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Light on Life's Difficulties
James Allen was one of the most popular writers in the fields of inspiration and spirituality at the turn of the 20th century, and here, in this 1912 work, he tackles the myriad problems facing the world and all its people from a perspective of mind over matter. Shining a light of plain-spoken wisdom on everything from the personal (a sense of proportion, good manners and refinement) to the global (war and peace, diversities of creeds), he motivates us all the take a hand in making the world a better place... for ourselves and for everyone. British author and pop philosopher JAMES ALLEN (1864-1912) retired from the business world to pursue a life of writing and contemplation. Best known for As a Man Thinketh, he authored many other books about the power of thought including The Path to Prosperity, The Mastery of Destiny, and Entering the Kingdom.
128 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1912
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68 people want to read
About the author
James Allen
1,750 books1,201 followersThe James Allen Free Library
Allen was 15 when his father, a businessman, was robbed and murdered. He left school to work full-time in several British manufacturing firms to help support the family. He later married Lily L. Allen and became an executive secretary for a large company. At age 38, inspired by the writings of Leo Tolstoy, he retired from employment. Allen — along with his wife and their daughter, Nohra — moved to a small cottage in Ilfracombe, Devon, England to pursue a simple life of contemplation. There he wrote for nine years, producing 19 works. He also edited and published a magazine, "The Light of Reason".
Allen's books illustrate the use of the power of thought to increase personal capabilities. Although he never achieved great fame or wealth, his works continue to influence people around the world, including the New Thought movement.
Allen's most famous book, As a Man Thinketh, was published in 1902. It is now considered a classic self-help book. Its underlying premise is that noble thoughts make a noble person, while lowly thoughts make a miserable person.
Following his death in 1912, his wife continued publishing the magazine under the name, "The Epoch".
Allen was 15 when his father, a businessman, was robbed and murdered. He left school to work full-time in several British manufacturing firms to help support the family. He later married Lily L. Allen and became an executive secretary for a large company. At age 38, inspired by the writings of Leo Tolstoy, he retired from employment. Allen — along with his wife and their daughter, Nohra — moved to a small cottage in Ilfracombe, Devon, England to pursue a simple life of contemplation. There he wrote for nine years, producing 19 works. He also edited and published a magazine, "The Light of Reason".
Allen's books illustrate the use of the power of thought to increase personal capabilities. Although he never achieved great fame or wealth, his works continue to influence people around the world, including the New Thought movement.
Allen's most famous book, As a Man Thinketh, was published in 1902. It is now considered a classic self-help book. Its underlying premise is that noble thoughts make a noble person, while lowly thoughts make a miserable person.
Following his death in 1912, his wife continued publishing the magazine under the name, "The Epoch".
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
June 6, 2022
There are some very good teachings in this book, and several things I disagree with.
"The primary function of spirituality is not to hoard up personal pleasure, but to render actual the interchange of spiritual blessings"
"Thus religion, with all its innumerable creeds, may be resolved into one primary principle, namely Mutual interchange of spiritual blessings"
"The man of truth never departs from the divine principles which he has espoused. He may be threatened with sickness, poverty, pain, loss of friends and position, even with immediate death, yet he does not desert the principles which he knows to be eternally true. To him, there is one thing more grievous, more to be feared and shunned than all the above evils put together, and that is the desertion of principle."
I disagree with the chapter on Diversities of Creeds - that all religions lead to the same things; that there is a unifying power of undying and unalterable love - and he or she who has love has entered into sympathetic union with all religions. Some religions have directly opposite views and doctrines and therefore don't lead to the same things.
I also don't agree with the chapter on Law and Miracles. I believe there are miracles that can supersede laws. I don't agree with this statement: "As men become more enlightened, miracles and wonder-working will be expunged from religion, and the orderly beauty of law and the ethical grandeur of obedience to the law will become revealed and known."
"Thus when you have, by experience entered completely into the sorrow that is never lifted from the heart of humankind; when you have reaped and eaten all the bitter fruits of your own wrong thoughts and deeds - then divine compassion for all suffering beings will be born in your heart, healing all your wounds and drying all your tears".
"Anguish is rife because men and women set their hearts on the acquisition of things that perish, because they lust for the possession of those things which even when obtained cannot be retained."
"The primary function of spirituality is not to hoard up personal pleasure, but to render actual the interchange of spiritual blessings"
"Thus religion, with all its innumerable creeds, may be resolved into one primary principle, namely Mutual interchange of spiritual blessings"
"The man of truth never departs from the divine principles which he has espoused. He may be threatened with sickness, poverty, pain, loss of friends and position, even with immediate death, yet he does not desert the principles which he knows to be eternally true. To him, there is one thing more grievous, more to be feared and shunned than all the above evils put together, and that is the desertion of principle."
