As A Man Thinketh
Assessment by Candia Emmanuel (Uganda)
12/2013
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?
The main idea that the author is trying to pass on in the book is that we are made up of thoughts. That the way one thinks determines everything about that man and thus thought is the sum total of man. That the mind is a master power that molds and makes and that using thought, we can create the life we deserve or want. That we are the ones who make ourselves using our thoughts!
2. What were the seven ideas which were personally most important to you and why? List these seven ideas followed by an explanation as to why it is important to you. Use personal examples from your own life.
i. We are responsible.
The author underscores the fundamental principle that we are responsible for everything that happens to us. We are responsible for how our character turns out, we responsible for how our circumstances turn out, how our dreams turn out and how we achieve. Many look at the outward things as the most serious influence in life. Many have blamed their upbringing, their background, their lack of money.
There was a time after school, that I stayed home for a year without working because, I could not find the employment I craved, partly so because most of those places were inaccessible and the public transport system not friendly for me to travel and look for work since I use a wheel chair for mobility. Indeed there were moments I felt bad, discouraged and almost helpless at my helplessness. But I had to take responsibility overlook the glaring challenges and reach out to work. I have had to do private practice amid challenging environment, inaccessible court premises and other public offices.
ii. Thought is seed.
As a plant springs from the seed so every act springs from the seed of thought. That act could be spontaneous and unpremeditated, as those which are deliberately executed. The seed of noble and God-like character is a seed of thought having the same DNA and so is the seed of ignoble and bestial character. This is important to me in helping to shape the character that is desirable in my home and at work. It clarifies that noble thoughts produce noble characters and bestial thoughts produce bestial character. Happy, jovial, winning, excellent thoughts produce after their kind the actions that lead to the fruit it produces.
One invigorating and well nursed and now materialized thought was that of founding a family. It took bravery to reach out in love for love and then just to be loved back. For long, even while a teenager, I nursed the thoughts of founding my own family, raising my own children and wow the feeling of grown, happy, jovial and winning thoughts!
iii. Suffering is to purify.
We all have base and unfruitful thoughts that we deal with, which affect our outward circumstances. The author states that it is pleasing to human vanity to believe that one suffers because of one’s virtue. To him, suffering is always the effect of wrong thought in some direction; indicative of disharmony with oneself. He then clarifies the sole and supreme purpose of suffering is to purify, to burn out all that is useless and impure. To him, suffering ceases to him who is pure.
I have watched a situation where a client was sentenced to jail on the basis of tramped up charges. Where systems are abused and injustice meted out at the innocent. In one of these events, my client took his jail term positively as a learning opportunity.
So then those who suffer are impure!
iv. Growth – proper growth must be attended to.
Proper growth must be sought after. That when we do not attend to our mind, negative thoughts still do grow. It is natural for the negative thoughts to creep and grow in our lives. Positive thoughts must only with effort be planted, tended and grown for them to bear their kind. To the author, we grow and progress through learning. What we learn gives us the foundation for building and further growth. That every circumstance is vested with lessons for us to learn, even the bad situations.
While growing up but still a young age, other children would always run away to play and live me alone. Having been disabled by Polio and unable to walk or run, I had those painful episodes of staying alone and not fully participating with other children in the games they played. I began to become creative, especially learning how to be amiable, courteous conduct that would attract children and other people to me and keep them around me. Through this I later learned how to make and most especially keep friends.
v. Character is often revealed through circumstance.
People can hide and pretend but until their tested through tough circumstances, their true character does not come out. The real character is only revealed and not made by his circumstances. The circumstances only offer lessons for learning when a man is revealed.
I knew a young man for a time as a gentle, humble and trustworthy character. I often times called him and asked him to run some errands for me. One day, in a tough situation, he took off, ran away and switched off his cell phone. I was discouraged, disappointed at him, thought I had known him but since that moment, I realized I knew him but a little.
vi. Self-sacrifice – is the key to achieving great purposes we set our hearts to.
It is often letting go the present indulgences for greater future benefits, often difficult to go through but has greater rewards.
I never knew much about saving up money because I never practiced the same for long. When I started work, I moved into an apartment where I had to slowly save money to purchase some things I liked. I remember how I had to save small moneys, moneys I would have so easily used to buy snacks or so over a period of three weeks to buy a flask. I had to stay hungry, through lunch to save a few shillings to reach my goal. And yes, we have lots to painfully save for a better future.
vii. Dreams or visions are key for any attainment – dreams determine the level of attainment.
The high and lofty they are the high and lofty the achievement and success; the low and feeble they are, the low and feeble the success. This calls us dream lofty dreams because we come what we dream. I have various dreams regarding various areas of my life like family, financial, work, relationships, ministry etc.
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?
These ideas will help me to begin to purposefully deal with my thoughts, dealing away with base and negative thoughts and inculcating and promoting the positive thoughts; to begin to take advantage of every circumstance to learn so I can grow; to learn to master my thoughts to determine the outcomes I want to see in my life; to become determined, making more sacrifices to achieve the things I want to achieve; to practice patience give time for reflection, diligently searching for knowledge and directing my energies with intelligence towards fruitful thoughts and issues. I have also learnt that being weak and indecisive and not taking action on the thoughts I think will not produce the results I expect; and to set ambitious and lofty goals as I dream lofty dreams and refuse to settle for less.
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 man is the master of thought, the molder of character, and the maker and shaper of condition, environment, and destiny.”
This was important to me for the fact of setting up man as the maker or destroyer of himself. That our inner thoughts affect our character, conditions, our environment and destiny. I need to look at myself as the cause of all things happening in, to and around me.
“For only by patience, practice and ceaseless importunity can a man enter the door of the temple of knowledge.”
Showing that knowledge, especially of oneself, is attained through patience, practice and ceaseless persistence in the search for such knowledge. Knowledge does not just come and he that sits without much searching and mining the gold and diamond of self-knowledge crafts their own character, life and destiny in that which is vein, base and bestial.
