As a Man Thinketh
Assessment by Grace Ogbe (Nigeria)
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 convey is the power of thought upon mans reality and circumstances. So that, whatever, good or bad, that is happening in a mans life is a result of their predominant thoughts.
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 seven key areas that were most important to me are:
i. A desire for meaning
I am of the opinion that a life without meaning is worthless. It is a core value of mine, to ensure my very actions and decisions align with my “meaning.”
ii. Courage
With courage, there’s hardly any feat or height imaginable, that one can’t attain.
iii. Discipline
Discipline is important to achieve anything significant in our today’s world. It is important for me to apply it in a significant way.
iv. Resilience
This is the ability to bounce back or stay calm amidst turbulent times. It is a skill few attain that makes the difference.
v. Non-conformist
When you do not allow the dictates of the society and validation of people guide you, you become invincible.
vi. Big dreamer
It is true, that the world belongs to those that dream.
vii. Freedom
A life without freedom is not the life we’re meant for. Freedom is so important even our Creator is an advocate of freedom.
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?
Answer: these ideas have made me reflect on my own life. The standards I have, the goals I have set and my definition of meaning and fulfillment. The ideas and lessons this book ha proffered will nonetheless be scoured by me. I plan to imbibe the lessons I garnered to practice; to dream and execute, to have resilience amidst tough times. To not be afraid of being different and to live in such a way that I pour out, empty myself into another person or people either directly or indirectly. So that I will have lived indeed.
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.
“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.”
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 only aspects of the book I wasn’t too clear about were the speed calculations in meter and kilometers. But that will be peculiar as I’m not really a numbers person. But I understand the importance of the details of the distance of his flight to the overall plot and predominant theme of the book.
6. Did the book contain exercises for the reader to complete? If so, did you complete all of the exercises and did you find them helpful?
No, it didn’t contain any exercises.
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, so I noticed some dash of biblical references in the book which was really refreshing as the Bible is one resource I love to center all other values I have in life in. While this came across as a self-help book, I love that it touches on spirituality a tinge as well and matters of psychology which gives it an almost comprehensive outlook on the subject.
However, in some miraculous way, the author still manages to keep it all concise and this to me is a wonder. As this bit-sized lessons it offers is best in the most concise form as possible. This way, it is hard to forget the details learned.
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? 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 Grace Ogbe (Nigeria)
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 convey is ambition and drive. The important of resilience was also greatly emphasized. The major character had a lot of reasons to give up, being ostracized, defeated and falling short severally, but he displayed a great deal of resilience and that enabled him to push till he achieved his goals.
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 seven key points that were most important to me are:
i. We are what we think
The author made us to understand that the outcome of our lives are eventually the result of the predominant thoughts that occupy our live.
ii. Our thoughts
Another is the fact that we must monitor the kinds of thoughts we allow into our minds. For example; good thoughts ultimately leads to an upwards-forwards life and consistent bad thoughts do just the opposite.
iii. The importance of self control and calm mindfulness
This is important to virtually every aspect of one’s life. So that, so long one can maintain a great deal of self control they can generate to willpower to stir their life along the path they desire.
iv. The need for one to have a purpose in life was greatly emphasized.
Having read “The Purpose Driven Life” by Rick Warren, I can understand the power of a life with purpose.
v. The need for self reflection and assessment
We cannot overemphasize the profound power of self reflection; how else can we assess growth and measure progress without it?
vi. The link between thoughts and ones health
This is so important as rightly elucidated in the book. Your overall wellness is directly related to the state and nature of your thoughts.
vii. The profound power of dreaming and keeping ones dreams alive.
In a world that gets choked with noise of ambitions and expectations as one ages, it is easy for ones dreams to get drowned in the din. Keeping ones dream alive becomes something of making intentions.
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 plan to imbibe the valuable lessons in the book by reflecting on my thought life. By also being more intentional about the kinds of things I let into my head and how I process thoughts. This book has and will continue to help me be more positive with my thoughts and to only think on noble, kind things, towards the betterment of my neighbor. Another way I plan to practice the lessons in this book is to never lose my childlike wonder and dream. To love being an idealist, because dream shape our world.
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.
Answer: “Each of us is in truth an idea of the Great Gull, an unlimited idea of freedom.”
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, it didn’t contain any exercises.
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 question of Jonathan Livingston Seagull’s age. It was not clear how long he lived before he transcended into the other world to meet the other Seagulls who’d mastered flight. I understand the need for the brevity in the book but I’d love to know his age and the phase of his life he was in across the different stages of the book. Did he die and go to the next world because he was old enough to? Or did he go to the next world because he had mastered a certain level of mastery to earn his transcendence? Also, his parents, were they not concerned at all about the whereabouts of their child that none of them even pushed hard enough to follow him especially when he was banished?
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