Cherish or Perish

Strengthen Your Intellect; Save The World!

Non-Fiction - Self Help
Kindle Edition
Reviewed on 07/23/2025
Buy on Amazon

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    Book Review

Reviewed by Carol Thompson for Readers' Favorite

Cherish or Perish: Strengthen Your Intellect; Save The World! by Prabha Karan is an exploration of the pivotal role the intellect plays in shaping human destiny. The book challenges conventional notions of intelligence, urging readers to recognize the intellect as a distinct and transformative force that transcends cognitive ability. Through a compelling narrative, Karan emphasizes the urgency of nurturing the intellect, presenting it as the key to achieving success, peace, fulfilling relationships, and spiritual growth. The book is structured around the dichotomy of cherishing or neglecting the intellect, with the consequences of each choice vividly illustrated. Karan explores the dangers of intellectual complacency, highlighting how societal forces and personal negligence can lead to the erosion of independent thinking. He warns of the dual threats posed by internal barriers and external manipulations, offering a sobering analysis of how modern distractions and systematic suppression undermine intellectual autonomy.

Prabha Karan provides five foundational practices: discipline, questioning, liberal education, reflection, and introspection, which serve as a roadmap for intellectual development. These practices are presented with clarity and practicality, making them accessible to all readers. The emphasis on methodical introspection and thoughtful questioning is particularly impactful, encouraging readers to engage deeply with their thoughts and surroundings. Karan’s writing is both analytical and motivational, blending metaphysical insights with practical wisdom. While there is a repetition of key themes, it serves to reinforce the book’s central message. Cherish or Perish is a compelling call to action, urging readers to awaken their intellect and take control of their destiny. Readers seeking purpose and empowerment will find this book both inspiring and motivating.

Pikasho Deka

Intellect is the driving force that defines every aspect of our lives. According to author Prabha Karan, the influence of intellect extends beyond mere intelligence, knowledge, or even genius, as it regulates our thoughts and impulses and guides our decisions. It also validates our observations. Cherish or Perish explores the vital role intellect plays in our personal and professional lives, illustrating its significance in our pursuit of success, inner peace, and fulfilment. In this book, Karan emphasizes the importance of understanding, nurturing, and strengthening one's intellect. The book delves into the essential layers of our existence, the benefits of a strong intellect and how it fosters healthy and meaningful relationships, the pursuit of spirituality through the power of the intellect, loss of mind control, internal and external threats to intellectual progress, and more.

Cherish or Perish is a comprehensive book on the impact of intellect in our daily lives. Using keen insights and examples, author Prabha Karan demonstrates the need to embrace and cultivate the power of one's mind for a truly rewarding and meaningful existence. Karan is very thorough with his explanations, and each topic is explored in great depth. This book will help readers maximize their fullest potential by bolstering their intellectual capabilities. I was impressed by how practical the book is. The author has an engaging writing style, which he uses to ensure readers fully understand every concept discussed in the book. Additionally, I loved the fact that this isn't one of your traditional self-help books featuring tons of revolutionary frameworks or a long list of instructions. Instead, this is a gentle guide to invigorate your mind and intellect. Highly recommended.

Diana Lopez

Some people believe success is based on luck, but in reality, it is the result of intentional actions that maintain the right focus. To support those efforts, one must have a disciplined mind and a developed intellect. Prabha Karan explains that intellect is more than intelligence or knowledge. It is the force that regulates our impulses and allows us to control our negative emotions. By strengthening it, we can have a clear mind to make the right decisions and move toward our inner and outer development. We must learn to take time for ourselves and strengthen our spirit. Cherish or Perish is a guide that reminds us how the strength of our intellect will help us determine our destiny.

Today, the media doesn't encourage critical thinking, and neither does the education system, which tends to focus more on obedience. For this reason, I enjoyed reading Cherish or Perish because it constantly reminds you of the importance of being yourself and learning to discern information. Prabha Karan talks about effort and perseverance. In his examples, he mentions inspiring cases of famous people such as Marie Curie and Nelson Mandela. He also offers us useful and simple tips that we can apply to our daily lives. For example, don't read just to read, but take notes and focus more on understanding, or keep a diary that motivates you to reflect. His way of expressing himself is clear and natural. He encourages us to develop our skills and pursue our dreams without judgment. With a positive attitude, he invites us to resist life's inertia and media manipulation to achieve our happiness.

Leonard Smuts

The importance of the intellect is often neglected when it comes to self-realization and spiritual growth. Prabha Karan has produced an outstanding analysis of the role of the intellect in Cherish or Perish: Strengthen Your Intellect; Save The World! He points out that few individuals have any real conception of the intellect. It is not just another name for intelligence, but involves thinking clearly, reasoning logically, and making purposeful and decisive choices. The intellect transcends cognitive ability. It is the active application of knowledge and an extension of your personality. The intellect thinks, not the mind. It demands constant attention to cultivate and strengthen it. The mind, intelligence, and intellect are described, with differences highlighted. Intellect is our most powerful asset. The intellect can be developed through study, reflection and contemplation, conscious engagement, and ongoing studies. Use it wisely, but beware of distractions that weaken your resolve. We are more than just physical beings. The mind can be disjointed, but the intellect can achieve mastery over it through clarity and purpose. We live in a society structured to discourage free and independent thought, and have lost the ability to evaluate critically. Unchecked emotions can be curbed without giving up passion or relinquishing earthly desires, provided that these are not left unbounded. Choices have to be made.

Prabha Karan aims to transform the lives of readers and provides the means to achieve this. Cherish or Perish is a heartfelt call to action, but the lessons must be applied with commitment. This work emphasizes the importance of the intellect in spiritual growth, an aspect often overlooked by those who prioritize experience and short-term progress over deeper understanding. The frequent use of repetition in the book is intentional and an essential mechanism to reinforce key principles. The author points out the potentially dire consequences of neglecting the intellect. Conversely, embracing the intellect opens new possibilities for personal growth. Success is crafted, not random, and the intellect is a powerful tool. The intellect is more than just theory and provides the key to understanding life in a wider context. It fosters concentration and discipline and improves relationships. The author provides many shining examples of individuals who possess great intellect, ranging from spiritual deities to philosophers and humanitarians. The writing style is crisp, informative, and the book abounds in practical insights. It is an urgent appeal for a new approach and is highly recommended.

Asher Syed

In Cherish or Perish: Strengthen Your Intellect; Save The World!, Prabha Karan explains that the Intellect is a separate faculty from the Mind; that the Mind creates impulsive thoughts and desires, while the Intellect directs these into controlled actions. Karan describes humans as composed of three bodies: gross physical, subtle mental and emotional, and causal, with the body, containing the Mind and Intellect, continuing after death and affecting future lives. According to Karan, disciplined living, thoughtful questioning, liberal education, study, and introspection cultivate the Intellect to regulate desires, maintain balance, and avoid emotional instability. Karan warns that neglecting the Intellect causes poor judgment, loss of sensory control, and increased vulnerability to manipulation. Karan maintains that intellectual cultivation is an individual responsibility essential for peace, autonomy, and shaping destiny across lifetimes.

Prabha Karan’s Cherish or Perish is a thoughtful presentation that goes a long way in solidifying the importance of nurturing the Intellect through deliberate and disciplined practices. I liked his identification of five key practices that readers can employ to actively engage with ideas and resist passive consumption. Brief examples, such as establishing a morning routine for journaling and reflection, are easy to apply, and the accessibility of implementing Karan's suggestions is great. The straightforward style of writing makes even the more complicated ideas understandable. Due to my own roadblock on the influence of external control, his discussion on sustained practice and introspection that supports a mindful approach to everyday life is the standout. Overall, this is a well-written and insightful guide for those interested in strengthening their intellectual capacity. Very highly recommended.