“As a progressive and evolving being, man is where he is that he may learn that he may grow; and as he learns the spiritual lesson which any circumstance contains for him, it passes away and gives place to other circumstances.”
Growth is a factor of knowledge. There are spiritual lessons for us to learn at every stage and in every circumstance of life. After learning the lessons of each circumstance, that circumstance passes away to give place to other circumstances. Circumstances do not last as long as their spiritual lessons are learnt for they must soon give place to others. Circumstance is the container of doctrine or lessons and lessons feed growth. Everyone must understand and pick the lessons of every circumstance of life in order to grow. Life is thus composed of a series of circumstances which must not just be let to pass without learning from them, for to live is to learn.
“Circumstance does not make the man; it reveals him to himself.”
Man is the shaper of thought and maker of himself and environment. Our outward conditions are thus a creature of our thoughts be they good or bad. Circumstance reveals how we are on the inside; it reveals our character. If circumstance is the container of lessons, then our lessons are more learned when we are revealed. The lessons that cause growth are taken from the true revelation of ourselves in every circumstance. Circumstance helps us come to ourselves and in so doing we encounter the spiritual, for therein lie the spiritual lessons.
“The man who does not shrink from self-crucifixion can never fail to accomplish the object upon which his heart is set.”
We must always make great personal sacrifices before we can accomplish the object on which our heart is set. Even when we seek to improve our circumstances, but do not improve our self through dealing with thoughts that are continually fighting against our fate, being base, we still drift down the path of failure, and jail our fate. It is most important to deal with our base thoughts that continually revolt against our desire for outward change.
“A man is not rightly conditioned until he is a happy, healthy, and prosperous being; and happiness, health and prosperity are the result of harmonious adjustment of the inner with the outer of the man with his surroundings.”
The right condition of man is in living in harmony between his inner and outside surroundings. That a man only begins to be a man when he ceases to whine and revile about his circumstances, and commences to search for the hidden justice which regulates his life or rather begins to rethink and act in the rightful way to change his circumstances to be in harmony with the outer of his surroundings. This is when he achieves happiness, health and prosperity.
“Law, not confusion, is the dominating principle in the universe; justice, not injustice, is the soul and substance of life. Righteousness, not corruption, is the molding and moving force in the spiritual government of the world. This being so, man has but to right himself to find that the universe is right. And during the process of putting himself right, he will find that as he alters his thoughts towards things and other people, things and other people will alter towards him.”
The media seems to run an agenda to portray confusion, injustice, corruption as the forces that govern the world. This has seemingly distorted the standards with which many people have view different things. It is just refreshing to know that in the fight of good versus bad, evil versus righteousness, bad and evil does not win even if it appears to dominate.
“A man can only rise, conquer, and achieve by lifting up his thoughts. He can only remain weak, abject, and miserably by refusing to lift up his thoughts.”
The responsibility is with each individual to determine where he must through lifting or refusing to lift up his thoughts.
“Dream lofty dreams, and as you dream, so shall you become……Dreams are the seedlings of reality.”
A call to set the stakes high, and become what we dream to be.
5. Is there anything in the book that you do not understand or are unclear about, or are there which you disagree with and, if so, why?
Much as the author states that sufferings are brought about by ones thoughts being negative, and yes does agree that this is not absolute, it is not clear what other circumstances cause suffering other than one’s thought. I thought through a sufferings occasioned to people in Northern Uganda for over twenty years by the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), where children were abducted and conscripted into the rebel ranks, people’s homes torched down and many brutally murdered. How can the peoples thought process be used to justify such untold sufferings meted by another? Is there a link between thought and accidents?
6. Did the book contain exercises for the reader to complete? If so, did you complete all the exercises and did you find them helpful?
No, there were no exercises in the book.
7. Was there anything in the book that you would like to comment on that was 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 where 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
Jonathan Livingston Seagull
Assessment by Candia Emmanuel (Uganda)
12/2013
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?
The main idea in the book is we can follow our passions, and desires, pursue our dreams amidst rejection or the fear thereof, reach out for and achieve greatness and success in that we set our mind to and act on. That the only limitation to achieving anything in life is our failure or unwillingness to keep learning and daring into new ventures and ideas and our inaction on ideas and dreams we have conceived on the inside.
The desire to pursue a dream and reach for greatness and success resides within every individual of the human race.
2. What were the seven ideas which were personally most important to you and why? List these seven ideas followed by an explanation as to why it is important to you. Use personal examples from your own life.
i. Pursuit -You can achieve what you set your mind to.
Focusing one’s mind on achieving a particular thing is key in beginning to do certain activities towards achieving that goal. Jonathan Seagull set his mind to learning flight. He was not satisfied with just the ordinary life of seagulls, often fighting for food and not doing much. Very early in life, when I had entered Primary one, I came home from school during lunch time and I was set to eat with my late maternal grandfather Baba Enoka. I do not quite remember the comment I made while we were eating and out came a fatherly, wise and affirming statement translated ‘you have spoken like a Judge’. Those words resonated as it were with every sinew and membrane and bone and marrow in me. A flash of confidence exuding with such joy of accomplishment and satisfaction greeted as it were my soul. All of a sudden, a dream was born; I could see myself a Judge seated on a chair deciding issues, passing judgment. Sooner anyone asking me what I wanted to become would get the answer, “a judge.” On to Secondary education, I took subjects in keeping with that particular dream and ended up pursuing law. I am now practicing law and may be time can only tell.
ii. Passion and Purpose -You always drift to your passion in life because you are meant for it.
Pursuing and achieving that purpose brings exhilarating joy and satisfaction. Many people end up doing things they do not want or enjoy doing because someone told them to or someone said it won’t work. It takes discipline and a clear understanding of your purpose to stick to it. Jonathan Seagull was told flying won’t give him food. For many, if what you do does not earn you money for food then do not do it. It leaves many people pursuing, toiling for, and wasting away because of food at the expense of more lasting things. The most important thing in life is not food yet it is the most worked for thing. Not understanding that true work is pursuing your passion in life ends in futility and total dissatisfaction. Yet to the one who gives thought and listens to their inclinations and knows their own bent, they always drift toward their passion. I did many subjects ranging from science to arts subjects and even when I passed the science courses, arts courses were an easier go, I struggled less to think through, internalize and discuss concepts, especially where I was given freedom to think and express myself. I may not be where I dream to be, but I am sure on track and only time can tell.
iii. Practice –Is the means of transition from one level of perfection to the next.
