Think Big: Unleashing Your Potential for Excellence

A couple of years ago, I had the opportunity watch a wonderful movie about the life of Dr. Ben Carson. It was called Gifted Hands and it chronicled his rise from bottom of the class fifth grader in a poor single parent household, to brilliant pediatric neurosurgeon at Johns Hopkins. Later, I found out that Dr. Carson had written several books intended to inspire young people to reach for their full potential. Yesterday, I have been thinking that my own sons could benefit from Dr. Carson's message. So I picked up Think Big, and read it in one day. Today I will hand it to my oldest son and I look forward to discussing the important messages in the book. This book is about becoming the best person you can be. While Dr. Carson incorporates the wisdom of honesty, helping others and understanding that God plays a major role in our lives, his strongest message is the importance of learning by reading. Is it unhealthy to read too much? Do we really need to learn so much anyway? I enjoyed Dr. Carson's refutations: "First, we cannot overload the human brain. This divinely created brain has fourteen billion cells. If used to the maximum, this human computer inside our heads could contain all the knowledge of humanity from the beginning of the world to the present and still have room left over." "All knowledge is important - a fact that some people do not want to hear. One of the wonderful things about learning is that knowledge not only translates from from area to another but is also an avenue that leads to understanding and insight." Dr. Carson goes on to provide examples supporting this claim. I thoroughly enjoyed the stories from his own life and I am hopeful that they will resonate with students - especially my own children. As a person who loves reading and knowledge, I am troubled by the attitude of those who claim not to enjoy reading. I think Dr. Carson is very perceptive when he claims that the more a person reads, the more they will enjoy it. Ultimately, it is reading that will change a person's life. "Reading is the way out of ignorance, and the road to achievement." This an ideal book for students and parents alike. It encourages us to be more than we thought possible.

I haven't finished reading the book yet and like it but not as well as "Gifted Hands". I believe the reason for that is much of what he writes about in "Gifted Hands" is repeated in "Think Big". I really like everything Dr. Carson writes but I really like him too! His books are unique in the fact that you feel that you are really experiencing the same things he experienced. His honesty and loyalty to mankind in general is outstanding! God put Ben here for a reason and that is to give humanity hope for a better way of life and future. The Bible tells us we are to edify and build up one another - Dr. Ben Carson has spent his whole life doing that. Having experienced the pains of poverty, he knows better than anyone what doing without and suffering humiliation is like. I love and respect the way in which he mentions his Mother and gives her all the credit for his success. He knows what honor is and has learned the art of achieving true humility. All of his books are awesome and easy to read and understand. He tells it like it is but with an abundance of encouraging words that follow. I have not read "America the Beautiful" but I have read the sample. Learned a lot about my country that I didn't know. That is what is wrong with our country - our children know nothing about how we became a nation under God nor do they seem to care. Every student should read "Gifted Hands" and "America the Beautiful" and if they did, I guarantee you that you would see more college graduates and less school dropouts. My life has been better because of Dr. Carson's books. I'm 66 years old and can think of anything better than an opportunity to meet him in person. I pray that I will be here in 2016 to see him win the Presidency. Even if he doesn't win the Presidency, I can assure you that he will make the world a better place trying. Just think, a genuine God fearing Christian man running our country! I could handle that. Do yourself a favor and do what Dr. Carson suggests. Read, Read and Read. Turn off the TV, the radio, the music and discover the world for a change!

This is a truly amazing and easy to read book. It keeps you wanting to keep reading until you are finished. Carson has a great sense of humor and can make his stories really sparkle. He is humble even though the book is about thinking BIG, and some of the amazing part of his story is that he used to think a little too "big" about how smart he was when he started to succeed in his schoolwork, to the point it turned people away from him. That is what I like about the way he writes about himself... that he can laugh at himself and be humbled by his mistakes. He did not realize at the time that he let his academic success and increased sense of esteem ( contrasted to his class mates making fun of him when he could not read and was not doing well in school). The book is a contrast of his life when he was not doing well in school because he didn't try and didn't understand how much fun reading could be, and how reading opened up so many doors in his life, increased his self esteem, and how it took him on a journey that he is still on today, but along the way, he made mistakes in showing people how much knowledge he had gained from his love of reading and how being humble is important. This book is a GREAT book for reading to your child when he /she is about 8 or 9 or more. It will hold their interest and inspire them to work hard for their dreams. It is a beautifully written book and very inspirational.

