As A Man Thinketh
Assessment by Fayedun Emmanuel Adewale (Nigeria)

1. Discuss the main ideas that you found most important in this book and discuss why they were important to you.

This book is such a stunning one! It is full of important ideas that are thought provokingly beneficial. Each of the chapters of the book conveys very important ideas. I will like to base my analysis of the ideas on the consideration of each chapter.

The first chapter: - Thought and character discussed in such a sinking manner the power of thought. It is indeed as James Allen himself puts it in his forward'
section of the book that it is; to stimulate men and women to the discovery and perception of the truth that "They themselves are makers of themselves" by
virtue of the thoughts which they choose and encourage; that mind is the master weaver, both of the inner garment of character and the outer garment of circumstances, and that, as they may have hitherto woven in ignorance and pain they may now weave in enlightenment and happiness" James Allen in this first chapter really expanded his view of how the thinking of a main actually affects not only the whole of a man's being, but also every condition and circumstances of his life.

He used the illustration of how a plant cannot come into existence except there first exist the seed. So every act of man too springs forth from the figurative
seeds of thought.

Even, the so-called "spontaneous" and unpremeditated" are as a result of a probably a long sown seed since the word 'act' is the blossom of thought, our actions
whether spontaneous or not must be admitted as having been as a result of the seeds of thought already sown in our mind.
Our thought actually makes our character and not a matter of chance. It is simply nature obeying its laws.

Since man is the master of thought, the molder of character, and the maker and shaper of condition, environment, and destiny, he should be held responsible for whatever happens around him. He holds the key to every situation.
Effects of thought on circumstances: - Since thought and character cannot be separated but character manifesting and discovering itself through environment and circumstance, the outer conditions of a man's life will always be found to be harmoniously related to his inner state - thought. This means that every man finds himself where he is now based on the thought, which he has built into character. And he is free to change his situation since he is in control of the situation. So, his circumstance is just the output of his processed input (thought).

So, for a man to improve his circumstances he must first learn to improve himself otherwise he will only be having a mere wishful thinking.

His thoughts directly results in his actions and in turn his whole life will be affected either for good or bad.

In chapter three; Effects of thought on Wealth and Body reveals one very important fact. The fact is that the body is the servant of the mind. It obeys the
operations of the mind, whether they be deliberately chosen or automatically expressed. At the bidding of unlawful thoughts the body sinks rapidly into disease
and decay; at the command of glad and beautiful thoughts. It becomes clothed with youthfulness and beauty.

So, like circumstances, whether we have good and perfect health or poor and bad one will depend largely on what we allow to dwell on our heart (mind).

Apart from the psychological effects, clean thoughts make clean habits and our habits no doubt have a direct link to what kind of health we have whether
good or bad.
The keyboard there was: if you would perfect your body, guard your mind. If you would renew your body, beautify your mind with good thoughts.

On the fourth chapter, which discusses; Thought and Purpose, it was asserted that until thought is linked with purpose there cannot be any intelligent accomplishment. This fact is actually, undeniably true. To live a meaningful life a man should without fail conceive of a legitimate purpose in his heart, and set out to have it accomplished. And in the effort of a man to accomplish his goal aimlessness, doubt and fear should be done away it.

The thought - factor in achievement section emphasizes the need for the man to understand that he is solely the reason for his present situation. All that a man achieves and all that he fails to achieve is the direct result of his own thoughts said James Allen.

In the section that discusses: Visions and ideals, it is clear that what we are today largely depend on our yesterday's dream. So, if we want out tomorrow to be
bright and beautiful we, must then dream lofty dreams today. As we dream today, so we shall eventually be tomorrow.

Finally, the `serenity' (Chapter seven) touches on beauty of being calm in mind. Whatever situation we find ourselves, calmness of mind will only tend to beautify our life and improve it. Even people will be endeared to us and we would be in total control of our life. All of this, I have decided to apply in my life

2. Can you relate the ideas or concepts you learned from this book to your personal circumstances in life such as your relationships, your beliefs, your goals, your values, etc? Explain.