It is said, “practice makes perfect” but I say practice only expose to new levels of perfection and leads toward perfection. Sullivan asserted that we choose our next world through what we learn in this one. Practice is learning existing or elementary ideas, researching and finding new ideas and mastering them and transcending in our pursuit for better and greater ideas and perfection. In mastering new ideas or skills, be they elementary or complex experience is built and experience grows. Practice is not done by wishful thinking, but by doing it. One who fails to practice retards their growth and eludes perfection. I started playing a guitar and loved playing the same but have over time spent no time practicing. I have watched people I taught elementary skills and principles in guitar playing supersede and excel while I am laboring at the same level of expertise.
iv. People -Every high achiever needs a mentor and couch.
That purpose is connected to another person’s dream of self-actualization. Your highest achievement and breakthrough might be another’s lowest experience. We therefore need people, especially mentors. Sometimes the words of an instructor that fire us up to pursue perfection. They can help identify some hidden potential and offer guidance, encouragement and instruction on how best to reach the utmost. The disconnect between a mentor and protégé is the recipe for mediocrity though for some, it has been the utter lack of mentoring that perpetuates it. The other aspect is the willingness to mentor and help others to transcend to where the mentor is that matters most. To Jonathan, not being able to help other seagulls who may have desired to fly and go beyond the ordinary was a consuming thought. To him, achievements in life are only worth the celebration when they can be passed on to another. He then left heaven, came to earth, to the world of seagulls, identified with outcasts from the seagull dynasty and spent his time identifying each ones potentials and couching them. To Martin Gull, he said; “You say you know low-speed flying. You know nothing till you prove it.” A couch should decipher the mental attitudes and offer greater ideas and thoughts that challenge mediocrity.
Personally I had the privilege of mentorship when I started working as a legal assistant in a law firm. The Partner one day spoke words of counsel to me that have helped me sustain where I am. He said to me to take my time and take life slowly. That certain things will come to you because you deserve them not because you’ve worked hard for them –he spoke with respect to the drive for material acquisitions. These words often resonate in my mind when I think of material things I would wish to have and yet cannot afford now.
v. Persistence -The fall from success/victory can be the hardest test of failure.
Jonathan Livingston Seagull had just practiced hard and broken his own speed record; he had not mastered speed too well, he “crash-landed” from one of his practice moments. That fall was hard, injurious and discouraging. Many strive to succeed and excel in their fields of their passion and dream. However, after an initial breakthrough, there is need for humility in order not to stop learning the tact of maintaining and growing their success. It is hard to breakthrough into success but much harder to sustain and hold fort after the same. Failure often seeks to test our fortitude leaving many discouraged, in pain and sometimes re-sizing ambitions and dreams or even stifling them if we aren’t strong enough.
I had just learned to walk using calipers and crutches at the age of six years. It was the loveliest of all experiences I have had. Having been localized to the ground crawling on the belly and on my knees and unable to leave home on my own, standing up by myself and determining where I wanted to go and walking there independent of everyone else was such a breakthrough and success for me, especially the privilege of going to school.
Being a growing child, one difficult question was to internalize why out there no child was like me, crippled. I began to realize, there is more to getting up on foot than just to walk. Seeing many children of my age at school, running around, playing and sometimes leaving me alone was somewhat a painful pill to swallow. There was an internal big voice that reminded me of how I could never be like those children. We all have hollow voices within telling us we can’t make it; there is no way around it, voices that undercut the size of our potentials and dreams.
I went to a day primary school in the neighborhood. One day, it rained and I was walking from home to school along a slippery stretch, I slid and fell in the mud. My uniform got dirty and wet, injured my finger and was hurting from that fall. Off a distance were children of almost the same age bracket who burst into laughter after seeing my fall. I was discouraged, thought of giving up on school, and with my speed of walking, it would have taken me more time getting home to change and return to class. Dealing with the discouragement, stigma, depression and pain from a fall can be a death trap for passions and dreams. I had to focus on arriving early to school, stood up and went to class with my dirty and wet uniform and attend my classes albeit feeling downcast and in pain. It takes a victor to rise from a victors fall.
vi. Perfection -The heights of greatness are clogged by so few a kind that dare its heavenly realm.
Every greater exposure and experience of glory or heaven lower glories and experiences fade. Only people that have reached perfection feel at home. Great achievers get an achievers welcome. Jonathan together with gulls of like mind thought the most important thing in living was to reach out and touch perfection in that which they most loved to do. Perfection thus seems to be achievable only through thorough search, continuous practice. To Sullivan perfection is arrived at through forgetting where we came from and not caring where we are headed, just living for the moment. Perfection is going through various stages in life like arriving at the idea there is more to life than eating, or fighting, or power in the flocks then learning that there is such a thing as perfection and then the idea that the purpose of living was to find that perfection and show it forth. Perfection thus seems an idea one must often work towards achieving and after achieving it one can still reach for a higher thought. Sullivan states that he has transcended thousands and hundreds of life to arrive at the idea of perfection. His perception of perfection seems to stage in the mind, in attaining new ideas or thought patterns and pursuing them to achievement. To Chiang an elder gull, who was said to be moving beyond this world, heaven is being perfect. Perfection is having no limits. Perfect speed is being there.
Indeed there are higher dimensions of perfection, ideas such as heaven. So the definition of perfection thus seems relative depending on previous experiences and the mind picture of that perfection in each one’s mind. Even though part Chiang’s definition of perfection may be attainable here in this world, other gulls believed that Chiang was to move beyond this world into another realm or world and idea or perhaps the reality of perfection. This leaves the question as to whether perfection is attainable in this world or it attainable in the world beyond?
