What do you think?
Rate this book
Think Big: Unleashing Your Potential for Excellence
This book is for you if your life is a series of shattered dreams. This book is for you if you have no dreams at all. It’s for you if you’ve bought the lie that you’ll never amount to anything. That’s not true. Your life is BIG—far bigger than you’ve imagined. Inside these pages lie the keys to recognizing the full potential of your life. You won’t necessarily become a millionaire (though you might), but you will attain a life that is rewarding, significant, and more fruitful than you ever thought possible. The author of this book knows about hardship. Ben Carson grew up in inner-city Detroit. His mother was illiterate. His father had left the family. His grade-school classmates considered Ben stupid. He struggled with a violent temper. In every respect, Ben’s harsh circumstances seemed only to point to a harsher future and a bad end. But that’s not what happened. By applying the principles in this book, Ben rose from his tough life to one of amazing accomplishments and international renown. He learned that he had potential, he learned how to unleash it, and he did. You can too. Put the principles in this book in motion. Things won’t change overnight, but they will change. You can transform your life into one you’ll love, bigger than you’ve ever dreamed.
272 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1992
About the author
Ben Carson
56 books922 followersBenjamin Solomon "Ben" Carson, Sr., M.D. is an American neurosurgeon and the Director of Pediatric Neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital. He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian award in the United States by President George W. Bush in 2008.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 412 reviews
December 21, 2012
Ben Carson was a young inner-city boy who grew up with out a father. His mother was single and she could barely support her kids. She could barely read and her occupation could hardly support the kids. She often went into some kind of psychiatric problems and had to be stay in a hospital for a few days. The struggles of the family continued. Ben fell to the bottom of his class and developed an uncontrollable temper. His mother Sonya would not give up on her kids. She would often encourage her children to work harder and trust in God and would be successful. Ben grew to like reading and discovering. He flew to the top of his class in every subject and became one of the top neurosurgeon in the world.
I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in a true life story of how hard work, dedication, and trusting in God can give you success in life. Ben would often give credit to how God put people around his to help him be successful. He would often come to a medical case that seemed impossible and he didn't have faith that anything could be done, he was wrong. God worked everything out and reminded Carson that He was in control.
I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in a true life story of how hard work, dedication, and trusting in God can give you success in life. Ben would often give credit to how God put people around his to help him be successful. He would often come to a medical case that seemed impossible and he didn't have faith that anything could be done, he was wrong. God worked everything out and reminded Carson that He was in control.
Read
April 10, 2020This book is such a motivator and inspiration for people who want to go far in life. Think Big is actually an acronym
T- Talent
H- Honesty
I- Insight
N- Nice
K- Knowledge
B- Books are for reading
I- In-depth knowledge
G- God
I recommend this to everyone
T- Talent
H- Honesty
I- Insight
N- Nice
K- Knowledge
B- Books are for reading
I- In-depth knowledge
G- God
I recommend this to everyone
Read
June 24, 2010When I read the title and flipped through the pages I knew that the book could inspire me in situations that I've been in or will run into later in life. I liked the book because it was really about how things were, how you start on the bottom and make your way to the top. I liked the way the author set the chapters in chronilogical order. Reading this book I learned that if someone has done it then it can be done. If you set your mind to be the best you will meet success. I didn't get to finish the book but I already rate it as an 8 because of how the structure was, the way the author went step by step to explain what was what and how to get where he went. Having support from others can definitly boost your confidence. The book was challanging and had some words that I've only heard but never really seen written out, so I enriched my vocabulary. The book reminded me of a previous book I've read earlier in the year "The Blueprint For My Girls In Love: 99 Rules for Dating, Relationships, and Intimacy" because it basically gives you advice and gives you inspiration. I strongly reccomend this book to anyone that struggles with anything in life. This book just gives you that push and inner support that you need.
August 12, 2024
Very insightful. A book with lots of resources for personal growth and development.
May 5, 2020
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.
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.
March 29, 2013
This book reads like an acceptance speech at some major awards ceremony, giving thanks to all the people involved in making Dr Carson's life what it is today. No doubt he is a very impressive man with all he was able to accomplish at such a young age, but even more impressive is the credit he gives to others, never coming off as haughty despite all the success he has had.
July 19, 2013
It's an amazing book that simply inpsires and motivates you to give your best in life! No matter from where your come from or your background, anyone can success if they give their best.
April 26, 2013
Honestly I never would have picked up this book if it weren't for the fact that a lecturer prescribed it for one of my classes. I'm not one for self-help or motivational books. I find the tedious and really not all that motivational.I prefer fiction, and as I said I really don't think I would have picked it up, let alone have enjoyed it the way I did.
