify people that matter in that line of business. Learn good customer service strategies and be hard working. Be a team good player and a relationship expert.

vi. Review goals daily

It not enough to write down goals, it is very paramount to follow up by appraising it on a daily basis. This will help the individual understand if he or she is on the track or not. The use of spiral note book and or a three by five inch index cards will be of a tremendous help here.

vii. Persist until you achieve your goals

Good leaders never give up. The quality of importunity is a veritable tool in hand of an achiever. One serious enemy that has to be conquered is fear. Many fear to take step or make move. The fear of failure makes a lot of people not to start in the first place. Fear must be conquered. To overcome fear, one must critically analyze fear, set priority and also understand that the future belongs to risk takers. From the above the courage to start or working towards your dream will develop.

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?

To take charge of my life I have to accept responsibility. This will help in no small measure to transform me from childhood to adulthood. I also learn that it is wrong for me to continue to justify my negative situation and failure. Instead of blaming other people for my situation, I have learned to take responsibility for my situation and develop a new strategy to overcome the situation. I have also learned how to apply the theory of Locus of Control to my personal life so that I can fully take charge of my life. I have started working on my internal locus of Control to attain this standard.

Having understood that the most important thing in goal setting is self-discipline, I will work assiduously on myself to be discipline to ensure all goals set are attained. I will use the seven keys to goal setting and the twelve steps to achieving goals as a guide in setting and achieving my goals. I also will identify what exactly I want in my life and set it as goal. One thing that has been a serious challenge in my life before now is writing down my goals but from hence forth I will discipline myself to start practicing it.

The book stipulate the implications of self-delusion that it is capable of frustrating one’s effort and discouraging the person from pursuing his or her goals. From now I will be in full control of my life and money and believe in myself that I can make it. Any goal I set from today must be with deadline. I will identify obstacles to achieving my goals and put in place strategies to overcoming them.

My family is central to my achieving any worthwhile goal. I will place priority in the welfare and happiness of my family. A happy family makes me organized and equipped for progress in life. I have already designed a template of the kind of family I desire to have.

I have started building a cluster of friends of like mind around myself with the view to achieving my set goals. This will not end in my academic career but also in my business and work life. The virtue of hard work learned here will be put to use. The good customer service strategies I learned from this book will be properly utilized. I will also be a good team player and a relationship expert.

I have realized that writing down goals is important but it needs a step further- daily follow up. I will therefore start a daily appraisal of my goals using the spiral note book and or a three by five inch index cards to ensure that I am on track.

I will resist every temptation to give up on my dream half way. I will conquer fear and take a bold step towards my set goals. I will consistently analyze those things that make me fear and have them conquered because the future belong only to those who take risk.

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.

“That a person of average intelligence with clear goals will run circles around genius who is not sure what he or she really wants.”

The shows the importance of goal and goal setting in the life of an individual. Those who set goals and work towards achieving them live a better life than those who do not set goals.

“The only thing that stands between a man and what he wants from life is often the will to try it and the faith to belief that it is possible.”

This again shows the necessity of and the willingness to try out new thing. The courage to take risk in life.

“You will become as small as your controlling desire; as great as your dominant aspiration.”

Whatever we achieve in life starts with a desire. Those who desire to be great eventually become great while those who fear greatness remain small.

“There is one quality that one must possess to win, and that is definiteness of purpose, the knowledge of what one wants, and a burning desire to possess it.”

Definiteness of purpose here means ability to remain focus on the goal. The strength to avoid distraction from anywhere on the course of pursuing one’s goal.

“The weakest living creature, by concentrating his powers on a single object, can accomplish something: the strongest, by dispersing his over many, may fail to accomplish anything.”

This again is similar to the point above though different. In setting goals effort must be made to concentrate on one singular item rather than combining too many things that cannot be easily handled.

“There is no road too long for a man who advances deliberately and without undue haste; there are no honors too distant to the man who prepares himself for them with patience.”

This stipulates virtue of patience and preparation before setting and achieving goals.

“The person who is interested in success has to learn to view failure as a healthy, inevitable part of the process of getting to the top.”

This shows that initial failure in an attempt to achieve a goal is also part of the achievement of the goal and should not be regarded as a failure.

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?

No such thing.

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?

No.

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.

Yes. The simply nature breakthrough in life is described by the author. Success in life may not come too easy that way. I want to subscribe the idea of the author of the richest man in Babylon who believes that wealth grows. It’s just my opinion.

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? 7
C. How easy was it to understand? 9
D. Would you recommend it to others? 9
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 8

Goal Setting 101

Assessment by Okpe Emmanuel (Nigeria)

1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?

The main idea conveyed in this book centered on goal setting aimed at achieving and accomplishing a worthy life. Accomplishment in life is a consequence of a clearly defined goals acted upon until completion. The book addresses the fundamentals of setting and achieving a goal. The author simplifies the rudiments of goals setting to the understanding of all irrespective of age, class or status. The primary purpose of goal setting is to move from one stage in life to another or for upward movement from where one is now to where he or she wants to be. In this book, the method, insights and suggestions on how this can be accomplished are clearly spelt out. One interesting thing about this book is that, the author never promised a quick fix, but an employment of diligent effort to arrive at one’s desire destination of success. The book explains how one can think, plan, execute, manage, and eventually celebrate his or her success.

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.

i. The fundamentals of success

This has to do with understanding the meaning of goal, importance of setting goals, creating mission etc. A goal is an end towards which we direct his specific effort. Why is goal setting important then? Goals establish direction for our life, identify results and challenge us to grow. It also improves our self- image and builds our self-confidence. These are fundamentals to success because success cannot be achieved without them.

ii. How to plan your way to success

Every success begins with not just plan but a good plan. Good plan start with knowing our purpose, writing down our goals, and use of SWOT analysis. Knowing our purpose means understanding if the goal is realizable or not. This is why plan must be carefully written down and conscientiously studied. The SWOT analysis helps us to find effective understanding of situation. It helps us to know our strength, weakness, opportunities and threats. Understanding of our SWOT will help us to forge ahead more quickly.

iii. How to execute your way to success

We can execute our way to success by acting like a leader, going extra mile, setting deadlines and remaining focused on our goals. A leader leads and so we must lead ourselves in the direction of our goals. Advancement in life is possible by habitually doing more than we are asked to do. As we make effort to advance, we have to set deadlines on every goal set. All these will be a mirage if we are not focused on the goal. We must avoid distraction as much as possible.

iv. How to practice speed, simplicity and boldness

Speed, simplicity and boldness are reliable yardsticks against any idea may be measure. Implementation is very vital in goal setting and the faster a goal is implemented the better. All mission and vision statement must also be made simple and clear enough so that it can be easily accomplished. In life many circumstances conspired to retired progress so the need to act fast. Again we must be bold and refuse to be intimidated by circumstances of life.

v. How to manage your way to success

We can manage our way to success by keeping positive attitude, work economically, knowing our limits and setting performance standards. We can also work with mentors, inspect what we expect and remain resolute never to be defeated. If we know our limit we can achieve more in life. This is because it will assist us not to set goals that are beyond our limit. It will also enable us to find strategies that will help us push those limits aside and reach our goals.

vi. How not to be defeated

To overcome defeat, one must learn how to effectively manage fear. One has to understand that fear is a common phenomenon to everybody. Courage is the capacity to carry on despite fear. Self-respect, self- confidence and the desire for victory in life are the attributes of a courageous person. So we must learn not only to live with fear but also how to control it so that fear does not put us into the driver’s seat in the race of life. Success in live is dependent on one’s ability to advance in the face of fear. To overcome fear, we must learn not to pass the buck, dodge duty, or transfer load to someone else.

vii. How to manage failure and setback

The best way to manage failure and setback is not to allow it devastate us. We must understand that everybody at one time or the other have experience failure in life. Failure can be turn to opportunity if properly comprehended. No one wins at all time. We must learn to take our losses and move forward in life. True success is character and character is measured by how high you bounce when you topple from that height and hit bottom. The worse failure is that declared without first exhausting all possibilities and alternatives. We must not be in a hurry to write off any project or goal.

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?

I have understood the meaning of goal, the importance of setting goals and creating mission and will judiciously apply it to my life. Setting goals will assist me to establish direction, identify results and challenge me to grow. It also improves my self-image and builds my self-confidence. These are fundamentals to success because success cannot be achieved without them.

Success begins with good plan. I have started putting these into practice by writing down good plans, having known my purpose. I will also use the SWOT analysis in the course of implementing my plans. I will again set realizable goals and follow it up conscientiously. Understanding of the concept of SWOT will help me to forge ahead more quickly.

I can execute my way to success by acting like a leader, going extra mile, setting deadlines and remaining focused on my goals. A leader leads and so I must lead myself to the direction of my goals. Advancement in life is possible by habitually doing more than I am asked to do. As I make effort to advance, I have to set deadlines on every goal set, knowing that all these will be a mirage if I am not focused on the goal. I must avoid distraction as much as possible.

I have to work with speed, simplicity and boldness having understood that they are reliable yardsticks against the measurement of any idea. I will implement my goals as fast as possible. All my mission and vision statement must also be made simple and clear enough so that it can be easily accomplished. In life many circumstances conspired to retired progress so the need to act fast. Again I must be bold and refuse to be intimidated by circumstances of life.

I can manage my way to success by keeping positive attitude, work economically, knowing my limits and setting performance standards. I can also work with mentors, inspect what I expect and remain resolute never to be defeated. If I know my limit, I can achieve more in life. This is because it will assist me not to set goals that are beyond my limit. It will also enable me to find strategies that will help me push those limits aside and reach my goals.

To overcome defeat, I must learn how to effectively manage fear. I have understood that fear is a common phenomenon to every human being. Courage is the capacity to carry on despite fear. Self-respect, self- confidence and the desire for victory in life are the attributes of a courageous person. So I must learn not only to live with fear but also how to control it so that fear will not put me on the driver’s seat in lives. Success in live is dependent on my ability to advance in the face of fear. To overcome fear, I must learn not to pass the buck, dodge duty, or transfer load to someone else but face them and take responsibilities.

The best way to manage failure and setback is not to allow it devastate me. I have understood that everybody at one time or the other has experience failure in life. Failure can be turn to opportunity if I properly comprehend it. No one wins at all time. I have learned to take my losses and move forward in life. True success is character and character is measured by how high I bounce when I topple from that height and hit bottom. The worse failure is that declared without first exhausting all possibilities and alternatives. I must not be in a hurry to write off any project or goal in my life.

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.

“Person who cannot manage fear will always be running from it. Better to run towards a goal than away from fear.”

Fear is not to be dreaded but be faced with courage and overcome.

“Don’t make the mistake of thinking you can keep your goals in your head. For goal setting to have any value, goal must be written down.”

This emphasizes the need for goals to be written down as goals on the head are not goal.

“Sometimes-and far more often than any of us wish-things will go wrong.”

There is not perfect person or perfect situation on earth. Whether we like it or not things at one point or the other will go wrong in our lives. We must learn to accept life as such.

“Action is the conduit through which advancement flows.”

Without actions, we will remain motionless or at most moving around ourselves. This will amount to what people say all motions no movement.

“Results are judge and jury. In the long run, it’s what you do, not what you say that will destroy you.”

We can only be judged or vindicated by the results will produce.

“Temporary discomfort is better than temporary relief-if it averts permanent catastrophe.”

This signifies patience and sacrifices demanded of us to succeed. We must have to endure some pains to be able to get our goals achieved.

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?

No such thing.

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. I completed 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.

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? 8
B. How helpful were the contents? 7
C. How easy was it to understand? 8
D. Would you recommend it to others? 9
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 7

 

 

Law of Attraction

Assessment by Okpe Emmanuel (Nigeria)

1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?

The main idea in this book is on how to identify the vibration one is sending and the ability to make conscious effort whether to keep sending it or change it. The book teaches how one can deliberately send positive or negative vibration. In order words, the author explain how we can become a deliberate sender of vibration that can enable us change the results we have been getting and have more of what we do want and less of what we do not want. The instrument for changing this vibration is language. The use of words and the feelings generated by words can help us change our vibration and get the result we want. Word according to the author is the common denominator in the deliberate attraction process. The vibration we send out can be reset if we so want. We can only send out one vibration at a time, so when our word change, our vibration change too. To reset one’s vibration therefore, one has to change the use of his or her words the thought in his or her mind.

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.

i. What law of attraction entails

Law of attraction deals with the vibration that comes out of us inform of mood or feelings. Every human being at one point or the other sends out positive or negative vibration.The mood or feelings we experience at any point in time determine the vibration we emit. The law of attraction is a universal energy around us that respond and or obeys the science of physics by matching our vibration and giving us more of the same. The mood we wake up with can have a positive or negative vibration on us.

ii. Understanding the significant of words

The law of attraction emanated from a physiological foundation for positive and negative thinking. It is a law of nature that every atom of our being is in constant response to. The author says words are everywhere. We speak them, read them, write them, think them, see them, type them, and hear them in our head. Some words can cause some people to have negative vibrations and others to have positive vibrations. The word money for instance, can hold negative vibration for some people but positive vibration for others. Our thoughts are made of words, so what we say or hear play a significant role in our vibration.

iii. How to make the law of attraction work for us

The starting point in making the law of attraction work for us is to be clear about what we want. Knowing what we want becomes clearer through the use of contrast. That means separating things we don’t want from the one’s we want. By observing contrast and identifying it as something we don’t want, we become clearer about what we want. People quit relationship because of what they dislike in their partners. By identifying those things one dislike in his or her partner, he or she will be able to also identify his or her dream partner.

iv. How to give one’s desire the right attention

Giving your desire the right attention means giving it a positive attention, energy and focus. After having identified your desire, the next most important thing is to give and continue to give it the right attention. To give our desire the right attention, we have to include it in our vibration bubble. Our goals, desires and dreams are all outside of our vibration bubble. The law of attraction responds only to those things inside our vibration bubble and not outside. Again we have to use words to give attention energy and focus to our desire by creating desire statement.

v. Relationship and vibration

The vibes in human attracts or repels good things. When we feel really good and everything is working out well in our lives, good things come to us easily. But when we feel bad and everything around seem bad, bad things comes our way easily. The reason for this is that good feelings attract relationship of similar vibration. This can be translated into all facets of relationship-business, ideal partners, parenting, works etc.

vi. How to identify the limit of belief

Limit of belief is a representative thought that one thinks over and over, and over again. When one’s thought consist of a limiting belief he or she is offering or sending out a negative vibration. This is the negative vibration that is preventing one from attracting one’s desire. Limiting belief can be identified through frequent usage of some words like because. For instance- I would want to be a medical doctor but I can’t because I don’t have science background.

vii. How to stay connected to the message and law of attraction

We can remain connected to the law of attraction by surrounding ourselves with people of like mind. That means others who practice the law of attraction as they will help to offer consistent positive attraction. We can also start law of attraction group in city and read other books dedicated to law of attraction.

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?

I will be very conscious of the vibration I emit from hence forth. I will ensure I emit positive vibration having understood its implication to my wellbeing. Also the knowledge that every human being emits either positive or negative vibration will help me to live in obedience to the Law of attraction. My background from the reading of this book will assist me to be mindful of the choice and use of words. The word I speak, write, think and even hear has some serious implications in my life so I am going to be ware. Having known that even words like money which ordinarily should emit positive vibration to everybody could be negative to some, I am seriously mindful of the chose and use of words from today.

In order to make the law of attraction work for me, I am going to be very clear about what I want. Knowing what I want becomes clearer through the use of contrast. That means separating things I don’t want from the one’s I want. By observing contrast and identifying it as something I don’t want, I become clearer about what I want.

I now know how to give my desire the right attention. It is simply by giving it a positive attention, energy and focus. After having identified my desire, the next most important thing is to give and continue to give it the right attention. To give my desire the right attention, I have to include it in my vibration bubble. My goals, desires and dreams are all outside of my vibration bubble. The law of attraction responds only to those things inside my vibration bubble and not outside. Again I have to use words to give attention, energy and focus to my desire by creating desire statement.

The vibes in human attracts or repels good things. I have learned from this book how to reset my vibration. I will start practicing it and turning my vibration to the positive side so as to have good feeling and attract good things to myself easily and quickly. This I will also apply to my career, business and all facets of relationship.

I will give attention to the thought I think over and over again whether it amount to limited belief and reset it to positive ones. I will also check the usage of some words that are common to limited belief and change them immediately.

I will remain connected to the law of attraction by surrounding myself with people of like mind. That means others who practice the law of attraction as they will help to offer consistent positive attraction. I will also check the link in the book to study how to form law of attraction group in the city where I live and read other books dedicated to law of attraction.

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.

“Having a strong desire with strong doubt means your desire will not be manifested.”

This is a complete sign of a failure or of a person who has no desire at all. It is better not to even desire than to desire with strong doubt.

“Having s strong desire with just a little bit of doubt means your desire will come, though slowly.”

This maybe an improvement on the first one but still not good enough.

“Having a strong desire with no doubt means your desire will be manifested.”

This is a visionary kind of desire. Desire with full hope and belief that it will come to pass.

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.

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. I completed 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.

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? 7
B. How helpful were the contents? 7
C. How easy was it to understand? 8
D. Would you recommend it to others? 9
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 7

 

 

Nonviolent Communication

Assessment by Okpe Emmanuel (Nigeria)

1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?

What happens to disconnect us from our compassionate nature, leading us to behave violently and exploitatively? And conversely, what allows some people to stay connected to their compassionate nature under even the most trying circumstances? This probing question in the opening chapter of the book is very significant as it tell much of the story in the book. Communication or spoken language play a very vital role in violence as it is in most cases the source of passive violence. The book is founded on language and communication skills that strengthen human ability to remain human even under a very serious provocative situation. To do this effectively, the author outlined four main components- Observation, feelings, needs and request to focus on. These components if properly observed and adhered to as stipulated in the book will greatly improve our communication thereby reducing conflicts in the society.

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.

i. Giving From the Heart

Giving from the heart is that kind of giving that benefits both the giver and the receiver at the same time. When we give from the heart, we do so out of the joy that springs forth whenever we willingly enrich another person’s life. The receiver enjoys the gift without worrying about the consequences accompanying the gifts while the giver benefits from the enhanced self-esteem that result when we see our efforts contributing to some one’s well-being. This is a summary of what it takes to give from the heart.

ii. Observing without Evaluation

The author did a very wonderful work here by separating observation from evaluation. We can observe without evaluating. Observation are to be made specific to time and context. When we combine observation with evaluation, others are apt to hear criticism and resist what we saying.

iii. Identifying and Expressing Feelings

The author pointed out the difficulties in expressing feeling and because of that feeling is not always considered important by many in communication and relationship. People hardly take into cognizance how other people feel or can be hurt by the spoken words. The author took time to build a vocabulary of feeling to show how important feeling is in communication. Allowing ourselves to be vulnerable by expressing our feeling can help resolve conflicts.

iv. Receiving Empathically

Empathy is a respectful understanding of what others are experiencing. Empathy involves listening with our whole being. The hearing only with our ears is not enough but hearing with understanding and with the spirit make more sense. Empathy with others occurs only when we have shed all preconceived ideas and judgment about them. We need empathy to give empathy. We cannot give what we do not have.

v. Connecting Compassionately with Ourselves

The way we treat ourselves goes a long way to impact positively or negatively in our lives. We are human that are bound to make mistake and when such occurs, instead of getting caught up in moralistic self-judgments, we can use the process of nonviolent communication- mourning and self-forgiveness to show where we can grow. We can also cultivate self-compassion by consciously choosing in daily life to act only in service to our needs and values rather than out of duties, for extrinsic rewards or to avoid guilt, shame, and punishment.

vi. Expressing Anger Fully

One way to express of anger fully demonstrates the difference between nonviolent communication and other forms of communication. The first step to fully express anger in nonviolent communication is to devoice the other person from any responsibility for our anger. We rid ourselves from thought that he or she made us angry. This will help us to express our anger superficially by blaming or punishing the other person.

vii. Expressing Appreciation in Nonviolent Communication

The best way to express appreciation is to look at the intention behind the appreciation. Nonviolent communication distinguishes three component of appreciation to include;

The action that have contributed to our wellbeing

The particular needs of ours that have been fulfilled

The pleasureful feelings engendered by the fulfillment of those needs.