I disagree with the chapter on Diversities of Creeds - that all religions lead to the same things; that there is a unifying power of undying and unalterable love - and he or she who has love has entered into sympathetic union with all religions. Some religions have directly opposite views and doctrines and therefore don't lead to the same things.
I also don't agree with the chapter on Law and Miracles. I believe there are miracles that can supersede laws. I don't agree with this statement: "As men become more enlightened, miracles and wonder-working will be expunged from religion, and the orderly beauty of law and the ethical grandeur of obedience to the law will become revealed and known."
"Thus when you have, by experience entered completely into the sorrow that is never lifted from the heart of humankind; when you have reaped and eaten all the bitter fruits of your own wrong thoughts and deeds - then divine compassion for all suffering beings will be born in your heart, healing all your wounds and drying all your tears".
"Anguish is rife because men and women set their hearts on the acquisition of things that perish, because they lust for the possession of those things which even when obtained cannot be retained."
April 7, 2015
...a book that will inspire the reader to look closely in his/her life... make the necessary changes....
December 17, 2024
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~}--- :}|{:-:}|{:- * FOLLOW 4 FOLLOW * -:}|{:-:}|{: ---{~
~}-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-{~
~}--------:}|{:-:}|{:- * LINKS * -:}|{:-:}|{:----------{~
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~} * -:}|{}|{:=:}|{}|{:- * - * -:}|{}|{:=:}|{}|{:- * {~
* -} The James Allen Free Library {- *
~} * -:}|{}|{:=:}|{}|{:- * - * -:}|{}|{:=:}|{}|{:- * {~
* -:}|{}|{:=:}|{}|{:- *
* -:}|{}|{:- <3 THE LINK ABOVE IS ON THE GOODREADS PAGE OF THE AUTHOR ALSO = INVOLVES ALL OF THE AUTHORS WORK <3 -:}|{}|{:- *
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* -:}|{}|{:- * SUMMARY * -:}|{}|{:- *
~}- - - - - - - - - - - - - -:}|{:- - - - - - - - - - - - - -{~
* -:}|{:- * RATING * -:}|{:- * 21/10 * -:}|{:- * 2;06;00 * = SUCH POWER <3
== 1;47;00 TEARDROPS ==
~}- - - - - - - - - - - - - -:}|{:- - - - - - - - - - - - - -{~
* -:}|{}|{: =EXPERIENCES=&=DISCERNMENTS= :}|{}|{:- *
* -:}|{}|{: = A BEAUTIFUL - EXPLINATION ON LAW & SELFLESSNESS = YOU CAN TASTE THE DECADES OF CONSTANT INTROSPECTION <3 IT HAS SUCH POWER <3 = }|{}|{:- *
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To SEE a WORLD in a Grain of Sand,
And a HEAVEN in a Wild Flower,
Hold INFINITY in the palm of your hand
And ETERNITY in an Hour"
~ William Blake ~
~}- - - - - - - - - - - - - -:}|{:- - - - - - - - - - - - - -{~
Form is Emptiness; Emptiness is form.
Form is not different than Emptiness;
Emptiness is not different than form
~ Heart Sutra ~
Like the ocean and its waves,
inseparable yet distinct
~}- - - - - - - - - - - - - -:}|{:- - - - - - - - - - - - - -{~
" I and The Father are one,
I am The Truth,
The Life and The Path.”
Like a river flowing from its source,
connected and continuous
~}- - - - - - - - - - - - - -:}|{:- - - - - - - - - - - - - -{~
Thy kingdom come.
