Think Big: Unleashing Your Potential for Excellence by Carson M.D., Ben (2006) Paperback

10 reviews for Think Big: Unleashing Your Potential for Excellence by Carson M.D., Ben (2006) Paperback

1. 

   Rated 5 out of 5

   chela – September 14, 2022

   Life changing book.The book is an eye opening experience. I love it so much, and I am glad it has christian content. God bless.

2. 

   Rated 5 out of 5

   Amazon Customer – August 30, 2022

   Excellent and practicalAn excellent book that can motivate readers to higher levels of living life to the fullest. Thank you Dr. Carson

3. 

   Rated 5 out of 5

   Suzanne Dobbins – October 28, 2013

   Recommended for students and parents alikeA 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.

4. 

   Rated 5 out of 5

   Betty Harmon – April 4, 2013

   Makes You Think Big!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!

5. 

   Rated 3 out of 5

   Kent – March 5, 2013

   A Little Misleading. Should Have Been Two Books.I recently got in on the Ben Carson craze and decided to pick this book up for my Kindle. Being one who is always trying to improve himself, I like what the book’s description was telling me; only the book description tells about half the story.The first two chapters are really great. They suck you in and give you an idea into what Carson is looking to do with the book. However, roughly 52%-54% of the book is devoted to people Carson has met over his life and he writes of their amazing lives and/or abilities. This is where, I think, the book was misleading.I believe it to be misleading, because, even though I expected some autobiographical information to help make points on his THINK BIG philosophy, I wasn’t expecting a book where a little more than half of it is an acknowledgment. I’m all for giving credit where it’s due, and I’m glad Carson doesn’t think that he did it all on his own, but I never got the impression that he would spend so much time covering these other individuals that are very vague in helping to make points on his THINK BIG philosophy.What do I mean by vague? He starts off the book describing these individuals without diving into without describing what he believes THINK BIG is to his audience. Several times I read, “*INSERT NAME*, who thinks big…,” and I was left wondering what it meant, in Carson’s definition, to THINK BIG. I think it would have been more appropriate to describe what THINK BIG is followed by talking about the other individuals. This would help to drive home points better and it would be clearer how these individuals thought big in Carson’s definition.The second half of the book is where it’s really at! That’s where Carson starts diving into his THINK BIG philosophy and each letter in THINK BIG stands for something different. Here is what they stand for:Talent/TimeHopeInsightNiceKnowledgeBooksIn-DepthGodI found his philosophy to be refreshing, because he adds elements that I have not, or rarely, have heard of from other successful individuals in trying to describe their philosophy on success. (The best one, I still think, is Napoleon Hill in his book, “The Law of Success,” which I recommend to everyone!) Not to mention Carson’s philosophy is one of the more practical philosophies in attempting to live a fulfilling life.All-in-all, the book was a bit misleading, because more than half was devoted to other individual’s stories that I did not think would be present. The book also suffers a bit from the organization. If Carson was adamant about adding the stories of those individuals in this book, he should have clarified what THINK BIG was before telling their stories; I think that would have made his points stronger and clearer. I ended up skimming two chapters until I ended up at the part of the book where I wanted to be: Carson describing his THINK BIG philosophy.Once you get to his philosophy, that’s where the book really shines! I still would recommend this book to anyone looking to better him/herself and/or to figure out how to live a meaningful and fulfilling life; I would simply skip over the first half of the book and dive right into his philosophy. I would also recommend the Kindle edition as it only costs about $6.

6. 

   Rated 5 out of 5

   Beverly E. Orris – March 29, 2022

   So InterestingWhen I read the book on taking a risk, I had questions about his Mom and Dad. Every interest I had in his family was addressed in this book. I enjoyed every page. Both books kept my undivided attention.

7. 

   Rated 5 out of 5

   silky69 – December 8, 2013

   I LOVED IT and gave a copy to a someone,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.

8. 

   Rated 5 out of 5

   Amazon Customer – May 29, 2014

   I thank God that He gave us Dr. CarsonI 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.

9. 

   Rated 5 out of 5

   Kindle Customer – October 3, 2015

   Awesome book regarding Think BigThis was a great read. Ben Carson has written out in detail what the acronym “THINK BIG” means to him. He details specifics regarding how his life was changed by his thinking that if someone did it, he can do it better. He had that thought by his mom telling him that often. It does not mean that he is better than anyone else. It is just a way to say that if you really try your best you can succeed.This is a wonderful book to be read with your parents in grade school. It is also wonderful for older kids and adults alike.The best part from this book that I was able to take away myself was that even when you are great yourself you can always learn more and to call upon the Lord often.The one thing I did not like about this book…. I really cannot come up with anything. At 47 years old, I want to apply the ideas of Ben Carson in my life especially about depending on God at all times, but more I’ll importantly depending on God when you cannot find an answer or when things seem very bad.

10. 

    Rated 5 out of 5

    Robert T. Hess – December 27, 2011

    Think BigDr. Ben Caron is an inspiration. He is one of the world’s foremost brain surgeons. He works at John Hopkins–a teaching hospital. He graduated from the ivy league. He was also raised in urban Detroit and was at the bottom of his 5th grade class academically. How did he break through the poverty barrier? He read. A lot. Once he discovered the knowledge that could be unleashed through books, he became unstoppable. He uncapped his potential and surprised everyone. Teaching students to read and helping them become readers is job number one for our schools.He also had a few exceptional public school teachers that supported in him, and a mother who believed in him as well. This book will demonstrate the power of public schools to help all children become great and reach their full potential. It will show you why music is important in the curriculum as well.In these days, I don’t think we will never have enough funds or resources available to public schools and the students in them, but as long as we have high quality people working in those schools, the opportunity for excellence exists. This book is not a theory or idea. Dr. Ben Carson is real and that means their is hope for all of our schools and the students in them.