Appreciation must be differentiated from conventional complement which tale the shape of judgments.

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?

I will give from the heart- that means with the intention that both I and the receiver will benefit maximally from it. I will give from my heart solely for the joy that springs forth in my heart that I am willingly to enrich another person’s life. I would want to also know that the receiver enjoys the gift without worrying about or fearing any consequences accompanying the gifts. This will form the pattern of my giving from today.

Having known the differences that exist between observation and evaluation, I will make it a point of duty to observe and not to evaluate. Evaluation leads to criticism and makes others weary of and resist whatever I say. I will make conscious effort to always separate observation from evaluation when next I communicate with people.

I have realized that people communicate without putting into consideration the feelings of others. I have carefully studied the vocabulary of feelings by the author and vowed to implement it when communicating with people. I will therefore bear in mind the feelings of others whenever I communicate with people. Lastly, I will make myself vulnerable by expressing my feeling when communicating.

Before now I thought I understand and have been empathizing with people but this book opened my eyes clearly to what it means to empathize. From henceforth, I will listen with my whole being. I will shed all preconceive ideas about the person I am communicating with. I can now empathize with myself so I can do it perfectly with others.

The action I take especially when I make mistake before now are usually detrimental to my health. I have realized that I am human and mistake is bound to happen anytime. From now I can easily adopt the process of nonviolent communication- mourning and self-forgiveness to come out of mistakes and forge ahead in life. I will also cultivate self-compassion by consciously choosing in daily life to act only in service to my needs and values rather than out of duties, for extrinsic rewards or to avoid guilt, shame, and punishment.

The best way to fully express anger is to devoice the person from any responsibility for my anger. This will help me to express my anger superficially by blaming or punishing the other person. Before I get mad at any person hence forth I will think twice and try to exonerate the person from the faults.

I will apply these three components of nonviolent communication in appreciation. I will again differentiate appreciation from complement.

The action that have contributed to our wellbeing

The particular needs of ours that have been fulfilled

The pleasureful feelings engendered by the fulfillment of those needs.

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.

“It is the passive violence that fires the fuel of physical violence.”

This is one area that people easily ignore in violence but very crucial in causing violence. This has to do with the invisible and or intangible aspect of life that is responsible for most violent in the world. Take for instance, in the part of my country dominated by the Muslim; certain comment can spark off violence of unimaginable magnitude.

“Peace cannot be built on the foundation of fear.”

Peace should be devoid of fear so any foundation of peace that emanate from fear cannot be a genuine peace. That also means that peace cannot be built by threat or use of violence.

“People are disturbed not by things, but by the view they take of them.”

Dog for instance on its own may not hurt anyone but because people view it as a dangerous animal it create fear. So people’s perception of things affects their view about such people, tribe or nations.

“Let us become the change we seek in the world.”

Many people are waiting for other to change things so that the world can be a better place for all to live but the change we need begins with us. When we change as individuals, then the world at large will become a safe haven for all to dwell.

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?

None.

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. I completed them by following them in the sequence the come 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.

No

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? 9
D. Would you recommend it to others? 9
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 9

 

 

Behind the Invasion of Iraq

Assessment by Okpe Emmanuel (Nigeria)

1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?

The book though written on Iraq has opened the frontiers on the quest, pursuit and determination of the world power to corrupt, conquer and control oil rich nations of the third world. It exposes the reasons behind the clandestine move by the world power to sponsor conflicts in the third world countries. Two reasons are advanced and well analyzed in the book: oil and arms (weapon). Oil boosts the economy of the super powers while their world serves as market for their arms. The concern of the world power since colonialism has been their economic interest. The questions I asked myself while reading the book are: why are there no conflicts between the United State and Britain or other super powers but there are constant conflicts between Iran and Iraq, Iraq and Kuwait. Again, there are pockets of internal conflicts among nations of Africa that are rich in natural resources like oil, gold and diamond. The book traced the history of Iraq and unveils the trauma it went through in the hands of their colonial master. It gives a vivid account of the reasons America invaded Iraq which is nothing but their interest in the oil.

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.

i. The quest for imperialism by the west

The book is emphatic the world powers endless quest for continual occupation of third world countries that are richly blessed with oil. Their interest in these nations and Iraq in particular is due largely to the rich deposit of oil and their desire to retain control of the exploration of the oil thereby maintaining their hegemony or monopoly of power across the globe. With particular reference to Iraq, the book identified three main theme/events in her history: the attempt by the imperialist powers to dominate Iraq so as to grab its oil wealth, the attempt by each imperialist power to exclude others from the prize and the vibrancy of nationalist opposition among the Iraq and the rest of the region. The relevance of this point to my life is with regards to the opposition mounted by the Iraqi masses to western concern in their country. I have learnt that with consistent opposition through good leadership, we can achieve true and genuine independence from imperialist powers.

ii. The effort to nationalize oil companies in Iraq

The Iraqi government as part of measures to resist the world power put up policy of nationalization of foreign companies operating in their domains after their independence from the British. The over ambitious policy was carried after military coup yet it was well received by the masses because they disdained the formal leader because his allegiance to the west. Here too I learned that after independence from any colonial master, what should follow is a process of nationalization of companies especially those that the economy of the nation is heavily dependent upon.

iii. The Iran-Iraqi war

When Sadam Hussien took over the mantle of leadership in Iraq, he embarked on some anti imperialist policy and these were not very comfortable to the American government. Knowingly full well that Sadam was not going to serve the interest of the U.U, they U.S moved swiftly to cause a conflict between a brother nations. This opened my eyes more to the ploy of the west to ferment trouble in among third world nations so they can harvest from it. Conflicts among oil producing countries always serve the interest of America and other world power through sales of weapons and more importantly, it create avenue for them to penetrate the country so that they can plant a puppet leader that will serve their interest.

iv. The real reasons for American invasion of Iraq

There are copious reasons why the U.S invaded Iraq. Foremost among them is their interest in Iraqi oil. Again, entrance to Iraq will open the door to other Asian oil rich nations in that region. Iraq was the major threat to the U.S interest in that region so if Iraq is penetrated, the rest will be a success story for the U.S. The third reason for the invasion is U.S drive for global hegemony which they paraded as national interest. Any war or conflict the U.S intervene, their reason has been “national interest”. This again taught me the interplay of power in the international politics. Anything that will or out rightly jeopardize the interest of the world power can never be taken lightly in international politics.

v. The strategic agenda of the United State

The strategic agenda of the U.S in Iraq is to re-colonized the country and rule it through a puppet regime. These were clearly proved in the book through the kind of policy and program martial out by the American government for Iraq. The merged their economic agenda with the strategic agenda and had a way of monitoring governance in Iraq. This strategic interest of American is manifested over the world, it is part of their ploy to maintain hegemony of trade especially as it concern oil all over the globe.

vi. The role of oil in Dollar Hegemony

Despite the fall of Dollars in 1970s countries around the world continue to accept it as a medium of exchange at the international level. This was also due to American’s continuing supremacy worldwide and the absence of competing international currency coupled with investors continuing quest to operate with dollars. These gave U.S control over oil producers and create hegemony for the Dollars. The reason for the mad rush for dollars is unveil to me here. I have been wondering why the U.S currency continues to dominate the world market but now I understand.

vii. Rehabilitation of a colonized state

The history of colonialism world over has always been marked by resistance by colonized people to their subjugation and plunder. The colonial powers usually respond to these resistances with violence and the end is destructions of lives and properties. The case of Iraq was compounded by her numerous war with her neighbors and so the need for urgent rehabilitation. This has trained my mind on the need to rebuild a nation coming out of war because colonialism is not in vogue in our times again.

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 quest by world powers to control the resources of thirds world countries is still very much in place today. The lesson from this book will assist me to put measures in place to resist such moves should I be made a leader in my country. As I was reading the book, so many ideas were flowing through my mind on measures to adopt to resist imperialism.

The book also explicitly pointed out the importance of nationalization of foreign companies after colonialism. It spelt out in a clear terms how to go about it. What I also learn here is the necessity of indigenous production of national resources. Production and exploration of national resources must not be left entirely in the hands of foreigners.

I learned the influence of the world power in conflicts in the less developed countries of the world. The desire to create market for their arms and their interest in natural resources of these countries spurred them to cause conflicts in other regions of the world. As a leader, having this at the back of mind will enable to explore every available means of dispute resolution and to avoid going to war considering the consequences of war.

The reason why America and other world powers are ready to invade countries that are less developed is to have control over them and their God giving resources. This has helped me understand the play of politics at the international market. It will guide me on international relation and diplomacy.

These strategic agenda of America across the globe is to rule through a puppet regime. They have been going about planting such leaders who will serve their interest and impoverish their citizens. Having know their agenda and seen the implications of such agenda in other nations, I am better prepared to manage and relate with them such that the interest of my country is well protected.

My currency the Naira is currently down against the Dollars and it is having a very negative impact on our economy. This book opened my eyes to the reason for the fall of the Naira and also showed the way out. I now know what and where to touch to revamp the currency of my country against the Dollars.

I also understand perfectly how to rehabilitate a colonized country after gaining independence. One of the major challenges of developing nation is their inability to rehabilitate their countries after colonialism or war.

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.

“It was shooting fish in the barrel.”

This like killing defenseless civilians by soldiers and to my mind it is cruelty.

“Because military war kills people by bleeding them, and economic war kills their humanity by depriving them of their chances to have good standard of living.”

The shows the importance of good economy to any nation. Anything that cripples your economy is worse than the barrel of military guns.

“Become a symbol of their defiance of American imperialism.”

The quote above indicates the relevance of a charismatic leadership.

“United states wants not regime change but region change.”

The difference between regime change and region change is brought to the fore here. What America wants in many countries where they show interest is not actual regime change that can be beneficial to the citizen but a kind of change that will serve their interest.

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?

No such thing.

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?

No.

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.

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? 9
D. Would you recommend it to others? 9
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 8

 

 

Instead of Education

Assessment by Okpe Emmanuel (Nigeria)

1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?

The ideal expressed in this book by the author has been my dream. What alternative exist to formal education or learning the way people understand it today? Is it possible for people to learn outside the fore wall of class room? I am on this page with the author. It is very possible to learn and be grounded in a field of study without entering a class room. The overall emphasis on class room education gave rise to too much emphasis on certificate and this to my mind has hindered exploit of potentials by those who are not privileged to go to school. Instead of education is a pivotal book on self discovery and creativity. The book pointed out in a very cogent term opportunities that abound for people to learn outside of the fore wall of class room. This again is buttressed by examples of people who self educated themselves through non-compulsory schools as we know it today. The book is a true challenge to the ongoing educational structures world over.

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.

i. Doing, not education

Doing and not education emphasizes self directed, purposeful and meaningful kind of learning. The author made it clear that learning by coercion or reward can create fear in the learner. I thought the author would have also look at the possibility of learning without examination as operated today in many countries of the world. By this the author view education from another perspective entirely and define it as something a person get for himself and not the one which someone else gives or do to him. Education must not be by compulsion but by choice. The author believes that as human we do not only have right to life but also right to control our mind. This means then that every human should be allow to freely choose the system of education that is comfortable and compatible to him.

ii. Doer school verse Educator Schools

Education according to the author is useless unless we profit from it. The great percentage of what we call school in the view of the writer is educator. This is far different from the doer school. The educator school are the colleges, universities, graduate and professional school that get and hold their students by the threat of jail or useless poverty which is different from the doer school. The doer school allows the learner freedom, choice of action and movement etc. Te difference is not in the curriculum or pedagogy or philosophy but in the freedom and choice.

iii. Sports Resources

Sport can be a very exciting experience and pleasurable moment for many without actually knowing its impact on education of a child. Many only understand how sport makes us fit but cannot comprehend how much it contributes to impartation and comprehension of knowledge. The author in this book shows how much sport resources can help build in children a kind of education that we least expected. When children gathered together at sporting centers, education of different categories takes place. Sports on its own is a very a serious means of education without the formal educational system we are familiar with.

iv. The true authority of teachers

Here the author made a clear distinction between natural authority and officer authority. Officer authority is coercive and does not support natural authority which rest on commitment and experience. Officer authority undermines and destroys natural authority. The author stated clearly how every human being if possible would want to dodge and escape punishment. By that he showed how the use of force can cancel moral rights and obligations. So where coercive power end is where mutual rights and obligations begin. In essence, the author prefers a mutual relationship between teachers and students rather than exercise of authority or show of power by teachers over the students.

v. One of the best schools

The best school is that where adults are allowed to relate with students freely, fearlessly and honestly. The environment permit students to do what they want, with whom they want and at whatever time they want. Though this is to the extent that they do not hurt each other. The school has no subjects, no courses, no classes, no preplanned paths, no texts, or exams therefore, no marks or grade and no report cards. I am already dreaming of a school like this and wish to see the products from such a school system.

vi. The failure of school reform

Here, we see futility in reforming the school system in many countries of the world. The book shows how reforms in schools failed even from the ancient time. The author outlined attempts from the 1905 by reformers to transform school system and pointed out how such reforms failed. This is a very clear indication of other attempts in our time to reform the school system. This has happened severally in my country. The ministry of education has brought out several policies to the school in Nigeria but the more they tried, the worse the school grows.

vii. What all schools must teach

Schools and teachers teach the general ideals and prejudice of the community, the region, and the nation. This sends a message of distrust and contempt to the people. This makes the school send only one message to the world: that if you want to learn anything of great importance, it must be from a teacher. This is subjective teaching because the through measurement or scores, the school tells us the limit that we can go. The school should rather teach freedom of choice, allow student to freely relate, take decisions that affect them and make choices of what to learn, how to learn and what to become in life.

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?

I have learned from here the futility of coercing someone to learn. Learning is a choice that ought to make by the learner. The lesson I take away from here is that I will not force or coerce my daughter to learn. Again I will allow her make choices of her course of study, the college to attend etc.

Relatedly, I will adopt the doer school system for my children and other close relations whom are under my control. I will allow them the freedom to make choices and also create conducive learning environment that permits friendliness for them. The body will be force to learn.

I will permit my children not only to partake in sport but make them understand the impact sport can make in their academic performance. They should also see sport as education in itself. The importance of sport is not just to make them fit or make money but they have a lot to learn from it. I will make it clear to them that sport is education.

Incase my children find themselves in a formal school, I will make the understand that authority of teachers can cause a whole lot of damage to their educational pursuit if not properly handled. I will teach them how to handle teacher’s authority in a formal educational sector.

Here I learn how to teach my children and others how to relate with each other in school without hurting each other. Also how to utilize school that has no subjects, no courses, no classes, no preplanned paths, no texts, or exams and gain maximally. I will be glad if I see the product of this school become one of my children in Nigeria.

I learned here how difficult it is to reform educational system. If I am opportune, my style of reform will therefore take a different shape from what obtained in the past especially in my country. I will subscribe the form of education I read about in this book. Education where adults and children relate freely without coercion.

I will work against the teaching of prejudices courses in my community, region and nation. I will promote freedom of choice, allow student to freely relate, take decisions that affect them and make choices of what to learn, how to learn and what to become in life.

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.

“Education is useless unless you profit from it.”

This means that the learner must be useful to himself and the society if not the education he or she acquires is in vain. The profit of education is in the impact it has on the learner and by implication on the society. Here in my country you hear people say he went to school but school never went through him.

“Behind the act there is a purpose.”

Behind the act of learning there must be a purpose. Why do we learn and for what purpose are we learning. This purpose must be evident in the life of the learner so we can be convinced that he has learned.

“No one can act or learn for another.”

This of course is obvious. We cannot learn by prosy. Certificate cannot be transferred.

“The task, the choice, the purpose must be his.”

This is taken responsibility. When the task performed, the choice made and the purpose for the task and choice are all yours, you can afford to take responsibility for the outcome of such task, choice and purpose.

“Education–Compulsory schooling compulsory learning-is a tyranny and a crime against the human mind and spirit.”

This simply emphasized that education should not be made compulsory. Compulsory education causes more harm than good.

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?

No such thing.

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?

No

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

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? 7
B. How helpful were the contents? 8
C. How easy was it to understand? 9
D. Would you recommend it to others? 9
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 8

 

 

Raising Children Compassionately

Assessment by Okpe Emmanuel (Nigeria)

1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?

This book took a different shape from the conventional child training manual that most parents are familiar with. The model of child training taught by the author may seem abstract and tough to achieve yet, it is the best way to bring up a child. The author emphasized child training without punishment or rewards. What is important to the author is the compassion parents ought to demonstrate in child training. Compassion towards children in child training will help to create a mutually respectful and enriching family that can communicate clearly. The author placed emphasis on respect for our children and the need to treat them like human though not as equal partners. By this the author said parents must not try to get children to do what they want but seek to mutually achieve a goal that is beneficial to the parties involved. Children deserve to be accorded some form of recognitions and respect such that they too will feel a sense of belonging in the family. They are not to be treated with disdained in the home. The essence of child training is to mould a morally sound soul that will grow up to contribute meaningfully to the society. Where punishment and reward fail, the non-communication method must have to be adopted.

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.

i. How to motivate without threat or punishment or reward

The easiest way to motivate a child is not to look down on them and treat them like child in the sense we were brought up to understand them (i.e. by finding commonality with them). By this I mean not to disregard them because of their age. Though a child, they still have a sense of reasoning that will make them think and understand that Daddy did not care to listen to me. This pose a grave danger because when a child understand that and choose to relate with his or her parents so, the response will not go well. I also learned the limitation of coercion and reward. If a child is over stretched he or she can react and when he or she is over rewarded he or she become a spoiled child.

ii. How to listen to others

The best way to listen is by placing oneself in the position of the other so you can understand exactly what the person want to communicate. The example of the author’s son and his new teacher in the new school come to bear here. Because the boy understood why the teacher spoke the way he did, he felt no pain from the teacher’s comment. He was a good listener. So in child training, parents ought to listen with empathy

iii. How to connect emotionally with children

The way to connect to our children emotionally is to jettison the general objective of child training which we have been so use to. That is to make the child do what we want. Instead, our focus should be how to create the quality of connection necessary for everyone to achieve their objectives. They difference here is simple, by so doing we create a quality of mutual respect, mutual concern, a quality where all parties understand that their needs matters and that their needs and other person’s well being are interdependent.

iv. How to transform my habitual communication

The way to change my habitual communication is by changing my attempt to get support from my children, which will not get them to the right direction in child training. Instead, I now understand that this direction should come from both I and the child trusting each other. The trust in the training play a very important role as the child will not see and correction mated out to him as punishment.

v. How to reduce conflicts in the family and among siblings

The way to resolve conflict in the family and among siblings is to create a feeling of equality in all of them. This the author illustrated in the “captain game.” Each child is allowed to take decision at different time in the home making hem reason that they are important in home management.

vi. How to show unconditional love to children

Showing unconditional love to children loving them because of who they are not because of the role they perform at home or in school. It means we should demonstrate love to them even in their failure or when they misbehave. It refers to loving them as they are. This again will help them to accept correction cheerfully.

vii. How to employ supportive community in child training

Supportive community here refers to the feedback one receives from the child you are training. Positive feedback will encourage one to keep it up as it creates a sense of encouragement. Supportive community also makes the training look like everybody including the children is involved. This shifts a lot of burden away and makes everybody equal partners.