I'd heard about Ben Carson (those who haven't have probably been living under a rock), but I never really took interest in his books or the movie adaptation of his memoir. I rally should have, I was really pleasantly surprised when I found myself actually getting drawn in. I think one of the reasons that I liked was because it didn't read like your typical self-help book, it read like a series of short stories all flowing and pointing to one simple fact= to Think Big.
I found myself identifying with him, and relating to his stories He had a way of telling his story in a very relatable and interesting, while still filling you with knowledge at the same time. I'm not a medical student , but I always find the human body to be fascinating, so I really liked how he stayed true to his medical roots and gave us a little snippet of how our brains function.
Not only did I come out of this really motivated and actually inspired, I came out of this knowledgeable. It really opened up my mind, in the sense that I shouldn't just write off a book just because of the genre or type. I'm very curious and I want to read more about Ben Carson. I would seriously recommend Everyone read this, regardless of your age or where you're from, or whatever. It's an amazing book that will make you reevaluate a lot of things, especially in the way you tHink. And most importantly it will help you THINK BIG, and hopefully achieve success, even in the little things in life.
I'd heard about Ben Carson (those who haven't have probably been living under a rock), but I never really took interest in his books or the movie adaptation of his memoir. I rally should have, I was really pleasantly surprised when I found myself actually getting drawn in. I think one of the reasons that I liked was because it didn't read like your typical self-help book, it read like a series of short stories all flowing and pointing to one simple fact= to Think Big.
I found myself identifying with him, and relating to his stories He had a way of telling his story in a very relatable and interesting, while still filling you with knowledge at the same time. I'm not a medical student , but I always find the human body to be fascinating, so I really liked how he stayed true to his medical roots and gave us a little snippet of how our brains function.
Not only did I come out of this really motivated and actually inspired, I came out of this knowledgeable. It really opened up my mind, in the sense that I shouldn't just write off a book just because of the genre or type. I'm very curious and I want to read more about Ben Carson. I would seriously recommend Everyone read this, regardless of your age or where you're from, or whatever. It's an amazing book that will make you reevaluate a lot of things, especially in the way you tHink. And most importantly it will help you THINK BIG, and hopefully achieve success, even in the little things in life.
December 24, 2018
I read this in high school way before be went political.
October 25, 2015
Ben Carson’s book, Think Big is actually a book about how to have success in your life. He using the acrostic THINK BIG for an outline to teach the steps a person would use to have success. The T stands for talent. He says, “If we recognize our talents, use them appropriately, and choose a field that uses those talents, we will rise to the top of our field.” The H stands for honesty. He says, “If we live the rule of honesty and accept our problems, we can go far down the road of achievement.” I stands for insight. Carson says, “If we observe and reflect and commit ourselves to giving our best, we will come out on top.” N stands for nice. He says, “If we are nice to others, others respond to us in the same way – and we can give our best for each other.” K stands for knowledge. Carson say, “If we make every attempt to increase our knowledge in order to use for human good, it will make a difference in us and in our world.” B stands for books. He says, “If we commit ourselves to reading, thus increasing our knowledge, only God limits how far we can go in this world.” I stands for in-depth knowledge. He says, “If we develop in-depth knowledge, it will enable us to give our best to others and help to make a better world.” G stands for God. He says, “If we acknowledge our need for God, He will help us.”
Carson uses personal examples as well as examples from others to expand and verify each of the points listed above. I really enjoyed this book. It does repeat a few stories from his other books. This man is very wise and offers a lot of truth that can be applied to all lives. As I write this I see that Ben Carson is gaining in the polls as a presidential candidate. I think he would be an excellent president and is what this country needs. I trust you will enjoy and be challenged by the quotes below:
If things go bad for you-
And make you a bit ashamed,
Often you will find out that
You have yourself to blame …
Swiftly we ran to mischief
And then the bad luck came.
Why do we fault others?
We have ourselves to blame …
Whatever happens to us,
Here are the words we say,
“Had it not been for s0-in-so
Things wouldn’t have gone that way.”