Let the reign of divine
Truth, Life, and Love
be established in me,
and rule out of me all sin;
and may Thy Word
enrich the affections of all mankind
A mighty oak tree standing firm against the storm,
As sunlight scatters the shadows of night
A river nourishing the land it flows through
~}- - - - - - - - - - - - - -:}|{:- - - - - - - - - - - - - -{~
~}-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-{~
~}-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-{~
~}--- :}|{:-:}|{:- * FOLLOW 4 FOLLOW * -:}|{:-:}|{: ---{~
~}-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-{~
~}--------:}|{:-:}|{:- * LINKS * -:}|{:-:}|{:----------{~
~}-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-{~
~}- - - - - - - - - - - - - -:}|{:- - - - - - - - - - - - - -{~
***********************************************
~} * -:}|{}|{:=:}|{}|{:- * - * -:}|{}|{:=:}|{}|{:- * {~
* -} The James Allen Free Library {- *
~} * -:}|{}|{:=:}|{}|{:- * - * -:}|{}|{:=:}|{}|{:- * {~
* -:}|{}|{:=:}|{}|{:- *
* -:}|{}|{:- <3 THE LINK ABOVE IS ON THE GOODREADS PAGE OF THE AUTHOR ALSO = INVOLVES ALL OF THE AUTHORS WORK <3 -:}|{}|{:- *
~}- - - - - - - - - - - - - -:}|{:- - - - - - - - - - - - - -{~
~}-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-{~
~}- - - - - - - - - - - - - -:}|{:- - - - - - - - - - - - - -{~
* -:}|{}|{:- * SUMMARY * -:}|{}|{:- *
~}- - - - - - - - - - - - - -:}|{:- - - - - - - - - - - - - -{~
* -:}|{:- * RATING * -:}|{:- * 21/10 * -:}|{:- * 2;06;00 * = SUCH POWER <3
== 1;47;00 TEARDROPS ==
~}- - - - - - - - - - - - - -:}|{:- - - - - - - - - - - - - -{~
* -:}|{}|{: =EXPERIENCES=&=DISCERNMENTS= :}|{}|{:- *
* -:}|{}|{: = A BEAUTIFUL - EXPLINATION ON LAW & SELFLESSNESS = YOU CAN TASTE THE DECADES OF CONSTANT INTROSPECTION <3 IT HAS SUCH POWER <3 = }|{}|{:- *
~}- - - - - - - - - - - - - -:}|{:- - - - - - - - - - - - - -{~
~}-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-{~
~}- - - - - - - - - - - - - -:}|{:- - - - - - - - - - - - - -{~
To SEE a WORLD in a Grain of Sand,
And a HEAVEN in a Wild Flower,
Hold INFINITY in the palm of your hand
And ETERNITY in an Hour"
~ William Blake ~
~}- - - - - - - - - - - - - -:}|{:- - - - - - - - - - - - - -{~
Form is Emptiness; Emptiness is form.
Form is not different than Emptiness;
Emptiness is not different than form
~ Heart Sutra ~
Like the ocean and its waves,
inseparable yet distinct
~}- - - - - - - - - - - - - -:}|{:- - - - - - - - - - - - - -{~
" I and The Father are one,
I am The Truth,
The Life and The Path.”
Like a river flowing from its source,
connected and continuous
~}- - - - - - - - - - - - - -:}|{:- - - - - - - - - - - - - -{~
Thy kingdom come.
Let the reign of divine
Truth, Life, and Love
be established in me,
and rule out of me all sin;
and may Thy Word
enrich the affections of all mankind
A mighty oak tree standing firm against the storm,
As sunlight scatters the shadows of night
A river nourishing the land it flows through
~}- - - - - - - - - - - - - -:}|{:- - - - - - - - - - - - - -{~
~}-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-{~
May 10, 2025
I love James Allen as a thinker. My favorite book of his is "As A Man Thinketh." However this book to me was too short to really be able to get its points across. Overall I disagreed with two portions of this book.
Despite all of that, this book does offer some wisdom. Through out the book he discusses how one should be selfless, then he goes on describing what it is to be selfless versus selfish, and all of the things that are the "self", such as jealousy, envy, hatred, gossip, and the ultimate guide to reaching peace is by selflessness.
Then he talks about money, greed, religion, and love and how they all should be treated and tackled. Then he talks about what one should consider a refuge. Is it love? Is it solitude? Is it health? before coming to the final answer, which is righteousness. Which I found to be beautiful.
I love James Allen. He always feels so hopeful in his books and successfully makes the reader feel the same way. He has an open heart, and shows you that no matter how long your journey is to righteousness, being open to it and being able to recognize what is or what could be righteousness, already shows that you can get there.
I think to read him, you should begin with his best work, "As A Man Thinkth" then it is hard to stop reading him.
Despite all of that, this book does offer some wisdom. Through out the book he discusses how one should be selfless, then he goes on describing what it is to be selfless versus selfish, and all of the things that are the "self", such as jealousy, envy, hatred, gossip, and the ultimate guide to reaching peace is by selflessness.
Then he talks about money, greed, religion, and love and how they all should be treated and tackled. Then he talks about what one should consider a refuge. Is it love? Is it solitude? Is it health? before coming to the final answer, which is righteousness. Which I found to be beautiful.
I love James Allen. He always feels so hopeful in his books and successfully makes the reader feel the same way. He has an open heart, and shows you that no matter how long your journey is to righteousness, being open to it and being able to recognize what is or what could be righteousness, already shows that you can get there.
