Thoughts Influence Your Character | As A Man Thinketh (James Allen) BOOK REVIEW

About this episode

The episode reviews James Allen's 'As a Man Thinketh', emphasizing its timeless messages on personal responsibility and character development.

I was wrong and I admit it .... this is the real OG self help book. Today I dive into James Allen’s 'As a Man Thinketh' (paired in my edition with From Poverty to Power) and it still lands today. It's short, punchy and refreshingly non-woo-woo with clear calls to personal responsibility, character-building and right thought leading to right outcomes. I read standout quotes, reflect on how its agnostic tone (with light biblical echoes) keeps the focus on self-mastery and share how it inspired me to become better. I also highlight where From Poverty to Power lost me (preachier with some outlandish claims about illness and sin) while acknowledging Allen’s hard-earned optimism given his tough life story. Overall verdict: skip Poverty To Power, but As a Man Thinketh is a timeless, motivating read that influenced Hill, Peale and Carnegie.  If you got value from the podcast please provide support back in any way you best see fit! Timeline:  (00:00:00) Intro (00:02:16) Core premise: thoughts shape character and outcomes (00:05:40) From Poverty to Power: preachiness and sermon feel (00:13:22) Author profile: James Allen’s hard‑earned optimism (00:16:12) Overall take: the real OG…

People in this episode

Hosts: Kyrin Down, Juan Granados

Topics covered

• self-help
• personal responsibility
• character building
• self-mastery
• optimism

Keywords

• self-help
• James Allen
• As a Man Thinketh
• personal responsibility
• character
• optimism
• From Poverty to Power

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: As a Man Thinketh, From Poverty to Power

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