And if you are short of friends,
I’ll tell you what to do-
Make an examination,
You’ll find the fault’s in you …
You’re the captain of your ship,
So agree with the same –
If you travel downward,
You have yourself to blame. ~Mayme White Miller
After I got acquainted with God and we entered into partnership, I knew that God did not make any race or nationality to be inferior or superior. We were black, but that did not mean we were dumb and supposed to fail. God loves everybody and wants only good things for us. I tried to get my sons to grasp that what God does for one – He’ll do for anyone else. I use to tell Ben and Curtis, “I think God made different nationalities to see what our reaction was going to be toward each other. Maybe God made it for a special measurement just to see if we could really love someone who is different from us.” One day while I was reading, I came across this verse in the Bible: “If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. And He has given us this command: Whomsoever loves God must also love his brother” (1 John 4:20-21). ~Mary Carson
A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops. ~Henry Brooke Adams
The mind is not a vessel to be filled but a fire to be ignited. ~Plutarch
Anyone who can’t learn from other people’s mistakes simply can’t learn, and that’s all there is to it. There is value in the wrong way of doing things. The knowledge gained from errors contributes to our knowledge base. ~Don Long
You must have a sound rationale for what you are doing right now. ~Don Long
Be nice to people – all people – even when you don’t have to be. Everybody is important. ~Don Long
Isn’t it strangeThat princes and kings,
And clowns that caper
In sawdust rings,
And common people
Like you and me
Are builders for eternity?
Each is given a bag of tools,
A shapeless mass,
A book of rules;
And each must make-
Ere life is flown-
A stumbling block
Or a steppingstone. ~R.L. Sharpe
No one can make us feel inferior without our permission. ~Eleanor Roosevelt
Every man who knows how to read has it in his power to magnify himself, to multiply the ways in which he exists, to make his life full, significant, and interesting. ~Aldous Huxley
It is chiefly through books that we enjoy intercourse with superior minds. … In the best books, great men talk to us, give us their most precious thoughts, and pour their souls into ours. God be thanked for books. They are the voices of the distant and the dead, and make us heirs of the spiritual life of past ages. Books are true levelers. They give to all, who will faithfully use them, the society, the spiritual presence, of the best and greatest of our race. ~William Ellery Channing
Here are three significant serendipities that reading furnishes us:
1.) Reading activates and exercise the mind.
2.) 2.) Reading forces the mind to discriminate. From the beginning, readers have to recognize letters printed on the page, make them into words, the words into sentences, and the sentences into concepts.
3.) Reading pushes us to use our imagination and makes us more creatively inclined.
When books are opened, we discover that we have wings. ~Helen Hayes
God helps us by:
- encouraging us to use our intelligence
- -urging us to take advantage of learning opportunities
- inspiring us to acquire the necessary skills and knowledge we need to work effectively in whatever area we have chosen as a career.
More things are wrought by prayer
Than this world dreams of. ~Tennyson
God cares about every area of our lives, and God wants us to ask for help.
Humility is not groveling and telling everyone how worthless we are – humility is knowing who we are and what God is doing and has done in our lives.
I have worked out a simple formula for humility.
IF WE RECOGNIZE THAT:
1.) God created this universe, including us, and
2.) God shows that He is much more powerful than we are by what He does and has done in our world, and
3.) God gives each of us abilities that we cannot supply to ourselves or explain our worthiness of, THEN WE ARE HUMBLED.
Remaining a victim of circumstance is a state of being that we choose, a choice that
- allows us to blame other people
- lets us blame circumstances
- permits us to avoid responsibility for our lives
- encourages us to feel sorry for ourselves, and
- guarantees that we will stay victims.
No one has to be a victim!
To some, success in life means putting more into life than we take out. I think of success as reaching beyond ourselves and helping other people in specific ways.
Carson uses personal examples as well as examples from others to expand and verify each of the points listed above. I really enjoyed this book. It does repeat a few stories from his other books. This man is very wise and offers a lot of truth that can be applied to all lives. As I write this I see that Ben Carson is gaining in the polls as a presidential candidate. I think he would be an excellent president and is what this country needs. I trust you will enjoy and be challenged by the quotes below:
If things go bad for you-
And make you a bit ashamed,
Often you will find out that
You have yourself to blame …
Swiftly we ran to mischief
And then the bad luck came.
Why do we fault others?
We have ourselves to blame …
Whatever happens to us,
Here are the words we say,
“Had it not been for s0-in-so
Things wouldn’t have gone that way.”