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?

I have learned from this book how to motivate my daughter irrespective of her age. The lessons learned here will go a long way to aid me in training and molding her to what I want her to become in life. For instance, I will treat her with respect and relate with her like I will do to other human not like a child knowingly full well that she has a sense of being.

I also learned how to listen to her. It’s quite interesting trying to listen to a child of seven months. I tried to practice it after reading it. She seems to complain sometime and I try to understand what she is complaining about. Most a times, I observe that when she want to sleep, she care less about food. In short she hates anything that will obstruct her sleep. I also got to know when she is hungry too.

I will not training by forcing her do what I want her to do but letting her see reasons why she do or behave that she should. By this I will be able to connect to her emotionally thereby letting her understand the objective of the training.

I also understand what it takes to transform my habitual communication in child training. Now, I understand that the traditional child training I was used to can’t apply especially in the children of our time. I will rather communicate with my child than applying the rudimental approach.

The way to reduce conflict in my house is by creating equal opportunity for everyone. For instance, I have learned the difference between the role my daughter ought to play in the home and that of my wife. Again, I learned how to share love among them too.

After reading this book, I begin to love my daughter not because she behaves well but because she is my daughter. I accept her the way she is and demonstrate love towards her as such. I also see clearly how to share this love with other children that God will bless us with subsequently.

I learned again how to employ supportive community in training my daughter. I will be observing her feed back to know if she welcomes the style of training I adopt. There could be room to adjust if this style of training is not working well. I observed that some children are uniquely different and should be treated as such.

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.

”Instead of seeing him as a child and thinking to myself, how cute, I saw a human being who was reaching out to another human being in pain.”

This means that we should see the part of humanness in our children while bringing up. It suggests that we should treat our children with respect and not with disdain.

“I’m talking about when we allow labels like this to keep us from seeing the other person as human.”

This also means when we are blindfolded with certain parochial believe which hinders us from seeing our children they way they are. It blocks our senses of reasoning to the extent that we will not empathize with our children.

“They taught me that any use of coercion on my part would invariably create resistance on their part, which could lead to adversarial quality in the connection between us.”

The shows the fruitlessness of the use of punishment or coercion in child’s training.

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?

No such thing.

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?

No

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

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? 7
B. How helpful were the contents? 8
C. How easy was it to understand? 9
D. Would you recommend it to others? 10
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 8

 

 

Daughters of Abraham: Feminist Thought in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam

Assessment by Okpe Emmanuel (Nigeria)

1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?

The book is a convergence of feminist thought on tripartite religion. The authors seek to address common tradition inherent in the Patriarch and applied it to religious equality between man and women. The writer’s perspectives on religion are very important and relevant to our today world considering the wave of religious fanatism across the world. If believers and practitioners of these religions will link their beliefs and religion to same sources as did these authors, we will have less problems in the world today. Daughters of Abraham see the three major religions in the world today as taken root from the patriarchy. Judaism and Islam are linked to Hagar while Sarah is the mother of Christianity. To the authors, these two women played a pivotal role in the growth of these religions. Deriving from and inspired by the efforts of these feminist characters, the authors felt women in our contemporary time should be accorded a prime of place in the leadership of these religious bodies.

2. What are 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 example from your own life.

i. Women and religious empowerment

The key issue here centered on religious reformation or reconstruction that will take into consideration gender relation and in a more particular way the status of women. The writer emphasized the place Jesus, Paul the apostle and Mohammed accorded the female folk in the bible yet their male counterpart continues to dominate the scene. They advocate for the empowerment of women in the three religious circles so that women too can play a central role and occupy the helm of affairs in the three great Abraham traditions. This according to them will reduce the marginalization of women in the religious circle across the three religions.

ii. Jews feminist challenge from Hannah

The over shadowing of Jews tradition over the true religious practice and how this beclouded the thinking of men was the concern of the author here. Certain rules that were purely set out by men to root out women from partaking in certain religious rights and rituals were clearly pointed out. The American Jews women therefore sought to add a new content to the interpretation of some of these Jewish laws and tradition. The most interesting thing here is the coming together of Muslim, Jews and Christian women to dialogue on these feminist issues. The author argued strongly against women separation from the Temple which in turn led to diming the voice of women in the affairs of religion. Hannah’s personal prayer became a source of inspiration and a challenge to women to raise their voice not only to pray but to proclaim the gospel today.

iii. Influence of feminism on Christianity

Some notable women who really impacted on Christian both in the Bible and our contemporary time were listed here. A catalogue of women from Hannah, Esther and a host of other contemporary women like Mary Daly, Rosemary Ruether who challenge traditional expression of theology were brought to the fore and this offer to challenge other women that are still folding their hands and doing nothing. The injustice mated to Queen Vashti was vehemently challenged by the writer. In her view, Esther was not the heroin in the story but Vashti who boldly challenged the authority of the king and became a voice for the women today. Esther according to writer compromised the stand of women

iv. History and future of Christian feminism

Christian tradition has kept women not only from ordained ministry but also from the theological aspect of Christianity. Women were sidelined from all public ministries by Christian tradition. The author here advocates an equal role for both men and women especially as it relate to theology. This exclusion of women and its justification has resulted in a systematic distortion of all the syllabus of Christian theology by patriarchal bias.

v. Hagar as a model for feminist Jihad

Thinking of Hagar as a model for feminist Jihad, the example of her faith in God and her frantic search, running seven times between Safa and Marwah looking for water in the desert for her son readily comes to mind. This is what is commemorated by those who perform the hajj or pilgrimage to Mecca each year. At the same time, the example of her God Consciousness (taqwa) and courage combined with self-initiative and activism are the qualities that is believed to be an enduring legacy to other women today.

vi. Women and Islamic Tradition

Women are seen from Islamic perspective as a victim of Patriarchal order defined by Islamic laws, tradition and practice. This is what this writer stand to oppose. These laws, traditions and practices must be reconstructed or review to grant women a place in the family and the religion in general. From the Ottoman period, Muslim women lived in patriarchal societies where it was usual for a male-husband, father, brother, or uncle-to head the house hood. Within this patriarchal order, women were expected to obey their husband, men sometimes married more than one wife, and guardians had absolute power (wilayat al-ijabar) over their minor children. These are what the write vehemently opposed.

vii. Women and gender equality

This is the summary of the entire book. Women seeking gender equality in all ramification of life. Just as they are seeking equality in politics, governance, administration, they are also seeking such in religion. That woman should be giving their rightful place in religious affairs. “Daughters of Abraham” is a strong feminist voice advocating equality for all gender in religious matter across all religions.

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 lesson I learned from here is that women can and should be giving a prime of place in the preaching of the gospel. Gospel preaching is not a prerogative of men. Women in bible did marvelous job in saving the nation of Israel and so in our world today, women if giving the chance can as well deliver souls from the hands of the devil.

Here again I learned a very important lesson about the role of women in prayer. When women pray, God honor them easily. The prayer of Hannah is a typical example and a challenge to men on a heartfelt and soul searching prayer. The prayer life of Hannah, her devotion and tenacity is worth emulating by our contemporary women. I will use as a reference point to teach women on personal prayer and devotion to God.

Women played and are still playing a significant role in Christendom today. What I learn here is that women can be use of God to perform task that ordinarily is thought to be exclusively for men. The work is God’s work and so He can choose to use whoever He wishes. God did that by using an Ass animal to speak to Balaam. I am not trying to equate women to animal but the point is that we are all creatures of God and He can choose to use us as He dims fit.

Some historical facts that were unfavorable to women in all the religion can be studied and changes effected. For instance, segregation of women, defining roles exclusively for men and such other religious tradition that are anti-women should be edited to allow for women participation in religious rituals. Though this must not go against the status of God.

Hagar was an example of women struggle. The lesson I derive from here is that women in all facets of live must not give up hope on any endevour of life. Her survival with her son in the wilderness suggests that women today too can survive under any harsh condition if they persist.

I am not too vast with Islamic laws and tradition but I am aware that Muslim women suffer a lot in the hands of their male folk. There are so many restrictions placed on them that hinder not only religious progress but also academic and secular activities. Such laws and traditions must be outlawed to pave the way for their full participation in the religious and administrative affairs of their countries.

Gender equality in religion still remains a subject that must be handled with utmost care. In Christianity for instance, women role in the church are clearly defined and going against that is tantamount to disobedient of God’s commandment. So all advocate of gender equality in religious circle must treat such issue with the fear of God in their mind.

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.

“It is a sad fact of human nature that suffering does not always make us better people.”

If suffering were to make one better, no poor man will ever remain poor.

“When we hear the voice of an other we learn more about ourselves; when we learn an other, journey, much about our own journeys becomes clearer to us.”

What this suggests is that we should learn how to listen to others empathically. That means placing ourselves in the position of other people before we condemn. This was exemplified by these women coming from three different religious backgrounds to dialogue.

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?

In as much as I want to subscribe to and remain a feminist apologist, I do not support religious Activism.

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?

No.

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.

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? 8
B. How helpful were the contents? 7
C. How easy was it to understand? 9
D. Would you recommend it to others? 10
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 8

 

 

Gandhi: An Autobiography

Assessment by Okpe Emmanuel (Nigeria)

1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?

The main idea of the book is the story of a world figure, his experiment with truth and how he developed the strategy of non-violent resistance which he termed Satyagraha. The book tells the story of Gandhi, the father of Indian struggle for independence. One striking thing about the story is the background of the resistance. It started in a foreign land-South Africa and ultimately gave rise to resistance in Indian and to so many other resistances across the globe especially in the twenty first century. The book tells a whole lot about a man who sacrifices his entire life to defend truth and his nation. It tells about his concern, commitment and courage to free his nation from servitude. We see in this book a man who hates injustice and was ready to do everything within the law to have it uprooted from the society. The world needs people like him in our time today.

2. What are 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 example from your own life.

i. Personal discipline

As I read along the lines of this book, one thing that so much challenged me is the principle of discipline developed by Gandhi. He is so principled that he stick to anything he believes to be right. This he developed from early childhood and kept till death. I was challenged by the story about his resistance to copy from his neighbor even when the teacher prompted him to do so. This was borne out of his personal discipline and conviction not to do evil. It may look so insignificant-just to copy and after all it was at the teacher’s permission yet he will not do a thing of such. We need people like Gandhi today.

ii. Upholding the truth

His love for truth is phenomenal. Such loves that will make him confess his faults to his parents without probing. If he felt disturbed by his conscience, he will confess it. Everything about him was geared towards up holding truth. In short, that is the life of Gandhi. The story of Gandhi is the story of truth. He is truth exemplified.

iii. Commitment to family life

His family life was another case study for young men today. The sincerity with which he says things even about his private life also tells about the person of Gandhi. His admittance that he failed his wife, that he maltreated her and such other thing humbled me. One other challenge I took from him was his faithfulness and fidelity to his wife. Three years of study in England and all other times spent in South Africa, he did not defile himself with other women. He is a man of conviction. We need the like of Gandhi to teach men how to be faithful to their wives today.

iv. Freedom fighter

What amazed me about Gandhi as a freedom fighter was where and how he started his fight. South Africa a strange land was where he started his struggle from. I was wandering what the South African were doing as at that time. If my memory serves me well, his fight ignites the fire of freedom struggle in South Africa. The lesson he taught again was his methodology- Non-violent struggle. As I read about those injustices mated out to him and the way and manner he forgives it even when the authority chooses to punish those involved, I came to a conclusion that Gandhi not only preached what he said but practiced it.

v. Importunity

This was a man who refused to give up in life. It started with the process of going to study in England. Despite all odds he withered through and got what he wanted. He obtained a law degree from England but his disposition will not permit him to practice. A lot of people would have been discouraged and took other course in life but he followed it through until he got it right in South Africa. This again built a strong foundation in his struggle for freedom. It toughened his skin against every form of human resistance trusting only in what God said about him. We need a Gandhi in our time.

vi. Simple life style

Gandhi lived a very simple life style all through his stay on the planet earth. The most challenging was when he was in England. His decision to change his apartment and to walk a long distance to school is a proof of life of simplicity. Other students would have been carried away by the life style in the foreign land but not Gandhi. He remembered where he came from, the source of his income and came to conclusion that he cannot continue with that bogus life style. He took this through even when he became a prime minster. This is to attest to the fact that it was not poverty that forced him to choose that life style but a matter of principle of life. We need a Gandhi in our time now.

vii. Passion for unity

Though he had back ground in Hindu, he related with all religions without sentiment. I saw this from his early child hood. He related with the Muslim, Musalman, Christian and other religion. I wish we have twenty of the like of Gandhi among the leaders in my country that will genuinely and freely relate with all religions without political bias. His passion for unity drew him to mingle with all sorts of people without prejudice. We saw that while he was in South Africa and when he returned to India. I must add here the virtue of humility found in Gandhi. I do not know how to describe it but encourage anyone that want to know to read Gandhi: an autobiography.

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?

On personal discipline, I am already imbibing the virtue by trying to into practice the examples I read from this book. I must not wait to be compelled before I discipline myself in some areas. Studying, praying, and such other activities that need no external supervision must have to be regulated by no other person but me. In all these, I need personal discipline.

No virtue is as important as the virtue of truth in the life of a young man or any human being for that matter. Truth must be upheld in whatever situation. All societies and religion cherishes and honor a man of truth. I have been practicing before but the life of Gandhi has challenged me to step it up the more.

Gandhi’s faithfulness and fidelity taught me a very deep lesson. Christianity preaches Sanctification which means the uprooting of the inbred or root of sin in a man. As the time Gandhi kept himself, he did not even know his bearing in terms of religion. If such a person could be faithful to his wife, I should do better.

The background of his struggle shows clearly that we can succeed in life anywhere we found ourselves. I must not be in my country or village before I succeed in life. Success has principle that if applied anywhere on the planet will function well. This principle I must apply and breakthrough must follow.

I learned from the man never to give up on any venture I under take to do in life. No short coming in me could warrant that. If he could come out of his shyness to become such a world figure, then there can be barrier nor mountain that will be too high to climb for and other people in our time.

Any progress made in life will never be allowed to enter my head. A life of simplicity is the best to live. It allows you to mingle with the high and the low and by that get useful information about yourself and id in government about your administration.

That has been a very daunting task in my country. The person that will bring about true unity without political, ethnic, or religious bias has been lacking. If I found myself in position of authority, this I will pursue vigorously until it is achieved.

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.

“A man of truth must also be a man of care.”

This simple means that a man who choose to be truthful and holds that as a virtue must as well be a man that is extremely careful so as not to betray the truth he stand for.

“True friendship is an identity of souls rarely to be found in this world. Only between like natures can friendship be altogether worthy and enduring.”

This means the paucity of true friendship. They are very rare to come by because it has to be between people of like minds.

“For man takes in vice far more readily than virtue.”

People are prone to like and learn evil more easily than good.

“Many such experiments taught me that the real seats of taste was not in the tongue but the mind.”

Whatever your mind does not accept maybe bitter no matter how sweet that taste. The seats of taste rest in the mind.

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?

No such thing.

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?

No.

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.

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? 8
C. How easy was it to understand? 9
D. Would you recommend it to others? 10
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 8

 

 

The Autobiography of Martin Luther King Jr.

Assessment by Okpe Emmanuel (Nigeria)

1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?

Martin Luther King JR, ground fathers a preacher, his father a preacher, and himself a preacher yet he turned an activist. A courageous activist, a defender of justice, an apostle of the Negros from a very humble background but became a national hero. How else can he be qualified? A man who learned the doctrine of non-violent struggle from Gandhi and almost practiced it better than him. As I read along the line of his autobiography, I kept asking myself if certain of the words are real especially when he will respond to certain event and said to himself “I must not get angry”. The book is a story of a courageous man who would die than see his fellow Negros suffers injustices as it pertains to the segregation law in the U.S then. Luther King JR was heavily influenced by his parent and touched by the prevailing circumstances of his time. He suffered persecution from the white because of his commitment to redeem the Negros and to restore equality, justice and fairness in the society. Today, many are reaping from the sacrifice of this great icon not only in the US but world over. I wish the autobiography was written by the King himself.

2. What are 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 example from your own life.

i. His Courage

Martin Luther King JR, showed courage when it matters most. In the heart of injustice dominated by superior power in all ramifications, he was able to stand not just to defend his right but the rights of a class-the Negros. His courage against racial injustice was unparallel. In an era when many have resigned to fate waiting only for divine intervention, Luther chose to avail himself an instrument in the hand of God to deliver the oppressed. In an age when the white tyranny has cowed the Negros and led them to abandon hope, and develop in them a false sense of inferiority, Luther chose to draw out his neck and be seen. Where political and economic justices were a forgotten issue, he raised his voice and was heard by divine eyes. Such courage was unparallel.

ii. Background to non-violent struggle

It was glaring from the account of Luther King jr that those who can stage and lead a successful struggle must be from an average background. People of abject poverty can never lead a successful resistance of this nature. His background exposed him to many of the ills in the society. The poorest of the poor will not even see in that direction not to think of rising on behalf of other people.

iii. Influence of family background on his family life.

In the account, he consistently repeated the fact that he never witnessed his parent raising their voices-that means they never argued. This is a clear indication that they lived a very good legacy for him to follow. Little wonder then, he was very mindful of his wife and children all through the struggle. The care, affection and concern for his family are seen all through the autobiography. The wife too proved to be a caring and affectionate companion who stood with her husband through thick and thin. This should serve as an example to this generation where divorce and separation is the norm.

iv. Humility of an Icon

I kept wondering how these icons manage their exploit that it never gets into their head as to become so proud of their achievement. Despite the breakthrough recorded in the resistance, Luther remained very humbled, amiable and even accessible to all classes of people. This no doubt was the reason for the mass followers of his crusade. A good leader lives by example and Luther was an example of humility. He attributed most of the successes to his colleague who worked with him rather taken the glory alone.

v. Non-violent resistance

I am forced to lift this quote from the book, “You must not harbor anger,” I admonished myself. “You must be willing to suffer the anger of the opponent and yet not return anger. You must not become bitter. No matter how emotional your opponents are, you must be calm”. This is not an easy task yet that is the non-violent resistant struggle. After reading this portion of the book, I paused and asked myself this question-can you forbear to this extent? But I saw all these manifest in the life of Luther, his house was bombed, he was harassed, humiliated and imprisoned yet he remain calmed.

vi. How to combine religion with struggle

Luther a pastor redefined the process of struggle. Many believers think it evil for religious people to participate in such struggle to liberate the oppressed Luther has shown that it possible for Christian to participate in struggle without sinning against God. Believers must not standby and watch evil grow without doing anything.

vii. How to fight poverty and social-injustice

Our society today is overwhelmed by poverty and this only is attributable to social-injustices. From the example of Luther, one is now well positioned to tackle this societal menace. The best way out is to mount pressure on our leaders using the non-violent resistance of Gandhi and Luther King jr.

