🚀 🧠 ⛽ Why Read As A Man Thinketh
Change our thoughts, transform our circumstances...
Dear Why Team member,
I hope this week’s message finds you well and encouraged.
Continuing our series of book reviews, this week we review James Allen’s incredible classic As A Man Thinketh. [See my list of most often recommended books here]
It is one of the few books I’ve read that feels divinely inspired- it is an absolute masterpiece and one of the few books I consistently recommend from stage. It is also a very small book - depending on the publication - only about 40 pages in length.
A daily reading of just one page will absolutely positively impact your life. There is a female version titled As A Woman Thinketh - if you prefer - same book, annotated for the other gender.
Why Read As A Man Thinketh?
First off, consider that this book despite being published in 1903, is very much relevant today, 120 years later. According to James himself, the book
“shows how, in his own thought-world, each man holds the key to every condition, good or bad, that enters into his life, and that, by working patiently and intelligently upon his thoughts, he may remake his life, and transform his circumstances."
Thinking about what we think about is at the top of any worthy list of steps on how to become more. Our thoughts so profoundly affect our experience of life that no external circumstance could ever come close. Yet, it’s the external rather the internal, that often gets the most attention. Consider the very wealthy who are still internally impoverished. A favorite line of mine is that if you think a lot of money will make you happy - you obviously don’t have a lot of money. What’s powerful about this line is the easy substitution of “money” with any other desire.
Consider that the only true solution to “want” is “gratitude” and that’s an inside job; from feelings of scarcity to abundance via our thinking alone.
My favorite line from the book is that “man is in want to change his circumstances but is not willing to change himself - therefore he remains bound”. And such is life for most - a constant never ending desire to change the external, rather than the internal, to achieve joy, peace and happiness. And no doubt social media supports the lie with all the smiling faces that for many were not smiling until they took the selfie.
As A Man Thinketh takes no prisoners in its approach to the reader to own absolutely everything about their life. Those who prefer the victim mindset will no doubt be offended by the book. Only those willing to do the hard work of self-reflection need sign up for the inquiry the book inspires.
Only when we fully own the picture, are we empowered to change the frame.
As a Man Thinketh is a must read for anyone committed to becoming more, courageously willing to find internal weaknesses to strengthen and fortify for a better tomorrow. If I had a required reading list for all Why Team members, this book would be among the top three.
“Nurture the Root and the Tree takes care of itself”. - Old Chinese Proverb
Consider joining me in taking this Holiday Why Team Challenge:
Beginning before year end, take one step per day a.k.a. reading one small page per day of As A Man Thinketh - for 40 consecutive days and then journal your growth from the experience.
We get out of life what we put into it. Let’s nurture the root of our thinking with this wonderful book - preparing us all to be the gifts we want to see during our BEST HOLIDAYS EVER!
Please click here for your free copy of As a Man Thinketh - Our Holiday Gift 🎁 to You for being a faithful 🙏 member.
[If our physical supplies run out, we are committed to sending a digital eBook copy as well for anyone who makes the effort to join us on this journey by signing up by the years end.)
Make it a great week!
Steve Luckenbach