My take thus is that perfection should be strived for in every pursuit of life and that while we are here in this world, we cannot attain the ultimate perfection. Perfection does exist but can be attainable in the world beyond. Meanwhile, we must pursue it and show forth and live up to the perfection we have obtained.
vii. Passing-on –transcending into and influencing others.
In the book, two forms of passing on are revealed. One passing on is of Chiang who had skills near perfection, almost unlimited by space and time, which being old in age was rather than being feeble, empowered. Chiang’s perspectives of perfection are tied to the idea of heaven. If perfection is not fully attainable in this world and Chiang just vanished into a world beyond, then perfection must be fully existent in the world beyond. This passing on seemed to be another transition of life from one realm of perfection to another without an indicative prospect of return. This passing-on seems permanent and what remains are inspirations, ideas and innovations once shared in the present realm of perfection. It is also an acknowledgment that men are mortal, they have but a small time within which to rise and pursue their dreams and pass-on either as achievers or while working at achieving perfection. Passing-on without reaching or rather pursuing your dreams is a disgrace to humanity. A shame, most incomparable!
The second passing-on is that of transfer of knowledge, skills or rather transfer of one’s perfection to another. We see Sullivan transfer skills and knowledge to Jonathan and then we see Chiang transfer knowledge and skills to Jonathan before passing on. On attaining all the level of the perfection he did, Jonathan found no satisfaction in enjoying his perfection than to share it with other gulls that longed for perfection in the area of flight.
For this kind of passing-on to rightly operate, the mentor must seek protégés that are willing and ready to learn. The mentor mustn’t seek to change the protégé into him/her but rather seek to identify the individual skills of each gull and liberate them through higher calls to greatness to pursue and discover new avenues of gaining perfection.
I shared my experience of passing-on guitar playing skills to a number of younger people who have ended up becoming better and more professional guitar players than I am. This passing on makes one relevant while they haven’t passed on to the world beyond. The end of all endeavor and pursuit must bring good to human race or one of its kind.
This level of understanding is different from that of Sullivan, who breaks connection with his own past, has nowhere it leads and simply lives for the moment. From this we realize that life can only be lived for the moment by those that are selfish and thus have not arrived true perfection.
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?
These ideas most especially that of practice and perfection will help me take caution not to settle for mediocrity and easy ways out where the ordinary dwell but rather seek to perfect my work and search for higher views and thoughts of perfection. They will help me pursue perfection in every little thing I have chance to do. Further also to pass on to another the current level of perfection I have attained to those seeking to emulate my example and those being inspired by me. It cautions not to be selfish and live for the moment but seek out for opportunities to change lives of others, even from less privileged and marginalized members of the society.
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.
“His thought was triumph” we always win when we think a particular way.
Was challenged to begin to think differently on various situations e.g. thinking courageous to be courageous, thinking smart to be smart, thinking wealthy and healthy to be wealthy and healthy, and thinking triumph in order to triumph. The direction one thinks determines the ultimate attainment
“You must begin by knowing that you have already arrived” this was in respect of flying as fast as thought.
We often approach life from the perspective that we do not have what it takes to attain our ultimate desires and goals. We think we do not yet have the money, we do not have the connections, we do not have the education etc. that we require to take us the places or doing the things we want. But one cardinal point raised by Elder Chiang is the importance of knowing oneself. That we already have what it takes to attain the dreams we dream, the plans, resources and the necessary connections. This enables one to take responsibility, spend time to look into oneself and begin using what they have available other than reaching outwardly looking for solutions. This means we are the crafters of our own destiny from within and not from without and that what happens from outside cannot alter or change our destiny if we know ourselves. Importantly, the beginning point is knowledge, not just thought, presupposing that one must have thought that they have already arrived and that thought must lead to a knowledge that creates a certainty and assurance that they have all it takes but simply just to take actions in the right direction to reach their goal.
“It always works, when you know what you’re doing”
This calls for thorough knowledge of the things one wants to do. This supposes that things fail because we do not know what we’re doing. But when we know what we are doing, we succeed!
5. Is there anything in the book that you do not understand or are unclear about, or are there which you disagree with and, if so, why?
Chiang is said to have disappeared/vanished into the world beyond (at least as believed by other gulls.) What is the world beyond?
Whatever happened to Jonathan Seagull after returning to the flock on earth from heaven? Did he ever go back to heaven? Did he also pass-on? Or he lived on and on?
“Forget about faith!” The concept of rendering faith irrelevant in the pursuits of creating an ideal life and yet there are examples of leaders and people who have used their faith to achieve certain pursuits in life. The bible records in emphatically that the just shall live by faith! This thus stands in absolute contrast to that world view. There seems to be a call to believe in one self and one’s capability to practice, think positively and pursue what one sets their mind to forgetting there are mortality and no inherent perfection.
6. Did the book contain exercises for the reader to complete? If so, did you complete all the exercises and did you find them helpful?
No, there were no exercises in the book.
7. Was there anything in the book that you would like to comment on that was in the previous questions? If so, please comment.
I wish to comment on three characters:
Jonathan Livingstone Seagull –represents to a determined, hardworking, daring and seeker of new ideas of self-realization and perfection. He is a constant seeker of knowledge for purpose of perfection and not to show off. After attaining the ultimate level of perfection of unlimited speed flight, he realizes that his greater fulfillment was in returning to earth to pass on the skills he obtained to younger and other out-cast seagulls. He not only waits to be approached to pass-on his knowledge to others but seeks out for those interested in learning. Jonathan does not seek to transform others to himself (believing and doing just as he does) thus limiting them to his own experience but allowing his students to pursue their own passions and discover new things for themselves.
