Choice of pursuits, or, what to do and why : describing seventy-five trades and professions and the talents and temperaments required for each also how to educate, on phrenological principles, each man for his proper work together with portraits and biographies of many successful thinkers and workers

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Preface

The occupation which a man follows does much to make of mar his happiness. We can not over-estimate the importance of selecting a proper life-pursuit, and of the requisite culture of the faculties, through the action of which health, success, and happiness may be obtained.

Whatever will minister in any degree to these great interests should challenge ready attention and cordial acceptance.

Most young persons stumble into business, or are thrown into it by accident or temporary necessity, or are drawn to it by misguided ambition or a perverted fancy, without any serious thought as to their real fitness for the vocation they adopt. When the years for learning the theory and practice of their trade or profession are passed, they often awake, with regret and dismay, to the fact that they have not only made a mistake in their selection, but have wasted the precious years of early manhood upon a wrong pursuit.

An attempt is made in this work to show what bodily and mental peculiarities are adapted to different trades and professions, and also to show how the faculties of the intellect, the selfish and animal propensities, and the moral sentiments of man may be cultivated and trained, so that each person may secure not only the best possible development of his natural powers, but that guidance, training, and exercise which will enable him to make the

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Preface.

most of himself as a human being, and to place himself in such relations to his life-pursuit as to secure the best possible success and to render to the community the highest degree of service; in short, to tell eveiy honest inquirer “ What to do, and why; and how to educate each man for his proper work.”

In the author’s professional duties as a lecturer and in the application of mental science to practical life, during a period of mere than thirty years, the substance of the matter composing this volume has been given to patrons in criticism, instruction, and advice ; and he has reason to believe that many persons have been led thereby to the adoption of appropriate pursuits, to higher life purposes, and to a richer mental culture ; and he earnestly hopes that many thousands may be inspired to the achievement of a better manhood and nobler success through the influence of these pages, long after the friendly hand that penned them shall have gone to its rest.

New York, July 4 th, 1877.

PUBLISHERS’ PREFACE

“ What Ought I to Do ? ” and “ How Should I be Educated for Duty?” are important questions. This booh deals icith them pointedly , and may be read with profit by all successive generations. A story once read is dismissed. This booh will bear fifty readings. Every page is full of instruction. No one , with a true sense of its value , would be without it.