And if you are short of friends,
I’ll tell you what to do-
Make an examination,
You’ll find the fault’s in you …
You’re the captain of your ship,
So agree with the same –
If you travel downward,
You have yourself to blame. ~Mayme White Miller
After I got acquainted with God and we entered into partnership, I knew that God did not make any race or nationality to be inferior or superior. We were black, but that did not mean we were dumb and supposed to fail. God loves everybody and wants only good things for us. I tried to get my sons to grasp that what God does for one – He’ll do for anyone else. I use to tell Ben and Curtis, “I think God made different nationalities to see what our reaction was going to be toward each other. Maybe God made it for a special measurement just to see if we could really love someone who is different from us.” One day while I was reading, I came across this verse in the Bible: “If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. And He has given us this command: Whomsoever loves God must also love his brother” (1 John 4:20-21). ~Mary Carson
A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops. ~Henry Brooke Adams
The mind is not a vessel to be filled but a fire to be ignited. ~Plutarch
Anyone who can’t learn from other people’s mistakes simply can’t learn, and that’s all there is to it. There is value in the wrong way of doing things. The knowledge gained from errors contributes to our knowledge base. ~Don Long
You must have a sound rationale for what you are doing right now. ~Don Long
Be nice to people – all people – even when you don’t have to be. Everybody is important. ~Don Long
Isn’t it strangeThat princes and kings,
And clowns that caper
In sawdust rings,
And common people
Like you and me
Are builders for eternity?
Each is given a bag of tools,
A shapeless mass,
A book of rules;
And each must make-
Ere life is flown-
A stumbling block
Or a steppingstone. ~R.L. Sharpe
No one can make us feel inferior without our permission. ~Eleanor Roosevelt
Every man who knows how to read has it in his power to magnify himself, to multiply the ways in which he exists, to make his life full, significant, and interesting. ~Aldous Huxley
It is chiefly through books that we enjoy intercourse with superior minds. … In the best books, great men talk to us, give us their most precious thoughts, and pour their souls into ours. God be thanked for books. They are the voices of the distant and the dead, and make us heirs of the spiritual life of past ages. Books are true levelers. They give to all, who will faithfully use them, the society, the spiritual presence, of the best and greatest of our race. ~William Ellery Channing
Here are three significant serendipities that reading furnishes us:
1.) Reading activates and exercise the mind.
2.) 2.) Reading forces the mind to discriminate. From the beginning, readers have to recognize letters printed on the page, make them into words, the words into sentences, and the sentences into concepts.
3.) Reading pushes us to use our imagination and makes us more creatively inclined.
When books are opened, we discover that we have wings. ~Helen Hayes
God helps us by:
- encouraging us to use our intelligence
- -urging us to take advantage of learning opportunities
- inspiring us to acquire the necessary skills and knowledge we need to work effectively in whatever area we have chosen as a career.
More things are wrought by prayer
Than this world dreams of. ~Tennyson
God cares about every area of our lives, and God wants us to ask for help.
Humility is not groveling and telling everyone how worthless we are – humility is knowing who we are and what God is doing and has done in our lives.
I have worked out a simple formula for humility.
IF WE RECOGNIZE THAT:
1.) God created this universe, including us, and
2.) God shows that He is much more powerful than we are by what He does and has done in our world, and
3.) God gives each of us abilities that we cannot supply to ourselves or explain our worthiness of, THEN WE ARE HUMBLED.
Remaining a victim of circumstance is a state of being that we choose, a choice that
- allows us to blame other people
- lets us blame circumstances
- permits us to avoid responsibility for our lives
- encourages us to feel sorry for ourselves, and
- guarantees that we will stay victims.
No one has to be a victim!
To some, success in life means putting more into life than we take out. I think of success as reaching beyond ourselves and helping other people in specific ways.
August 7, 2020
Motivating and inspirational. Food for thought.
July 6, 2015
By all means you may judge this book by its cover, because your judgement will be spot on. I mean, even being ghostwritten, this book was just really not good. From the abrupt shift of chapters - starting with Ben Carson, then weirdly switching to his Mom writing a chapter or two - then back to Ben Carson, it never really had a timeline to it. It was like Ben Carson really wanted to emphasize how other people and God helped him get where he was, but never really considered the best way to translate that, other than repeating it constantly every other paragraph. Not worth the time at all.
July 14, 2009
I was introduced to this book by a junior high school teacher who was planning to use it in her classes. Supposedly it was about a successful pediatric neurosurgeon giving accolades to people who helped him develop himself. That attracted me since I also feel such intense gratitude for so many, some that I am aware of, and some that I never realized were there. I will say he delivers that, and also provides some very good ideas about how to get on track and stay on track for "success". I rated the book lower because there is a little too much about Ben Carson in the book for me, and a few too many references to the times he "said a little prayer and his patient miraculously and immediately turned for the better". I just felt like he, not infrequently, plugged his own accomplishments sort of gratuitously. And I think there have to be some examples not mentioned when he "said a little prayer" and the patient went on to a tragic outcome. Not to overstate that, though, and I have recommended the book to several people--especially to parents of preteens who might be inspired by what he has to say. It is a fairly well-written book, and easy to read.