Sullivan Seagull– presents to us some middle-age achievers, who are self-made but unwilling to relate to their past. All they do with where they come from is to forget and disconnect. We learn that disconnection with our past is disconnection with our future because it is a disconnect with the next generation that must learn from their fathers. He represents the epitome of greedy selfishness of some successful achievers wishing to stand alone. He seems to want to stay in heaven only and have nothing to do with the earthly flock, forgetting he is also a seagull. He seeks to transform others to be only like him.
Elder Chiang – presents to us the role elders can play in real mentorship. He shows that one can grow old in age but stronger and not feeble. Those elders should be quick to pass-on their exceptional skills to the younger generation. That with age comes wisdom but perfection. That we should not pass-on to the world beyond without leaving behind the precious lessons learned from life’s circumstances. It was said of Chiang that he was going to the world beyond.
These three characters underscore the importance of continuity between generations, which must not break down through the passing-on of knowledge, experience and leaving good memories from generation to generation.
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 where 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
Psycho-Cybernetics
Assessment by Candia Emmanuel (Uganda)
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?
To me the main idea in the author is advancing in captured in the words set out in the book that “Psycho-Cybernetics is program for developing a self-image you can live with, one in which you can feel secure, one that you can be proud to express to others, one that leads to self-confidence and success. That “you can develop a realistic self-image that will empower you to live your life effectively in the coming century.”
It then provides mechanisms and practical tools of how to develop such a self-image that empowers one to live effectively, successfully, confidently and securely.
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. That each of us has and carries a mental blueprint or picture of ourselves.
That it may be vague and ill-defined to our conscious gaze – I found this to be true, in that many times I have interfaced with this mental picture of me. That we always act in a way consistent with our self-image. This was important for me first because the image I had was kind of blur and needed to re-envisage it; and secondly in the sense of not just building but maintaining a self-image that I have built for myself. There are many odds and contra positions to the self-image one builds that want to keep them away from attaining what they look like.
b. Reflective learning
The power of relaxation in oiling one’s success. One of my personal challenges has sometimes been doing many things at a go. This slows me down and makes it easy therefore to give excuse for procrastinating. I have been the type who will sit a task for long hours without moving with the end result of getting stressed out. One day after reading about this concept, I began to take like five minutes off just to relax, get off my desk: admittedly it takes discipline to practice it. But I love the refreshment and energy that get released to the mind and body after the exercise.
c. The five steps that diffuse anxiety
Situation, Evaluation, Emotions, Do and self–esteem. A day after reading this concept, I was leaving home to go for work very early in the morning. Noting the gate was not well opened, I told the driver to take care while exiting. She insisted that it was all okay and knew what to do. As she drove, the gate scratched the passenger side of the car near the bumper; it grabbed of pulled off the bumper. I was enraged, my mind quickly ran to how to run the costs of repair, blamed her for not listening to me, and my emotions ran through the roof. Instead of reaching office early, this became a delay factor and thus couldn’t keep my appointments as arranged. I was uncomfortable and decided to keep quiet. While I kept quiet, my mind ran to the five steps of diffusing anxiety. Looking at the situation I chose not to take it personal; evaluating it- that accidents do and can occur, after all she had attempted and tried to be careful; shifting my emotions –it was not her, just an accident; we just had to ask someone to tie it temporally to enable us drive to town where we could get a mechanic to fix it and find ways to raise the necessary money for the same and this enabled me to keep my cool and gain conversation on while we traveled as though it had not happened.
d. The concept of setting SMART goals
Setting goals especially having to develop action plan for the set goals. I did a leadership challenge course sometime in 2011 and part of the exercises had to do with identifying one’s leadership style and in so doing my skill sets showed I am predisposed to being a visionary person very good for strategy, envisioning and giving direction but scored low in practical or action oriented activity. That test was a great discovery for me especially of who I knew myself to be.
For long I have been a person who struggles with implementing the great visionary ideas that I have reflected. In fact, if I had only put into practice just about a quarter of them, my world should be different. In realizing that fact, since that time I took the test, I have made and still keep making attempts at improving my practical aspects of life, especially practical aspects of goals and how to attain them. Herein this book the specifics of how to be more practical come alive through the steps of developing an action plan for one’s goal. These include: Identifying and writing down the goals; assigning dates for achievement of your goals; identifying possible obstacles; surrounding yourself with people who want you to succeed; focus on your skills; following your plan of action; and asking yourself “what’s in it for me?” This learning still continues for me but with clear guiding radar.
That I can put my own success mechanism to work through consciously choosing to be a task oriented person, I can eliminate the possibility of procrastination.
e. Procrastination
That the only key reasons why people normally procrastinate is they fear failure or fear success. It had never occurred to my mind till reading this chapter that people procrastinate doing certain things basically for fear of either failure of success. I have known all excuses such as laziness, just being disorganized, I don’t have time, I don’t have money etc. In my personal life, I have pushed some personal development and career development ahead because of these excuses of lack of time and money.
I started an MBA class but had to drop off due to the excuse of no money. On reading this chapter, I sat to do a proper evaluation of my life especially on the goals of personal and career development. I have applied for scholarships repeated times and failed to get one and somehow, got discouraged and acquiesced the fact that I don’t have money to pay for descent post graduate program in the University of my Choice. My resources have been meager, I have barely lived hand to mouth a thing most people do not seem to understand or appreciate. So I asked myself the question, what has caused me to procrastinate till now? Is it fear of failure or fear of success? One of the discoveries I made was that my procrastination is driven by the fear of failure. Having failed many times to attain my most coveted scholarships, I ended up giving up on further attempts for fear that I cannot make it at all. Even having attempted to start an MBA class, I was not sure that I could make it through, feared where I will get all the money to raise the fees required (especially in dollars) and actually dropped out of the class.
