As a Man Thinketh
by James Allen
A 1903 essay of under fifty pages whose thesis is that character and circumstance grow from thought. It is lyrical and absolute, with no concessions to luck or structure, and its influence on everything that followed is enormous. Read it as a poem about responsibility rather than a theory of causation.
Read it if…
you want a short, beautifully written reminder that your thinking shapes your conduct.
Skip it if…
you want nuance about circumstances beyond your control; the essay allows none.
Three things you will actually use
- Guard the thoughts you dwell on.
- Link your purpose to your daily thinking.
- Take responsibility for your inner climate.
Do this first
Read it in one sitting and underline the single sentence you most resist.
Our verdict
A tiny classic; too absolute to be true, too true to ignore.
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