Yes. I can relate the ideas I learned in this book to my personal circumstances in life especially in my beliefs and goals. In the past (before reading this book) I used to blame people, the economic situation in my country (as well as our leaders) for my situation. But now, I have come to realize that I must do something about my thoughts which will in effect, affect my characters, then my circumstances, then of course my health and body and finally what I will be able to accomplish. All of this put together will now give me calmness of mind to live a very peaceful and rewarding life.

I have also learned that what I do sometimes and which I referred to as not my fault but what takes place because of my circumstances are actually my own doings. Since my character is the complete sum of all my thoughts, and acts (or actions) are the blossoms of thought I have learned to start looking inward to see why I have acted in such a particular way and to still look within for why I am still where I am as at now.
I now realize that to ascend to divine perfection, I must work on making the right choice and making true application of my thought. Not doing that will mean descending to a level even below that of the beast - a level, which I refused.

I have also come to realize that knowledge is very essential. So, I have resolved to take the necessary steps towards getting the knowledge which of course I know requires patience, practice and ceaseless importunity.

My life I have come to know is like a garden. If left uncultivated will run wild but if cultivated with the right seed (of thought) will produce the desired yield. Since I am in control, I must do something about my life for good.

I must keep my figurative garden (that is my life) free from weeds. This I now learn requires weeding out all the wrong, useless and impure thoughts, and cultivating towards perfection the flowers and fruits of right, useful and pure thoughts. I have indeed seen myself as the master gardener of my soul; the director of my life.

I suddenly discovered that what a man does today is not by accident but as a result of a long time thought that he has been fostering in his heart. The hour of opportunity will only reveal its gathered power. Simply put; a circumstance does not make a man; it only reveals him to himself.

So, man should not desire good circumstances for himself but rather work (make efforts) toward achieving it. It is wise to discover flaws in one's
life and making the necessary adjustment towards correcting them. What a man is, is purely by himself. Good thoughts and actions can never produce bad results, vice-versa.

I have also learnt not to rate the blessedness of a man simply (only) by his material possessions. And about how I relate with others, I have learnt that I must first right myself to find that the universe is right. I now know that as I strive to put myself right, my thoughts will be altered towards things and other people. And invariably, things and other people will alter towards me.

Summing everything together, thoughts are the foundation of absolutely everything! Thoughts actually rapidly crystallize into habit, and a habit in turn solidifies into circumstances. The thoughts that come into our minds are processed and later manifested in our circumstances.
Thoughts are not changes after processing but only manifest in another form. That is why bestial thoughts that crystallize into habits of drunkenness and sensuality cannot solidify into circumstances of riches and good health but that of destitution and disease.

So, instead of kicking against circumstances, I ask myself: why don't I just begin to change my thoughts?

I have finally learned that to have a good health and body, I must prevent thoughts that result to them from taking root. Men I have learnt will continue to have impure and poisoned blood, so long as they propagate unclean thoughts. Out of a clean heart come a clean life and a clean body.

3. What are the most important new ideas or concepts you learned from this book? Please explain.

The very first most important new idea or concept I have learned from this book is that I hold the key to every situation and for that fact, what I am and what I get depends largely on how I use the key.

I have also learned and agreed with the fact that sufferings are purifies. When I reach perfection, sufferings in my life will naturally end. Another very important idea that I have gathered from this book is that though man is always the master, he can be a foolish master. It is when he begins to reflect upon his condition and search diligently for the law upon which his being is established can he
become a wise master.

It is this reflection upon his condition and searching that holds his circumstances.

Finally, I have come to the realization that every man is where he is by the law of his being; the thoughts which he has built into his character have brought him
there, and in the arrangement of his life there is no element of chance, but all is the result of a law which cannot err. Even, those who find themselves in
the wrong surroundings will naturally feel out of harmony with the surroundings in question.