February 2, 2022
Cartea prezinta copilaria lui Ben Carlson si modul in care mama lui l-a influentat, dar si felul in care, impreuna cu echipajul de la spitalul John Hopkins a rezolvat anumite situatii medicale dificile si cazuri care nu fusesera operate anterior, datorita unor riscuri pe care si le-a asumat.
Din punctul meu de vedere cartea contine foarte multe exemple practice din domeniul medical, pe care nu le-am inteles, insa, m-a motivat sa aplic principiile prezentate in carte: THINK BIG chiar si in ce priveste acest aspect: In-Depth Learning. Totodata m-a facut sa reconsider ideea ca anumiti oameni sunt mult mai destepti, si sa iau in considerare ca poate s-au gandit mai mult la anumite probleme pe care si eu le-am intampinat, sau au citit mai mult pe un anumit domeniu.
De asemenea, o idee care mi-a ramas in minte e faptul ca un om are atat de multi neuroni incat poate retine informatiile de la inceputul umanitatii pana in prezent, ceea ce, venind de la un neurochirurg, pare o informatie de incredere.
Din punctul meu de vedere cartea contine foarte multe exemple practice din domeniul medical, pe care nu le-am inteles, insa, m-a motivat sa aplic principiile prezentate in carte: THINK BIG chiar si in ce priveste acest aspect: In-Depth Learning. Totodata m-a facut sa reconsider ideea ca anumiti oameni sunt mult mai destepti, si sa iau in considerare ca poate s-au gandit mai mult la anumite probleme pe care si eu le-am intampinat, sau au citit mai mult pe un anumit domeniu.
De asemenea, o idee care mi-a ramas in minte e faptul ca un om are atat de multi neuroni incat poate retine informatiile de la inceputul umanitatii pana in prezent, ceea ce, venind de la un neurochirurg, pare o informatie de incredere.
November 29, 2021
Ben Carson is definitely not a storyteller, but this book will hold your attention. Starting with his youth and his very religious mother who made all the difference in his life. She did not simply have blind faith, she put it to work. She had very creative methods to develop two black boys in the inner-city from the inside out. She is the real hero of the story.
Toward the end, the feel of the book changed. I felt that Ben was lecturing me. I know what he tried to do in the book, it didn't work very well. He would have been better off narrating more examples of the points he wanted to make. Although inspirational, the change from strong narration to talking to the reader took away from the book.
However, I recommend this to any parent with an African American child growing up in the inner-city.
Toward the end, the feel of the book changed. I felt that Ben was lecturing me. I know what he tried to do in the book, it didn't work very well. He would have been better off narrating more examples of the points he wanted to make. Although inspirational, the change from strong narration to talking to the reader took away from the book.
However, I recommend this to any parent with an African American child growing up in the inner-city.
April 26, 2014
What Ben's mother & Ben did in overcoming adversity is amazing. It was really inspiring to read this book. It was refreshing to read about an elite doctor who also gave credit to others he worked with down to the front office staff and his teachers. He overcame a lot of adversity by accepting personal responsibility and relying on his faith.
July 4, 2014
Ben Carson is a truly inspiring man. He writes his personal story from the inner city and underachieving school life to the top of the neuroscience medicine. He gives all the glory to God and includes wonderful scriptures to live by. He really gets you thinking bigger and gives you a big push to dream big!
May 18, 2013
An excellent book with an important message. But if anyone ever needed a co-author, it's Dr. Carson---he's a man of many gifts and talents, but writing isn't one of them. P.S. I see he had a co-author; he needs a different one.
August 24, 2013
The way that the book is written really draws the reader in because Dr. Carson uses real life stories to help explain the major points that he is wanting to make. This is a very good book and I recommend it to be read by anyone and everyone.
June 15, 2015
La vida de Ben Carson es realmente inspiradora, pero este libro no me llego, los primeros tres capitulos realmente me motivaron, pero de ahi en adelante se me hizo muy tedioso, pienso que no iba directamente al punto.
May 15, 2010
It is a teacher of life. This book had a profound impact on my drive and pursuits in higher education at a very pivotal time in my life...
June 15, 2019
I thought this book was so good!! It really captures a snapshot of what Dr. Carson says in Gifted Hands and gives it in a leadership book fashion. Like John Maxwell, Ben explains through life experiences to argue valuable points. His mother was always working hard and pushing him to do and be more. This gave me an eye opening realization that my mom is the same way. I didn’t believe her for the longest time until I read this book. Carson also bases his books off of proven fact, which as a doctor he needed to learn very early in his career. He talks a lot about finding your way of learning, which for him it was reading and I tend to be the same way. He says that experience isn’t the best teacher, I agree, I believe it’s repetition, repetition, repetition. This book made me do what it was named, to truly THINK BIG!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 2, 2021
Sve možeš, bitno je da želiš, da otkriješ sebe, uradiš sve što možeš i ostalo prepustiš dragom Bogu - poruka koja se pomalja kroz cijelu knjigu "Think big" Bena Karsona.