3. How will these ideas or lessons help you in a practical way, both in your daily

I have learned that any courage taken for the course of truth must be retained. I will remain courage in fighting injustices, corruption and other social menace in my society. It will also help me in my faith. Having known that what I believe is the truth, I will hold on to it courageously to the end. There is no point giving up on what is right and true.

I have understood what it takes to lead a non-violent resistance and the qualification of such leader. As a middle class person, I can stand on behalf of my people to redeem them from societal ills and social inequalities. I as a leader must be humble and resist every temptation to be proud like my predecessors.

I may not have enjoyed this from my parents but can build such legacy for my children. I have learned from here how to handle issues with mu spouse especially in the presence of my children. I will create an atmosphere that will make them believe that it is possible to live with one’s spouse without rancor.

This virtue of humility pervaded the lives of almost all the great icons I read about. You will see them displaying uncommon humility that is found even in the average people in our society. I have no choice but to emulate their virtue of humility.

To engage in non-violent resistance I must learn to endure, forbear and suffer long with my persecutor(s). This I must do at individual level, group of people and even the general world. Irrespective of who is responsible for the injustice, I must not retaliate; get angry or bitter with them. That means I must learn how to forgive people easily.

This has been a very serious concern to me before now. How can I a preacher lead a protest against government for instance? From this book, I have been properly groomed to handle the situation. It must non-violent and the rule shall be adhered to strictly.

This is the most interest aspect of the book that will affect my life directly. I have learned from the book how to fight poverty and social injustice- a hydra headed menace in my society. The application of non-violent method to send the message to my government is the way out. The way to organize people for protest and resistance as taught in this book will be applied. This method is still very relevant and effective.

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.

“I often say that if we, as a people, had as much religion in our hearts and souls as we have on our legs and feet, we could change the world.”

This means if all professors of religion live and practice all that they professed, the world will easily be changed.

“On the one hand I must attempt to change the soul of individuals as that their societies may be changed. On the other hand I must attempt to change the societies so that the individual soul will have a change.”

Change starts by transforming individuals which by implication transform the society and the world at large.

“Anyone who starts out with the conviction that the road to racial justice is only one lane wide will inevitably create a traffic jam and make the journey infinitely longer.”

That means the road to justice but be wide enough to accommodate many views, channels, methods and all and sundries. Any lean road will ultimately lead to the collapse of the journey.

“They did not come in with crowns and all of the garments of kings. They came in with prison caps.”

A clear case of leadership humility and identification with people’s plights.

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?

No such thing.

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?

No.

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.

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? 9
D. Would you recommend it to others? 10
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 9

 

 

The Montessori Method

Assessment by Okpe Emmanuel (Nigeria)

1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book

The Montessori Method was and still a classic in teaching method. The book was not only relevant then but very relevant in our time. The ideal convened in the book is a simple self-directed activity on the part of the children while the teacher observes scientifically to ascertain the level of progress. The author is keen about adopting the learning environment of the child to his developmental stage as well as the ability of the child to absorb abstract concepts and practical skills through physical activities. It seems to me that most of the books I read on child’s training and education took root from this book. In our local parlance we call it “do it yourself.” Children are segregated and taught according to their age and ability to comprehend. Reading is done through phonics and whole language. It is truly learning by practice and not learning by theory as most schools do today.

2. What are 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 example from your own life.

i. Pedagogical methods for children

The pedagogical method adopted in the Montessori take into consideration the anthropological observations in children. This method has to do with the observation of the physical development of the children through taking their height, weight and general status at interval of time. This is again matched with the child’s senses of reception and retention of knowledge. This helps the teacher to regulate the anthropometric observations and guild them in make the right selections. This method of observation also includes the observation of the morphological growth of the pupils. The method of observation is again established upon one foundation-based-the observation of the pupils in their spontaneous manifestations.

ii. Discipline

Discipline is the hallmark of every educational training or learning. In the Montessori Method, observation is based on the liberty of the children and liberty according to them is activity. Discipline comes before liberty. This is the distinguishing features of the Montessori schools from the common-school methods. Discipline here train the pupil to be master of himself and can therefore regulate his own conduct when it shall be necessary to follow some rules of life. When this is attained without coercion, then we can say the child is disciplined.

iii. Education of the senses

Education of the senses is a top priority in the pedagogical method in Montessori school. It takes note of movement of means of the sense measurements. This is not meant to measure the sensation but to educate the senses. The method works by making a pedagogical experiment with a didactic object and awaiting the spontaneous reaction of the child. The difference here is that they experiment do not start with conclusion like the experimental psychology which deals with the knowledge of the average sense condition according to the age of the child but start with a method which draw its conclusion from the pedagogy so understood.

iv. Intellectual Education

Here I learn the difference between educating the senses and the intellect. Educating the senses deal essentially with the psycho-sensory processes while that of the intellect deals with concrete ideas. The education of the sense constitute a species of auto-education, which, if repeated many times leads to a perfection of the child’s psycho-sensory processes. In the intellectual development, the teacher intervenes to lead the pupils from sensation to ideas-from the concrete to the abstract, and to the association of ideas. The method adopted here is the isolation of the inner attention of the child and fix it upon the perceptions-as in the first lessons his objective attention was fixed, through isolation, upon single stimuli.

v. Language in childhood

Language in childhood comprises of dictation and reading, contains articulate language in its complete mechanism. The graphic language is sub-divided into two

(a) that of the conquest of a new language of eminent social importance which adds itself to the articulate language of natural man; and this is the cultural significant which is commonly given to graphic language, which is therefore taught in school without any consideration of its relation to spoken language. (b)That of the relation between graphic and articulate language and, in this relation, of an eventual possibility f utilizing the written language to perfect the spoken language.

vi. Sequence of exercise

The Montessori Method list out practical methods that is helpful in the presentation of teaching to the pupils. This comes in various sequence, or series of exercise. The sequence is taught in grades. First, second, third, fourth and fifth grades. All these grades are elaborately discussed in the book.

vii. Review of discipline

Despite the result obtained from the first disciplinary approach, it was thoughtful of them to still review discipline and make room for improvement. Discipline is taught and learned through a rigorous application of principles of the method. No one learn discipline by word but by action. The phenomenon of discipline needs as preparation a series of complete actions, such as are presupposed in the genuine application of a really educative method. Discipline is reached only by indirect means. The end is obtained not by attacking the mistake and fighting it but by developing activity in spontaneous work.

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?

Learning should start with observation of the child right from birth. It reminds me of my uncle’s son that was born in my presence. At about four year of age he loves losing his father radio set though he cannot couple it back. He is of university age and seriously wanting to read aeronautic engineering. The father did not observe him properly from child hood and he is trying to coerce the son into studying another course. The implication is that the child does not have interest in this new course and so will do well. This shows the importance of the pedagogical method in the Montessori.

The disciplinary method I learn from here will be applied strictly on the children. This book has giving some clue on how to handle my children education. I will make my home another study centre for my children. I will assist them to learn discipline naturally so that in applying some disciplinary measures, it will not be seen as a punishment.

I have learned the education start with first by training the senses. Through that we can then train or educate the intellect. I will try out the experiment discussed here on my baby with the assistance of my wife who is a teacher.

Having learned the difference between sense education and intellectual education, I will make concerted effort to apply same when teaching both my children and in the church. The knowledge gained here will enable me to how to teach and impact knowledge to different age. It will also help to know the kind of knowledge I am impacting.

The understanding of the mechanism of language will help to even at my age to learn new language and also teach others how to learn new languages. My understanding of these two aspects of the language mechanism; the conquest of new language and the relation between graphic and articulate language will help me to properly learn and explain to children these new languages.

The sequence of exercise to my understanding is useful in the teaching of logical reasoning to children. When exercise are laid down in sequence and taught to children as such it will enable them to reason logically. I hope to utilize these exercises especially as they are laid down in from grade one to five in teaching children and other places that I will find the knowledge useful.

Discipline must be subject to review once in a while. This will help us to understand the efficacy of the method applied. If the initial method does not serve the purpose, then we can adopt another method. Most importantly, discipline is taught through rigorous application of principle and so I will not give up in the application of this accepted principle.

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.

“Such spectacle of extreme brutality is possible here at the very gate of a cosmopolitan city, the mother of civilization and queen of the fine arts, because of a new fact which was unknown to the past centuries, namely, the isolation of the masses of the poor.”

This means the equality that exists between the poor and the rich which is purely a creation of the rich. The unfortunate thing is that this also is common in a civilize societies today and nobody cares.

“It may be that the life lived by the very poor is a thing which some of you here today have never actually looked upon in all degradation.”.

This again interprets the carefree altitude of the rich towards the poor. The rich are unconcerned about the plight of the poor and will never empathise with them.

“When the eye has grown accustomed to the gloom, we perceive, within, the outlines of a bed upon which lies huddled a figure-someone ill and suffering.”

Until something drastic happens, the rich will not see nor understand the plight of the poor. Until their eyes are held accustomed to the gloom, the will not see what they ought to see.

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?

No.

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?

No.

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.

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? 8
C. How easy was it to understand? 9
D. Would you recommend it to others? 10
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 8

 

 

The New Confession of an Economic Hit Man

Assessment by Okpe Emmanuel (Nigeria)

1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?

Reading this book on a day I needed just fifteen thousand naira (fifty USD equivalents) to reproduce my PhD proposal for defense and could not afford it and the book opening my eyes to the source and root of my poverty turned my anger to sadness and inflated the pains I feel as a result of my penury. My resentment for the corporatocracy-the world bank, IMF, and the few individuals who are bent on building global empire by milking the blood of the poor increases. The book introduces readers to the reasons behind the US enforcement of globalization, democracy and capitalism. The main idea of the book therefore, is the revelation of a nation and its few individuals who wants to build a global empire based on self-centered, self-serving, greedy, and materialistic system based on mercantilism. An empire that open its arms only to accumulate resources, to grab everything in sight and stuff its insatiable maw. The whole essence is the selfish interest of the US government and few cabals or cartel who worked tirelessly in politics to ensure the status quo is maintained. The book reveals a close knit fraternity of a few men with a shared goal, and the fraternity members that moved easily and between corporate boards and government positions to actualize these goals. The book shows a startling figure of twenty four thousand souls that perishes from the surface of the earth everyday as a result of hunger, not mentioning those who have turned beggars by compulsion all as a consequence of the action of these corporatocracy. The book is a must read for all oil producing nations across the globe.

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.

i. The international oil politics

Oil, ordinarily, a bunch of blessing from God has turned out to be a curse to the countries that owned it. This is largely due to the interest of the US government and her few cronies that brought deadly international politics into the exploration of the oil. No government in the oil producing countries can freely elect or appoint their leaders without a strong influence and decision of the US government. All these are to ensure that the elected leader and his country become a puppet government of the US in his state; No end to colonialism and imperialism. The aim is to ensure that the large portion of the petrodollars find their ways into the coffer of the US treasures either as government or individuals in government or around the corridor of government.

ii. The plight of the oil producing countries

I personally sympathized with the oil producing countries after reading this book. The reasons for war, conflicts and terrorism were made clear by the author. All these are sponsored by the world Bank, USAID, IMF, and other multinational that are bent on ensuring that they remain subservient to Washington and wall street through wars and conflicts, “erring leaders” can be replaced by a loyal one. I also understand why my country Nigeria is bedeviled by one conflict to another. As we are settling down to heave a sigh of relief from the Boko-Haram terrorism, Indigenous people of Biafra started and now, the “Boys have returned to the creek in the Niger-delta under a new name.

iii. The root of corruption in the world

The corporatocracy would use the Economic Hit Men across these countries to offer stick and carrot to their leaders. It is either the leader accepts to be corrupt, sell his country to the dictate of the US and his cronies and remain in power or be eliminated. The root and centre of corruption is in the oil exploration. And the father of corruption is the oil giants and the US government. Corruption whether in the developing nations of Africa, Arab spring or in the developed world of Britain, Japan and US have its root in the oil giants and the US government.

iv. The reason for the hatred for the US across the globe

The US government has soiled her hand in so many dirty deals in their quest to build a global empire and to control every single oil field in the world. The Arab nations for instance can never forgive the US due to the known atrocities committed against them as a nation and the nationalist leaders that are murdered in cold blood by CIA. Through this book, I came to appreciate the real reason behind the death of my formal head of State General Sani Abacha. These were leaders which meant well for their citizens. They were on the path of building a modeled society that will enable all citizens to have equal access to the wealth of their nations, but the greed of these oil giants and US will not permit that. I came to now understand perfectly why the world Trade Centre was pulled down.

v. The reasons behind coup and change of government in the oil producing

Countries.

This lesson is related to the one above. All coups and abrupt change of government in the oil producing countries is as a result of disagreement in policy between the US and the leaders of such countries. Leaders that dance to their music remain in power for as long as he want to stay but any slight change in policy that will affect the interest of the US government in that country will be met with a swift resistance.

vi. The root of poverty on earth

It is no longer news that the interest of the US and its few individuals who wants to build a global empire based on self-centered, self-serving, greedy, and materialistic system based on mercantilism has thrown millions of people across the world into abject poverty. The aim of this empire is to openly accumulate resources, to grab everything in sight and stuff its insatiable maw to the detriment of vulnerable defenseless millions that are continually incapacitated by the few.

vii. The ill of the Britton wood institute

The Britton wood institutions (World Bank, IMF and co) are one of the worries of the world. These institutions give loan to countries around the world but especially oil producing countries. It’s a loan that the leaders of such countries dare not say no but which is capable of plaguing them with unredeemable debt. You have no control on what projects to spend the loan on. It is tied to a particular project from the source. The ill is the eternal indebtedness the country is exposed to. The modalities of the loan should be of concern to us readers. The recipient country will not see the capital, it is transferred from a bank in Washington into a multinational company’s bank account in Chicago or Florida and the country bear the grunt. It is said that the loan comes inform of equipment and not cash. The country can hardly pay off the loan and so the US and its allies will continue to have access to their oil, dictate how the countries explore its oil, who buys it and all that. All these are accomplished through (as the author rightly put it) “the EHMs, corporate magnets, wall street robber barons, government and Jackals.”

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?

My eyes are now opened to the politics of oil in the international arena. Should I be opportune to occupy a leadership position, I have learned how to defend my nation and her citizens. To be on the side of the poor, the down trodden, the wretched of the earth and the vulnerable ones. I will utilize the resources of the nation for the benefit of the citizens. I will follow the paths of the like of Jaime Roldos of Ecuador and Omar Torrijos of Panama, men that defended the rights of the countries and citizens with the pints of their blood.

If I am in position as a leader, and having traced the corner where the drum of war is beating from, I will never dance such music. I will do everything within my reach to avoid war and conflict in my country.

My country is fighting corrupting seriously today. I know the effect of corruption on the economy of a nation and will try as much as possible to fight or support such fight. I am again placed on a better spectrum to fight it now that I understand those who are behind it.

I have not personally develop hatred for US but I will be cautious over most of their policies and program for the oil producing countries like mine. I will trade with extreme caution before receiving AIDS from US. I heard of a company of US extraction that is pushing Genetic modified foods to Nigeria through USAID now. Caution is the watch word.

As a leader or adviser to a leader, I am in a vintage position to tell my leader what to do to avoid been dethroned. After all, the Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez escaped.

Having known those behind the poverty on earth, I will not only avoid them but fight to recover the wealth of the world from the hands of the few and redistribute it to all.

Simply no World Bank or IMF loan for my country. I will never support nor encourage it for my nation.

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.

“Omar’s idea is freedom; the missile is not invented that can kill an idea.”

That is the power of idea. The only thing that can kill it is the owner. Idea rules the world.

“Death for freedom is the way to Christ.”

This means to fight for freedom until death. Do what it take to ensure that your nation enjoys total freedom is a task that must be accomplished.

“That he also learned never to say never.”

That means anything is possible. You cannot tell where some evil can emanate from.

“I know from history that empires do not endure and the pendulum always swings in both directions.”

These men that want to build empire of wealth on earth will never endure forever. They will die and leave the power, wealth and riches of the world behind for the world.

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?

No such thing.

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?

No.

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.

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? 9
D. Would you recommend it to others? 9
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 9

 

 

Black Skin, White Mask

Assessment by Okpe Emmanuel (Nigeria)

1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?

Fanon in this epoch making book looked at colonialism from a perspective of psychology. He examined the psychological effect of colonialism on the black. This is manifested in the downplaying of and acceptance by the black the superiority of the white over them. The black through this became servitude, subjugated, suppressed and subjected to the whim and caprices of the white. This Fanon see as only a function of the psyche of the black because according to him all men are equal intellectually, mentally and physically. Fanon therefore, discussed the relationship between the black and the white as evidence in black dependence on the white. The author aptly described the altitude of contemporary black man in a white world and shows how black man has contradicted and confused his own race and identity. He demonstrated how the black man try in vain to become a white or their thirst to avenge ill treatment mated out to them by the white during colonialism. It concludes by showing the desperation of the black striving to discover the meaning of his identity.

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.

i. The power of language as a means of racial identification

Language is not just a means of identification for a race but a strong instrument in the hands of the owner. As Fanon will say “the man who possesses language possesses as an indirect consequence the world expressed and implied by this language. But in the case of the black during and after colonialism, their language seems inferior to that of the white. This account for why the black will do everything possible to speak the language of the white better than his own native language. The consequence of this today is the erosion of the mother tongue of the many black races.

ii. The effect of color in human relation

Here Fanon explained the herculean task of an attempt to establish true relationship between the black man and a white woman. The psychological feelings that exist purely because of color. The white woman see herself as superior to a black man so why dating him. Until the feelings of superiority or inferiority between these races are purged, they cannot exist true love/relationship between the duo. The black woman who fall in love with a white man for instance maybe not have the confidence to express her love because of the color of their skin. Even where genuine love exists between the two, the color of their skin becomes a barrier due largely to the inferiority complex of the black and the superiority complex of the white.

iii. The desperation of the black to discover their identity.

The Black having suffered humiliation in the hands of the white during colonialism find it difficult to place his own identity. They suffer conflict of identity not knowing where they belong. In the French colony for example where the policy of assimilation was in place, the citizens feel ashamed to be identified as black. They would rather that they were identified as white mean while the white never saw them as one of their own. Those who travelled France during this era therefore, became a local lord over the black at home. They forced themselves to speak not just French but like a French man.

iii. The dependency complex of the colonized

Colonialism forced the black to accept certain misconception about the ability and capacity. The black had been suppressed and subjugated to the extent that they believe the white are superior to them and so they depended on the white on almost everything in their life. The trend is still very common in many developing nations today. They black think of any foreign products as superior to the local product to the extent that they can hardly patronize the local. This is hampering development in the developing world.

v. Te black man and the colonial experience

The memory of the colonial experience can hardly be clean up from the brain of the black. An experience that caused many contradictions for the black. From language to customs and traditions, the black had to abandon his languet, customs and tradition and imbibed that of the alien in order to fit into and be accepted by the system. This was no mean a small contradiction for the black. Colonialism did not only deprive the black of the economic power but also distorted their origin, culture and tradition.

vi. The black man and the diagnosis of his origin and development

As stated above, colonialism uprooted the black from their origin and made them subservient to the white. The implication of this is that, the normal family pedigree that existed in the black before the advent of colonialism was distorted. Fanon described it thus: “a normal black child, having grown up with a normal family, will become abnormal at the slightest contact with the white”. The reverse is the case with a white child who grows up in a white family. A normal white child who grows up in a normal white family will become a normal child because he had contact with white and thereby retains his identity. This is impeding on development in many black nations up till now. They will prefer to plunder their countries and invest it in the developed nations of the world.

vii. The black man and his identity

The summary of the story is that colonialism has caused a psychogenetic disorder among the black. As I read through the pages of this book and discovered the pride in the black man for bedding a white woman, I feel ashamed of myself. The black man has to retrace his identity through realization that all races are equal before God. The best brain across the world today in medicine, information technology etc are blacks.

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?

I will hold on to my language, teach it to my children and ensure that they speak it fluently and be able to teach it to their children too. I will do everything within my rich to see that my language never go extinct. The power of language cannot be underestimated in any race or nation.

This book coupled with other books I read on racism has prompted me to stand against and be an advocate for unity among all races and color across the globe. It has opened my eyes the more to see all men as equal and to understand that God created the different colors to accomplish His purpose on earth not for discrimination. I learned here therefore, that no races should be discriminated against on the bases of color of skin.

I have learned here not hide my identity. My birth as a black man is not by accident. I also understand that I am not inferior to anyone because of the color of my skin. I am endowed with intellectual capacity that can match my equal anywhere in the world. I will be proud to be identified as an Idoma man from Benue State in Nigeria, Period.

Before I read this book, my penchant for foreign products was very low. This book has aggravated it. I yearn for foreign products that cannot be produced in my country. I always go for locally made wears for instance instead of foreign made.

Though I did not experienced colonialism, I read a lot about it and thought we the black should have come out of its impact already. Colonialism or not, I will live my normal life as a black man. I am happy as Black man, am blessed with a very rich cultural heritage and will not exchange it for any foreign culture or life style.

Thank God colonialism is over in our time. I will train my children to accept the fact that they are black and should happily live with that mentality. Their family pedigree will now be retained. Though there are so many foreign influences through films, movies, internet, I am conscious of them and will guide against it in bringing up my children.

I will work assiduously to retain my identity and that of the entire black race if possible. I will be an ambassador of peace and unity across the globe. Preach against racism, discrimination of any kind-in sports, politics, international relations and the rest.

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 future must be a construction supported by man in the present. The future edifice is linked to the present insofar as I consider the present something to be overtaken.”

This means the future of any nation or person must be built by those who have what it take to do so today. Parents must be the one to build the future for their parents and today leaders must be responsible for the future of the nation tomorrow.

“The man who possesses a language possesses as an indirect consequence the world expressed and implied by this language.”

This indicates the power of language as a strong emblem of identification.

“What we are striving for is to liberate the black man from the arsenal of complexes that germinated in a colonial situation.”

The black has been engulfed with inferiority complexes that need serious surgical to liberate today.

“Yet every rose has its thorn.”

This suggests that every pleasure has its pains. In other worlds, nothing good comes easy.

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?

No such thing.

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?

No

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

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? 8
B. How helpful were the contents? 8
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? 8

 

 

Natural Capitalism

Assessment by Okpe Emmanuel (Nigeria)

1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?

The book, Natural capitalism is about the possibility of changing the current capitalist system into a utopia where life will be made easier for the poor and the less privilege in the society. The book describes the possibility of a changed technology that can bring about this. Alongside this changed technology is the hope of a social change that will affect human life positively. The book considered a society where coal, nuclear energy and oil is faced out and replaced by better efficient and harmless products. It envisages a society with an explosion of family wages and a fallen welfare demand. A society where communities, churches, corporations and labor group will promote a new living-wage social contract as the expensive way to ensure the growth and preservation of valuable social capital. This is achievable by utilizing natural human and capitals that are less emphasized today.

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.

i. A new industrial revolution

The new industrial revolution as conceived by the author is that where the government and industry needed and over all biological and social framework within which the transformation of commerce could be accomplished and practiced. The author conceived of an idea that our today economy must shift from emphasis on human productivity to a radical increase in resource productivity. This shift will provide more meaningful family wage jobs, a better worldwide standard of living to those in needs, and a dramatic reduction of humankind’s impact upon environment.

ii. Waste not

We live in a world that is giving to too much wastage. This is common in the developed countries but worst in the developing countries. The authors lamented the case of Fresh kill in America the largest dumping ground that collect as much as 26 million pounds of commercial and household waste per day. This waste can be recycled into other useful products that are beneficial to the mankind. The worst case scenario is in the developing countries. In Nigeria, emphasis of government is on oil revenue to the detriment of other sources. Waste in Nigeria if properly harnessed has the capacity to generate enough power for half of the population if not more. The implications of this wastage are deterioration of environment; dissolution of civil societies into lawlessness, despair and apathy; and lack of public will needed to address human suffering.

iii. How to re-make the world

The world can be re-make through the following: fresh design, new technology, control, corporate culture, new processes and saving materials. If the world will adopt these new approach especially new technology, corporate culture and saving, the world will soon be a new place for all.

iv. Nature’s filament

The authors believed that 90-95 percent reduction in material and energy are possible in the developed world without diminishing the quantity and quality of the services that people want. This is possible through a saving of a single conceptual or technological leap but more often, it comes from systematic combination of series of successive saving. This savings most time comes in different parts of value chain that stretches from the extraction of a raw resource, through every intermediate step of processing and transportation, to the final delivery of the service. The secret of achieving such a large saving is to multiply the saving together, capturing the magic of compounding arithmetic.

v. Food for life

Natural capitalism agreed that technology has increased the volume of or calories of food available to humanity in the past thirty years. The need to intensify mechanized agriculture to meet the daily food demand across the globe cannot be over emphasized. Agriculture must be transformed especially in the developing countries of the world. Countries that solemnly depended on oil are in one conflict after another and so the way out is agriculture.

vi. Climate: making sense and making money

Global warming through human activities like heat driven engine, exploration of oil and other natural resource is fast eroding the value of our climate. These activities have succeeded in shifting the pattern of rain fall. A warmer earth also means more volatile whether with worse and extreme events of all kinds. Warmer Ocean can cause current to shift and change thereby causing tropical hurricanes and typhoons to form. All these have adverse effect on human lives. But when corrected, it can fetch more money and create a safe environment for humanity.

vii. Human capitalism

Human capitalism stressed the importance of creating a conducive environment for human being to be effective and efficient in all his or her endeavor. It emphasized creation of good health care system, functional educational system etc. All these if put in place will encourage growth in the economy.

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?

I have learned from here that the new industrial is that where the government and industry needed and over all biological and social framework within which the transformation of commerce could be accomplished and practiced. If I find myself in position of authority, my economic policy will shift from emphasis from human productivity to a radical increase in resource productivity. This will help me provide more meaningful family wage jobs, a better worldwide standard of living to those in needs, and a dramatic reduction of humankind’s impact upon environment.

This book opened my eyes to wasteful ventures in my country. I will do all within my power to correct this waste. In my country where emphasis has been on oil revenue to the detriment of other sources, I will try everything possible to diversify the economy. I turn waste in Nigeria to fertilizer; generate enough power to cater for the teaming populace in the rural areas.

By turning my country’s economy around, I am invariably re-making the world. I will utilize the formula learned from this book to guide me. I will apply fresh design, new technology, control, corporate culture, new processes and saving materials.

If the developed countries can achieve 90-95 percent reduction in material and energy without diminishing the quantity and quality of the services that people want, then I too can achieve that in the developing nation like Nigeria. The secret of achieving such a large saving is to multiply the saving together, capturing the magic of compounding arithmetic.

This is too true to be debated. Technologically driven agriculture is non-negotiable if my country must be food sufficient. I will not only teach, support provide enabling environment for farmers if in position of authority but will be physically involved in farming. I will also engage foreign experts in order to bring the best hands into agriculture in my country. Youth in my country will be made to be the vanguard of this change.

In tapping natural resources or as we engage in farming activities, I will be conscious to correct anything that could cause global warming. All human related activities that lead in one way or the other to global warming will be curtailed. Global warming caused by smoke from industrial machine can be controlled through purchase of better and more efficient machine.

I will heavily invest in human capital through training and re-training. I will involve both local and foreign experts to train others especially in agriculture so they can increase food production in my country. I will again create a conducive environment for the trainers and the trainees to be effective and efficient in all their endeavors. My emphasis will be to create good health care system, functional educational system etc. All these I put in place to encourage growth in the economy.

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.

“That problem can’t be solved within the mind-set that created them.”

People who create a problem are usually blind to the solution. One may have to depend on a neutral person or outside to solve such problem.

“Markets know everything about prices and nothing about cost.”

Markets forces know only the language of profit so the effect or cost on the consumer is nothing to them.

“It would be political suicide to do anything serious about climate so shrewd politicians are learning to dance around the dilemma.”

This show the lack of political will on the part of politicians to properly address the challenges of climate change.

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?

No.

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?

No.

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.

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? 7
B. How helpful were the contents? 8
C. How easy was it to understand? 8
D. Would you recommend it to others? Yes
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 7

 

 

Summerhill School: A New View of Childhood

Assessment by Okpe Emmanuel (Nigeria)

1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?

Summer hill school as conceived by the author is a way of life, living with others in a society and expressing oneself through the passion of interest in love, knowledge, and work. Summer hill is a democratic and self-government school that demonstrates to the world that school can abolish fear of teachers, and deeper down, fear of life. Staff in summer hill does not stand on their dignity nor expect any difference because they are adult. It is a school of equal rights, equal vote and equal say irrespective of age or status. It is a complete opposite of the known army regimented kind of school our society is familiar with. Summer hill was founded to make school fit the child rather than making the child fit the school. To achieve this, the school abhors all forms of discipline, all direction, all suggestion, all moral training, all religious instruction. The summer hill looked at all children as good and not evil, being; that every child is innately wise and realistic. In this school, lessons are optional. Children attend lessons voluntarily and not by compulsion.

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.

i. Idea of summer hill

Summer school has behind it the idea that learning in itself is not as important to a child as character. To this end it emphasis building of character rather than a regimented learning style common in modern days schools. In summer hill, children learn but not by compulsion, a great measure of freedom is exercised so that a child could make his or choice freely. The whole essence is to build the confidence of the child. This is why though, children from summer may not compete successfully with other children in the university examination yet in confidence they can never be put behind. It is a school where children are not subjected to test or examination. The little examinations in the school are not meant for all the students but for those that have the penchant to further their education to the university level.

ii. Self government

Summer hill is a self-government school. This simply implies that the students in a boarding system are permitted to make their own laws that governed their activities in the school. This is why these sets of laws are hardly broken. Bullying, riding someone else’s bike, throwing of food, making noise during silence period rarely occur in summer hill school. Pupils are loyal to the laws because there are democratically formulated. The laws have no fear nor resentment and it promote and hold justice in high esteem. The entire students are called upon to decide the nature of punishment that should be mated out to any student. This is not the decision of the teacher of the headmaster of the school but a collective choice of the students.

iii. Problem children

Why psychologist believe that a child is born neither good or bad, but with a tendencies towards both beneficence and criminality, the author of summer hill believe the contrary. He is of the opinion that there is no instinct of criminality or any natural tendency towards evil in the child. Criminality according to him appears in a child as a perversion of love. In his view, there is no such thing as a problem child but a problem parents or a problem teacher. He lays the blame of problem children squarely on the door step of the parents and teachers. This is due to the inability of the duo to properly mentor the child the way they ought to.

iv. Moral problem

Students in summer hill lived a morally balanced life because of the measure of freedom allowed in the school. Children lie because of fear of punishment and since they are permitted sufficient freedom in summer school, lying is reduced drastically unlike in the conventional schools. Other kinds of immoral behavior like swearing, stealing etc are hardly known in the school and all these are attributed to the level of freedom the students enjoyed in summer hill.

v. Sex and coeducation

In summer hill, both sexes are co educated together and the fear of immoral behavior towards one another is not noticed among them. Relationship between the sexes is very healthy. No one grow up with any illusion or delusion about others sex. They students do not just sit together in classes but also sleep together yet they are kept pure from defilement. This is because of the orientation giving to them that made them see each others as brothers and sisters.

vi. Teacher and teaching

Teacher and teaching in summer hill differs significantly from the regimental style we are all familiar with. In summer hill that freedom still exists as to what the child want to read or learn. The teachers too have no regular teaching guide lines as exist in other known schools. There are no teacher schemes of work or lesson note. Students here are not persuaded through fear to learn.

vii. Heroes and sources

The author believes that heroes are made unconsciously. He said it is impossible to say what influences condition the life of any man; we gather a million ideas and attitudes, which mostly become unconscious. These may suddenly appear as a new idea or principle after the unconscious has digested them and strung them together. From the so many books he read, only one author he admitted influenced him and this shows why he chose the pattern of school where every child is allowed the freedom to read and learn at will.

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?

I will apply the knowledge about the virtue of character over education to my personal life. I was in a conference recently where this was also seriously emphasized. The speaker told a story where his characters stand in as his guarantor for a lone he used to start a business. Teaching this to students from childhood therefore will bring immeasurable reward to the child, immediate society and the world at large.

Self government is practicable everywhere, in the family, church, school and the government also. I will ensure the lesson here is applied anywhere I find myself in position of authority. I will be very democratic such that every body’s views and positions are critically analyzed and upheld.

This is a very serious lesson for me. The role of parents in child training. I have understood from here that there is no natural tendency in a child to be bad. This will assist me to endeavor to be patient in training my children and other children around me. Bearing this in mind, I will not be quick to write any child off as a bad child.

Here I learned the importance of freedom in child training. Children should be allowed to take certain decision by themselves. This ranges from freedom to choose discipline, whom to marry and career. I will observe all these keenly in my children. I will also teach it to other children both in the church and in my immediately family circle.

I learned that with proper upbringing, children can coexist without immoral thought or behavior. Both parents and teachers have some very significant role to play in this regard. Sex education should be taught children as at when due so that they imbibe it for the rest of their lives. Teaching may not necessarily follow any regimental format. It depends on what the teacher wants to achieve. For schools that wants to teach moral, character and discipline, any format that the teachers adopt and get his or her result is acceptable. It is possible for instance for a parent to train their children without the four walls of school.

Heroes are made unconsciously. In our times today where youths and children are giving to making some particular personality the hero or model thereby turning them to an idol in their lives, I now learn a new way of educating them. I now know what book to allow my children read, movies to watch and programs to follow.

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.

“A school can abolish fear of teachers and deep down, fear of life.”

Fear is the cause of mistake in the life of children especially during examination. School can help to eradicate this by the kind of philosophy put in place.

“A difficult child is nearly always made difficult by wrong treatment at home as well as at school.”

Parents are teachers are usually the reason for difficult child. Some out of over pampering get their children hardened in life.

“For I would rather see a school produce a happy street cleaner than a neurotic scholar.”

This indicates the joy of finding fulfillment in the job we do. Some could be a happy street cleaner than to be a banker or a professor in the university.

“Hate breeds hate, and love breeds love.”

This is straight forward enough. Hatred cannot produce love and love cannot produce hatred.

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?

No.

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?

No.

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.

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? 8
D. Would you recommend it to others? 9
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 8

 

 

The Compassionate Classroom: Relationship based Teaching and Learning

Assessment by Okpe Emmanuel (Nigeria)

1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?

The compassionate class room as the title rightly suggested is a practical, tested guide to creating an emotionally safe learning environment. The authors brought their experience to bear in demonstrating non-violent communication. It is a complete turnaround from the formal school in our vicinities. The book exposes us to teacher’s relationship with himself, teacher’s relationship with students, student’s relationship with students and student’s relationship with their learning. The intention of the authors is to teach compassionately so that lessons from the class room can be transferred into the general society such that people can live responsibly, effectively and compassionately with each others.

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.

i. How to create safety and trust in the classroom

Creating a safe and trusted class room requires the knowledge of and understanding of the needs and wants of teachers and students. Teachers want a serene environment so they can be effective in impacting knowledge. Teachers want students to take responsibility for their behaviors and learning. To meet both the needs of the teachers and students, relationship must be at the centre of class room concern. Relationship based class room, safety, trust, student needs, teachers needs, and mode of communication are considered as important as teaching other subjects like History or Economics. When teachers consciously create caring relationships and teach relationship skills, they build a strong foundation of safety and trust.

ii. Relationship in the classroom

The authors identified four main relationships in the class room. These include teacher to self, teachers to students, student to student, and student to his or her learning process. A good teacher must be properly abreast with these relationships to effectively deliver in his or her mandate in the class room. Proper understanding of the dynamics of these relationships and the extent to which our values and action affect them will go a long way to increase our possibilities of creating a compassionate class room. One other thing that encourages compassion in the class is the acknowledgment and celebration of successes. When student record outstanding success, it should not just be acknowledge but also celebrated.

iii. Tools to creating a compassionate classroom

The tools for creating a compassionate class room is the ability to identify, understand and meet the needs of both teachers and students. This can be discovered in our human capacity, empathy and caring. Teachers ought to know what their motives are in teaching, what quality they value most, and the values they what to cultivate in the students, what their interest is, what talents they possessed and the effective way to learn. Teachers again must understand the nature of relationship that exists between students and students in his or her class.

iv. How to provoke giving and receiving in the classroom

The way to provoke giving and receiving in the classroom is through thorough understanding of human nature. If we believe that human being by nature are aggressive, selfish, competitive and egocentric, our thought and action will reflect that but if we see human being as loving, compassionate and caring, our action and approach will differs. These premises have the capacity to affect a change of heart in the teacher and students alike. Teachers are encouraged to see and teach students the following premises: That all human being are natural givers, that we can give and receive to meet our basic needs, to meet these needs, we can make choices about how we think, listen, talk etc, we can continually lean new ways to meet needs, by focusing on needs we can prevent, reduce, and resolve conflicts.

v. The language of giving and receiving

The authors described the language of giving and receiving as natural to human. It is a language that speaks about our common needs and what would make life more comfortable for us. When we conceive of life in this form, it makes it easy for us to give and receive from one another. To effectively do this, the authors cautioned that we must avoid the “Jackal” language. The Jackal because is low to the ground has its sight limited only to what is directly in its front. It is a language of limitation. Those who use the Jackal language don’t see that they have choices and often only know one way to process their experiences-by going into their head where they think about who is good, who is bad, who is right or wrong etc. the language of giving and receiving are known by many names; nonviolent communication, compassionate communication and language of the heart.

vi. How to develop skills through activities and games

A set of activities and games are written down for teachers to use in their class room with their students. These cover areas of observation; this activity is aimed at increasing the listening skill of students and also to distinguish between observation and evaluation. Other activities include feelings, needs.

vii. New approach to lesson plan

There is a new and easier approach to lesson plan taught in this book. The lesson plans are designed such that it comes with a broad heading that can be subdivided into section and separate lesson.

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?

I have learned from here how to how to create safety and trust in the class room. I will therefore ensure that I have a proper knowledge and understanding of the needs and wants of teachers and students. I understand from here that teachers want a serene environment so they can be effective in impacting knowledge and students on their part when to be respected so they can learn.