4. Has this book challenged or changed your thinking in any way? If so, explain how?

I now agree that I can have a good health and body depending on how I manage my thoughts. I have also been challenged to make my purpose the centralizing
point of my thoughts.

Another way I have been challenged is the realization that the slavery of man is his own doing and that victories will be attained by the right thought.

I have also been challenged to dream lofty dreams since what I dream will eventually make me.

Finally, I now know that I can lead a peaceful and rewarding if I become strong and calm in the face of any circumstance.

5. Are there ideas in the book that you totally disagree with? If so, why?

As for me, no single idea in the book is not in agreement with me. It has indeed enlightened me to see life from the realistic point of view.

6. What did you find most helpful and least helpful in this book?

Simply put, what I find most helpful is the realization that I am in control and that I can be what I want to be. And what I found least helpful is the issue of getting out of harmony with your surroundings and having to endure with the same environment even when one's mind is away, it is indeed tortuous!

7. In 50 words or less, please describe the main idea the whole book is trying to convey.

The main idea is that we should stop complaining about our circumstances. We should rather allow good thoughts to get into our mind and to take concrete steps toward improving our circumstances. What we get out of life depends upon us and not any other person or 'thing'.

Please rate this book on a scale from 1 to 10, Ten is good and one is poor.

A. How interesting was it to read? 8
In reading the book, the interest is affected by certain shocking realizations that one is been responsible for his slow achievement in life.

B. How helpful were the contents? 10
The contents were 100 percent helpful.

C. How easy was it to understand? 10
James Allen expanded his view in such a simple and straight forward manner.

D. Would you recommend it to others? 8
Yes, But to those not too skeptical about realities.

E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 9
James Allen really did a fine job!

Jonathan Livingston Seagull
Assessment by Fayedun Emmanuel Adewale (Nigeria)

1. Discuss the main ideas that you found most important in this book and discuss why they were important to you.

The following ideas are what I have found most important in this book:

(a) I have learned that to think like others is to remain like others; to move ahead then requires thinking ahead. The majority of the people around us are average and ordinary therefore to be extraordinary, it will require that we think extraordinarily. We must always learn to think ahead not limiting ourselves to what is obtainable in our environment.

(b) To try to please everybody is to limit oneself and to do the extraordinary sometimes require not caring about how others feel about our steps. Our acquaintances may sometimes be sincere about their judgment of us. But they are often wrong.

(c) To attain greatness often require that we make sacrifices that is the readiness to give what it take to get there. The key word will be: "be prepared to pay the price".

(d) To achieve a SUPER goal, priority must be set in life so that resources are not wasted on unimportant or less important pursuits.

(e) One should be willing to learn more and more until one gets to or reaches perfection. Knowledge can be gotten from anybody provided he's got anything to deliver.

(f) Finally, failures in the journey to success should be seen as mere challenges and part of the learning process.

- Jonathan Livingston Seagull thought and acted this way to achieve his ' heaven'- perfection.

2. Can you relate the ideas or concept in this book to your circumstances in life such as your relationships, your beliefs, your values, etc? Explain

I can really relate the ideas in this book to my circumstances in life. The following ways are the areas of application in my life:

(a) For instance, in my relationship, I have learnt that not everyone will be happy and supportive of the courses I am taking in life even if I am right in my decision and course. But I have also learnt that this might not necessarily be born out of hatred but ignorance (and sometimes, jealousy).

(b) I have also noticed and discovered that most beliefs are restraining in nature. It is wise then to see beyond mere beliefs and customs in the race of life and be realistic and optimistic about life.

(c) To really more ahead, all set goals should be seen as achievable depending on the approach adopted. To dismiss a set goal as unachievable is ruinous.

(d) One must learn to discard the unimportant and distracting things in life to realize the ultimate. It will be wise to be content with just basic needs in life if there is a goal that is to be achieved.