Nedostaje ti motivacija? Misliš da ne vrijediš dovoljno? Kriviš priike? Kriviš druge, smatraš sebe žrtvom? Ako je tako, pročitaj ovu knjigu! Zanimljiva kao vještim perom napisani roman, zasnovana na pravim događajima, sa pravim likovima koji često nadilaze bilo koju fikciju.
Ova knjiga govori o efikasnosti odluke jedne dobre majke. "Dvije knjige sedmično sa prikazom pročitanog i što manje gledanje televizijskih programa." Ova formula je spasila mnoge živote, mnogima dala novu priliku, stvorila je, uz Božiju pomoć, čovjeka koji je dao svoj doprinos ovom svijetu.
Preporučujem ovu knjigu svakome, ocijenio sam je sa pet zvjezdica, da ih je bilo ponuđenih pedeset opet bi ih kliknuo i poželio bih da ih ima još!
Nedostaje ti motivacija? Misliš da ne vrijediš dovoljno? Kriviš priike? Kriviš druge, smatraš sebe žrtvom? Ako je tako, pročitaj ovu knjigu! Zanimljiva kao vještim perom napisani roman, zasnovana na pravim događajima, sa pravim likovima koji često nadilaze bilo koju fikciju.
Ova knjiga govori o efikasnosti odluke jedne dobre majke. "Dvije knjige sedmično sa prikazom pročitanog i što manje gledanje televizijskih programa." Ova formula je spasila mnoge živote, mnogima dala novu priliku, stvorila je, uz Božiju pomoć, čovjeka koji je dao svoj doprinos ovom svijetu.
Preporučujem ovu knjigu svakome, ocijenio sam je sa pet zvjezdica, da ih je bilo ponuđenih pedeset opet bi ih kliknuo i poželio bih da ih ima još!
October 3, 2018
This exceptional and very inspiring book shows how anyone can aim for excellence and impact in life by thinking big. Every man is limited only by the way he thinks. It is a story of positive change catalysed by influence through books and people. It will sure challenge you to be the best you you can be.
April 27, 2022
I thoroughly enjoyed reading the chapters about Sonya Carson (Ben Carson's mother). Her story was impressive and inspiring. Ben's success was largely due to his mother's devotion/ wisdom. I also enjoyed the chapters on Knowledge, Books, and God. The rest of the book was a bit boring/redundant, but those other specific chapters had many redeeming points of truth.
October 4, 2023
The Book “Think Big” by Ben Carson talks about the personal experiences of the author. The book is an inspiration of how he transformed from having difficulties in school and family problems to become one of the most known neurosurgeon. The books helps one to realize and utilize the gift of God.
May 11, 2017
I chose Think Big by Ben Carson for many reasons but mostly because I was very interested in learning more about this genius’ life story. The book tells the tale of Ben Carson’s journey to become one of the greatest neuroscientist in the world, while also giving the reader some helpful advice to achieve their goals.
Ben Carson is a very successful man and a self-made man, he tells the story of his family and him overcoming poverty through the love of reading and the quest for knowledge. Learning about himself as a learner his story about self-discovery is absolutely fascinating. He went from being the bottom of his class in Middle School to Valedictorian of his High School class.
The story about his childhood is one of my favorite parts of this book. This a great book, but like all great books, it has some parts that are struggling to read if you are not familiar with the medical field. It has some complicated terms and will have some readers who are not familiar with medical terminology scratching their head.
I would recommend this book to anyone who has dreams of overcoming an obstacle and letting their potential unleashed. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone entering the medical and science fields. Overall this is a great book, and I enjoyed it thoroughly.
Ben Carson is a very successful man and a self-made man, he tells the story of his family and him overcoming poverty through the love of reading and the quest for knowledge. Learning about himself as a learner his story about self-discovery is absolutely fascinating. He went from being the bottom of his class in Middle School to Valedictorian of his High School class.
The story about his childhood is one of my favorite parts of this book. This a great book, but like all great books, it has some parts that are struggling to read if you are not familiar with the medical field. It has some complicated terms and will have some readers who are not familiar with medical terminology scratching their head.