I learned from here four main relationships that must exist in the class room. I will utilize these skills whatever level I am teaching. One other thing that encourages compassion in the class is the acknowledgment and celebration of successes. I will appreciate and acknowledge successes in my class room. I have discovered the tools for creating a compassionate class room and it is in our human capacity, empathy and caring. Teachers ought to know what their motives are in teaching, what quality they value most, and the values they what to cultivate in the students, what their interest is, what talents they possessed and the effective way to learn. Teachers again must understand the nature of relationship that exists between students and students in his or her class.

The way to provoke giving and receiving among student has been made simple for me. I will see students as loving, compassionate and caring. I will as well teach students that all human being are natural givers, that we can give and receive to meet our basic needs, to meet these needs, we can make choices about how we think, listen, talk. All these will help to affect a change of heart in the students.

My language from hence forth will be about common needs of man and those things that would make life more comfortable for us. I will also avoids ‘Jackal’ language and concentrate on the language of giving and receiving which include non violent communication, compassionate communication and language of the heart.

I will practice these activities over and over again until they become part of me so that I can effectively teach them to others.

I will also learn this new pattern of writing lesson note so that I can use it and teach others as well.

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.

“Fear in whatever form prevent the understanding of ourselves and of our relationship to all things.”

This is negative implication of fear. No child can learn well under and atmosphere of fear.

“Fear is beneficial if we are in real danger and need to react fast; but fear limit perception, communication, and learning if we are not in danger.”

This is a positive side of fear. Not all fears are bad, there are times fears is needful and important. Fear sometimes can make to act fast.

“In general, only a child who feels safe dares to grow forward healthily.”

This underscores the importance of a serene environment for learning. A safe environment promotes easy learning especially for children.

“Power is of two sides. One is obtained by fear of punishment, and the other by acts of love.”

The power obtained by act of love is far richer and better than that obtained by act of punishment.

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?

No.

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, I have completed them and will still continue to practice 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.

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? 9
D. Would you recommend it to others? 9
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 9

 

 

The Essential Gandhi

Assessment by Okpe Emmanuel (Nigeria)

1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?

I was thrilled by the title of the book and was never disappointed with the content as it introduces readers to Gandhi’s thoughts on politics, spirituality, poverty, suffering, love, non-violence, civil disobedience and his personal life. The book brought out the true portrait of the man Gandhi whom is held as the greatest spiritual leader of his time. It is a collection of Gandhi’s writing and views about life. The book unmasks the revolutionary potential in human beings. The importance of this book is that it explains some salient or blurs areas in the autobiography of Gandhi. In essential Gandhi, the man bears his mind on the reason why those who exploited remain in the form and fear to resist. “We are weak because we are divided into numerable fractions, each seeking its own gain, making it simple to play us against each other…” with this mind set, Gandhi believe that if the exploited could come together as one united front, they are capable of winning any war against the exploiters. He taught non-violence in this book and the idea sold like hot cake.

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.

i. The power of the mind

The power of mind can be likened to the power of thought, belief, and perception. Gandhi belief that everyone has the power of his or her mind to choose what they want to become in life. To this end, he left his children to themselves. He thinks instead of all Indians across the world as his children and sees his biological children as his friends and equal after their sixteenth birth day. This was the kind of mind set Gandhi had that influenced him and formed his philosophy about life. He never dreamed of his children taking after his life style. He said “men may be good, not necessarily his children”.

ii. Gandhi’s message to all men

The one and only message Gandhi preached to mankind consistently and passionately is the message of love. This formed the crux of his non-violent message. Talking about love he said the more efficient a force it is, the more silent and the more subtle it is. Love is the subtlest force in the world. According to him, the force of love truly came to play only when it meet with cause of hatred. The law of non-violent is to returning good for evil, love one’s enemy and this involves a knowledge of the blemish of the enemy.

iii. Gandhi’s political principles

Gandhi’s political philosophy is not too different from his message of love and unity among all races, religion and tribe. He sees no difference between human being. He said he rather not be a president than to one that will preach untouchable. He will be congress men if his party will allow him to fight the cause of the poor out of love. To the representatives, he charges them to stoop low and feel what the pariahs feel. They must share their sorrows, understand their difficulties and anticipate their wants. They must identify with the villagers who toils under the hot sun beating down on their bent backs and see how they would like to drink water from the pools which the villagers bathe, wash their clothes and pots in which the cattle drink and roll. This is essentially the summary of his political philosophy.

iv. Belief and human welfare

Gandhi subscribe the tenet of no labor no meal yet he argued that the society-in this case the government should support the blind and the infirm while the philanthropist subscribe the fund. He envisages an economic situation in which no one will suffer from want of food and clothing. Though this must be attained through hard work by individuals. He argued that everybody should be able to get sufficient work to enable him make the two ends meet. The achieve this he opined that the means of production of the elementary necessaries of life should remain in the hands of the masses. It should be freely available to all as God giving air and water.

v. Lessons from the liberty march

On the 12th March, 1930 Gandhi wrote an epoch making letter to the British Viceroy, Lord Irwin. The content of the letter was according to him was an answer he sort diligently from his inner voice. The letter stated his intention to officially disobey the laws of the British particularly the monopoly of the salt. The lesson we learn from here is the way and manner to seek redress against constituted authority. It must be non-violence. Today, it is better through dialogue rather than taking up arms.

vi. Blue print for a better life

The blue print for better life in the view of Gandhi can be found in equality of all. He abhors and abolished status. In his words “I want to bring about equalization of status. The working classes have all these centuries been isolated and relegated to a lower status. I want to allow no differentiation between the son of a weaver, of an agriculturist and a school master.” During his time he fought tirelessly against accumulation of wealth especially by the ruling class. He was for the establishment of right relationship between capital and labor.

vii. Advice to Negros

Gandhi saw in the Negros the hope of delivering the non-violent message to the rest of the world. He advised them that there is no royal road to practicing non-violent but by living it in themselves. He compared the mastering of the art of non-violence to that of science. He said if the art of mastering the physical science could take that length of time, why should the Negros worry if mastering the art of non-violence take longer time. This is because if that is the only permanent thing they could achieve, then whatever effort is put in is well spent.

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 lesson from the power of mind teaches me that with my mind set, I can achieve whatever I conceive and purpose within me. I also learn from here that I must not be too rigid in making my children but allow them the liberty to make choice for themselves. I may not permit them excessive liberty as to get them spoilt but they will enjoy enough freedom as to what they want to be in life.

I will like Gandhi preach this message of love, unity and togetherness consistently and passionately to mankind at all times and in all situations. I have learned from here the force of love and will use it to achieve my goals for my nation and the world at large.

This will greatly shape my philosophy in life; to fight the cause of the poor out of love. No matter the position I occupy in life, I will stoop low and feel what the pariahs feel, share in their sorrows, understand their difficulties and anticipate their wants. I will also identify with the villagers who toil under the hot sun beating down on their bent backs and see how to alleviate their poverty.

I subscribe to the mantra of no labor no meal but also believe that the society-in this case the government should support the course of the poor. The philanthropist can intervene through donation to support the government. It is my hope that I will rule over a society where no one will suffer from want of food and clothing.

I have learned from here a better way to seek redress against constituted authority. This is most relevant in my country where violent demonstration is frequent among ethnic nationalities. Redress must be sought through non-violence means- dialogue rather than taking up arms.

The blue print for better life is to bridge the gap between the poor and the rich, the have and the have not in the society. Equality of all is the key and philosophy that I will uphold in my life. I will like Gandhi not allow any differentiation between the son of a weaver, of an agriculturist and a school master”. I will fight primitive accumulation of wealth especially by the ruling class.

Just as Gandhi saw in the Negros the hope of delivering the non-violent message to the rest of the world, I also see in the poor of my country the hope to peaceful rescue the nation from the hands of the oppressor and corrupt leaders today. This is not going to be an easy task but with courage, persistence and consistence, we shall win the war.

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

“Evil is real insofar as we support it.”

This mean that evil is prevailing in our society because of the support it gain from people. If we all refuse to support evil, it will quickly fade away.

“A hart felt conviction that a wrong situation wrong both side.”

This again means that wrong done to one also affect the other party. As you are plotting to harm someone, you are also harming yourself.

“The force of love only come to plat when it meet with cause of hatred.”

It is when one encounters real hatred that the love he or she professes is truly put to test. How can we show love to an enemy?

“For I can see that in the midst of death life persist, in the midst of untrue, truth persist, in the midst of darkness light persist.”

This teaches hope in difficult situation and circumstances. In the midst of difficulties or hopelessness, there is always hope.

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?

No.

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?

No.

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.

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? 8
B. How helpful were the contents? 9
C. How easy was it to understand? 8
D. Would you recommend it to others? 9
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 9

 

 

The Mediator’s Handbook

Assessment by Okpe Emmanuel (Nigeria)

1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?

This book; The Mediator’s Handbook cannot be less relevant in a society bedeviled by conflicts; Conflicts in the family, churches, organizations, nations etc. This is compounded with insecurity across nations and diverse kinds of crisis across the globe. The book explains in-depth, concise step by step approach to resolving conflicts in the society. It is a self explanatory steps to the process of mediation, how to handle the most difficult situation that can arise in the course of mediation. This edition contains procedures or frameworks that will assist practitioners and novice alike on how to mediate in a conflict situation. The book also contains a section of “Toolbox” where a mediator can choose from among concepts and skills to adopt in resolving conflict. The toolbox guide and support both the mediator as well as the participants in reaching a truce.

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.

i. What is mediation?

Setting the table for mediation start with knowing what mediation entails. Mediation is a process, an organic sequential process that unfolds in different situation with recognizable phases. There must be dispute before one can intervene or mediate, and the presence of dispute necessitates an intermediary and the parties involved in the mediation. Conversation will ensue in the course of mediation. One new thing I learn from this stage is renaming of what we knew as goals before now. It is called a concern. This concern is jointly resolved.

ii. The mediation session

Here the process of mediation is explained in a very articulated way. It starts with personal preparation by the mediator. This he/she does by getting some other mediator if need be, putting some logistics in place and giving orientations to all the participants. The roles of each participant must be clearly stipulated from the onset so that the mediator will not end up creating conflict rather than solving it. Again the mediator should at this point try to win all parties to show their wiliness to participate, show their concern and the wiliness to resolve them. This is the take off point for mediation.

iii. Understanding the problem

What follows immediately is to understand the problem. This could range from limited resources, dislikes, clashing needs, surging hormones, cultural divides, opposing opinions, irreconcilable interpretations etc. other form of conflict include interpersonal conflicts, family, national, international etc. in understanding conflict, it is important that the mediator get to know the nature of the people he/she is dealing with. There are those who take pleasure in conflicts. They make living from conflicts. He/she must also understand the core of conflict: that people usually want to protect themselves, the people they love, and those things they cherish. He/she must again understand people’s anger and fear, gains and loss, hurt and distress etc. the understanding of the factors mentioned above will help quickened the process of mediation.

iv. Supporting the people

The people that come for mediation need to be supported. The starting point is familiarities with the participant. The level of familiarity with the people seeking mediation will enable them to open up to the mediator. They must also win the confidence of the mediator. This is tenable only when the mediator practice and show enough examples to the participants. He/she should pay full attention to the participants as the talk to him. He/she should also acknowledge them as they speak.

v. Facilitating mediation

Now the real business of mediation begins. As the mediator begins the business one thing is paramount. He must show to the participants sufficiently enough that he/she is and will remain impartial and neutral throughout the mediation period. After this the session will be structured out for mediation to commence. The mediator at this point structure out questions bearing in mind the following; draw out information and interest rather than demands or positions, questions can be answered in diverse ways, use synonyms.

vi. Solving problem

Problems are or can be solved when the mediator is able to change the mind set of all or one of the parties involved in the conflict. This can be achieved when the mediator understand the concern or interest of the parties. He/she can identify their interest, emphasis these interest and empathizing with them. Again, the mediator creates room for free thinking about possibilities available to solving the conflicts. He/she should try to move the parties away from taking position. At the end, the mediator helps the parties to come to an agreement or conclusion.

vii. Mediating with children and teen

In mediating with children and the teens, the following are very important.

Focusing on the content of what they say, rather than on the youth

Use a kind and serious tone

No teaching, no preaching

No use of pressure

Don’t expect eye contact

Be careful not to undermine a parent’s authority

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?

This part opened my eyes to understand what mediation entails. It is an organic sequential process that unfolds in different situation with recognizable phases. I understand that there must be dispute before I can intervene or mediate, and the presence of dispute necessitate an intermediary and the parties involved in the mediation.

Having understood what mediation involves, I will utilize it especially when embarking on mediation. This begins with an initial preparation like setting the tables and putting logistics in place and setting the tone of discussion.

I have understood some possible sources of conflicts among people. These include but not limited to – scarce resources, personal interest, dislikes, clashing needs, surging hormones, cultural divides, opposing opinions, irreconcilable interpretations etc. Also there are interpersonal conflicts, family, national, international etc. my understanding of all these will help me to tackle them effectively.

I will do everything within my reach to support those I am mediating in their conflict. I will begin by familiarizing myself with them so that they can feel very free talking to me. I will also show them how impartial and neutral I am and try as much as possible to win their confidence before commence the process of mediation.

As the process of mediation commences, I will show in a practical term my neutrality and impartiality. I will marshal out some set of questions to guide me in the process of mediation. These questions however will differ depending on the situation and the parties involved.

The way to solving problem is by trying to change the mindset of the parties involved. I will use my mediation skills to identify their interest and try to change the mind set of all or one of the parties involved in the conflict. I will create room for free thinking about possibilities available to solving the conflicts.

This area is of interest to me because I deal directly with the youths in my church. I have identified some useful tools in resolving conflicts among them.

These include among others; My ability to:

Focus on the content of what they say, rather than on the youth

Use a kind and serious tone

No teaching, no preaching

No use of pressure

Don’t expect eye contact

Be careful not to undermine a parent’s authority

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.

“Who hasn’t found themselves between people who are in a bitter fight.”

Though like a question, it indicate that almost everybody at one point or the other have tasted one type of bitter conflict in their life.

“Every family has a large supply of past hurts and current problems.”

This shows what every family has experience both in past and in the future. There is hardly any family that has not experience a form of hurts or the other.

“The struggle for influence, success, resources, security, and respect-flourish everywhere.”

This is the core of politics across the globe. The quest for power, influence, success, resources and security is the dominant factor in the lives of most political and ordinary people in the world.

“Conflict is just a set of problem and differences-it is an emotional and social experience.”

This clearly defined conflict in human life. Compounded or chains of problem is what is referred to as conflict.

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?

No such thing.

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?

None.

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.

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? 8
B. How helpful were the contents? 9
C. How easy was it to understand? 7
D. Would you recommend it to others? 9
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 8

 

 

Built to Last

Assessment by Okpe Emmanuel (Nigeria)

1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?

Built to last is a product of six years of extensive research of two fellows of Stanford university school of business. The book examined eighteen exceptional and long lasting companies and did a comparative study of its competitors. They authors examined these companies from the scratch to where they are today. Their terms of reference include the companies starting point, set-ups, as mid-sizes, and as large corporations. The comparison is aimed at finding out what distinguishes exceptional companies from other and what were the common practices that these large corporations followed throughout their history. The book provides a master blue print for building large corporations that will prosper and last long. It is a master piece for CEOs, managers, leaders at whatever level and even individuals.

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.

i. Best of best

Here I learned about visionary companies-the crown jewels-in their industries that are widely admired by their peers. These are premier institutions with a long track record of making significant impact on the world around them. Visionary companies out lived all individual leaders, no matter how charismatic or visionary such leaders may be. These leaders will die eventually just like products and services becomes obsolete and disappear from the market but visionary companies prosper over a long periods of time, through multiple product life cycles and multiple generation of active leaders. As extra-ordinary as these premier companies may be, they are not without flaws.

ii. More than profit

Businesses are driving by ideas rather than profits. This has been the mindset of visionary companies that excel and lead others in the industry. The example of a drug company that discovered the cure for river blindness readily comes to mind here. On discovering the drug, the company manager understood that it will be out of the rich of the patients that truly needed it because of the cost. Merck the producer of the drug elected to give the drug free to the customers that needed it. He also was personally involved in distributing the drugs to the countries of the third world that were badly hit by the sickness. At the end of the day, world rich government and non-governmental organizations stepped in to buy the drugs for these countries and Merck became a billionaire from the sale of the drug.

iii. Preserve the core/stimulate progress

Though we are in a fast changing world that needs a fast thinking leader to change with it, a visionary company must ensure it preserves her core value and protect her core ideology. What must change with the changing world are only the specific manifestations of its core. It is absolutely essential to not confuse core ideology with culture, strategy, tactics, operations, policies, or other noncore practice. Core ideology work hand in hand with the drive for progress that impels change and forward movement in all that is not part of the core ideology. The drive for progress arises from a deep human urge to explore, to create, to discover, to achieve, to change, and to improve.

iv. Cult like culture

This simply implies buying into the core value or philosophy of the visionary company. Only those who fit in remains while those that cannot meet up with the core value leaves. The author described it as joining an extremely tight-knit group or society. Those who are really willing and dedicated to what the company stands for will be satisfied and productive. The visionary companies’ runs on the following four tightly held missions- fervently held ideology, indoctrination, tightness of fit and elitism.

v. Home grown management

Home grown management suggests the development and promotion of carefully selected managerial talents from inside the company. The visionary companies do this as a key step in preserving their core value. They somehow downplay on the top down approach in management but emphasizes bottom up approach though not neglecting the leadership role completely. Top down approach according the author may have impact on the growth of the company but not as significant as the bottom up.

vi. The end of the beginning

This in a company understanding means the impact of vision on the growth of the company. Vision here means the combination of an enduring core ideology plus envisioned progress for the future. The company operates with the concept of alignment. By alignment the author mean that all the elements of the company works together in concert within the context of her core ideology and the types of progress it set out to achieve. The company must translate its core ideology and its own unique drive for progress into the very fabric of the organization-into goals, strategies, tactics, policies, processes, cultural practice, management behaviors, building layout, pay systems, accounting systems, job design and into everything the company does.

vii. Building the vision

It’s common today for companies to spend countless amount of money to craft a fashionable vision and mission statement but this is not the essence of a visionary company. This again makes many of these companies not to have a full grasp of what a company vision should be. The visionary company works more on translating the company’s core ideology into the fabrics of the organization. Building the vision entails understanding of the organization’s essential and enduring tenets-a small set of timeless guiding principles that require no external justification-they have intrinsic value and importance to those inside the organization.

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?

I will work to build and invest on visionary companies rather than a leader. Individual leaders will die eventually just like products and services becomes obsolete and disappear from the market but visionary companies prosper over a long periods of time, through multiple product life cycles and multiple generation of active leaders.

I will drive my business on ideas rather than profits. Ideas will later generate profit but if I start off with the mindset of profit maximization, the business may crash within a short period of time.

I will work assiduously to ensure that the core value and core ideology of my company is preserved and protected. If anything must change it has to be only the specific manifestations of the core values and ideology. Again, I will ensure that the core ideology of the company if not confused with culture, strategy, tactics, operations, policies, or other noncore practice.

Any company I lead, all the workers must buy into the core value or philosophy of the organization. I will make sure only those who fit in remains while those that cannot meet up with the core value leaves.

