About As a Man Thinketh
What it's about
A short classic about the power of thought. James Allen says we are what we think, compares the mind to a garden that grows weeds unless we plant good seeds, and argues that a clear vision and steady effort, not luck, shape a life.
Who it's for
Readers who enjoy mindset and self-help books and want one of the originals, with explainers that point out where Allen goes too far.
- Level
- CEFR B2
- Length
- 3 parts · about 657 words
- Reading time
- about 6 minutes (~2 min per part)
- Author
- James Allen
If you liked this, read
- The Science of Getting Rich · B2
- Self-Help · B2
- Self-Reliance · B2
Looking for something easier or harder? See Easy English books by level (A1–B2).
Reading As a Man Thinketh in English: quick answers
- What English level is As a Man Thinketh on SeoJae Story?
- As a Man Thinketh by James Allen is retold in simplified English at CEFR B2 (upper-intermediate). It is split into 3 short parts, and every sentence has a Korean translation you can show or hide, so a learner at that level can follow the story without a dictionary.
- Is As a Man Thinketh hard to read in English?
- The original is written for native readers, with long sentences and older vocabulary, so most learners find it hard. This retelling keeps the story but uses simpler English at CEFR B2 (upper-intermediate), so if you read English at that level you can follow it, and the Korean translation is there for any line that stops you. If it feels too hard, start with an easier book one level down.
- How long does it take to read As a Man Thinketh in simple English?
- About 6 minutes of reading in total — roughly 2 minutes per part across 3 parts. Listening to the audio narration, reviewing the vocabulary and taking each part's comprehension check adds a little more.
- Is this the full, unabridged text of As a Man Thinketh?
- No. It is an abridged graded retelling written for English learners that follows the story of the original in 3 parts. Every part also lets you read the matching unabridged chapters from the original, split into short readings.
- Is As a Man Thinketh free to read here?
- Yes. All 3 parts are free to read online, with the Korean translation, audio narration, vocabulary flashcards and comprehension questions included.
- Is As a Man Thinketh in the public domain?
- Yes. James Allen's As a Man Thinketh is in the public domain, and the original text is freely available from Project Gutenberg (eBook #4507). SeoJae Story's simplified retelling and Korean translation are original text written for learners.