As A Man Thinketh
Assessment by Mbohli Nadege Ayuni (Cameroon)
1.What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?
In this book, the author, James Allen emphasises the importance, relevance and role of our thoughts in our lives. His bases for this idea is that all that we are, our character, situations we find ourselves in, are as a result of our thoughts conscious or unconscious. He links thought to so many parts of our existence, health, dreams and goals, character, cancelling out randomness. I think the author is trying to illustrate that by our thoughts we are either made or unmade. We are masters of our own lives and all we do or say during those lives are because of 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 after each one as to why it was important to you. Use personal examples from your own life.
i. Purpose
In this book the author, writes on the importance of having a purpose in life to serve as a point of focus. Without real purpose we are prone to doubt and laziness. Without real purpose, we have no goal and frustration sets in. Sometimes it is difficult for a person to find a purpose in life especially if we are searching for something we feel is great, a great purpose. I am at a stage in my life where I am realising my purpose or goals and leaning towards achieving them. Reading this book reminded me of how important having a purpose is. It may not be a lifelong goal, it may be a simple purpose just for a moment, it is important nonetheless.
ii. Thought and health
Thought is linked to health and I know this from experience. I try to practise the habit of thinking positive and cheerful thoughts when I feel sick or on a particularly gloomy day and my thoughts usually make me feel a lot better. I also think it is true that sad and unhappy thoughts corrupt the mind and the body. Others can feel this too and soon people start to pull away from you. To live a happy life we must be healthy and not just physically but mentally too. This health sips out of us and onto other people in our lives.
iii. Self-control
I particularly liked the idea of serenity because I have witnessed the general reaction of a group of people to a calm and composed person as opposed to someone with less self-control. There is a certain amount of trust where the former is concerned. As a leader or someone hoping to one day become a leader, self-control is therefore vital. In constant practise with calm thoughts, we find self-control. This is very important to me, since I dream of being a pilot and for this a certain degree of self-control is required and I know I can attain it by constant practise with the right thoughts. If we have self-control, we find that it becomes easy to control other parts of our lives especially, moments of difficulty and disappointment.
iv. Building character
From the book, I have learned so much about character in relation to thought. I agree with the author where he says we are what we think. It could take a long time to express itself but thought is expressed eventually, especially if it is a constant thought. This is also an important point that deals with expressions, facial expressions and body language, two topics that interest me very much. I have done some practise of my own and I found that thought really shapes a person’s character to some degree. This is very important because if we are what we think then by changing what we think we change who we are. This makes me think there really is hope for anyone who wants to change no matter how bad they seem.
v. Achievement and thought
This is in line with the idea of the power of positive thinking. Think big because we are free to and because when we think big, we achieve big it is the one thing we are completely free to do; think. The first step in achieving a goal or living a dream is thinking and believing that you can make it. The thought is very important because it influences the way you will go about achieving this goal. Doubt, fear and so many other distractions suppress the beautiful thoughts of achievement in many youths that in the end, dreams are lost.
vi. Sacrifice
It is true that to gain something you must sacrifice another and the larger what we hope to achieve is, the bigger the sacrifice will be. So many people let go of their dreams because they could not sacrifice. I watched my parents sacrifice a lot for my siblings and me to go to school. This has made me respect the need for sacrifice and recognise how difficult it can be, especially now that I will be making sacrifices of my own. Sacrifice as I have realised, is giving with hope of receiving but without any expectation to receive.
vii. Responsibility
This idea is not very obvious in the text. A person who cultivates the mind with the right kind of thoughts can obtain self-control and responsibility, which falls under character. Responsibility is a somewhat fleeting notion for the youths of our time. I think this is one of those ideas, which we still need to learn so much about.
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 am trying to put these lessons to practise already and I think they will help me become a better person especially when it comes to thought and self-control. I also think that with what I have learned here I could offer advice to anyone who will need it on the topics related to thought.
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.
“Men are anxious to improve their circumstances but are unwilling to improve themselves; they therefore remain bound.”
This happens to be very true. There are so many people who wish for so much; wealth, friendship, a great job, but they never do anything much about their situation. Most people say, “They are just dreams.” However, I think if you want something, you do your best to get yourself to where you can get what you want.
‘The vision that you glorify in your mind, the ideal that you enthrone in your heart…this you will build your life by, this you will become.”
What we desire so much, we think about all the time, strategizing, on how best to attain the goal. This becomes our life since most of what we do will be directed towards this goal. Thus, we become this vision. Therefore, we must be careful of what we desire and what we hold as vision.
“To live continually in thoughts of ill will, cynicism, suspicion and envy, is to be confined to a self made prison.”
We are free by our thoughts but we can also become prisoners of our thoughts. To continually bode on evil thoughts leads to obsession and eventually a self-made prison. One must control their thoughts and not the other way around.
5. Is there anything in the book that you do not understand or are unclear about, or are there ideas which you disagree with and, if so, why?
I think the author was a little too stiff on the idea of circumstance and thought. That a person is wholly responsible for what they think and where they find themselves. I feel that he did not adequately involve environment into the picture. I find myself asking the question, we begin thought when we are little. If one’s sense of right and wrong not properly built in their young years, then the inbuilt human ability to discern right from wrong will be found wanting. We know one’s character is same with thought yes, but is one completely responsible for their situation then.
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 the book had no obvious 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.
I think there was a lot of repetition in the book and I do understand that the author was trying to stress the importance of thought but I found it a little heavy when reading.
Please rate the following questions on a scale from 1 to 10. Ten is good and one is poor.
A. How interesting was it to read? 9
B. How helpful were the contents? 8
C. How easy was it to understand? 9
D. Would you recommend it to others? 9
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 9
Jonathan Livingston Seagull
Assessment by Mbohli Nadege Ayuni (Cameroon)
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?
I think the author; Richard Bach is trying to convey the idea of believing in oneself. He illustrates this idea by linking it to thought. The lead character in the book, Jonathan, believed in himself and in the idea that seagulls could be more than just food pickers. He believed in trying repeatedly for what he loved. He believed in himself still in the second part while he trained with Chiang and Sullivan. He also helps Fletcher, Kirk and the rest of his students to believe in themselves. I think according o the author, believing in oneself is to think you are free of all limitations; you are truly free to be who you really are whatever you want to be. To believe it, you must think it but it all starts with believing.
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. Perseverance
In life, perseverance is one of the vital attributes people should endow themselves with because our world is not perfect and we deal with different types of people and situations everyday that would seem trying and difficult. In perseverance, we learn patience and in perseverance we learn to try again and it is in trying that we grow. I have not lived very long, but I have had many experiences some of them ending in great disappointment, moments in my education when I felt ‘stuck’. However, in perseverance I have learned to forge ahead, learning to try again.
ii. Love
We all need love in our lives, be it filial or love between friends or spouses. Understanding what it means to love, even those who hate you is one-step at being a better person. There is not enough love in our world today. All it took was for Jonathan Seagull to love and for love he went back to his home and helped open the eyes and mind of so many seagulls. Love is to be Share without even expectation of reciprocation. When we love, we make a difference.
iii. Fear
The Seagulls were very rigid in the belief that none of them was to fly and they saw Jonathan’s ideas to be out of their tradition. Often people are afraid of change, which make their lives mundane and sometimes purposeless. Change is inevitable, and the human being is prone to change, to evolve. In my country, so many communities are as rigid as the seagulls that shunned Jonathan and for them tradition takes the first place. I do not disregard tradition but in areas as sensitive as health, blindness and fear of change has proved to be fatal. It is true that what we do not know we fear but I believe that it does not have to be that way.
iv. Believing in oneself
This point is especially important to me. I think believing in oneself can attain all dreams attainable. If Jonathan the main character, never believed in himself, he would have lacked the will to keep trying to fly, to learn, he would have been suppressed by obligation and fear. I have a friend, who has stopped believing in herself and her gifts. I am trying presently to help her regain the confidence she needs in any small way I can and reading this story helped me relate her situation to Jonathan’s. Believing is not only for the person in question but also for others in his or her life to believe in him or her. I would not have had the courage to forge ahead in my life in the many times of doubt without my siblings. At every, stumble they would say ‘you can do it, we believe in you’.