The home grown management that deals with the development and promotion of carefully selected managerial talents from inside the company will be adopted in any company or organization I find myself. This I will do as a key step in preserving the core value of the company. I will see to it that I downplay on the top down approach in management but emphasizes bottom up approach though not neglecting the leadership role completely.

I will not just engrave the vision and mission of the company on the wall but work to ensure that achieving it. I will operate with the concept of alignment as learned from this book. I will not only align with the company staff but all with other companies and organizations to make progress and achieve the company vision. I will translate the company’s core ideology and its unique drive for progress into the very fabric of the organization-into goals, strategies, tactics, policies, processes, cultural practice, management behaviors, building layout, pay systems, accounting systems, job design and into everything the company does.

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.

“Above all, there was the ability to build and build and build-never stopping, never looking back, never finishing”

This implies the Spirit of endurance, perseverance in pursuit of success in life.

“We are in the business for preserving and improving human life. All our actions must be measured by our success in achieving this goal.”

This must be the focus of business men first instead of profit. Business must first come with a human face and feelings.

“Remember what we said at Wal-Mart, that a promise we make is a promise we keep.”

This again indicates the importance of fidelity in business.

“We will not cease from exploration. And at the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time.”

There is no end to searching for progress and achievement.

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 misunderstood.

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?

No.

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.

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? 9
D. Would you recommend it to others? Yes
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 9

 

 

Mindset: The New Psychology of Success

Assessment by Okpe Emmanuel (Nigeria)

1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?

The mindset is a new and unique approach to achieving success in life. Success in the view of the author is tied to the power of mindset. The author therefore rules out the effect of one’s abilities and talent in achieving success. In a clear instance, the author proved how praising children’s intelligence and abilities cannot build their self esteem but can only jeopardize success. To achieve success, we must activate the right mindset, then motivate and improve on whatever we are doing. She demonstrates what almost all great parents, teachers and CEO are familiar with in a simple and understandable presentation. The book reveals what is in the mindset of people and shows how and why people differ, how mindset can change the meaning of failure and effort. Those who wants to be a champion, the book is a must read as it reveals the mindset of a champion and leaders.

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.

i. The mindset

To all human, mindset is a decisive force that determines our success or failure in life. Some mindsets for instance are ready to confront challenges while some are frightened by challenges. Those that accept challenges forges ahead easily while those that fears challenges are usually stagnant in life. The mindsets that accept difficult task believe that intelligence, personality and other traits can be developed as opposed to the other mindset that is fixated. People differ largely due their mindset. While some agreed that individual intelligence is a fixed quantity, others see it as something that can be developed, a lifelong learning process that brain can be subjected to. Each human have their own ability and capacity yet, each can be developed with a right mindset.

ii. Inside the mindset

As we enter into a mindset, we enter into an entirely new world, where we can want to prove what success entails. To some it is about proving whether we are smart or intelligent or even talented. Another world here is described as the world of changing qualities-about starching oneself to learning something new. This is the world of developing oneself. In every mindset failure and success is defined differently with different connotations. To one mindset, failure is about setback, getting a bad grade, getting fired from a job and so on. All defines the mindset of some people. But mindset is a choice, a beliefs. They are powerful beliefs in our mind that can be changed if we wish to. Though the mindset of failure transformed failure from an action (I failed) to an identity (I am a failure). Failure is a problem to be faced, dealt with and learn from.

iii. Mindset of a champion

Physical endowment like size, agility have somewhat to contribute to success of a person in some field of endeavor but it is of a little impact. A champion is that person who believes more in training, practice and endurance in such. In the sporting world for instance, one may possess all the physical agility and size and shape but the man who train and practice will eventually win the race. The author cited the example of Michael Jordan, the best basketball player of his time. He was caught from high school and his coach was mocked for selecting him. Constant and consistent training took him to the height he attained.

iv. Mindset of a leader

Most leaders are often caught up with a fixated mindset where some people are more superior to the other. These leaders divide people into two set of people. The superior-because of the gift and talent and the inferior-because of they lack gift and talent. This informs most leaders’ decision in choice of whom to hire for job both in large and small companies. The operate with the mindset of great geniuses do not need great teams but need a little helper to carry out their brilliant ideas. This make them look away from their deficiencies. A good leader must possess a balanced mindset and not a fixated one because those with a fixated mindset never last long in their leadership.

v. Mindset in love

To start with, the author stated clearly that the path to true love isn’t smooth. The path is often strewn with disappointments and heartbreaks. Some people let this experience scar them and prevent them from forming satisfying relationship in the future. Others are able to heal and move on. What separates these two is their mindset. While one has a fixed mindset, the other has a growing, flexible mindset. The fixed mindset give their owner no recipe for healing their wound, so all they could do was hope to wound the person who inflicted it. But to those with flexible mindset it is all about understanding, forgiveness and moving ahead.

vi. How to change mindset

Changing one’s mindset begins with a belief in the change. Mindset frames the running account that’s taking place in people’s head. Mindset guides the whole interpretation process. Considering those with fixated mindset and growing, studies have shown that the later can change their mindset to a growing mindset. This can be achieved through a cognitive therapy, mindset lecture, mindset workshop and brain workshop.

vii. Changing my child’s mindset

A child with a fixed mindset can be change using those methodologies above. The easiest and most workable is the brain. The problem with most parents is not that they put little effort in changing their child mindset but too much effort. Most times this is also for the wrong cause. They want their children to stay awake studying for a long hour so they could out do their peers in school. Instead, they are to concentrate effort on constructive discussion with the child and balance their reasoning. They can make their child to learn rather winning to win laurel.

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?

I learned from this book the effect of mindset on my success in life. A growing mindset will catapult me to any height in life but a fixed mindset will retired my progress. I will develop a mindset that is ready to confront challenges so I can forge ahead easily. This is inevitable if I am to avoid stagnation in life. I now understand that with mindsets that accept difficult task, intelligence, personality and other traits can be developed as opposed to the other mindset that is fixated.

Entering into a mindset throws one into an entirely new world. World where people want to prove what success entails. Having studied this book, I have come to a conclusion that it is not about proving whether we are smart or intelligent or even talented but about training and changing a mindset to a growing one. I will align myself with the world of changing qualities-about starching myself to learning something new. With this mindset failure will not have serious meaning in my vocabulary because I understand that it is something to be worked on.

I have started developing the mindset of a champion. Mindset set that never can give up on a worthwhile project. I know that physical endowment like size, agility have somewhat to contribute to person’s success but training, practice and endurance dose more. I will do more to train and endure in practicing any skill I am learning so that I can be perfect and become a champion in that field.

As a leader, I will avoid a fixated mindset but cleave to a flexible and growing mindset. Those leaders with fixated mindset often become too full of themselves and this eventually leads to their failure. I will also not divide my followers into these two worlds of the gifted and talented or the non gifted and talented. I will rather work to train everybody to explore their hidden gift and talent.

I have seen this practically in my family that the path to true love isn’t smooth. The knowledge that the path to through love is often strewn with disappointments and heartbreaks will help me to know how to relate with my wife. I will not let this experience scar me and prevent me from forming satisfying relationship with my wife. I will develop a growing mindset that will help me understand and forgive my wife and others so we can move ahead.

I can easily change my children’s mindset from a fixed one to a growing one. I have studied the processes and procedures outlined in the book and can carefully follow every step there and apply them in the training of my children.

Mindset can be changed through therapy, workshop, lecture etc. I will try not to change mindset through too much effort but through dialogue with my children and others involved. I will work more on constructive discussion with the child and balance their reasoning rather trying to make them win laurel in school.

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.

“It had to be person with fixed mindset who coined the phrase “Revenge is sweet” the idea that with revenge comes your redemption.”

It is often people with such mindset that think only of paying back evil for evil. They can hardly forgive wrong done to them.

“I don’t divide the world into the weak and the strong, or the successes and the failures. I divide the world into the learners and non-learners.”

The world should be divided into the world of learners because every human being has the potential to learn.

“I never stopped trying to be qualified for the job.”

Any position we find ourselves, there is always room for improvement

“It is a problem to be faced, dealt with, and learned from.”

All problems can be surmounted and there are always lessons for us to learn from problems overcome.

“Every word and action from parents to child sends a message.”

This is why we must watch every word and actions taking in the presence of our children. They learn by example.

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?

No such thing.

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?

No.

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.

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? 8
C. How easy was it to understand? 9
D. Would you recommend it to others? Yes
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 9

 

 

Teacher Effectiveness Training

Assessment by Okpe Emmanuel (Nigeria)

1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?

The book teaches teachers the skill they require to effectively and humanely handle students discipline challenges. Through this book, one can easily identify unproductive teachers and why they are like that. Teachers who use the precepts in the book will understand how to make a productive class room out of a disruptive class room. The book teaches how teachers can creative a conducive learning environment where students can flourish and teachers are rewarded for their effort. The author explained what to do when students are problematic, how to talk and make students listen, how to resolve conflict without hurting any party, how to increase teaching and learning time. The book is indeed a must read for those who are concerned about impacting knowledge.

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.

i. Teacher-learning relationship: The missing link

Teaching and learning are two different functions-two separate and distinct processes. The difference between teaching and learning is that the process of teaching is carried out by one person while the process of learning goes on inside another. If teaching and learning are to work effectively, a unique kind of relationship, a link and bridge must ensue between the teacher and the learner. This link involves communication skill. The communication skill of a teacher can be destructive or may enhance learning process. It can separate a teacher from his students or move him closer. Teachers must bear in mind that there are appropriate kind of talk for different kind of situation. Until teachers are properly equipped in this direction, there will be a missing link in their teaching and learning process.

ii. Model for effective teacher-student relationship

What is invoked or popular among teachers, students, parents and other stakeholders in the teaching and learning process is frequently the blame game. Teachers blame their professors for not properly guiding them, teachers also blame the kids for giving them problem or failing to concentrate and so on. The model for teachers-students relationship is thus: there should be openness or transparence, caring, interdependence, separateness, Mutual satisfaction. This way an effective teachers-students relationship will be built.

iii. How handle student problems

Is it any wonder that listening is considered the most valuable tools of effective counselors? Yet most teachers think that it’s the counselors job primarily to tell the troubled person something-talking to him; send him message; give him advice, facts, warning sympathy, insights, solutions, ask him questions; offer him evaluations and judgment. The best way to handle students with problem is to listen to them. It invites the troubled person to open up and speak more about what is troubling him.

iv. Effect of verbal communication on students

Passive listening encourages students to talk once they have started but does not meet students’ needs or interactive and responsive two-way communication. This is why verbal communication has to be employed. Effective communication is facilitated by the following-acknowledgement and response, door openers, invitation to talk, active listening.

v. How to create conducive learning environment

Most times, students create problems for themselves and others because the environment is poorly organized. To avoid this, the author suggested the following methods. All unused materials must be put away from the class room, design effective traffic pattern, re-arrange furniture or desks in a circle for discussion, get rid of unused furniture, keep electrical equipment away from water outlets, put all materials for a project in one area. These and many others that teachers will use depending on the peculiarity of their areas can help to minimize problems in the class room.

vi. How to handle conflict in the class room

Conflicts are inevitable in human relationships, and so teachers-students relationship is not exceptional. Some are very minor while some are serious. To handle conflicts in the class room, teacher must understand what really produce conflict. Conflicts involve the needs of both teachers and students not solemnly owned by either of the parties. Most times teachers would want to adopt the win loss situation to handle conflict but this will rather worsen the situation. The best way to handle such case is the win-win and lose-lose situation. In the first instance, the teacher wins while in the second situation the student wins.

vii. Making the school a better place for teaching

To make the school a better place for learning, teachers have some very cogent roles to place. They must accept the importance of the role. Teachers have very great potentials to influence the students than any other in the school. They interact with all kinds of people, and each is capable of behaving in ways that may harm the teacher’s relationship with his students. Teachers must bear this in mind and be careful so that they will not be influenced by external factors in the relationship with their students.

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?

From the book I understood that if teaching and learning are to work effectively, a unique kind of relationship must be established between the teacher and the learner. This link involves communication skill. I will be extremely careful with my communication as a teacher having known that my communication can be destructive or may enhance learning process. Also that it can separate me as a teacher from my students or move me closer to them. I have also learned the appropriate kind of talk for different kind of situation from this book and will use it carefully.

Blame game will not solve problem but aggravate it so in handling student’s problems, I will avoid blame game. I will utilize the model for teachers-student relationship which is openness or transparence, caring, interdependence, separateness, Mutual satisfaction.

Listening is considered the most valuable tools of effective counselors so I will listen carefully to my students any time they bring issues to me. Instead of talking, sending message or giving advice I will give them attention. This will enable me invites the troubled person to open up and speak more about what is troubling him.

I will use verbal listening when attending to students matter rather than passive listening. When communicating with my students any other person for that matter, I will acknowledge and response to them, adopt door openers so I can invite them to talk. This is called active listening.

I have read the problems students can create due to poorly organized environment in a school. To avoid this, I will remove all unused materials from the class room, design effective traffic pattern, re-arrange furniture or desks in a circle for discussion, get rid of unused furniture, keep electrical equipment away from water outlets, put all materials for a project in one area. These and many more I will take into cognizance the peculiarity of my areas.

I very well understand that conflicts are inevitable in human relationships, and so school environment cannot be devoid of it. To handle conflicts in the class room therefore, I must understand what really produce conflict. Conflicts involve the needs of both teachers and students not solemnly owned by either of the parties. I will avoid the win loss situation in handling conflict because it will end up rather worsen the situation. The best way to handle such case is the win-win and lose-lose situation. In the first instance, the teacher wins while in the second situation the student wins.

To make the school a better place for learning, I Know I have some very cogent roles to place. I must accept the importance of this role. Knowing my roles and duties in the life of my students, I will not allow external affairs to influence my relationship with their students.

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.

“People of all ages are often unaware of how their behavior affects others.”

If people understand how their behavior affects others, they will minimize or quickly correct them immediately.

“When a person is able to feel and communicate genuine acceptance of another, he possesses a capacity for bring an effective helping agent.”

This tells about the impact of effective communication both in relationship and everywhere.

“Acceptance is like the fertile soil that permit a tiny seed to develop into flower it is capable of becoming.”

If we show to people that we accept them, it will go a long way to build solid and fruitful relationship.

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?

No such thing.

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?

No.

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

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? 8
C. How easy was it to understand? 9
D. Would you recommend it to others? Yes
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 9

 

 

The Road to Character

Assessment by Okpe Emmanuel (Nigeria)

1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?

The road to character is a critical survey of how cultural and personal morals have altered and how also virtues that were hitherto considered poor are now revered. The book argued that though this exist, there is the possibility of rebuilding this character such that it can rise above focus on materialism and personal success. The book present a series of relatively brief, but detailed biographies of several different people the author believes demonstrate how leading a life of character is possible. The author looked at the characters of these men and women from birth to death. These stories contained the low and struggles each personality went through in life. It explained the pivotal process or event that starts the individual life and throughout the process on their road to character. The biographies show how these personalities emulates character physically, mentally, and emotionally in their thoughts, actions, and dedications towards others, God, humanity, or some other ideal.

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.

i. What character is and look like

Traditionally, character is seen as traits like selfishness, humility, generosity, and sacrifice. But in recent times, this definition and meaning has changed giving rise to current definition like resilience, self-control, tenacity, and grit. These traits focus more on a person’s ability to overcome obstacles and achieve success himself while the formal centers more on a person’s ability to serve others. One major cultural shift that has a deadly effect on character is information technology especially the social media that has exasperated the culture of self celebration. Today many people take to the social media as a platform to celebrate themselves and share their opinions. This shifted the definition of character to outward appearances, specifically of those persons who choose to share about themselves.

ii. Moral ecology and societal needs

Moral ecology simply refers to the needs of a society at a particular point in time. A society create a moral ecology surrounding a set of norms, assumptions, beliefs, habits, and behaviors that are encouraged and even institutionalized at that time. These moral codes are based on a collective response to the issues that society faces and the resources it has to address them, such as family, community, knowledge, art, and religion. In today’s self-centered era, one of society’s primary needs is success and the money, power, and prestige that come along with it. In a hypercompetitive society, moral ecology centers on skills-building, self-advertising, or whatever can help someone get ahead in the world. Though there are yet people who still keep their integrity and fight for good course in today society.

iii. The road to character

Character is not innate neither is it inherent in a person. It can be acquired through or build overtime. Building character begins with a process and, generally, that process begins with, or at some point involves a struggle. This struggle could be external, such as poverty, discrimination, and humiliation, or internal, such as poor self-esteem, self-doubt, and other inner forces such as greed or lust. While some may attain glory and exaltation with external achievements, such as wars, inventing technologies, or leading a civil rights movement, it is the internal struggle and achievements that truly build a person’s character.

iv. Vocation and character building

To construct life around good character, vocation is inevitable. It is an intrinsic part of that maturity. Without a true vocation, life may not have necessary means to determine what character means for that particular person. Vocation is serving not just a need that a person determines is best served by them, but rather by a specific need determined by the community that requires the talents that a certain person possesses.

v. Guidance and exemplars in character building

People of good character are people who revere their mentors and the leaders that came before them, so they too can be an example to younger generation. Without mentorship, leadership, and examples, people do not have standards to abide by or compare themselves to, so true greatness is measured only with much difficulty and subjectivity. Imitating the actions of examplars is a necessary focus to bring about positive change in person’s life.

vi. Love in character building

Love performs a number of roles on the journey to building character. Love is humbling force that demonstrates the necessity of others to truly have an effect on refining a person’s personality. Love also remands people that they are not truly in control of themselves or their destinies, as love can affect every fibers of a person’s being, transforming their hopes, dreams, wants, and needs in relation to the object of their love and affection.

vii. Effect of pride on character building.

Pride can destroy a Manson of character built over decade in just one moment. Though it has both positive and negative effect, the negative outweigh the positive. Pride can easily step over the invisible line between benefits and character flaw. In a negative connotation, pride is often associated with someone who is arrogant and egoistical, who insufferably boasts and flaunts his talents and successes. This is not good in character building.

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?

Having learned this new definition of character to mean resilience, self-control, tenacity, and grit, I will work to ensure that my character is built along that definition. I will be resilient, tenacious and grit as a person. This will enable me to overcome obstacles and achieve success for myself. Learning from the mistake of others, I will avoid outward publicity especially on the social media platform.

I understand from here that societies usually have one need or the other at a particular point in time. Wisdom demands that I should be able to understand this need and work towards meeting the need. So I will endeavor to teach those set of norms, assumptions, beliefs, habits, and behaviors that are encouraged and even institutionalized at that time to my younger ones in the society. Having known that character is neither innate nor inherent in a person, I will build in myself that kind of character approved and appreciated in the society. I am aware that building character is not an easy task as it involves a struggle both external and internal. All these are already to my advantage because I have gotten a fore knowledge of how to build it.

This lesson is so central to me because I am currently training some youth on leadership and entrepreneur. I am going to add to them that to construct life around good character, vocation is inevitable. It is an intrinsic part of that maturity and without a true vocation, life may not have meaning. Vocation is serving not just a need that a person determines is best served by them, but rather by a specific need determined by the community that requires the talents that a certain person possesses. This is not only applicable to but to my students as well.