I have set out to fight this fear of failure because I am often invigorated by the image of my success, look forward to seeing my schedules change, me moving to places, giving my best to my family and making the impact I want to in my world. I cannot just lose out on the reality of the feelings that emanate every time I envisage my success. I cannot wait to succeed. I have also learned that the greatest ideas only fail to be accomplished the moment you fail to spend the requisite time to plan on executing them.
f. The perfection trap
Indeed a trap it can be. One of the challenges I have also personally encountered is that perfection trap –what I knew as perfectionism. What in part has done to me is sometimes to slow me down. I want what I do to appear and actually be perfect. Sometimes this has had the inevitable effect of slowing me down. When it comes to writing assignments, I want to be particular, checking the words carefully, and so would take time to read carefully and slowly and this sometimes has slowed me down. I must add there is as though a flip side of perfectionism. You are often taken serious, anything coming from or with your name is taken seriously and of course pursuing perfection in the work I do has yielded benefits of getting business or being entrusted with certain tasks. But I agree, perfection must not be pursued in itself as a goal but probably as a process. That way perfection or its pursuit is not a trap at all.
I am also reminded of the concept of perfection in the bookJonathan Livingston Seagull –Richard Bachis presented by Elder Chiang as having no limits. I am in wonder how to reconcile this concept of perfection as having no limits with the concept of perfection trap. Can seeking to be limitless become a trap? Save of course where we do not appreciate incremental steps made towards achieving perfection itself.
g. Appreciate yourself as a spiritual being
In our attempt to be self-defined achievers I think the most slippery stretch is that of easily forgetting we are not just matter but spiritual beings. Therefore “it’s important to appreciate yourself as an expressing entity. Flowers bloom, birds sing, human beings create. Your spiritual side longs to be creating, to be moving life forward. And when your spirit is creatively engaged, it is practically invulnerable.” In reading through most of the book, it is almost easy to miss this very pertinent fact about human beings, that they are spiritual. Therefore life is accomplished by expressing that spirituality through expressing it.
The writer notices that our spiritual self is expressed through creating, and by so doing our lives are moved forward. This agrees with the previous quote that our lives maintain a poise and equilibrium only so long as it going forward towards something. It therefore appears that forward movement or rather the act of riding that bicycle is the expression of our spiritual self. Therefore to move people forward, they of necessity must focus on expressing their spiritual self. The spiritual well-being of an individual is most important given we are spiritual beings. The greatest pursuit of any achiever must be the full expression of their spirituality.
Therefore to develop the tenacity to deal with all the negative forces that inhibit our human endeavors we must do what the author –to actively engage in expressing our spiritual nature, anything anyone says or does that’s potentially injurious to us will appear so clearly a product of their own ego that it hardly affects you.
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 greatest ideas I have learned are how to turn great ideas into actionable plans which can be practical and doable within time lines and then ending up with great achievements. I am therefore going to visit some of the plans and goals that have not taken off and seemingly failed and set practical and implementable plans on how to bring them to pass, setting time lines and following them on weekly, monthly, quarterly and annually till they are achieved.
The other is how to deal with procrastination –helping me be more proactive and deal with the inhibitions to achieving the goals I set out to achieve. Part of the achievements in reading the pages on dealing with procrastination enabled me finalize this assignment.
The other thing I seek to do with these ideas is to share them with friends and people I have opportunity to influence or speak to in the varied times I will have the privilege to. To daily pursue my own spiritual expression for in so doing, I am able to move life forward.
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.
“Only a person or a nation self-confident in the best sense of the word…is capable of listening to the voice of others and accepting them as equal to oneself. Let us try to introduce self-confidence into the life of our community and into the conduct of nations.”
This was important for me in understanding the role of self-confidence as a key to developing listening skills. It is also important with regard to how we treat and accept other people as equals to us. That not listening to the voice of others and accepting others as equal to us shows our lack of self-confidence. In order to pursue equality we must instill self-confidence in all persons.
“That which we resist will persist.”
This Chinese proverb caught my attention especially where what we are resisting is a vice or an addiction we want to get rid of or a behavioral disorder. The bible records in James 4:8 –resist the devil and he will flee from you! The concept therein is that which you resist will flee, disappear and go away. How do these two reconcile? Must we therefore embrace and be passive in relation to vices; addictions which are not good for us simply because resisting them makes them persist?
“Functionally, a man is somewhat like a bicycle; a bicycle maintains its poise and equilibrium only so long as it is going forward towards something.”
This quote was relevant for me in that men are functionally relevant only when they pursuing something in life; that our poise and balance in life is realized when we are on motion towards something. Interestingly, what that thing is, is deliberately not identified or rather left for each individual to identify for themselves. Each one must be in pursuit of something or idea outside themselves in order to be ‘functionally relevant’. This has inspired me to always be pursuing something in life.
“It is the nature of the spirit to give; it is the nature of the ego to take.”
Being spiritual beings, this brings out our core functional fulfillment comes when we give in varied ways towards the good of others and the creation making life better for 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?
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 the book contained some exercises for the reader to complete. I did most of the exercises though some I did not do. However, those that I did were helpful especially the one dealing with how to identify ones
7. Was there anything you read in the book that you would like to comment on that was not covered in the previous questions? If so, please comment.
There was 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? 6
B. How helpful were the contents? 7
C. How easy was it to understand? 8
D. Would you recommend it to others? 8
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 7
Keys to Success
Assessment by Candia Emmanuel(Uganda)
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?
Having and achieving personal goals through a clear understanding of ones definite purpose in life and pursuing that purpose throughout life to attain success 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 examples from your own life.
i. Definiteness of purpose
It is the starting point in the journey of success and its presence or absence in one life determines that a person’s success or failure in life. If find definiteness of purpose the one most important concept in this book that has challenged my life. I have lived life with some sense of purpose yes but the definiteness has kind of lacked. As a result, I have tried too many things, some with failure and others with success. Because of lack of definiteness, I have not stayed with one specific focus as such created a semblance of confusion and lack of direction in the things I sometimes do. The lack of investment in a particular direction in life has also delayed some of the goals and plans I thought I should have achieved by now! I intend to focus on redefining my life and purpose in order to gain focus and advance.
ii. Overcoming fear
Fear limits our belief and the mind from opening to faith. That there are seven basic fears which we must all overcome these being fear of poverty, criticism, ill-health, old-age, loss of love, loss of liberty and death. I learnt in reading this that fears come and go; a fear overcome is lost forever and wont haunt you again. Of these fears, the one I have struggled with is that of criticism and this has hindered my advancement in certain directions. Sometimes I have kept from saying some hard truths for fear of criticism yet times I have said such things, it’s like someone else was always waiting for me to say them. I realized that overcoming criticism in some of the moments has been liberating. Living under fear is enslaving and rather dehumanizing because slavery is dehumanizing.
iii. Assembling an attractive personality
The author enumerates various traits and aspects that contribute to an attractive personality ranging from a positive mental attitude to things like courtesy, tact, tone of voice, facial expressions, frankness of manner and speech, emotional control, alertness of interest, versatility, and personal magnetism.