v. Sacrifice
The main character in this story, sacrificed comfort and acceptance, he left his friends and new home to go back to a place where he badly treated. He sacrificed his study and quest for perfection to help other seagulls who wanted to fly. Sacrifice can be difficult, but when done for a just cause can bring fulfilment. I am working on personal sacrifice and I know in my own way, how difficult it can be that is why this idea in the story is so important to me.
vi. Courage
This is an idea that can be misunderstood. It took a lot of courage for Jonathan’s students to come up to him for lessons as we see in the story. Courage is coupled with fear. Through fear, you find courage but we must put aside the fear to be able to act on the courage. Many people lack the courage to stand up for what they believe in and know is right. I think in our world today, there are many wrong things that can be corrected. Without the courage to point them out, these issues will not be resolved.
vii. Freedom in thought
I have often heard that we are what we think and indeed, we are. We can be free by thoughts and by ideas. In thinking, we are free, we act as thought we are free and we will become free. Free from our limitations and manmade boundaries.
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?
All these ideas and lessons will definitely help me make a change in any way I can no matter how small it may be. I know I can help people by just talking to them about all this lessons. Sometimes, for change to take hold it suffices for someone to speak to another earnestly. I think on a personal level, these lessons are helping me to keep believing in my dreams. Especially at this time in my life, when so many decisions are made, that will eventually shape the course my life.
4. Quotes: Are there any statements, which the author made that particularly got your attention? If so, please quote them and comment as to why they were important to you.
“You have the freedom to be yourself, your true self, here and now and nothing can stand in your way.”
This statement is particularly important to me because I do believe that we all have the freedom to be our true selves, and in so doing we give others permission to be their true selves. However, I often find myself limited by my fears and uncertainties, and I forget that I am free… Reading this quote in the story made me think again, about how important this idea is to me.
“Your whole body 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.”
This holds a special significance to me because I live in a community where I have met and observed so many people who seem to be prisoners of their thought. Some of these people are older, some are the younger generation but I realised that the thing they had in common was, their thoughts held them back. This disturbed me greatly. I too on a personal level was a victim to this, where at a time in my life I lost some wonderful opportunities just because I thought I would not be able to do what was required of me. But when you realise how much potential we all have and if you think in that way, your body has permission to act in that way.
“The trick was to know that his true nature lived, as perfect as an unwritten number.”
I loved the way the author describes the perfection of one’s true nature. Ascribing it to an unwritten number gives it an anonymity that I find to be true. Perfection is never defined.
5. Is there anything in the book that you do not understand or are unclear about, or are there ideas which you disagree with and, if so, why?
I was not very clear on the implication or meaning of the way that Chiang and eventually Jonathan exited the story. I understood that they probably attained perfection, but does that mean they cease to exist? On the other hand, do they fade to some other plane of existence? This made caused me to ask myself the question that does learning and the quest for perfection really end.
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, the book did not 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.
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? 6
C. How easy was it to understand? 9
D. Would you recommend it to others? 8
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 8
PsychoCybernetics
Assessment by Mbohli Nadege Ayuni (Cameroon)
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?
In my point of view, the author is exploring the idea of bettering oneself or changing oneself; character and habits by the simple use of self image. In a follow up to his title, PsychoCybernetics he portrays the human mind to be like a machine with goals set by us and always working in the direction that is best for us. His ideas cut across all aspects of our lives, not just character, behaviour, habits but also success and happiness intricately relating them to self image and the idea of PsychoCybernetics. In his book he directly or indirectly sends across the message that everyone can change who they are, it all depends on them and their zeal for change.
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. Self image
The author describes self image as the mental blue print of ourselves, conceived from our experiences especially during childhood, we believe it is true and act on it and cannot act otherwise. What we perceive ourselves as, we act on. This is especially important to me since I know for a fact that this is true. Earlier on in my life I had a fixed perception of myself and I was unhappy about this but made no moves to change that. People would tell me that they view me in just the same way that I view myself without me even telling them how I felt. Eventually, in an offhanded comment my sister said ‘we are what we make ourselves to be’ and it hit me. I started working on changing how I felt about myself and saw myself and almost immediately people saw me differently. To those who knew me, it was a welcomed change. This book has widened my knowledge on the subject and I know I will use this knowledge.
