As a Man Thinketh
Assessment by Sammy Nyambune (Kenya)
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?
“As A Man Thinketh” by James Allen is a classic self-help book that emphasizes the power of thought in shaping one’s life. It inspires readers to take control of their thoughts, and in turn, take control of their destiny. Anyone who attempts to master his thoughts can do much more than eliminate negative character traits. By working on his thoughts the right way, an individual can even obtain what the author refers to as Divine Perfection. In other words, by weeding out bad or useless thoughts, a person can bring joy, strength, peace and wisdom to his life.
If our thoughts shape our character, it’s only logical that changing our thoughts will change our character, too. By changing the nature of their thoughts, pessimistic people might find that they have a bit more to smile about. Just as a plant sprouts from a tiny seed, each action we perform is an outgrowth of our thoughts. From these actions, patterns emerge. In turn, these patterns come to constitute our character. Our character or personality begins with our thoughts. But why is this important
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. Thoughts shape character and destiny.
Allen makes it clear that who we become and what we experience are directly tied to our habitual thoughts. If you constantly entertain anger, fear, or envy, your life reflects that. But when you nurture love, faith, and integrity, your character and circumstances begin to align with those qualities. In my life I have nurtured my thoughts in a positive way even when things do not work for me I remain to be positive and that is what made me achieve my business idea and discipline
ii. Circumstances are often the reflection of inner life.
One of the most challenging yet freeing ideas from the book is that our outer world often mirrors our inner state. While not every hardship is self-created, our response to challenges determines how they shape us. When you change your inner world, your outer life eventually follows. Some challenges are bound to happen and yet we are not the cause, in my business I had to face a lot of challenges my goods could expire and people could say it was my carelessness but i found the problem, the good were not stored well and i had to educate my staffs on how to handle the goods.
iii. Self-control begins with mastering your mind. Allen insists that true freedom comes from disciplining your thoughts. Without control over what you dwell on, you’re at the mercy of external forces. The ability to pause, reflect, and choose higher thoughts is the foundation of peace and growth.
We have big problem especially we people in business we do meet a lot of attitudes from clients both negative and positive, you will find out that you try to be nice to the client but he will even abuse you for no reasons so i try my best not to be personal and control my temper.
iv. Suffering has meaning when it leads to growth.
The book reframes pain and struggle as teachers rather than punishments. When you see challenges as opportunities to refine your character, even hardships become a stepping stone instead of a stumbling block. Before you achieve anything you have to undergo so many challenges but you have to endure, no pain no gain, if you give up that is the end of your business, goods getting spoilt but you still manage to buy more until you master the game of business.
v. Purpose gives direction to thought. Allen emphasizes that a person without purpose drifts mentally and emotionally. When you have a clear aim, your thoughts naturally align with actions that move you toward it. Purpose acts as a compass, guiding the energy of your mind.
When you have a purpose for what you want in life you will have a proper direction, so we have to create our purpose and work on it. My purpose was to start a business and I had to be resilient to it.
vi. A calm mind leads to strength.
One of the most beautiful lessons is that serenity is a sign of mastery. People who remain calm under pressure are powerful, not because they control the world, but because they govern themselves. Cultivating inner peace makes you unshakable. In any situation be calm and focused, listen to understand not to answer. I do listen calmly to the complaints of my clients and employees.
vii. Your life improves when your thoughts improve.
At its core, the book is about responsibility. You can’t always control what happens to you, but you can control what you choose to focus on. As you elevate your thoughts, your actions follow, and so does the quality of your life.
Listening to As a Man Thinketh felt like a quiet conversation with wisdom itself. It reminded me that transformation doesn’t always require something external; it starts with the mind. This book leaves you with a simple but profound truth: guard your thoughts, because they’re crafting the life you’re living and the person you’re becoming.
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 writing is very clear and concise. The ideas are well organized and it contains practical advice.
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. If no useful seeds are put into it, then an abundance of useless weed seeds will fall therein, and will continue to produce their kind.”
“A strong man cannot help a weaker unless the weaker is willing to be helped, and even then the weak man must become strong of himself; he must, by his own efforts, develop the strength which he admires in another. None but himself can alter his condition.”
“The outer conditions of a person’s life will always be found to be harmoniously related to his inner state…Men do not attract that which they want, but that which they are.”
“A man only begins to be a man when he ceases to whine and revile, and commences to search for the hidden justice which regulates his life. And he adapts his mind to that regulating factor, he ceases to accuse others as the cause of his condition, and builds himself up in strong and noble thoughts; ceases to kick against circumstances, but begins to use them as aids to his more rapid progress, and as a means of the hidden powers and possibilities within himself.”
