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- Herausgeber: Booksell-Verlag
- Kategorie: Ratgeber
- Sprache: Englisch
In "The Power of Concentration," William Walker Atkinson presents a profound exploration into the dynamics of focused thought and mental discipline. Written in the early 20th century, this seminal work synthesizes elements of Eastern philosophy with Western psychological theory, reflecting the burgeoning interest in self-improvement and mental training of the time. Atkinson employs a conversational yet instructive literary style, guiding readers through practical exercises designed to enhance their concentration skills while invoking the mystical powers of the mind, a hallmark of the New Thought movement to which he contributed significantly. William Walker Atkinson, a figure pivotal to the New Thought philosophy, was a prolific writer and lecturer whose work encouraged individuals to unlock their potential through mental focus and positive thinking. His background in both the esoteric teachings of Eastern traditions and the rational approaches of Western psychology allowed him to bridge these ideas, encouraging readers to cultivate a strong mental discipline necessary for personal and professional success. Atkinson's own journey of self-discovery and his belief in the transformative power of thought greatly influenced the messages conveyed in this book. I highly recommend "The Power of Concentration" to anyone seeking to enhance their ability to focus and achieve their goals. This text not only serves as a practical guide but also as an insightful commentary on the nature of consciousness itself. By engaging with Atkinson's foundational ideas, readers will find themselves equipped with the tools needed to master their mental faculties and harness the power of concentration in everyday life. In this enriched edition, we have carefully created added value for your reading experience: - A succinct Introduction situates the work's timeless appeal and themes. - The Synopsis outlines the central plot, highlighting key developments without spoiling critical twists. - A detailed Historical Context immerses you in the era's events and influences that shaped the writing. - A thorough Analysis dissects symbols, motifs, and character arcs to unearth underlying meanings. - Reflection questions prompt you to engage personally with the work's messages, connecting them to modern life. - Hand‐picked Memorable Quotes shine a spotlight on moments of literary brilliance. - Interactive footnotes clarify unusual references, historical allusions, and archaic phrases for an effortless, more informed read.
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Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2023
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The Power of Concentration
Table of Contents
Introduction
By treating attention as a trainable faculty rather than a fixed trait, The Power of Concentration contends that disciplined focus is the master key to personal effectiveness, advancing the idea that deliberate mental training can translate intention into sustained effort, clarify purpose, and anchor daily action in steady, self-directed will.
Written by William Walker Atkinson, an American author associated with the New Thought movement, The Power of Concentration is a self-help manual that first appeared in the 1910s, a period when popular interest in mental discipline and personal development was surging. Rather than presenting a narrative setting, the book operates as a practical guide, organized for incremental study and application. Its cultural moment is one of optimism about self-culture and the possibility of strengthening character through methodical habits of mind. Within that context, Atkinson frames concentration not as an abstract ideal but as a foundational skill that can be cultivated and applied across work, study, and everyday decision-making.
The premise is straightforward: concentration is both a skill and a practice, and its development proceeds through consistent, structured exercises embedded in ordinary life. Atkinson’s voice is direct and encouraging, favoring plain statements, short lessons, and clear aims. The style is didactic without being academic, focused on actionable steps more than theory. Readers encounter an instructional cadence that emphasizes regularity, personal accountability, and gradual improvement. The mood is steady, purposeful, and pragmatic, with a notable emphasis on self-reliance. The experience it offers is that of a coach-like companion: not a quick inspiration, but a sequence of guided practices designed to be taken seriously over time.
Several themes shape the book’s core: the interplay of attention and will, the formation of habit through repetition, and the transformation of scattered energy into directed effort. Atkinson stresses that clarity of aim precedes effective action and that concentration aligns thought and conduct. The book invites readers to notice how distraction fragments intention and to replace fitful bursts of effort with sustained focus. It also underscores the ethical dimension of self-command—how discipline affects reliability, trustworthiness, and perseverance. Taken together, these themes present concentration as a unifying power that links mental composure with practical competence and long-range growth.