ii. Imagination
The author writes about the importance of imagination in shaping how we see ourselves. I am lucky to be one of the many people who have a very active imagination and I believe it is one of the foundations for creativity so I do appreciate the importance of imagination in our lives. The author writes about practice by imagination. This has proven a helpful tool for me. In relation to self image imagination comes into play, when we imagine ourselves as someone we want to be. Practice makes perfect and with constant imagination we perfect the mental image of ourselves which we now act out in behavior.
iii. Success Mechanism
This particular idea picked my interest since it is more closely related to the functioning of the brain and the idea of the built in servo mechanism was fascinating to read. The author expresses the humans have a built in guidance system and since we are quite different from other animals this system multi tasks. However, the point is that we are not engineered to fail. So if we need to say change our self image, we use our creative mechanism combined with our servo mechanism.
iv. The habit of happiness
The author Maxwell Maltz writes that happiness is native to the human mind and it physical machine. When we are happy we are a lot healthier physically and mentally. He writes in a quote that this happiness can be constructed and developed through an individual’s own actions regardless of the environment. Most people rely on another person or object to make them happy but I think we need to be able to find happiness in ourselves and this can be attained by using positive approaches and staying goal oriented. If you are working toward something you want you are will be happy.
v. Emotional face lift
This point is quite important because I think we all do sometimes need an ‘emotional face lift’ when we have certain issues we are dealing with that seem physical. Sometimes our experiences burn deeper into our lives than we would like to admit and may affect us negatively. So I think that a good first step will be to give yourself an emotional face lift.
vi. Peace of mind
Peace of mind is one of the most elusive things in most of our lives. Be it because we are concerned with less important things or be it because we do not fully understand what it is to have peace of mind. The author presents the idea of do it yourself tranquilizers that help us in our day to day activities to find tranquility and peace within ourselves. These techniques stress again on the fact that it is up to us to find that peace that we need to effectively carry on in life.
vii. False Beliefs
Many people in my country are carried away by false beliefs and sometimes they trust so much in these beliefs that even when something that is for their own benefit presents itself they completely ignore it. The same applies to the way we view ourselves. Believing in something is what make it real, and when we think it is real, we as though it truly were real. Those things we believe about ourselves that are not real should be removed from our thoughts when we are on the path to becoming better versions of our present selves.
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 and lessons will help me and are already helping me broaden my knowledge on bettering oneself and the importance of thought. I will definitely use these ideas in my everyday life, injecting them into my activities and helping everyone who needs it. So many people want to make better their lives and this advice or lessons might just be what they need to make that change. The idea of happiness is one that will help a lot of people if they viewed it in the right way. It helped and is still helping 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.
“We often over look the fact that man too has a success instinct, much more marvelous and much more complex than that of any animal. Our Creator did not short-change man. On the other hand, man was exceptionally blessed in this regard.”
This is so important to me because I feel that humans are such a blessed creation, beautiful in their complexity. I recognize the mystery that is life and it has been beautifully said is the above statement.
“Mental pictures offer us an opportunity to practice new traits and attitudes, which otherwise we could not do.”
I have previously spoken about the need for imagination and this quote explains that too. On a personal level, I can say my mind is always at work, imagining things and trying to perfect them. By imagining new personality traits, I have been able to incorporate them.
“Happiness is not the reward of virtue but virtue itself; nor do we delight in happiness because we restrain our lust; but on the contrary, because we delight in it, therefore are we able to restrain them.”
This is important to me because, I have realized that people say I should find happiness because I did this great thing, or because I am with this wonderful person. Happiness is not a reward of some sort, it is an attribute native to us and it is through it that we can do the great things.
“Your self-image must be a reasonable approximation of ‘you’, being neither more than you are nor less than you are.”
I feel this is important because if you have an accurate approximation of whom you are or want to be as your self-image, then others can start seeing you in that way too.
5. Is there anything in the book that you do not understand or are unclear about, or are there ideas which you disagree with and, if so, why?
I do not think there is anything I am unclear about.
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 a couple of exercises in the book and I have not completed all of them but I am working on that. They were very helpful and I especially like the exercises in chapter twelve.
7. Was there anything you read in the book that you would like to comment on that was not covered in the previous questions? If so, please comment.
No.