“Cherish your visions. Cherish your ideals. Cherish the music that stirs in your heart, the beauty that forms in your mind, the loveliness that drapes your purest thoughts.
For out of them will grow all delightful conditions, all heavenly environment, of these, if you but remain true to them, your world will at last be built.”
“The dreamers are the saviors of the world. As the visible world is sustained by the invisible, so men, through all their trials and sins and sordid vocations, are nourished by the beautiful visions of their solitary dreamers.”
“Good thoughts and actions can never produce bad results; bad thoughts
and actions can never produce good results. We understand this law in
the natural world, and work with it; but few understand it in the mental
and moral world although its operation there is just as simple and undeviating—
and they, therefore, do not cooperate with it.”
“A particular train of thought persisted in, be it good or bad, cannot fail to produce its results on the character and circumstances. A man cannot directly choose his circumstances, but he can choose his thoughts, and so indirectly, yet surely, shape his circumstances.”
“Calmness of mind is one of the beautiful jewels of wisdom. It is the result of long and patient effort in self-control. Its presence is an indication of ripened experience, and of a more than ordinary knowledge of the laws and operations of thought.”
“A man becomes calm in the measure that he understands himself as a thought-evolved being. For such knowledge necessitates the understanding of others as the result of thought, and as he develops a right understanding, and sees ever more clearly the internal relations of things by the action of cause and effect, he ceases to fuss, fume, worry, and grieve. He remains poised, steadfast, serene.”
“The thoughtless, the ignorant, and indolent, seeing only the apparent effects of things and not the things themselves, talk of law, of fortune, and chance. Seeing a man grow rich, they say, “How lucky is!” Observing another become intellectual they exclaim,
“How highly favored he is! And noting the saintly character and wide influence of another, they remark, How chance aids him at every turn!” They don’t see the trials and failures and the struggles which these men have voluntarily encountered in order to gain their experience; have no knowledge of the sacrifices they have made, of the undaunted efforts they have put forth, of the faith they have exercised, that they might overcome the apparently insurmountable, and realize the vision of their heart. They do not know the darkness and the heart aches; they only see the light and the Joy, and they call it luck; do not see the longing arduous journey, but only behold the pleasant goal, and call it good fortune”; do not understand the process, but only perceive the result, and call it chance.”
“They who have no central purpose in their life fall an easy prey to petty worries, fears, troubles, and self-pitying, all of which are indications of weakness, which lead, just as surely as deliberately planned sins (though by a different route), to failure, unhappiness, and loss, for weakness cannot persist in a power evolving universe.”
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?
The book is well covered.
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?
The book contains exercises for our brains and mind strengthening.
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.
It is well covered.
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? 10
C. How easy was it to understand? 10
D. Would you recommend it to others? 10
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 10
Jonathan Livingston Seagull
Assessment by Sammy Nyambune (Kenya)
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?
Jonathan wasn’t like the other seagulls in his flock who simply loved eating fish. In fact, they flew only for that purpose. But not Jonathan. Jonathan loved to fly at warp speeds. He loved to test the wind on his wings. He discovered that being able to fly faster and fly to different places, even meant better and bigger fish. But as a result of his passion of flight, he received fierce discrimination from his peers and family. Saying he was foolishly using his abilities to fly. Because of his love for fast flying, this same family cast him out, and he flew to other places and greater heights.
Along with this story are a variety of beautiful black and white shots of flying seagulls. Definitely take the time to look at them. Richard paints a glorious picture of what most people would see when they view a flock of seagulls. But then he takes us right into the lone seagull ripping through the wind learning how to fly with accuracy and precision. But this story is way more than than.
Almost right away, as the reader, you can glean the message Richard Bach is going for.
Not only does Jonathan love to fly, he had pushes himself to new limits by experimenting with flight. Not everyone will understand what your passion is. Not everyone will understand the need to push yourself through challenges and to new opportunities.
Not everyone will be comfortable with leaving their comfort zone. Some people are just destined to split off from the norm and challenge themselves.
The book’s portrayal of going after what you love, even if it means leaving behind people who don’t understand, it’s an important message. I think many people can relate to this, especially those who would like to follow their passion but are afraid they might be judged by others.
This book is about pushing through the norm even when everyone tells you not to. It’s about finding what lights you up and showing it to the world. It’s about finding your gift, accepting it, and sharing it with others. Jonathan Livingston Seagull is a story about reaching your heaven, which isn’t a time or place, but a state of mind within yourself. A realization that you, in your own being, are perfect.