I saw my coworker with this book and decided to buy it. No regrets. This book is inspiring as it demonstrates the importance of reading as an avenue to increasing your knowledge and intelligence. It also reminds us of being humble and true ro our vision, whatever your mind conceive you can achieve. Finally it shows how instrumental teachers are in directing and shaping the lives of individuals in a positive way

A #1 awesome book. Dr Carson's life stories and experiences together with his mother's experiences has the potential to motivate mothers and fathers to do better raising their children, for troubled youths to turn their lives around and excel, for anyone, especially young African Americans should read this book. I am definitely reading more and encouraging others to do so. Thanks to Dr Carson for sharing his story

With a lot of humility, I would say Ben Carson is one of my favorite having that I have read almost all of his books, other than the political one. What's your favorite book reading Combo(Combination)? I first read these two Books while I was at Elemetary, Middle School (Primary) and High school. Currently, I am re-reading with my son " Think Big" "Imitation is limitation " "Steps to Christ"_as a morning devotion book with a prayer group. I have only perused through "Keys To Happiness" {KTH}, recently. Am Looking forward to finish Rereading the 3 books soon. Before Starting the {KTH}. And by the way; Mlisema Artemis walienda kwa moon in how many days? Na Mnajua Artemertha... Ile ya Malyria... Ile Malaria ya Kule Afrka? Na mnajua ile story ya Kitabu cha Danieli; Daniel, Shadrack, Meshack, and Abednego became (X10) ten times better than their other recommendations parties? After they declared to not defile themselves. Later on, Shadrack, Meshack, and Abednego were thrown into the fire because they did not bow down to the King of Babylon. The 4th 'Person' was seen walking <Marching> with them 'in' the fire. Je, Mnajua Danieli aliendelea kuomba kama kawaida, hata baada ya decree yenye mfalme alipeana, baada ya kushauriwa na Wanafiki, wafisadi, na Waongo? Hakuwa na wasiwasi manaake alimjua Mungu aliye umba Dunia na siku sita! Na siku ya saba, akapumzika; akaitakasa; akaibariki: na kutuelekeza kuzidi kuipumzika hiyo siku ya saba. All glory be to God.

I just finished ready Think Big; I couldn't put the book down. I became interested in knowing more about Dr. Carson after watching the movie Gifted Hands, which I stumbled upon on Netflix. I have also heard Dr. Carson on the radio when he sat in for Sean Hannity and I can tell you sincerely that I never tire of listening to him. This book Think Big is a humble autobiography of how he achieved accolades he enjoys today because of the people who God placed in his life - especially the absolutely magnificent, wise and loving mother. For anyone who is feeling "down in the dumps," read this book, you won't stay their long. I read a review from someone who was upset that this book is about how Dr. Carson prays before performing his surgeries - the person only gave this book 1 star; what an ignorant person this is. This book is what our lives should be about, gaining knowledge everyday, inspiring others to achieve, doing our best - no matter what job you are at, and to remember, that to God we are special and He wants us to succeed and will be there to help us always - if we want him to. This book should be required reading in school, from elementary to college. God bless you Dr. Carson...and thank you for this book.

I love this book by Dr. Ben Carson. It is very easy to read and I would even recommend it to children beginning around age 8 or 9. It is very inspirational and sometimes humorous. It teaches about hard work, how learning and reading can open your world to so many more dreams and helping dreams come true. I also teaches about values in terms of not becoming arrogant, humility, schoolmate relationships, and family relationships. It is written in a VERY easy to read style so that even children would not find it cumbersome. It holds your interest and you just want to keep reading to find out more about Mr. Carson's life and also how he thought about things in certain situations... some situations got him into "trouble" or helped him understand and grow from a mistake. That is what is so beautiful about this book, is that he takes his mistakes and learns from them and makes himself a better and stronger and wiser person. There is so much wisdom about Mr. Carson and I enjoyed this book and gave it to my nephew to read who was in junior high at the time.

Tout est parfait, l'histoire est au top et j'ai reçu les éléments en bon état et super rapidement. Je suis fou de joie

It is such an enlightening book to those minds and hearts that eager to do something greater than only themselves in their livres.

The best book I've read for a long time, I keep quoting bits of it to everyone! I think I can relate to where Mr Carson started out, as I too came from a background where poverty was the norm. But, what I like about Mr Carson's book is the constant emphasis on the people who have helped him rise above all odds and a love of learning (education and reading). I think the way he gives back and encourages young and old is fabulous and know that if someone like him came to the high school that I attended with his think big message it truly would have been a life changing experience I highly recommend this book as it's not just another one of those self-development books (the cover did make me think that), it's also a book that teaches great lessons that only the University of Life can teach. I love the way Mr Carson has translated this into a very enjoyable and educational read.

Muy buena calidad

Good book and a must read for every teenager and youth. You can really climb high no matter how low and small beginning you have