Please rate the following questions on a scale from 1 to 10. Ten is good and one is poor.
A. How interesting was it to read? 9
B. How helpful were the contents? 9
C. How easy was it to understand? 9
D. Would you recommend it to others? 10
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 9
Keys to Success
Assessment by Mbohli Nadege Ayuni (Cameroon)
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?
The main idea the author is trying to convey is that success is attainable by everyone, if you are ready to make it happen. He uses his 17 principles of success as guidelines to conveying his idea in addition to boosting the self confidence of the reader.
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
The author illustrates the importance of a definite purpose and the benefits which include specialization, budgeting, faith. This is important to me because, I believe we cannot get to where we want to go without knowing where we want to go. A definiteness of purpose is the first step in achieving your goals. A definiteness of purpose provides us a certain drive that aims in the achievement of set goals.
ii. Applied faith
Growing up, I had loved ones tell me, ‘have faith…’ and in this book, the author shows the importance of faith in oneself. This is also a good remedy for shedding our fears and building our self confidence. Faith, like the author wrote, is a state of mind and for it to work in this context it must be active making the mind open to infinite intelligence. By this infinite intelligence, we can achieve our set goals.
iii. Learning from defeat
This point like all the other points above is very important. Often when faced with defeat, our resolve weakens and we question our ability to achieve our goals. However, if we can use this defeat or adversity as learning experiences, combined with a positive mental attitude we can turn what seemed like a negative, into a positive. On a more personal level, I was faced with defeat at a point in my life when all my mates were forging ahead. I felt discouraged and I wanted to give up and leave school all together but I have a wonderful support system and the advise I was always given is “you give up because you do not know how close you were to succeeding.”Acceptance is a good way to start this learning process.
iv. Self-discipline
Self-discipline is one of the most important qualities for success and in other areas of life. In this book, the author explains that we have emotions good and bad which can be harnessed and controlled. These emotions are what compliment our reason but we must however find the balance between the two. Our egos are the source of our will power and by our will power we can develop self-discipline. It is important to note also that self-discipline can be developed with constant practise. I am still on the path of mastering this particular quality, which seems to be fleeting.
v. Persistence
This point is very important to me because I, like so many youths have dreams and goals and with these come many challenges. Sometimes, our dreams seem so farfetched and external influences stir us towards giving up. At times like this persistence and believe in oneself will put the fan to the dying flame of our dreams. Persistence is difficult to maintain but I have found it to be worthwhile and I think in everything we do, some degree of persistence is necessary. A quote goes “Hang in there. Be willing to do today what others will not, so you can do tomorrow what others cannot.”
vi. Creative vision
It is the power, which inspires the development of that personal initiative. Creativity is the reason for variety and all that you are or will become arises from your creative vision. I think that, allowing for creative vision is another way of taking dreams to a more realistic level and thus they become a lot more attainable. Thus possessing creative vision is essential. Creativity is like the defining mark of a mind. It cannot be learned or bought it is an integral part of each of us and it defers for everyone.
vii. Attention
Controlled attention is the act of coordinating all faculties of the mind and directing their combined power to a given end. Focusing attention on a single thing is one sure way to success. Divided attention does not ensure optimal results. I often find that we may think if we multitask we do much more work in a shorter amount of time but the question becomes ‘how effectively?’ Controlling your attention is another form of self-discipline and I find this to be important. In addition, I find that just when I begin to focus on one idea, my mind comes up with many more and it can get easy to lose track of what the set goal is. Therefore, I think this point is important.
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 immensely in my already ongoing battle for success helping me, just like all the other ideas to become a better version of so doing, helping others around me to be better. I also think the book has helped me to start building a sort of plan on how I will like to go about becoming the confident and successful woman I aim to be.
4. Quotes: Are there any statements, which the author made that particularly got your attention? If so, please quote them and comment as to why they were important to you.
“Every defeat carries the seed of an equivalent benefit.” This shows that defeat should be considered as a learning experience. Dale Turner said, “Some of the best lessons are learned from past mistakes. The errors of the past are the wisdom for the future.”
“Your mind is always satisfied with the harmony produced by a well organised plan.”