I will not only revere my mentors and the leaders that came before them, but will always be an example to the younger generation. I well know that without mentorship, leaders, and examples, people do not have standards to abide by or compare themselves to, so to be great I will measure myself only with much difficulty and subjectivity.

I have learned to love unconditionally knowing that love performs a number of roles on the journey to building character. It is a humbling force that demonstrates the necessity of others to truly have an effect on refining a person’s personality. I will not be in control of myself without true love and getting to destiny will be a herculean task. ,

I will avoid in all its ramifications though it may be both positive. Pride can easily step over the invisible line between benefits and character flaw. In a negative connotation, pride is often associated with someone who is arrogant and egoistical, who insufferably boasts and flaunts his talents and successes. This is not good in character building.

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 culture of today is more concerned with mastering success rather than building character.”

This is a misplaced societal value. Character should be more valued than success but today the reverse is the case.

“The road to character generally involves some sort of struggle.”

This connotes that building character is not an easy task

“A common element of building character is to practice self-discipline, self restraint, and self-control.”

This though may not be sufficient to build character that will endure.

“Without love whether it be romantic, familial, religious, or humanitarian, people cannot develop the traits needed to build character.”

This shows the centrality of love in character building.

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?

No such thing.

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?

No.

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.

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? 8
B. How helpful were the contents? 8
C. How easy was it to understand? 9
D. Would you recommend it to others? Yes
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 9

 

 

The Art of being Unreasonable

Assessment by Okpe Emmanuel (Nigeria)

1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?

The art of being unreasonable is a timely challenge to those who believe on conventional statuesque of achieving results. The author share some unreasonable principles from negotiation to risk taking, investing hiring, how to work 24/7 and still get 8 hours of sleep and many more. The book teaches us how to ask unreasonable questions, pursue the untried, relentlessly revise expectations upward, be restless, and most importantly, seek out the best in everything. The author argue that people remain the same all the times because they stuck to doing what every reasonable people do and continue to do all the times. To step out of these old paths, the author advises us to do the unreasonable. Unreasonable thinking and or action help us to achieve goals that others think is none attainable.

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.

i. The art of being unreasonable

To be unreasonable, the author maintained start with discovering the art of unreason. To act unreasonable, one must have done a very thorough home work on whatever venture he or she want to embark on. He must have done a very good feasibility studies and be abreast with the detail analysis of the business venture. By this, when he reason, others will think him unreasonable. The art of being unreasonable is also about having outsized ambition, discipline, energy and focus to have the confidence to ignore people who said I couldn’t do it. The art help one to silence the voice of the conventional wisdom that too often keeps people from even attempting to achieve their goals.

ii. How to forget conventional wisdom

Reasonable people treat conventional wisdom with respect but unreasonable people regard it an expression of the herd instinct. Conventional wisdom abhors innovation and so must be changed if ever we must make progress. To forget conventional wisdom demand taking some unreasonable step-what some people called thinking for yourself, and asking the forbidding question “why not”. This is the quality required of a progressive business man. Most successful businesses have to begin by bucking conventional wisdom. Invention and innovation don’t happen without it.

iii. How to work 24/7 and yet have 8 hours of sleep

Time is of essence to any serious minded business man so all efforts must be geared towards maximum utilization of one’s time on a daily basis. Everybody would want to have a very productive time day in day out. The author for instance prefers that his leisure time remain productive to him. The best way to take control of time is to set priority, know what you must do and how urgent it is to you. This implies that one must be disciplined but not rigid. To work 24/7 with eight hours of sleep requires that you delegate some duties to some trusted, competent and capable hands who will deliver on the job. By so doing some burden of work is shifted to others such that though you are sleeping you are still on duty.

iv. Risk

There is a popular saying that “never bet scared money” this means never taking risk is a risk on its own. The author defined risk as “when you try something new, it may or may not work.” Taking risk is matter of temperament, wiliness to dare big. The first risk one embark on may be exhilarating, not because it’s big but because you have nowhere to go but up. All known entrepreneurs today made one starting gamble and won a life time of reward. Clinging to safety is irrational than taking risk. Risk can be contagious as one successful risk taken can lead to other more risk.

v. How to get result

Getting result require that you keep the ultimate goals in focus always and never permit anything to come in between where you are and where you want to be. This is better done through persuasion and not just rolling over other people. It is a lot easier to persuade when you are talking to the right person. To get result again, one must be keen to understand the mistake of those ahead of him. Learning from other people’s mistake can be helpful when you are quick to get result.

vi. Negotiation

I learned a lot of techniques from here on how to negotiate. Negotiation is something many people dread, but it can be pretty simple when the right techniques are applied. Negotiation is better done with a sound mind. There is a formula to adopt when making an offer. First and foremost, one must bear at the back of his mind that in a good negotiation everybody wins. This means you must be fair in your offer. You never try to negotiate your partner out of profit but be average. Never be afraid to ask question, stay unemotional and disciplined, don’t swing wildly, stay close to where you want to end up and never forget what makes the guy get tick. These are the simple formula of negotiation.

vii. Competition

Competition brings out the best in product and the worst in men. Competition pushes people, company, and organizations to higher levels of achievement. Competition in business benefits the customer by stimulating better products and services and lower prices. The same hold for higher education which has benefited from the strong reveries between private and public institutions for faculties, students and donors.

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?

Having being challenged by the author, I will shift my mind from the conventional way of achieving results and take some drastic and unreasonable decision to attain my goals. I will also apply the unreasonable principles like negotiation, risk taking, investing hiring, and work 24/7 and still get 8 hours of sleep and many more learned in the book to my life carefully. I learned from the book how to ask unreasonable questions, pursue the untried, relentlessly revise expectations upward, be restless, and most importantly, seek out the best in everything, this I will utilize properly as I pursue my life dreams.

We are in the jet age and conventional wisdom is almost outdated. I refuse to be among the reasonable people that treat conventional wisdom with respect but aligned with the unreasonable people that regard it an expression of the herd instinct. I will go for new innovation as it relate to business ideas. I am ready to take those unreasonable steps and think for myself, ask the forbidding question “why not” and enjoy the consequences.

I understand from this book that the best way to take control of my time is to set priority, know what I must do and how urgent it is to me. This implies that I must be disciplined but not rigid. In order to work 24/7 yet enjoy my eight hours sleep I will delegate some duties to some trusted, competent and capable hands who will deliver on the job. By so doing some burden of work is shifted to others such that though I am sleeping I am still on duty.

Life on its own is a risk so why can’t I take risk. I will work on my temperament to adjust to risk taking and be wiliness to dare big. The examples of the past entrepreneurs that I am reading about today serve as a good omen for me.

I will apply the simple but straight forward methods of getting results learned from this book especially in my business. I will keep the ultimate goals in focus always and never permit anything to come in between where I am and where I want to be. I will as well work with persuasion and not just rolling over other people.

The rules of negotiation I learned from here are very timely and reliable that I cannot do without them. I have carefully memorized these rules or formula so I can use them the next time I am embarking on any negotiation.

After reading this book, I have no singular fear for competition any more. I am fully prepared and willing to enter into any competitive market anywhere in the world no matter how choked the market maybe.

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 reasonable man adapts himself to the world. The unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore all progress depends upon the unreasonable men.”

This reflects an innovative mind that wants to makes the best out of the world instead of depending on what the world offers him.

“Reasonable people treat conventional wisdom with respect but unreasonable people regard it an expression of the herd instinct.”

This implies that innovative people think out of the box and stick their neck of the normal way of doing thing. What ordinary people take to be wisdom is below the expectation of the unreasonable man.

“Some people see things as they are and say, why? I dream things that never were and say, why not?”

This is the mind of a man who invent new thins. Always thinking a proactively, thinking ahead of others

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?

No such thing.

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?

No.

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.

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? 9
D. Would you recommend it to others? Yes
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 9

 

 

The Black Swan

Assessment by Okpe Emmanuel (Nigeria)

1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?

The central idea of this book concerns with the blindness of men with respect to randomness, particularly the large deviations by scientist and non-scientist about the knowledge of the world. The author questioned why scientist and non-scientist, hotshots or regular Joes, tend to see the pennies instead of the dollars. By this he means that the look at non-essentials to the neglect of the very essentials element that controls the world. The book makes what we don’t know far more relevant than what we know. The book addresses the reason for the meltdown in the financial industries across the globe. The author stated that what brought the bank across the globe to its knee is not simple greed or wickedness but intellectual hubris. This is interpreted to mean the error in dealing with the future and unadvertised limitations of some sciences and what to do about these limitations.

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.

i. The spectacular and the prostitute

The difference between the spectacular and the prostitute is a helpful way of looking at the world of activities. The distinction separate those profession in which one can add zeros of income with no greater labor from those in which one need to add labor and time (both of which are in limited supply)-in other words, those subjected to gravity.

ii. The scandal of prediction

The author never subscribe to prediction. Making inference from past experience to arrive at a conclusion about future event is in the view of the author unthinkable. He said human being act as though they can predict historical events, or even worse, as if we are able to change the course of history. He wonder why people go ahead to produce thirty years projection of social security deficits and oil prices without realizing that we cannot even predict these for the next summer-our cumulative prediction errors for political and economic events are so monstrous that every time we view empirical records, we one begin to wonder if he is not dreaming

iii. What you see and what you don’t see

Natural disaster can easily get undue publicity from politicians with a hidden agenda. A devastating hurricane that hit New Orleans in 2005 got plenty of politicians on television. These legislators, moved by the images of devastation and the pictures of angry victims made homeless, made promises of rebuilding. The fund to redeem the promise the author maintained is taken from another sources in the budget-say treatment of cancer. He calls a case of robbing Peter to pay Paul. Few seem to pay attention to the victim of cancer lying lonely in a state of untelevised depression. Money taken away for research might be responsible for killing these cancer patients-a crime that may remain silence. This again is a ramification of the idea concerning our decision making under a cloud of possibilities. We see the obvious and visible consequences, not the invisible and less obvious ones.

iv. The word is unfair

Is the world that unfair? The author asked rhetorically. He said he spent a chunk of time to study randomness and the more he hates the subject. The more that time passes the more things seem to get worse and the more he gets disgusted about the world. The more we think about this subject, the more it become evident that the world we have in mind is different from the one playing outside. Every morning, the world appears more random than it did the day before, and humans seem to be even more fooled by it than they were the previous day. The author here writes about the inequalities common in the world. A celebrity and sport men could earn far more than a scientist.

v. Learning from turkey

A turkey that is fed every day will firm up the belief that it is a general rule of life to be fed every day by friendly members of the human race “looking out for its best interest,” as a politician would say. On the afternoon of the Wednesday before the thanksgiving, something unexpected happen to the turkey. It will incur a revision of belief. The author likens this scenario to situation where the same hands hat feeds you can be the one that wrings your neck. We cannot know the future from the knowledge of the past. How can we figure out properties of the infinite unknown based on the finite known? How can a turkey learn from what is in store for it tomorrow from the events f yesterday? The author again considered past experience as not relevant in looking at the future.

vi. Learning from the Mother Nature

In earning from the Mother Nature, the author considered the banking system of the world as the mother of all accidents waiting to happen. He said the best teacher of wisdom are naturally the eldest, simply because they may have picked up invisible tricks and heuristics that escape our epistemic landscape, tricks that helped them survive in a world more complex than the one we think we can understand. Mother Nature is clearly a complex system, with webs of interdependence, nonlinearities, and a robust ecology (otherwise it would have blown up long time ago). Mother Nature knows better how to take advantage of positive Black Swans.

vii. The problem in the history of modern philosophy

Almost all the history of thought is about what we know, or what we think we know. There a gap therefore about where we get hurt by what we don’t know, to set a systematic limit about the fragility of knowledge-and to provide exact locations of where these map no longer works. A vexing problem in the history of human thought is finding one’s position on the boundary between skepticism and gullibility, or how to believe and how not to believe. And how to make decision based on these beliefs, since beliefs without decisions are just sterile.

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?

This is like luck coming to play in professionalism. I will choose the profession that adds labor and time before success. Having the lesson of scander in prediction, I will be extremely careful in predicting and also utilizing other people’s predictions. Projection about social security deficits and oil prices has failed severally in my country and other countries around the world so the need to take those predictions with utmost caution.

This is so common in my country, where politicians are quick to make pledges of coming to the aid of victims of natural disaster. I have learned from here where those funds are sourced from. I will resist such move from hence forth and ensure that no one is short changed.

We are in the world of unfairness, inequality and unequal trade between the developed and developing countries. I will see to it that this is properly addressed by reducing the inequality. Every human being has an interest to protect in every business venture they undertake. I have learned to protect my own interest whenever I go into any business with anyone.

I have understood that the Mother Nature is clearly a complex system, with webs of interdependence, nonlinearities, and a robust ecology. Also that Mother Nature knows better how to take advantage of positive Black Swans. I will live with this understanding and relate with the world as such.

The thought is about what we know, or what we think we know and how we are being hurt by what we don’t know and the set a systematic limit about the fragility of knowledge is a great lesson for me. This will help to strengthen my belief on what I belief in life.

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 payoff of a human venture is, in general, inversely proportional to what it is expected to be.”

This implies that all successes in life is equal to the amount of efforts applied.

“We do not spontaneously learn that we don’t learn that we don’t learn.”

The failure of man to understand that we cannot learn everything in life.

“There are even schools named after high school dropouts.”

No human being is useless on the surface of the earth

“But there are even more mistreated heroes.”

This indicates how we allow many heroes go unnoticed.

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?

I am not very comfortable with the author’s view about learning from past experience. We do know as a matter of fact that experience is the best teacher. We can hardly understand the future without a peep at the past.

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?

No.

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.

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? 6
B. How helpful were the contents? 7
C. How easy was it to understand? 5
D. Would you recommend it to others? Yes
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 7

 

 

The Leadership Pill

Assessment by Okpe Emmanuel (Nigeria)

1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?

The leadership pill is a proven fact about theory and practice of leadership. The book is about proven methods of becoming a successful manager, a strong team leader, and a motivator per excellence. The book proves wrong the notions that there exist pills that can stimulate the natural powers of the mind and body to provide leadership. Those who lay claim to this fact were proven wrong by the effective leader. Leadership is built on three main components/ingredients-integrity, partnership and affirmation. If a leader wants to be effective and command the respect of the laities, he must be one that create a set of operating values and then live by it. He must help people work, learn, and grow together in unity and he must let people know that what they do is important both to him and the entire organization.

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.

i. The challenge of leadership

The challenge in leadership begins with the wrong perception by many leaders. They equate leading people with controlling them. This is very wrong and unacceptable. Leading people is the opposite of trying to control them. These leaders centre their emphasis on getting result and leadership goes far beyond that. It is not just about what happen when you are there, but what happen when you are not there. Leadership means getting the commitment of the team members such that they remain loyal to you even in your absence. Many leaders focus on the result part and neglect the people that will help him achieve the result. They bang people over until the job is done. Their definition of success is the team short term output. The true test of leadership is in winning the trust and respect of the team, keep motivation running high, and help them reach new heights.

ii. The secret blend in leadership

Leadership is a combination of some basic ingredients and not a particular pill. Top on the list in these ingredients is integrity followed closely by partnership and then affirmation. A leader’s action must embody the organization’s values as this will promote a value-driven culture. This combined with partnership-harvest of the potentials of the team and the ability of the leader to know his team beyond their job title-affirmation.

iii. Integrity in leadership

The first step in moving toward a culture of integrity is to build an infrastructure of trust and respect. A leader with integrity do not lead by what he do to people but by what he do with them. Leading with integrity implies being the person you want them to be. This also means leading by example. Integrity of leader begets the trust of the team members. When the team trust the leader, they will behave just the way they do when the leader is there as when he is absent. Trust is what happens when values and behavior match up. People are more apt to trust and respect you as a leader when what you say and what you do are one and the same. This again defines the integrity of the leader.

iv. The imperative of partnership in leadership

Leadership is about building relationship with a team. Partnership epitomizes the two-way street: both the leader and the team feel they gain and pain in the organization. This is possible when the leader share what some called top secret of the company with his team. Sharing the big picture of the company places everybody on the same page. Partnership also means meeting the team members one-on-one and sharing their jobs with them. Lastly, leader should also learn and apply the leadership shadowing program, in order words delegating responsibilities.

v. The art of affirmation in leadership

Affirmation means that the leader ensures that each team member’s effort is acknowledged and appreciated in the team. Just “thank” you can make a whole lot of difference in the life a team member. By appreciating and recognizing team member’s effort, you make him important. Praise is the easiest way to let people know they are appreciated. This can be done by anybody without the leadership pill. Recognition is not only for the performing team member, underperforming individual can also do a good job when appreciated.

vi. Perfecting the blend

Team member can gain confidence and competence if they put integrity, partnership and affirmation to work. To blend the three, each member should have confidence in their ability to think for themselves. The role of the leader in perfecting this is getting everyone to the place they are supposed to go. This will take the leader to the peak of his dream, winning the respect and trust of his team.

vii. The end and the beginning

The book ended with the true nugget of leadership. Leadership is not something you do to people but something you do with them. In summary, leadership is a perfect blend of integrity, partnership, affirmation and the ability to blend these well. In this the secret of leadership is unveiled.

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?

In leading a team, I will not equate leading people with controlling them. Leading people is quite different from controlling them. Controlling the team will not help me win the trust and confidence of the team. To get the commitment of the team members such that they remain loyal to me even when I am not there; I must be a leader with integrity.

I have learned from this book that the way to combine the basic ingredients of leadership- is integrity followed closely by partnership and then affirmation. My action in leading a team must embody the organization’s values as this will promote a value-driven culture. This combined with partnership-harvest of the potentials of the team and my ability to know my team beyond their job title-affirmation will enable me to be a leader with distinction.

The value of integrity in leadership was made bare in this book and I cannot toy with it. What make one a true leader is his integrity? I will do everything within my reach to build my integrity as leader. My word must reflect or match with my character and conduct and the team must know me by my word. My team members will be my close partners in the business. I will not see them a subordinate but my partners. This I will do by building a very strong relationship with the team. I will make them feel the gains and the pains in the organization.

This I understand before now but it is reaffirmed and made clearer to me in this book. All human being value appreciation and this I will apply not only in leading people but in my day to day affairs. As a leader I will ensure that each team member’s effort is acknowledged and appreciated in the team. I will make each member feel important through praising his or her effort.

This is very innovative, the ability to blend the various components of the leadership ingredients. As a leader I must ensure that I do not just learn this off heart but put it to practice. The combination of my integrity, partnership with the team and affirmation will help me gain the confidence and competence of the team. I will also work on the team to see that they develop the ability to think for themselves.

The nugget of leadership in summary is to perfect and blend integrity, partnership and affirmation. In this lies the secret of leadership and having learned this secret, I will apply it at any level of leadership.

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.

“Leading people is the opposite of trying to control them.”

Leading people is different from coercing people. Leading comes with appeal while control involves the use of force.

“Leadership is not what happens when you’re there; it’s what happens when you’re not there.”

This has to do with trust and confidence the team has on their leader. It is manifested when the leader is absent.

“Integrity lays the foundation for trust and respect.”

The leader’s ability to stick to his words laid a very solid foundation for trust and respect for the leader.

“Leadership is not something you do to people; it’s something you do with them.”

This is participatory leadership or leadership by example.

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?

No such thing.

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?

No.

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.

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? 9
D. Would you recommend it to others? Yes
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 9