These and many others are traits that we need to adopt, improve and or add to our lives on almost daily basis till it becomes a part of us. I noted that these things must continually be practiced and pursued even when we think we have attained it already. The attainment of all these must be proved or rather tested through circumstances that may be contrary and its then we know if we have them. I have experienced and practiced patience during critical moments of rush when being delayed by someone yet I must not be rude at them.
iv. Go the extra mile
Going the extra mile has great rewards. Until you begin to render more service than you are already being paid for, you are not entitled to any more pay. This was a startling thought! Going the extra mile sets on motion the law of increasing returns; the law of compensation; gaining favorable attention; becoming indispensable; causes self-improvement; creates opportunity; gives favorable contrast in relation to others; gaining a pleasing attitude; builds personal initiative, self-confidence and leads to overcoming procrastination. Yes there have been those moments I have gone the extra mile and some where I have not done so. The challenge here is to maintain the attitude to always go the extra mile; this will be beneficial in all things.
v. Personal initiative
Another key concept I learned was taking personal initiative. That it is contagious and causes one to succeed where others fail; helps create work, opportunities, a future, advancement in various areas in life. I then thought that in an era of unemployment most especially in Uganda, what the youth need to come to terms with is this aspect of taking personal initiative. I chose to take personal initiative to achieve certain clear goals, set up an organization, now a number of legal and start-up processes are in place after the idea stalled for over a year. I loved the idea that taking personal initiative will cause one to rise to the 2 percent club; to that club I belong and thus will work to manifest it.
vi. Self-Discipline
We all have to take control of our minds and this is pivotal in determining personal initiative, positive mental attitude and controlled enthusiasm. Self-discipline is that bond that ties it all. It helps control the emotions both the positive and negative emotions of life. It keeps the mind focused on one definite purpose for long without being taken up by various and persuasive opportunities for personal benefit. It is a thing worth pursuing to keep in check all other drives and desires. Lack of self-discipline explains the absence of definiteness of purpose.
vii. Applied faith
While the author seeks to use ‘infinite intelligence’ I refer to God! The concept of faith in the process of success and achievement is key for everyone. Faith is defined as “the assurance (confirmation, the title deed) of things we hope for, being the proof of things we do not see and the conviction of their reality (faith perceives as real fact what is not revealed or made apparent to the senses) Heb 11:1 (amplified bible). So faith as a concept is thus a perception as real fact what is not apparent and real to the ordinary senses. But faith without action is dead according to James 2:14 –what is the use (profit), my brethren, for anyone to profess to have faith if he has no (good) works (to show for it)? Can such faith save his soul? James’ statement here is akin to the authors statement ‘You should not simply have faith; you must use it’. The use of faith is the process of applying faith. Set aside an hour a day to contemplate your relationship to God. The more you act on faith in “God” the more your mind will open to its power. And the more you see that power working in your life, the easier it will be for you to act on faith. It takes time to build faith, to open your mind to its application.
My take on this in personal application is to seek to create and build a more cordial relationship with God through meditation on the word of God and through this I can draw and apply faith.
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?
These ideas are going to help in focusing on developing a personal and definite purpose for my life and career. I will have and develop faith in the goals I want to achieve, take personal initiative to pursue the goals and most of all discipline myself to attain them. Stating this may not be enough, I will take specific steps to work out these things. Through reading this book, I have been spending time to think through as to which particular purpose I want to achieve with my life. I have come up with clues already, but still working through with them to see how to slowly eliminate things that are unnecessary. Part of my challenge has been that I can be versatile in many things and thus sieving out a definite purpose is not easy to arrive at, but I am committed.
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.
“If you can see an opportunity as quickly as you can see the faults of others, you will soon succeed.”
“People seldom profit by having money unless they earn it.”
“The value of wealth that comes with success is that it carries with it the lessons you have learned in acquiring it.”
“You will learn in achieving wealth that success comes about only because you are willing to assume great responsibility and deliver unfailing goods and services which are truly valuable.”
“The pursuit of opportunity has given our country its strength.”
“If you forget that you must make yourself useful to others, you will stray from the path to success, no matter how long you have already walked it.”
“Our real wealth is the intangible power of thought.”
“You should not simply have faith; you must use it.”
“Insincerity is evident in your expressions, in your trend of conversation, in everything you do; no amount of acting skill can disguise it.”
“The yes-man is a universal object of derision precisely because everyone recognizes his insincerity.”
“If you make your prayers an expression of gratitude and thanksgiving for the blessings you already have, instead of requests for things you do not have, you will obtain results much faster.”
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?
There were points for contemplation which were helpful though no clear exercises existed.
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? 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
Success through a Positive Mental Attitude
Assessment by Candia Emmanuel(Uganda)
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?
That one can have success in any part of life through developing and having a positive mental attitude.