This happens to be true for me. I would always have more clarity with a well-organised plan be it in studies or chores. This rings true when associated with definiteness of purpose. With a well-organised plan the end goal and the path to the coveted goal, are clear.
“The more intolerant you are, the more you close yourself off to the diversity of the world.”
Diversity truly is a spice of life and if we are intolerant of it, we do not get the chance to learn and enjoy all the many different ideas and people that exist in this beautiful world, and as such, we do not grow.
“People, who cannot laugh when laughter is exactly what is called for, are denying themselves a wonderful mental tonic.”
Laughter is healthy for both the body and the spirit. I always love the feeling of my face relaxing as I break into a laugh or sincere smile during a tense or stressful period or the happiness that floods you after a good long laugh. It is said however that when we laugh, it should be with someone and not at someone. In addition, we are ourselves, the best source of our humour.
“Creative imagination, springs from your commitment to your definite purpose.”
I like this quote because it seemed to say that even if you feel you possess no creative imagination whatsoever, having a definite purpose as discussed earlier and with faith and commitment to it, you begin to develop creative vision. Because you want said purpose so much and work hard to wards that your mind begins to come up with new and different ideas that you can use to obtain your goal.
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 author wrote about making your goals an obsession in the first chapter of this book. I also understand that he later talks of control. I am uncertain about the fact that we have to make our goals into obsessions, since obsessing about something no matter how good it is, can be detrimental.
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 contained no obvious exercises but there were questions to be answered at the end and I completed them.
7. Was there anything you read in the book that you would like to comment on that was not covered in the previous questions? If so, please comment.
No.
Please rate the following questions on a scale from 1 to 10. Ten is good and one is poor.
A. How interesting was it to read? 9
B. How helpful were the contents? 8
C. How easy was it to understand? 9
D. Would you recommend it to others? 9
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 9
Success Through a Positive Mental Attitude
Assessment by Mbohli Nadege Ayuni (Cameroon)
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?
The author Napoleon Hill explains in this book, how success can be attained by the awareness and uses of the positive mental attitude (PMA). He mentions that this PMA can be counteracted by the negative mental attitude (NMA) which he believes is a part of each and every one of us. He appropriately calls this a two faced talisman. In the book the author strives to build self confidence and subsequent success, in making readers believe that we are the reason for are success and if we could uses what we already have in the right way we can attain this.
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. Religion
I loved the way the author integrated his believe in God into his writing. He constantly mentions and portrays that role God plays in our lives. I grew up in a Christian home and my belief in God is the basis of my faith. Therefore, I find this idea to be very important to me. I also liked the way the author mentions the power of prayer in our lives in the “Universal principles in self –motivator form.” I too happen to believe in the power of prayer.
ii. Happiness
The author writes ‘Happiness is an elusive, transitory thing and if you set out to find it, you find it evasive but if you bring it to somebody else it comes to you.’ This is very true for me and I am at the point in my life where I have begun to understand the basic concepts of life; happiness, sacrifice, love. Therefore, I found the use of a positive mental attitude and an understanding of other people’s energy a welcomed piece of information. Happiness is linked to the state of mind and thus health. Sometimes the simplest things like laughter bring a little happiness into our lives. We feel visibly relaxed as a result and much healthier just as Abraham Lincoln rightly said, “With the fearful strain that is on me night and day, if I do not laugh, I should die.”
iii. Health
To be of sound health, we should be of good mental and physical state. This book talks about both but I found the focus on the mental state most inspiring. I learned previously that, we are what we think. Thus if sound health involves both the mind and the body, thinking positive and healthy thoughts go a long way to aid in keeping us healthy. I also know that this happens to be very true, as I have experienced it.
iv. Success principles
This idea was very important to me as I have come to fine these principles very useful. I especially like the idea of the positive mental attitude principle. These principles as simple as they seem try to embody the needs of every person who dreams of success.
v. Motivation
In the book, the author writes that we can get and give motivation by hope. Hope is a very important emotion and once planted in the mind will only grow bigger and at the appropriate time, it will provide the motivation needed for the completion of a task. In addition, I think that we should try to be our own motivation. I say this because we may find ourselves in a situation where, what had once been the source of our motivation besides ourselves, will be absent. Then we will have to rely on ourselves for this motivation. If we cannot provide this motivation, we will find that the zeal with which we pursue our goals will start to diminish and we may lose track of our end goals all together. Therefore, I think motivation is an important idea.