For contemporary readers navigating a culture of constant interruption, the book’s emphasis on single-minded attention feels freshly relevant. Without relying on technical jargon or scientific frameworks, it proposes a commonsense program for reclaiming depth in reading, working, and reflective thought. Its exercises aim to strengthen the ability to stick with a task, to resist unproductive impulses, and to finish what one begins. The appeal lies in its promise that modest, repeatable practices can reshape one’s mental environment. It raises enduring questions: What do we choose to attend to? How do our daily routines either dilute or reinforce our purpose? What might we accomplish by simply focusing longer and better?
The tone blends firmness with encouragement. Atkinson writes with moral earnestness common to early twentieth-century self-help, urging readers to build inner steadiness rather than chase quick results. The book favors brevity, momentum, and practical instruction over ornamented prose, inviting frequent pauses for application. Its method relies on cumulative practice: small, clear tasks that nudge attention toward stability. While its language reflects its time, its counsel remains accessible, especially to readers who appreciate concise directives and a no-nonsense approach. The result is a manual that treats concentration as a craft to be honed, not an innate gift to be admired at a distance.
Approached patiently, The Power of Concentration offers a compact curriculum in self-direction: identify a worthy aim, bring your mind fully to it, and train that capacity day by day. Readers can expect structured lessons, practical prompts, and a steady call to consistency. The book does not promise instant transformation; it proposes a workable path by which attention grows more resilient through use. For those seeking greater presence in work and life, Atkinson’s guidance provides a disciplined framework that complements modern efforts to minimize distraction. Its enduring message is clear: practice focus deliberately, and let that practiced focus refine the whole of your conduct.
Synopsis
The Power of Concentration presents a systematic program for developing focused attention as the foundation of achievement. Written as a sequence of brief lessons, it defines concentration as the ability to hold the mind steadily upon a chosen thought, purpose, or task while excluding irrelevant impressions. The author frames concentration as a practical skill that anyone can cultivate through regular training, not an inborn talent. He explains how scattered attention weakens will, decision, and efficiency, while sustained attention produces clarity, energy, and results. The book’s aim is to show how to gather mental forces, economize effort, and apply directed thought to personal, professional, and moral aims.
The early lessons build awareness of mental restlessness and introduce simple exercises to train steadiness. Readers are asked to watch a single object, count or read slowly without losing the thread, and notice when attention wanders. The method emphasizes short, frequent practice, a quiet posture, and a calm manner. Observation skills are sharpened by focusing on details, then recalling them without strain. The author advises beginning with easy tasks and increasing difficulty gradually, cultivating patience and regularity. By measuring attention lapses and gently restoring focus, the student learns to prevent dissipation of energy and to maintain a composed, responsive mental state.
Subsequent chapters link concentration to the will. The text asserts that attention obeys the directive power of will when exercised consciously and repeatedly. Practical drills include holding a chosen thought for a fixed interval, dismissing intrusive ideas, and giving oneself firm, simple commands. The author recommends cultivating calm self-confidence, avoiding fretfulness, and reducing worry through deliberate control of mental pictures. He explains that clear intention precedes effective action and that decisiveness grows as the mind becomes accustomed to obeying chosen aims. Concentration thus becomes the instrument by which desires are organized, impulses are moderated, and purpose is maintained through fluctuating moods.
The program then turns to habit formation and the organization of daily work. Students are urged to do one thing at a time, reduce needless interruptions, and arrange surroundings to support focus. A regular schedule, prompt beginnings, and definite stopping points conserve energy. The author proposes keeping brief records of practice, noticing peak hours of alertness, and planning tasks accordingly. He suggests eliminating trivial engagements, training to complete small duties without delay, and developing a reputation for thoroughness. These habits, reinforced by concentration exercises, produce a reliable rhythm of effort in which attention is less prone to drift and results become more uniform.
Attention is also tied to physical conditions. The book advises sufficient sleep, moderate diet, outdoor exercise, and fresh air to steady the nerves. Breathing and relaxation practices are presented to quiet tension and ready the mind for sustained work. Good posture, orderly surroundings, and regular intervals of rest prevent waste of energy. The author counsels temperance in stimulants and entertainment, arguing that a clear, even vitality supports longer spans of concentration. By managing bodily states, the student removes avoidable sources of distraction, making it easier to hold a line of thought without strain and to recover swiftly when attention has flagged.