I think to read him, you should begin with his best work, "As A Man Thinkth" then it is hard to stop reading him.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 12, 2021
ਝਖੜਿ ਵਾਉ ਨ ਡੋਲਈ ਪਰਬਤੁ ਮੇਰਾਣੁ ॥
"Blessed are they that mourn," said the Teacher of the West, and the Teacher of the East declared that "Where there is great suffering there is great bliss." In the midst of sin and sorrow there abides the world of Truth — remember that the hour of your Gethsemane has come. And he who faints not, who is faithful, patient, and uncompromising even in the time of poverty, he will surely at last eat of the sweet fruits of his labor. That "LABOR IS LIFE" is a principle pregnant with truth. After the crucifixion comes the transfiguration; the sorrowless state is reached through sorrow, and "the wise do not grieve" — the troubled will find peace, the weak will be adorned with strength, and the downtrodden will be lifted up and glorified
"Blessed are they that mourn," said the Teacher of the West, and the Teacher of the East declared that "Where there is great suffering there is great bliss." In the midst of sin and sorrow there abides the world of Truth — remember that the hour of your Gethsemane has come. And he who faints not, who is faithful, patient, and uncompromising even in the time of poverty, he will surely at last eat of the sweet fruits of his labor. That "LABOR IS LIFE" is a principle pregnant with truth. After the crucifixion comes the transfiguration; the sorrowless state is reached through sorrow, and "the wise do not grieve" — the troubled will find peace, the weak will be adorned with strength, and the downtrodden will be lifted up and glorified
July 10, 2025
There is so much error mixed with true principles. Those principles are wisdom, law, proportion, self-discipline, disposition, accountability, work or labor, a noble or honorable character, and good manners.
Allen's theology is in tandem with John Lennon's dumb song, "Imagine", which is that all religion is true. Allen was a Gnostic.
Allen offers no foundation for his ideas, and pressed nihilism into his solutions.
Allen's theology is in tandem with John Lennon's dumb song, "Imagine", which is that all religion is true. Allen was a Gnostic.
Allen offers no foundation for his ideas, and pressed nihilism into his solutions.
January 11, 2022
New Thought quasi-Christian Stoicism; so remarkably right about everything, in a way that is largely self-evident but rarely spoken aloud, almost the way stand-up comics will point out things that are so obvious they escape people's attention. Has an interesting style where it will define concepts in extraordinarily concise terms, and pile them up into a cohesive argument.
December 30, 2021
Elude mencionar a Dios como ser Supremo y Unico!
Los escritos de James Allen son profundos y veraces pero renuentes a reconocer un Dios universal que TODAS las religiones reconocen. Sus escritos de quedaron cortos!
Los escritos de James Allen son profundos y veraces pero renuentes a reconocer un Dios universal que TODAS las religiones reconocen. Sus escritos de quedaron cortos!
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October 9, 2020Amazing book. Love the chapter on light on life's sorrows
August 6, 2021
Liked the first half alot more than the second half.
January 4, 2022
A solid primer with some great quotes. Read via audiobook so didn't highlight anything specifically but a good collection of wisdom.
September 2, 2025
It was a good book. The first part of the book was amazing but as I got further to end of the book it got boring but overall not bad.
January 6, 2024
This is a good book and may be harsh for me to give it 2 stars - but it's incredibly difficult to follow ( the old style near poet writing ) makes me remember English was not my first language when growing up - plain English minus the similes and metaphors would be easier - but then again the parts I did follow easily are no doubt priceless and a great teaching into the workings off the mind and how one can find inner peace
To Our Continued Success!
Seemy
Waseem.tv/Blog
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If you found this review helpful - I’d like to invite you to discover more on our blog. Where the community share some of our most important insights to level up each others knowledge 💡- from experience in studying books like this, training programs, podcasts and much more - visit the blog link above to find out more.
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To Our Continued Success!
Seemy
Waseem.tv/Blog
👆🏼 P.S -
If you found this review helpful - I’d like to invite you to discover more on our blog. Where the community share some of our most important insights to level up each others knowledge 💡- from experience in studying books like this, training programs, podcasts and much more - visit the blog link above to find out more.
P.P.S 😅 - You probably noticed from my profile that I’ve reviewed a LOT of books over the years now - if you love seeking knowledge like me I’d love to connect with you further as a like minded person (send me a friend invite! 😀) - Also if you are curious - here is my preferred and recommended resource for seeking timeless wisdom - Check it out via the website invite link below 👇🏼 (You’ll be able to claim some awesome books for free 📚)
https://Waseem.tv/GoodReadsBookInvite
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews