For all of us, there was a pivotal book that came along at just the right time in our lives …
It changed the way we thought in such a profound way that it literally altered our destiny and lead us to levels of success that would have been unthinkable otherwise.
I found mine when I was just 13 years old …
On the bookshelf at my Grandfather’s house was a little book about 5″ x 3″ … a quick read, about 60 pages of sparse type. For some reason the ideas in this little book resonated with me and made me see the world differently.
I still have this book today, and I make a point of pulling it out and reading it from cover to cover every year around this time. And each year it reinvigorates my resolve for ever greater levels of self-knowledge and achievement.
Here are just a few of the things it’s taught me:
- The one thing I can control with absolute certainty are the thoughts I think, and that is enough …
- I am the shaper of my own destiny by virtue of the thoughts I choose and encourage …
- Through thought I mold the condition of my character. And through character I am the shaper of my environment and the captain of my destiny …
- I am where I am that I may learn and that I may grow …
- I am not a product of my circumstances. My circumstances are a product of me …
- Suffering is always the result of wrong thought in some direction …
- He who has conquered doubt and fear has conquered failure …
- Until thought is linked with purpose, there can be no intelligent accomplishment — only petty worries, fears, troubles, and self-pityings …
- And many more pearls of wisdom to live by …
The author expressed these simple thoughts with profound eloquence, and they first came to me at a time when I needed them badly. I can’t imagine where my life would have led me had I not been influenced by his words.
His name is James Allen, and the book is called As a Man Thinketh — published in 1902.
For anyone honestly searching for the keys to lasting success and prosperity, this little book is still as relevant and useful today as it was when it was first published.
Download your own personal copy here, but first, tell me about the book that most influenced your life, and why. Perhaps I’ll read it.
Just type your thoughts in the comments box below.
Ice to the Eskimos by Jon Spolestra. Fantastic book that opened up my eyes on marketing, sales, and customer service.
Thanks for sharing both the book and this wonderful round-robin book title exchange.
Here are my 3 favorites:
1.) The Power of One -Bryce Courtney (Great movie too.)
2.) Everything I need to Know I learned in Kindergarden – Robert Fulghum
3.) Like the Flowing River – Paulo Coelho
Happy Holiday’s
Stan
Men! Daniel I just read the book it’s amazing, God will surely bless you for giving me this book at this particular moments in time.
Iam a newbie internet marketer in Nigeria, My email marketing autoresponder is just 3days old! I really want to have a good relationship with my list. So this wonderful book came at the right time for me.
I will hand it over to my ever growing list!
Thanks
Daniel,
I have to agree with Kevin, the best book I have read is the Bible. I have not read As a Man Thinketh but I am looking foreward to it. A book that I have read lately is Jesus Entrepreneur by Laurie Beth Jones. Great biblical insite in how to run a business.
Merry Christmas to you in Canada. Remember the reason for the season.
May God Bless
Ron
I’d also go for Tobert B. Cialdini’s “Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion” (Collins Business Essentials) (Paperback), 2006, Revised edition, Harper Paperbacks.
High on my Must Read list (as so many people i respect rave about it) is: Dr. Maxwell Maltz, M.D., F.I.C.S.’s “Psycho-Cybernetics, A New Way to Get More Living Out of Life”, (Mass Market Paperback), 1989, 7th printing edition, Pocket.
Daniel,
This is a great question and I cherish the benefit of reading the posts of others. To answer honestly, the one book that most influenced my life was “Swim with the Sharks… by Harvey Mackay.
It was most influential because it was the first influential book I ever read. I was 18 years old when I first read it.
More recently, I read Wattles, The Science of Getting Rich regularly and I would highky recommend Leslie Householders The Jack Rabbit Factor. It is an absolute must read and can be downloaded for free here:
http://www.jackrabbitfactor.com/
Nothing real can be threatened nothing unreal exists. Therin lies the peace of God. ” A Course in Miracles” Big time #1 book in my view. john
The book that most changed my life was “An Actor Prepares” by Constantine Stanislovski-
It goes beyond the world of theatre and many of the lessons I have used throughout my personal and professional life.
I’ll make it short.
There is no use for anything else if we don’t have good health. In Armenia people say: “The most important is your health, the rest you can buy”.
So that’s said, William Campbell Douglass “Hydrogen Peroxide: Medical Miracle”.