vi. Obsession
The author talks of developing a magnificent obsession to help people. It is said that we receive whatever we put into the world. So too the good we put into the world by helping people will be returned to us. Giving to others without expectation of receiving is the magnificent obsession and in sharing some part of you with others, what is left multiplies. This principle can be applied in overcoming obstacles in life. When you share some part of you, be it an experience or advice, the others share with you too and you thus receive more than you put out. I also think this idea is linked to listening to others and in so doing, learning a lot about you and about them.
vii. Energy
PMA requires energy and it is essential to realise whenever your energy level is low and you become all the different things you do not want to be like, irritable, jealous, unduly tired. By recognising this, you will learn how to avoid or manage such situations. It is also good to recognise the different energy levels of those around us so that relating with them can easier and effective. If you understand people and their energy levels, you can determine when to make a particular move or bring forth a particular idea and anticipate a response thus avoiding unnecessary conflict or even expect one and manage it.
3. How will these ideas or lessons help you in a practical way, both in your daily personal life and in helping you to create a better world? If so, how?
I think these ideas will help me on a personal as well as social level. My generation is at that age where success is everything and it will be helpful to know the different things we can add to our lives to help us achieve this. So as always, I will do my best to make what I have learnt known to anyone I come in contact with, who needs 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.
“In all the history of the world there was never anyone like you and in all infinity to come, there will never be another.”
This shows me how special and unique we all are. Sometimes we forget that. Sometimes we forget that for every one of us, there is something that we contribute in any given situation that cannot be contributed by anyone else in quite the same way.
“Sometimes it is good to do what you want to do and not what reason fears.”
I like this quote because it related to the use of intuition and self-confidence. Sometimes waiting for facts and rationalities before taking action or a decision can lead to a loss. The intuition is a gift in every one of us and it is good that we learn how to follow it and to keep it from being affected by other external factors. This quote also suggests a certain degree of self-confidence, which is good.
“Man’s greatest power lies in the power of prayer.”
I liked this very much because I happen to be a Christian, and I view prayer as a moment of period of self re-evaluation. A moment of meditation, when we step out of ourselves and take the time to listen. I think in this quiet moment we have the power to practise by thought. To find those negative attitudes we have and root them out.
“One of the things that often prevent us from seizing the now is a certain timidity in the face of our inspirations.”
I loved this statement because, I used to be that person who would be inspired by something, have a wonderful idea, yet shy away from putting it out there. I t were as though I were afraid of my own inspiration. Sometimes the intensity with which ideas will flow could leave me frozen and I could not propel myself to action. “What if they were not so good,” I would tell myself. Recently I have begun to trust in my inspiration, keeping my fear of failure aside and following up on my ideas.
5. Is there anything in the book that you do not understand or are unclear about, or are there ideas which you disagree with and, if so, why?
No.
6. Did the book contain exercises for the reader to complete? If so, did you complete all of the exercises and did you find them helpful?
Yes the book contained some exercises and I found them very helpful.
7. Was there anything you read in the book that you would like to comment on that was not covered in the previous questions? If so, please comment.
No.
Please rate the following questions on a scale from 1 to 10. Ten is good and one is poor.
A. How interesting was it to read? 8
B. How helpful were the contents? 9
C. How easy was it to understand? 9
D.Would you recommend it to others? 9
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 9
How to Win Friends and Influence People
Assessment by Ayuni Nadege (Cameroon)
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?
The author, Dale Carnegie, puts forth a number of ideas but I think the general idea he is conveying in the book is that, to achieve anything in this life and in dealing with superiors, colleagues, friends, family, spouses…people, we must learn to put the other person first. The human need for the feeling of importance will assure our interactions’ success if we put the other person first. Dale presented a number of ways by which this can be done such as admitting one’s fault, not engaging in arguments, smiling, taking interest in other people. I think another major idea the author is that of the old saying “practice makes perfect.” In a number of areas in the book he talks of practicing these ideas over and over, reading the book and taking notes, using some of the ideas as a sort of mantra to help our mind process and adapt the ideas, for “As a Man Thinketh so is He.”