I would recommend this book to anyone who has dreams of overcoming an obstacle and letting their potential unleashed. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone entering the medical and science fields. Overall this is a great book, and I enjoyed it thoroughly.
March 6, 2013
Doctorul Ben Carson este licenţiat al Universităţii Yale şi al Facultăţii de Medicină de la Universitatea din Michigan. În prezent, este directorul secţiei de neurochirurgie infantilă a Spitalului Universităţii John Hopkms din Baltiniore, Maryland. Locuieşte împreună cu soţia, Candy, şi cu cei trei fii în West Fnendship, Maryland. Este autorul a 4 cărți best-seller-uri, ( Mâini înzestrate, Gândește cutezător, Imaginea de ansamblu și Asumă-ți riscul).
În “Gândeşte cutezător”, doctorul Carson dezvăluie reţeta sa pentru a avea succes. Şi cine ar putea face mai bine acest lucru, decât cineva care şi-a transformat propria viaţă, devenind dintr-un copil de ghetou cel mai celebru specialist în neurochirurgie infantilă. Şi, în plus, un creştin veritabil!
Această carte este de fapt istoria vieții autorului. Un bărbat de culoare, crescut în sărăcie pe străzile din Detroit și Boston, produsul unui cămin destrămat condus de o mamă singură foarte tânără cu o educație minimă (căsătorită la vârsta de treisprezece ani, divorțat la puțin peste douăzeci de ani) care nu avea nici un fel de aptitudini sau calificări profesionale.
Filosofia acestei cărți demonstrează că fiecare avem capacitatea de a ne transforma în niște ființe integre prin inteligență, motivație și muncă (intelectuală). Pentru a ne dezrobi de noroiul mediocrității și al inculturii, el recomandă cu fervoare cititul, cititul din domeniul pasiunilor noastre. Ceea ce ne place cel mai mult ne va orienta viitorul.
Recomand această carte tuturor, și mai ales celor care nu mai cred în forțele lor proprii. Aici Ben Carson î-și relatează viața sa proprie, încercările prin care a trecut și mai ales bucuriile de care se bucura. Dar mai cu seamă recomand adolescenților și tinerilor, tinerii care reprezintă forța proaspătă, energia încă nerisipită. Capacitatea de a deveni într-adevăr oameni. Pe mine personal m-a motivat incredibil de mult cartea “Gândește cutezător”, și felul cum își relatează povestea de viață. După mine aș spune că această carte e un catalizator spre reușite și scopuri realizabile.
În “Gândeşte cutezător”, doctorul Carson dezvăluie reţeta sa pentru a avea succes. Şi cine ar putea face mai bine acest lucru, decât cineva care şi-a transformat propria viaţă, devenind dintr-un copil de ghetou cel mai celebru specialist în neurochirurgie infantilă. Şi, în plus, un creştin veritabil!
Această carte este de fapt istoria vieții autorului. Un bărbat de culoare, crescut în sărăcie pe străzile din Detroit și Boston, produsul unui cămin destrămat condus de o mamă singură foarte tânără cu o educație minimă (căsătorită la vârsta de treisprezece ani, divorțat la puțin peste douăzeci de ani) care nu avea nici un fel de aptitudini sau calificări profesionale.
Filosofia acestei cărți demonstrează că fiecare avem capacitatea de a ne transforma în niște ființe integre prin inteligență, motivație și muncă (intelectuală). Pentru a ne dezrobi de noroiul mediocrității și al inculturii, el recomandă cu fervoare cititul, cititul din domeniul pasiunilor noastre. Ceea ce ne place cel mai mult ne va orienta viitorul.
Recomand această carte tuturor, și mai ales celor care nu mai cred în forțele lor proprii. Aici Ben Carson î-și relatează viața sa proprie, încercările prin care a trecut și mai ales bucuriile de care se bucura. Dar mai cu seamă recomand adolescenților și tinerilor, tinerii care reprezintă forța proaspătă, energia încă nerisipită. Capacitatea de a deveni într-adevăr oameni. Pe mine personal m-a motivat incredibil de mult cartea “Gândește cutezător”, și felul cum își relatează povestea de viață. După mine aș spune că această carte e un catalizator spre reușite și scopuri realizabile.