This book saves lives.
Daniel this is a fantastic and timely posting. Everyone’s comments and selections have been filled with passion and a desire to share.
My selection is Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert Heinlein. It is a study of human behavior clothed in a science fiction novel. Find out for yourself what “GROK” means.
I have read many of the books mentioned and they were all good.The classic “Think and Grow Rich” greatly influenced my thinking..Another classic EVERYONE has to read is “The Richest Man in Babylon” by George S. Clason published in 1926. You can get on Amazon.
DAVID,
THE HIGH QUALITY OF YOUR POSTINGS SINCE I STARTED RECEIVING THEM IS MIRRORED IN THE OBVIOUS HIGH QUALITY OF YOUR AUDIENCE.
I AM AMAZED AT THE NUMBER OF THEIR RECCOMENDED BOOKS THAT ARE IN MY HAVE READ LIST, OF COURSE, I’M 80 YRS OLD.
MY CONTRIBUTION; THE TRILOGY OF BOOKS BY MICHAEL NEWTON, PHD.,LIFE BETWEEN LIVES,JOURNEY OF SOULS, AND DESTINY OF SOULS, LLEWELLYN PUBLICATIONS,
I’D LOVE TO HEAR ANY REACTION FROM YOU AND
YOUR CONSTITUENCY,
ANDREW ‘maha gnani pranayamananda swami’ YELLEN
…..ALSO
THE MAGIC OF BELIEVING, by CLAUDE BRISTOL
A N D R E W
One of the early books that set me in motion was Do It! Let’s Get Off Our Buts by John-Roger and Peter McWilliams. A basic compilation from many sources filled with a collection of curious quotes.
Napoleon Hill’s “Think and Grow Rich” Has inspired generations.
Although I’ve read many of the books mentioned before and love most of them. One of the ones that doesn’t make it on most lists and yet has influenced me quite profoundly through out the years, is a harder to find book by Budd Schulberg called “What Makes Sammy Run?” published in 1941. A story about Hollywood, about a go-getter and a loser. But really the more I read it, the more I realize it’s about Hollywood as much as Atlas Shrugged is a story about a railroad.
the Seven Habits of Highly Effective People was a gift that revolutionised my thinking
Next to the Bible,I’d say:(1)Think & Grow Rich
(2)ScientificAdvertising
(3)Psycho-Cybernetics
Daniel,
Thanks for the great list. I have read and re-read many of them, and added several new ones to my list!
The book that has changed MY life is Work Less, Make More, by Jennifer White. The subtitle is Stop Working So Hard and Create the Life You Really Want! and that’s exactly what I have been able to accomplish through the 10 steps contained in Work Less, Make More.
Thanks again!!
Jen
Daniel,
You are one of my favorite writers. Thoughtful, eloquent, thought-provoking, expanding, intelligent.
Now I know why! (smile) You are a reader, and a lover of books and ideas. I share this with you.
I read Psycho-Cybernetis at 30. It changed my life. Headed me on a path of personal development and curiosity, and self discovery. That allowed me to pursue a new career, and benefit many others with my learning and discoveries.
I have read many of the books mentioned, almost all on the top 12 list, and added to my own list. Atlas Shrugged was mentioned this year so often in other writers’ columns that it is now at top of mine to read.
Thank you for sharing your wisdom and inspiration. Rhoda
Thanks for the compliment, Rhoda. 😉
You Were Born Rich by Bob Proctor.
I find it interesting that you are offering this book. I moved recently and I gave away over 500 books because someone told me that would be a good thing to do? I’m not sure, however I ran across As a Man Thinketh and I was been rereading it lately and benefiting from the power of the message.
When I was 22 years old I had the pleasure of attending Norman Vincent Peale’s in NY City for 3 years. He had just written The Power of Positive thinking. He invited me to attend the “Business Men’s Dinner”and the speaker was none other than W Clement Stone, one of richest men in the world. He give me Think and Grow Rich, The Success System that Never Fails that he wrote and I Dare You by William Danforth and he autographed them. Later I became a professional speaker and I was on a program with Norman Vincent Peale when he was 92 years old! Someone once said that ten years from now you will who you are today except for the people you meet and the books you read.
Amazing that you actually met these giants, and how generous and approachable they were.
