As a Man Thinketh

As a Man Thinketh, first published in 1903, remains one of the most powerful, popular, and beloved books in the self-help movement. Its author, James Allen (1864-1912), published nineteen books in his lifetime, beginning with From Poverty to Power, published in 1901. But none of his other works have had the inspirational force of As a Man Thinketh. The title comes from Proverbs 23:7: “As he thinketh in his heart, so is he.” It is the central theme of his book—and perhaps the most important truth about life. In clear, concise, and noble language, Allen overturns the conventional view of reality—that human beings are nothing more than creatures of circumstance and environment. Instead, he reminds us, everything around us, good and bad, arises from the disposition of our hearts and minds. “The visible is sustained by the invisible,” he writes, reminding us of the central fact of our existence: that what we think and believe forms the core of our habits, character, and even fate. Allen str