Having established basic steadiness, the text addresses memory, imagination, and mental imagery. Concentration enriches memory by strengthening initial impressions and facilitating accurate recall. The student is taught to form clear, definite mental pictures and to connect new facts to familiar ideas. Imagination is guided rather than suppressed, used to model desired outcomes and rehearse actions step by step. The author cautions against vague daydreaming, recommending precise visualization that can be translated into practical effort. Continuity of thought is emphasized: keeping the main idea before the mind, returning to it after interruptions, and integrating details into a focused, coherent plan.
The lessons then emphasize initiative, prompt decision, and perseverance. Concentration supports quick, sound choices by clarifying essentials and reducing hesitation. Exercises include setting a time limit for decisions, outlining immediate next steps, and finishing tasks before taking up new ones. Obstacles are treated as tests of steadiness rather than signals to abandon an aim. The student learns to begin without delay, maintain a steady pace, and close undertakings competently. Desire is converted into intelligent action by holding a definite objective, translating it into concrete tasks, and resisting the pull of side lines. Regular practice builds the habit of sustained, purposeful effort.
Attention is applied to social conduct, study, and communication. The author recommends concentrated listening, courteous restraint in conversation, and clear, economical speech. In reading, he suggests fixing a purpose, selecting key points, and reviewing briefly to secure retention. Concentration strengthens influence by producing presence, sincerity, and reliability. Ethical character is treated as a stabilizing force: honesty, self-control, and consideration for others keep the mind untroubled and the will unconflicted. The book emphasizes that focused attention is not narrowness but directed breadth, enabling one to meet duties promptly, cooperate effectively, and lead by steady example rather than by force or display.
The work concludes by uniting its themes into a daily regimen: brief concentration drills, orderly habits, prudent care of health, and consistent application to practical aims. The author maintains that small, regular efforts accumulate into marked improvement in clarity, energy, and achievement. Concentration is presented as a transferable power, useful in business, study, creativity, and personal growth. The central message is that mastery of attention guides the will, organizes desire, and disciplines action, enabling a person to do what is chosen, avoid waste, and persevere steadily. With methodical practice, scattered effort consolidates into purposeful, effective work.
Historical Context
The Power of Concentration, first circulated in the United States in 1918 under William Walker Atkinson’s pseudonym Theron Q. Dumont, arose from the late Progressive Era milieu. Its implicit setting is the urban, commercial world of early twentieth-century America, and most immediately the Chicago publishing scene where Atkinson lived and worked. Between 1900 and 1920 Chicago became a hub for self-improvement periodicals, correspondence courses, and mail-order presses that sold practical psychology to clerks, salesmen, and managers. The book’s drills and case examples echo the rhythms of offices, factories, and training halls shaped by war mobilization and efficiency doctrines. Its time and place were defined by industrial scale, mass literacy, and a culture of purposeful self-discipline.
One formative backdrop was the Panic of 1893 and the ensuing labor crisis centered in Chicago. The financial collapse followed the insolvency of the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad in February 1893 and the National Cordage Company in May; more than 500 banks and some 15,000 businesses failed by 1894, with unemployment estimates reaching 18–20 percent. In the Chicago suburb of Pullman, a wage cut triggered the Pullman Strike on 11 May 1894; led by Eugene V. Debs, it escalated into a national boycott until federal troops arrived in July. By his own later accounts, Atkinson suffered a breakdown in the 1893 depression, turning him toward mental discipline that The Power of Concentration codifies for economic resilience.