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. Taking risk
In life sometimes we have to be risk takers, everything people have achieved it is through taking risks, even our parents had to risk to get us, because there are those who discouraged them not to be married or not to get the child, but once you do not listen to them you will definitely achieve what you wanted, discoveries made it is through risk taking. I personally risked to start a business whereby most of the people feared that I could not make it or i will make a loss but i was focused to start it. The story emphasizes the importance of taking risks to achieve our dreams. It encourages us to step outside our comfort zones and take a leap of faith.
ii. Spiritual and life Reflection
Our faith and spirituality is supposed to make us strong and encourage us in life. We need to be spiritually strong and also pray for our spiritual life and achievement. We belong to a community and a church which gives us spiritual directions, I usually pray for my business and my clients. “Jonathan Livingston Seagull” delves into spiritual and philosophical themes, making us contemplate deeper questions about life’s purpose and the pursuit of meaning.
iii. Mentorship and Learning
We all need people to mentor us so that we can learn and be perfect in whatever we do, in my business i have even today people who mentor me, and we work hand in hand to achieve the ultimate goal in business. The character of Chiang, the Elder Gull, highlights the significance of mentorship and lifelong learning. It teaches us that we can always find wisdom in unexpected places and from unexpected mentors.
iv. Self-awareness
We need to discover ourselves our potentials and what we can do best many a times we push our children to do what we want them to do not what they want to do even in career choosing we are the once to dictate what they are supposed to do, even when they do not have that capacity to do it, so we need to give our children a chance to do what they like, i made a choice, to be a businessman and that is how I established my business so lets give our children a chance to be what they want to be. Jonathan’s journey is one of self-discovery and personal transformation. It prompts us to explore our own potential and discover our true selves, free from the constraints of societal expectations.
v. Inspiration from others
We need to be inspired from other people for us to make our empire, so we have to be close to those who inspire us, I was inspired with one of our neighbor who had a shop i could put money in the paper bag and I loved to see him counting coins, so we need to be inspired with others so that we can achieve our goals. Jonathan’s journey ultimately inspires other seagulls to break free from their limitations. This reflects the idea that our actions can inspire and uplift others, fostering a chain of personal growth and transformation.
vi. Freedom and choices
To have freedom to do what you want and choice anything you feel like is the best feeling in life, nobody will give you freedom you have to grab it and do what you really want, I had freedom to choice the business I wanted without being dictated on what to do, and once you have that freedom you will have passion to do it freely. The story is a powerful reminder of the beauty of freedom and independence. It encourages us to cherish our individuality and embrace the freedom to pursue our own path in life.
vii. Individuality
All of us cannot be doctors, engineers, pilots and teachers, so the moment we embrace our own dream it will lead us to, achieve our goals, so be yourself and do what you feel is good, I started my business not because I could not be a farmer or a doctor, but I felt good to have that freedom of making my money and becoming my own boss. Jonathan’s story reminds us of the value of individuality. Embracing our uniqueness and not conforming to the expectations of others can lead to personal growth and self-discovery.
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 book helps me to understand that i am the determinant of my life no matter what people say, so i will push on even when people do not support 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.
“Don’t believe what your eyes are telling you. All they show is limitation. Look with your understanding. Find out what you already know and you will see the way to fly.”
“You have the freedom to be yourself, your true self, here and now, and nothing can stand in your way.”
“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.”
“The trick was to know that his true nature lived, as perfect as an unwritten number, everywhere at once across space and time.”
“For in spite of his lonely past, Jonathan Seagull was born to be an instructor, and his own way of demonstrating love was to give something of the truth that he had seen to a gull who asked only a chance to see the truth for himself.”
“For a long time Jonathan forgot about the world that he had come from, that place where the Flock lived with its eyes tightly shut to the joy of flight, using its wings as means to the end of finding and fighting for food. But now and then, just for a moment, he remembered.”
“You will begin to touch heaven, Jonathan, in the moment that you touch the perfect speed. And it 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.”
“Seagulls, as you know, never falter, never stall. To stall in the air is for them disgrace and it is dishonor. But Jonathan Livingston Seagull, unashamed, stretching his wings again in that trembling hard curve–slowing, slowing, and stalling once more–was no ordinary bird.”
“By morning the Flock had forgotten its insanity, but Fletcher had not. ‘Jonathan, remember what you said a long time ago, about loving the Flock enough to return to it and help it learn?’
‘Sure.’
‘I don’t understand how you manage to love a mob of birds that has just tried to kill you.’
‘Oh, Fletch, you don’t love that! You don’t love hatred and evil, of course. You have to practice and see the real gull, the good in every one of them, and to help them see it in themselves. That’s what I mean by love. It’s fun, when you get the knack of it.’”
“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.”
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?
The book is nicely presented.
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?
The book contains lifetime exercises that i will be doing daily.
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.
It’s well covered.
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? 10
C. How easy was it to understand? 10
D. Would you recommend it to others? 10
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 10