In Search of Excellence by Tom Peters. He became my mentor as I became a lifelong fan.
How to get control of your time and your life – Alan Lakein
Ten Philosophical Mistakes by Mortimer Adler. I stayed up all night reading it and the next day I went from being wrong-thinking liberal to a right-thinking conservative. He explains in rational terms what you know by experience in marketing: human nature.
At 13 I read the first book to affect my philosophy — Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach.
The book that most impacted me was “The Semon on the mount” by Emmet Fox
If I was limited to one book, Daniel, it would be You Can Heal Your Life authored by Louise Hay, who transitioned recently at the age of 90. Many of the thoughts you listed in your overview reminded me of her writing. Our thoughts are important, and she continually reminded people that “You are the only thinker in your mind”, not to blame anyone but to empower them … no one controls what you think :-). Thanks, Daniel.
Thank you Daniel to share this wonderful book (or excerpt?) by James Allen. I just read these 26 pages long wisdom in a few hours (with a frequent use of the dictionary as my english is not my native language) and I understood well and have had a great joy to reading it. It relates – very much – to the set of two books that I´m currently reading, and studying in order to develop and be the best me I can (desire to!) achieve and I enjoy what I´m into. It´s the A Bug Free Mind process by Andy Shaw (you may very well be acquainted with) though I´m on the first book, Create A Bug Free Mind (and yet still remain to study the Using A Bug Free Mind) I recognize it has the philosophy of mindset mastering of James Allen´s in it. Though, written not many years ago for a modern, today´s life situations ( and needs) and in a certain – important – aspect in a whole different way…it teaches How to think not what to think…inspiring
Kind regards
Gabriella
Glad you enjoyed it, Gabriella!
Think and Grow Rich, by Napoleon Hill.
Two books.
When I was 17, I found a tattered copy of Psycho-Cybernetics in a thrift store for 25 cents. Throughout my life, I’ve used the principles revealed to accomplish incredible results. Visualization gave me the laser sharp focus to become the recognized “best” small offset printing press operator in the greater Portland Oregon area. 5% average paper spoilage was considered normal. But across two years, by visualizing the sheets of paper gliding through the press, all being printed perfectly, perfect color, always aligned straight on the page… I increased my speed, breaking all records for production, and without wrinkling or spoiling a single sheet of paper… for two years straight. 0% spoilage.
When I was 20, I found the Robert Collier Letter Book in a used book store. The secrets revealed allowed me to write ad and letter copy that helped me successfully self publish a dozen books and hundreds of special reports… selling a quarter0 million dollars worth over my life time. Plus… it was a good read.
Not a book but the late Sir Ken Robinson’s TED talk on schools and creativity is both funny and inspirational… as for a book, Stephen King’s Wizard and Glass (Dark Tower 4) is an astonishing piece of storytelling. If my story-based copywriting could elicit anywhere close to such powerful emotions I would be a very happy guy.
After a near fatal car accident….Read, The Power of Positive Thinking… exactly what I needed.
Before that in early 70s interviewed by, Jim Rohn to help with his, “Adventures in Achievement” tapes program and seminar. He described his life’s motivation to me and impressed me… Big Time!
Earl Nightingale, Brian Tracy, etc.
Motivation to write and soon will publish my own inspirational book.
I love all books by Dr. Ron Paul…anything he writes or says is worth paying attention too. I really liked the book How an Economy Grows and Why it Crashes from Peter Schiff… it is entertaining and informative… in addition, I love the Jeweler’s Shop by Karol Wojtyla (Pope John Paul II) a play written about marriage.
I liked a very basic book I have read when I was a kid, it was Robert Kyosaki’s first book, where I learned about the power of compounding interest.
I like the As a Man Thinketh gift Daniel and will share it with my two young sons.
Here’s one that changed my intestinal health and fortitude. It also has given me a great advantage athletically.
Author: Herbert M. Shelton
Book: Food Combining Made Easy was first published in 1930’s and now more relevant than modern medicine that ignores this subject.
In 60 pages you will learn which foods should and should not be eaten at the same meal and the process of normal digestion.
You will discover why the wrong combinations of fruits, proteins, vegetables, starches, dairy, and sugars, can disrupt these processes. The new or older print editions are the same and offer key knowledge, to maintaining a healthy gut to both empower one’s body and brain.