An even deeper current shaping the work was the New Thought movement, a broad American mind-cure and self-help current that coalesced between the 1880s and 1910s. Its roots lay in the healing experiments of Phineas Parkhurst Quimby (1802–1866) in New England and, indirectly, in the metaphysical theology that also informed Mary Baker Eddy’s founding of the Church of Christ, Scientist in 1879 and publication of Science and Health in 1875. Distinct from Christian Science, New Thought spread through teachers such as Emma Curtis Hopkins, who established schools in Chicago in the late 1880s and trained ministers who founded Unity in Kansas City in 1889 and other centers nationwide. Organizations like the New Thought Federation (c. 1900) and the International New Thought Alliance, formed in 1914, created networks that linked periodicals, lecture circuits, and annual congresses. Chicago emerged as a principal node, hosting conventions, healing institutes, and publishing houses. Atkinson relocated to Chicago by the 1890s, edited New Thought and Advanced Thought magazines around 1901–1905, and in 1903 helped launch the Yogi Publication Society, which distributed his prolific output under several pen names, including Theron Q. Dumont and Yogi Ramacharaka. The Power of Concentration reflects characteristic New Thought emphases: the trainability of attention and will, the practical use of autosuggestion and mental imagery, and the moral ideal of self-control directed toward business, health, and civic usefulness. Its lesson structure, with daily exercises and maxims, mirrors New Thought’s lecture-and-practice culture, while its promise that disciplined thought alters conduct aligns with slogans then heard in Chicago halls and in the proceedings of the 1914–1916 New Thought congresses. The book thus translates a social-religious movement’s techniques into a manual for the modern workplace, relocating spiritual mental training into the realm of sales, management, and everyday habit.
The contemporaneous efficiency movement gave the book’s concentration ethic a recognizable social purpose. Frederick Winslow Taylor’s The Principles of Scientific Management (1911) popularized time-and-motion analysis, drawing on experiments at Bethlehem Steel circa 1899–1901, while Frank and Lillian Gilbreth refined motion study in bricklaying and factory workflows between 1908 and 1911. The Taylor Society formed in 1912, and President William Howard Taft’s Commission on Economy and Efficiency (1910–1913) extended the creed to government. Against this backdrop, Atkinson’s insistence on scheduled drills, habit-building, and the measurement of mental effort reads like a psychological counterpart to shop-floor optimization. Concentration becomes an internal technology meant to raise output, reliability, and personal value in large organizations.
The book appeared at the close of World War I, amid the United States’ vast mobilization after 6 April 1917. Draft induction under the Selective Service Act of 1917, training at camps from Camp Upton to Camp Funston, and national persuasion by the Committee on Public Information created regimens of attention, memory, and drill. The Army introduced group intelligence tests, and military manuals emphasized alertness in marksmanship and observation, culminating in campaigns such as the Meuse–Argonne offensive in autumn 1918. Issued in 1918, The Power of Concentration addressed readers emerging from wartime regimentation and anxiety, offering civilian practices of focus and steadiness that echoed the era’s calls for discipline and self-control.
Parallel developments in applied psychology and mental hygiene furnished a vocabulary for self-regulation. William James’s Principles of Psychology (1890) placed habit and attention at the center of mental life, while Hugo Münsterberg’s Psychology and Industrial Efficiency (1913) argued for selecting and training workers by psychological methods. Clifford Beers’s memoir A Mind That Found Itself (1908) spurred the National Committee for Mental Hygiene in 1909 under figures such as Adolf Meyer. During 1917–1918, psychologists administered Army Alpha and Beta tests to over a million recruits. Atkinson’s manual popularizes these currents for lay readers: it turns attention control, habit formation, and suggestion into daily exercises usable outside laboratories and clinics.
The rise of an urban white-collar economy created the book’s primary audience. By the 1920 census the United States recorded a majority living in urban places, and Chicago’s population surged from 1.7 million in 1900 to nearly 2.7 million in 1920. The city’s mail-order giants, Montgomery Ward (founded 1872) and Sears, Roebuck and Co. (1893), normalized distance selling, while the International Correspondence Schools (1891) spread self-education. Advanced Thought and the Yogi Publication Society in Chicago used similar channels to distribute practical psychology. The book’s compact lessons, sales-oriented examples, and evening practice schedules suited clerks, salesmen, and proprietors seeking advancement amid skyscrapers, telephones, and the ticking discipline of office time.
As a social critique, the book confronts the scattered attention, nervous exhaustion, and moral drift of industrial modernity. It proposes self-command as a remedy for the inequities of a system that rewards punctuality, reliability, and initiative yet often withholds training from those outside privileged circles. Its drills democratize techniques otherwise confined to universities, business consultants, or military camps, offering a low-cost toolkit to navigate class stratification within corporations and cities. While not partisan, it implicitly challenges coercive regimentation by teaching voluntary discipline, temperance, and purpose. In doing so, it exposes the period’s central problem: how to secure personal agency in an age of scale, speed, and organized power.
