Since about 1980 -when I was a young knucklehead at Texas Tech- I've kept Kahlil Gibran's "The Prophet" on my nightstand. There is no better companion on sleepless nights, or at the end of difficult days. Now I will be keeping a copy of James Allen's "As You Think" right next to it.

Quiet, and simply expressed, this edition of "As a Man Thinketh" (produced by Allen's great grandson) is a requisite touchstone for introspection and occassional re-centering.

The Prophet almost always moves me to tears. As You Think makes me feel light and optimistic about the fate of -and direction of- western civlization.

read this book.