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 most important person
Where I have grown from, the visitors are treated with great respect. So much so that in an ordinary home, the visitor matters most. Sometimes children or other family members are forced to give up their own convenience for the comfort of the visitor. The most surprising concept was to find that I am very important, infact the most important person. That how I see and treat myself determines how others will see and treat me. That greatness comes to those who develop a burning desire to achieve high goals.
ii. Clear the cobwebs from your thinking
Clearance of cobwebs from ones thinking is done through the use of accurate thinking. Accurate thinking makes use of reason and the science thereof is called logic. However, we do not act from reason alone. We sometimes act on common sense developed from habits of thought and action, intuitions, experiences and other influences such as tendencies and environment. This raises the critical question as to whether; there is clear thinking at all as most thinking is influenced by other factors other than thinking. This drew me to appreciate these influences and watch how they can influence my reasoning. I have also come to begin testing peoples reasoning and evaluated their arguments to see if they meet with logic. Reading this chapter has turned me into a more critical listener and one who reasons through peoples reasoning to catch their logic. Using this style I have come to be disappointed in many a reasoning of people especially esteemed and celebrated by others.
iii. You’ve got a problem, that’s good!
Problem is good because repeated victories over your problems are the rungs on your ladders of success. With each victory you grow in wisdom, stature and experience. You become a better, bigger, more successful person each time you meet a problem and tackle and conquer it with a positive mental attitude. That, problems exist because we and everything around us is changing. It takes a positive mental attitude to see the opportunities and privileges tacked in the problems we face. There are ways of approaching our problems: ask for divine guidance; think; state the problem; analyze it; and adopt a positive mental attitude; and change the adversity into seeds of greater benefits. These steps point to very important ways of handling problems. The first and important one is to ask for divine guidance on how to deal with the problem and then think. Many a time’s people lose their ability to reason or think positively when they are in problems. they often drift into worry which is a negative way of thinking. One can still think positively during times of trouble.
iv. Learn to see
Seeing is a learned process. We have to train the mind to interpret what we see. The eyes act as hands which reach out there and grab meaningless things and bring them into the brain. The brain then turns the things over to the memory. It is not until the brain interprets in terms of comparative action that we really see anything.
Some of us go through life seeing very little of the power and the glory around us. We do not properly filter the information that our eyes give us through the mental processes of the brain. As a result we often behold things without really seeing them at all.
There is a story in the Bible of how Jesus Christ one time healed a man who was blind, when the man first saw, he said he saw people moving like trees. Jesus then touched his eyes again to gain his full sight. There is real need for our eyes to be opened to see the power and glory around us, it’s in seeing the truth of the glory surrounding us that we can claim to be truly seeing.
v. The secret of getting things done
More than any chapter, this chapter was my key focus in reading the book; the secret of getting things done. I have greatly faced the challenge of procrastinating things and thus burdened myself with deadlines and sometimes things are do not get done. I did a test of my leadership style and found that I was more a visionary leader but scored less in getting things done. This was not just a test but it was a real life experience. I have sought for ways of dealing with this ‘weakness’ and this chapter seemed to open up the secret. “Do It Now!”
A few days from reading this chapter, I was able to pursue the registration of an organization I had dreamt and planned to register since last year, begin engaging in meetings with potential people who have technical know-how on NGO management, engaged in the development of concept papers with the aim of developing project proposals. This is ongoing and thanks to this secret of getting things done: “Do It Now.”
vi. Motivate others
Motivation is that which induces action or determines choice. It is the hope or other force which starts an action in an attempt to produce specific results. The 10 basic motives are: self-preservation, love, fear, sex, desire for life after death, freedom of body and mind, anger, hate, desire for recognition and self-expression and the desire for material wealth. That hope is the magic ingredient in motivating yourself and others. In effect, dealers in hope, are dealers in motivation.
vii. Is there a shortcut to riches?
My first encounter with this chapter raised curiosity. For I have heard severally that there is not shortcut to riches. The only shortcut to riches would be through dubious means, but a critical examination of the shortcut is that it takes time and it is no different from the ordinary route.
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?
Most of these ideas have emphasized and emboldened me to take action on the ideas I have learned and continue doing them. I am beginning to see some results already especially in taking some decisions and planning and supervising activities. I have learned that to do something, do it now! My wife and I leased a garden and the person we employed to work on it cheated us and as a result our hearts were dampened but through reading success through a positive mental attitude, I was able to deal with the challenge, and now the garden is well tended and sweet potatoes are growing nicely in 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.
“Nothing is ever accomplished without work. If I leave you nothing else but the will to work, I will have left you the priceless gift: the joy of work.”
It emphasizes the role of hard work.
“Loving people and serving them is the greatest value in life.”
‘Greatness comes to those who develop a burning desire to achieve high goals. Greatness does not just happen, people must desire to achieve not just any goal but rather high goals.”
“To become an expert achiever in any human activity, it takes practice, practice, practice. Practice some more, no man is perfect until they have practiced, practiced over and over again.”
“Keep your mind on the things you want and off the things you don’t want. Showing that everyone has the power of control over their own mind and thus can tend it in the direction he or she wants.”
“Every adversity has the seed of an equivalent or greater benefit for those who have positive mental attitude.”
It calls us to search for the opportunities tacked in every adversity.
“Sometimes the things that seem to be adversities turn out to be opportunities in disguise.”
We must just learn to see.
“When you are faced with a problem that involves a misunderstanding with other persons, you must first start with yourself.”
I have practiced this concept and in so doing learned to accept and grow in my personality and character.
“For knowledge doesn’t make you successful. But the application of knowledge will.”
Application of knowledge leads to success. Yet application of knowledge is defined as wisdom. So to be successful we need wisdom. Many of the ideas which come to us as we learn to see with fresh eyes will strike others as bold. These ideas can either frighten us or, if we act on them, make our fortune.
“You are more apt to succeed if you do what comes naturally.”
Success must not be a struggle but must rather flow naturally.
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?
There were points for contemplation which were helpful though no clear exercises existed.
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.
Of all the books of the first stage, this book contained content that I believe agreed with my own beliefs and thus it made it easier to read and enjoy. I did not need to strain with philosophies or concepts that were either too mythological or scientific to comprehend. And I would read it again and again.
Please rate the following questions on a scale from 1 to 10. Ten is good and one is poor.
A. How interesting was it to read? 9
B. How helpful were the contents? 9
C. How easy was it to understand? 10
D. Would you recommend it to others? 10
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 10