April 5, 2013
Aceasta carte intradevar e influentabila. Am descoperit in paginile ei o uimitoare capodopera a tipului de viata pe care-o putem trai pe acest pamant. "Gandeste Cutezator"(Think Big) este un acrostih impresionant pe care Dr.Carson l-a format pentru a-si accentua opinia sa referitoare a felul nostru de a gandi si la posibilitatile pe care noi oamenii putem avea deaface cu. T= TALENT, cu totii dispunem de el. H(hope)= SPERANTA, nu putem trai fara ea. I= INSIGHT (PERSPICACITATE) e ascultarea altor oamni si meditarea accentuata a detaliilor fara de care suntem dezarmati. N = NICE (AMABILITATE), chiar si regulile nescrise dovedesc ca aceasta calitate e necesare vietii traite in armonie. K = KNOWLEDGE (ŞTIINŢĂ, CUNOŞTINŢĂ. CUNOAŞTERE), daca esti un bun cititor vei intelege de ce e atat de utila aceasta "cunostinta". B = BOOKS (CĂRŢI), fiind aici la Goodreads cu totii banuiesc ca sunteti de acord ca, cartile sunt candela intelepciunii. I = IN – DEPTH LEARNING (ÎNVĂŢARE APROFUNDATĂ), nu sunt experta in invatarea aprofundata dar pot sa spun ca dupa ce am citit capitolul desemnat ei sunt in totalitate pro acestei insusiri,pe care sper sa mi-o dezvolt pe parcursul vietii mele. G = GOD (DUMNEZEU), desi e ultima litera al acestui acrostih nu e mai putin importanta, din contra cred ca Dumnezeu e cel mai important factor care poate aduce succesul in vietile noastre.Increderea si credinta in El ne aseaza calea catre succes inevitabil, devenind apoi oameni detinatori ai cheii catre invingerea mandriei, urii, necunostintei, intr-un cuvant a tuturor viciilor predispuse sa ne atace constant.
Da,pot sa afirm cu tarie ca aceasta carte isi merita cu cinste titlul de "best-seller"+ cele 5 stele (pe care n-am tagaduit sa le dau).Va urez tuturor celor care nu ati citit-o pana acum lectura placuta, iar celor care sunteti familiarizati cu aceasta creatie,puneti in aplicare "Think Big", caci va garantez ca nu veti regreta!
Da,pot sa afirm cu tarie ca aceasta carte isi merita cu cinste titlul de "best-seller"+ cele 5 stele (pe care n-am tagaduit sa le dau).Va urez tuturor celor care nu ati citit-o pana acum lectura placuta, iar celor care sunteti familiarizati cu aceasta creatie,puneti in aplicare "Think Big", caci va garantez ca nu veti regreta!
January 11, 2016
He grew up poor as an African American raised by a single mother. That didn’t stop him from becoming one of the best neurosurgeons in the country, at John Hopkins. I usually don’t enjoy self-help books but Ben Carson really tells things honestly and explains clearly how he has become so successful. It was his mother who gave him the confidence to study. She encouraged him to make weekly book reports and told him he could always do anything better than anyone else, even when he was one of the worst students in his 5th grade class. She believed in him and that made Ben believe in himself. Ben Carson tells of this story and on how early on, he fell in love with reading.
It was as if he discovered a secret. He just read everything of interest and gained a lot of knowledge. After he fell in love with reading, the rest was history. Along his journey, he became a great student giving God all the credit. Eventually, he was able to use his talent in hand coordination and in being able to see in three dimensions to become a great neurosurgeon who has helped countless families as the doctor of last resort. In Think Big, he provides honest wisdom on life that is sure to help anyone who has come from a minority background, or anyone else for that matter, to help them achieve great things. If he was able to become that successful, all others from humble backgrounds could also do a bit better. This is highly encouraged reading for poor urban youth, who have limitless potential to use their mind and imagination to create a better life for themselves and their families.
WHEN I READ THIS BOOK, I HAD NO IDEA WHO HE WAS. HE IS A GREAT MAN, BUT I DO NOT BELIEVE HE IS A GREAT POLITICIAN! 1-11-2016
It was as if he discovered a secret. He just read everything of interest and gained a lot of knowledge. After he fell in love with reading, the rest was history. Along his journey, he became a great student giving God all the credit. Eventually, he was able to use his talent in hand coordination and in being able to see in three dimensions to become a great neurosurgeon who has helped countless families as the doctor of last resort. In Think Big, he provides honest wisdom on life that is sure to help anyone who has come from a minority background, or anyone else for that matter, to help them achieve great things. If he was able to become that successful, all others from humble backgrounds could also do a bit better. This is highly encouraged reading for poor urban youth, who have limitless potential to use their mind and imagination to create a better life for themselves and their families.
WHEN I READ THIS BOOK, I HAD NO IDEA WHO HE WAS. HE IS A GREAT MAN, BUT I DO NOT BELIEVE HE IS A GREAT POLITICIAN! 1-11-2016
Displaying 1 - 30 of 412 reviews