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. Become genuinely interested in other people.
I often get wrapped up in my own life, my troubles and I do not take time to listen to other people, to truly become interested in them and their lives and if I am interested sometimes it is because it is beneficial to me. I think developing this attitude of care n interest in others will help in understanding and relating to people.
ii. Do not criticize, condemn or complain.
Dale Carnegie suggests this as a way to get through to people especially in a work situation. I think this will help me a lot at my place of work. I work with kids and I often experience difficulty in getting them to do class assignments and group work. Often I would try to use the authority rendered to me by my position to get them to do this but it often leaves them lazy and resistant. Sometimes after a poor performance in the assessments I would respond with negative criticism but I think with this idea I will obtain better results.
iii. Let the other person feel the idea is his or hers.
Now this particular idea I have already put to practice in my personal life. I had a slight disagreement with my father about a method of organization and in the middle of all the explaining and tempers rising he started buying my idea without accepting he had been wrong. I kept thinking about the section in this book which explains this idea so I let him think he was right and it was his idea all along. The argument died pretty quickly after that.
iv. Smile
I have already mentioned this point but I just like to lay more emphasis on how much I appreciate the author’s efforts on bringing this idea forth. As a teacher I have learned that smiling inspires confidence. On my first class about 3 years ago, I thought that putting on a serious face and acting all serious would help keep the kids in check. However, I was just over compensating for my fears. I later learned that a smile can really go a long way to inspire confidence.
v. Show respect for the other person’s opinions.
Throughout my life in high school I observed I kind of segregation, where privileged or more socially established kids would shut down other kids they considered below them. No matter how wonderful their idea seemed they would get shut out of the conversation in a gathering or so. Back then it bothered me so much but now I know there is something I can do about it…I can show respect for the opinions of others n hopefully by my example teach others to do so.
vi. Let the other person do a great deal of talking.
I love this idea not only for how well it is explained in the book but because you learn a great deal about people when you let them do all the talking. Naturally, I present as more of a listener, observer if you will so most people talk to me more than they listen to me. {I developed this habit in my teens and I must say is a good tool to have on a date.} People, as explained are usually more interested in themselves than in others so letting them talk about themselves helps them to become comfortable and your interaction will mostly go on smoothly.
vii. Mental attitude counts
With the right mental attitude we can create. This is possible because when we have the right mental attitude it results in the ’right’ action. Action and feeling go together. There have been times when my mental disposition helped me get through tough times mostly financial related sort of hard times. But with the right thoughts we have the weapon we need to succeed and survive.
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 believe these lessons will prove very helpful in my day to day interactions and in dealing with difficult situations. In fact, they are helping me already. I recently put the practice the idea of smiling, a genuine smile not the face thing that people can spot a mile away. I had an appointment with my boss and his secretary is quite a difficult lady. The last time I saw her things ended rather badly, going back there recently, I kept repeating to myself, “look at things from the other person’s point of view and smile.” I went in to the office doing exactly that. At first she was dismissive but kept my smile on imagining she might have been having a bad day or something like that, trying to see her point of view. I said thank you every time asked for some information and the next day she was quite friendly and got to complete the purpose for my visit with ease. So, I know these ideas if practiced frequently will help me mould better habits and in general become a better person.
4, Quotes: Are there any statements which the author made that particularly got your attention? if so please quote them and comment as to why they were important to you.
There are a number of quotes that appealed to me in this book, some by the Arthur, some he quotes from another person. They are:
“Thought is supreme to think rightly is to create.”
“It isn’t what you have or who you are or what you are dong that makes you happy or unhappy.”
“You are eternally interested in what you want but no one else is. The rest of us are just like you.”
“Flattery is telling the other person precisely what he thinks about himself.”
5. Is there anything in the book that you do not understand or are unclear about or are there any ideas which you disagree with and if so why?
No, the book was quite straight forward with lots of stories to ease understanding.
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 exercises. It was indicated at the end of the book that the courses had been removed.
7. Is there anything you read in the book that you would like to comment on that was not covered in the previous questions? if so please comment.
No further comments.
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 was the content? 9
C. How easy was it to understand? 10
D. Would you recommend it to others? 9
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 9