Naturally, when the ULTIMATE is achieved, other things will follow. Jonathan Saw Food (which is gotten from fishing boats and stale bread) as secondary to his 'real heaven'. And when he has achieved his goal, he could then get for himself better, rare and tasty fish that schooled ten feet below the surface of the ocean.
He later lived a better life in contentment which was incomparable with the ordinary life that he left behind to achieve the ultimate.

(e) We should not always be trying to be like others but try to be ourself; thinking of new ideas and working toward achieving them with convincing confidence.

3. What are the most important new ideas or concepts you learned from this book? Please explain.

I have learned a lot of new ideas from this book. First, like Jonathan I have learned that I need to think beyond 'the usual' if I must be above the ordinary level and my thoughts should reflect new ideas. It doesn't have to be what others have achieved before. I have also learned that I do not need to move in the same place as others - that I have the freedom to choose how fast I want to move not minding whether others around me shared the same opinion or thought.

Jonathan Livingston Seagull met others with his instructor (Sullivan) but did not learn in their own base. Other students knew the instructor before him, but he got more from Sullivan before they knew it.

They also knew the Elder Gull; Chiang before him, yet he took the unprecedented move and reached perfection before all others. One other fine thing about Jonathan was that he refused to be complacent at each level of success. I have learned that with each level of success, I should see the journey as just beginning because complacency and progress will never be two good friends.

4. Has this book challenged or changed your thinking in anyway? If so, explain how?

I have really been challenged and my thinking has been really affected. For example, I have come to realize that to achieve greatness in life is not just about faith but serious thinking toward understanding and taking practical steps in the direction of achievement.

I have also learned (or discovered) that moving close successful people really pays in life. In most cases, what seems to be impossible and even unthinkable can just surface to their wealth of experience and wisdom.

Finally, I have learnt that to be great, one must be willing to help others too to attain to greatness. And to live a happy and fulfilled life, one must strive to
take vexation and grudges away from our life and learn to show real love.

5. Are there ideas in the book that you totally disagree with? If so, why?

As for me, I have no idea that I totally disagree with in this book. In fact, I totally agree with all the ideas. All the ideas raised are indeed eye openers that really touched my soul and stirred me into some form of action mentally and psychologically. The ideas are not just raised but explained in such a thought provoking manner in the story of the super Seagull, Jonathan Livingston.
The writer of the story has endeavoured to present it in such a way that any reader will be able to reach his own conclusion and be stirred to action in his own, depending on the reader's perspective.

6. What did you find most helpful and least helpful in this book?

The most helpful thing I have learned from this book is that very difficult challenges always lead to very rewarding and satisfying results as Chiang told Jonathan, "till you can fly the past and the future. And then, you will be ready to begin "the most difficult, the most powerful, the most fun of all".

So, I have learned and resolved to always get ready to take up challenges if that is what it takes.

While what I found least helpful is the reaction of the flock back at home at the arrival of Jonathan Livingston Seagull (especially the elderly gulls).
Instead of acknowledging the breakthrough of Jonathan and swallow up their pride and embrace him for their own benefit they close to remain arrogant, which of course will be to their own peril and hopelessness.

7. In fifty (50) words or less, please describe the main idea the whole book is trying to convey.

This book is trying to bring to the fore that in each individual, there is always potentials waiting to break forth if allowed. All we need is already present within. The understanding of one's self and taking practical steps is necessary to achieve greatness in life. Determination determines destiny.

Please rate this book on a scale from 1 - 10. Ten is good and one is poor

A. How interesting was it to read?
B. How helpful were the content?
C. How easily was it to understand?
D. Would you recommend it to others?
E. What is the overall rating you would give it?

A. I would rate how interesting it was to read as 10. It was very interesting. It contained no lewd or irritating expressions. It was pure in expression.
From the very beginning, a reader will naturally be glued to the pages until his curiosity is well satisfied. I read most books in more than two times but once I began this, I got to the end before I knew it.

Even when I have finished reading, I went through it again and it was not boring at all. In fact, I wish the story could just continue. The flow of thought of the writer is simply super.