The Prosperous Peasant

January 15, 2008 by bobleckridge

I read the Prosperous Peasant, written by Tim Clark and Mark Cunningham, recently. It’s one of those books which teaches (in this case five) principles (or ‘secrets’) which you should learn if you want to have a better life. The writing is better than many other books of this genre, partly, I suspect, because both of the authors are already established writers, one of them a novelist. Their writing skills show. The message of the book is very simple – here are the five principles –

Gratitude attracts luck
Know your gift
Conceivable means achievable
Effort determines results
Collaboration breeds success

I’m not going to elaborate any of these here. There’s nothing ground-breaking in here. However, my favourite one is the third one. A long of goal-setting and visualisation teaching is ridiculous and sets people up for disappointment. This particular principle emphasises that you have to be able to “conceive” how you’re going to achieve what you want to do, and that’s what makes it possible. It’s the conceiving that sets it apart from fanciful daydreaming. The principles are all ones you’ll have read about elsewhere but I like two things – the first is the way the principles are taught using the classic storytelling method. This time the stories are set in Japan, during the time of the samurai, and each story is well told and memorable. The second is that, unlike The Secret, the principles are practical, reasonable and useful. There’s nothing quasi-religious or mystical about it. It’s got charm. You can read the book for yourself, or have a look at the website.

Posted in books, from the reading room, personal growth | 10 Comments

10 Responses

on January 16, 2008 at 12:25 pm | Reply DG

Though none of them are new new territory, it does good to be reminded of them from time to time.
on January 16, 2008 at 5:09 pm | Reply Tim

Many thanks for your kind words about our book! Your comment about classic storytelling is especially gratifying 🙂

Respectfully yours,

Tim Clark
on January 16, 2008 at 5:11 pm | Reply Tim

P.S. I forgot to mention that we’ve modified the Prosperous Peasant web site. The book web site now appears at http://www.prosperouspeasant.com/book/. Otherwise you will automatically be redirected to our new blog.
on January 16, 2008 at 8:37 pm | Reply bobleckridge

Ah yes, DG, I agree – reinforcement of basic good principles is always useful – our modern world does have quite an obsession with the new! (So do I sometimes!)
Tim, oh, what a surprise! Isn’t the internet amazing?! Never before have authors and readers been able to communicate like this. Thanks for the updated link. I really do wish you every success with your book. You’re a great storyteller – and I appreciate that a LOT!
on January 18, 2008 at 1:39 pm | Reply Tim

Amazing indeed, Bob, especially to me after stepping out of the InternetStream at the end of 1.0 and wading back in when 2.0 is in full bore. Wow!

It also amazes me that I ogt the URL for my own book wrong in the post above. It’s:

http://www.theprosperouspeasant.com/book/

Cheers!

Tim
on January 18, 2008 at 1:52 pm | Reply bobleckridge

ah, that old definite article again….easily missed! Thanks for updating to THE right address, and welcome to 2.0! Fun, isn’t it?
on January 23, 2008 at 5:59 pm | Reply Christopher Richards

All of these are useful and practical points and seem to require a certain amount of maturity to come to naturally. I say this because I’ve had an extended adolescence. Maturity took a very long time in coming.

I wonder how gratitude occurs? I’ve got it but I don’t really know how it arrived. I don’t think you can just decide to be grateful. Maybe it’s one of those things that comes with the realization of our own finitude, or some life-threatening event?

Well, Bob, here you go again having an undue influence on my reading. There are so many books and so little time. This one is on my list. Thanks.

I am simultaneously reading:

No Boudary, by Ken Wilber (The missus is a fan)
Island, Aldous Huxley
The Most of P.G. Wodehouse (by guess who)
Varieties of Psychedelic Experience, Masters and Houston
The Art of Seeing, Aldous Huxley
Farther Reaches of Human Nature, A. H. Maslow

I am going to buy myself a Multi-tasking is a moral weakness mug.

Your blog is a treasure.
on January 23, 2008 at 6:01 pm | Reply Christopher Richards

I no longer have a cold so I should have written, No Boundary not No Boudary whatever that might mean.
on January 24, 2008 at 11:05 pm | Reply bobleckridge

Your most welcome Christopher and thank you for that lovely feedback.
I agree. You can’t just decide to be grateful. Not really. Yes, maybe it does come from brushes with mortality. You know American Beauty? That fabulous voice over by Kevin Spacey at the very end. That’s it. He captures the gratitude lesson.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYrgHju3d-E
Thanks for your reading list, and pass the mug (while you’re doing something else!)
No Boudary works for me!
on January 25, 2008 at 5:20 am | Reply Christopher Richards

Thanks for the link to American Beauty. That’s it!

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