Thick Face, Black Heart

My wife introduced me to an amazing book about 13 years ago called "Thick Face, Black Heart," by Chin-Ning Chu.  I've re-read this book several times and learn something new every time.

The book is based on a Chinese model called "Thick Black Theory," and the title is about how to have a "Thick Face" by adopting whatever aspect is needed for success in a given situation, and a "Black Heart" which is about imposing your will on others to get what you want. 

One of the more intriguing aspects of this book is how it deals with activities (manipulation and ruthlessness) that are typically associated with negative outcomes, but provides tools and methods to help you exploit these abilities for good.

In short, Thick Face is your shield, and Black heart is your spear.

Unleashing your inner powers

The author's premise is that we all have natural tendencies that want to lead us to success (adaptability and ruthless goal-seeking) but that we are conditioned by society to temper those inner powers.  Chin-Ning then guides the reader through the "Eleven Principles of Unlearning" to prepare you to become a Thick Face, Black Heart practicioner.

Many of these principles are designed to help you re-evaluate your self-image, and question prideful actions that don't serve your goals.  I won't go into all of them here, but there are a couple I'd like to share here.

First, one that deals with developing a Thick Face:

III. Discover the mystery within the staunchness of the oak and the yielding of the grass.

The strongest oak can topple in a strong wind, while the grass will lie flat and be undamaged.  But when you are building a house, the oak's rigidity is tremendously useful.

This principle discusses how your strengths can become weaknesses (and weaknesses can become strengths), depending on the situation.  Each of us possesses both creative and destructive forces, and each has its proper time.  The key is understanding which you will (consciously) employ in a given situation.  If you use a strength at the wrong time or in the wrong context, you can end up damaging yourself.

And one to develop your Black Heart:

VIII. Overcome Fear

Fear is the biggest barrier to overcome in order to experience and fulfill our true potential.

This principle is intriguing - it is not just about learning to ignore or push past your fear.  It also deals with how to use fear (yours and others') to your advantage, how to condition yourself to recognize fear and use the spear of your Black Heart to "punch out the eye of fear."  There are other topics discussed here, but the most practical is:  "In spite of your fear, do what you have to do."

Using your powers for good

As I mentioned before, many of the "default" perceptions of the traits of a Thick Face, Black Heart are often associated with evil, unscrupulous behavior...but it doesn't have to be that way.  The things that keep me coming back to this book are wrapped up in the chapters that explore how to use these innate powers for good.

Among the most thought-provoking sections in the book are:

• Winning through Negative Thinking ("When life gives you manure, sell fertilizer.")
• The Mystery of Money (great advice on how to ask for money in this one)
• Deception without Deceit
• Thriving among the Cunning and Ruthless
• Thick Face, Black Heart Leadership

The path to becoming a practicioner

This book is simple and complex, all at the same time.  You can consume it in small bites or big gulps, and its principles are very adaptable.  I've found this book to be useful when I'm struggling with politics at work, dealing with difficult people, or when I find myself "stuck" due to some fear I can't quite put my finger on.

"Thick Face, Black Heart" will be different to everyone that reads it, so I can't predict how you'll react when you read it.  However, I think you will find plenty of learning in this book, and you'll enjoy integrating it into your own framework of values, principles, and desires.

So what are you waiting for?  Get your Thick Face on, and get that Black Heart pumping.

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About the author: Dwayne Melançon is the author of Genuine Curiosity, where he is always on the lookout for new things to learn.

Comments

[Joanna Young]

Dwayne, this one speaks directly to me - a definite addition! Thanks for your clear and thoughtful review.

Joanna

[Karen Wallace]

Hi Dwayne,
great review, thank you! I have had Thick Face, Black Heart on my bookshelf since I reviewed Do Less, Achieve More by Chin-Ning Chu last year in ALAWB. But I have put off opening it, for one reason or another.

After reading your review, I am now inspired to make this the next book in my 'to read' pile. Chin-Ning Chu is a terrific writer, and I am sure this will bring me even more than I expect.

I'm curious, can you remember why (after 13 years - wow!) your wife recommended this book to you? What did she get out of it? (I am always interested in the female perspective as a counterpoint to the male one... :)

Thanks Dwayne!
Karen

[Steve Sherlock]

Dwayne, thanks for the insights. Another book along the trail to Eastern thought.

[Rosa Say]

Ah Dwayne, this is a perfect example of the gift that ALAWB has become to me! Without a review from someone whose opinion I admire I would never give a book with a title like this a second glance, for at *face value* Thick Face Black Heart sounds so counter to the soul of Aloha. Yet from what you are describing, the book sounds to be a must-have for me within my constant study of the universal nature of the values which drive our behavior.

I do love the metaphors of the Chinese culture, and how nature is used to illustrate them, such as the one you shared about the contrast between the oak and a blade of grass... I have Clara to thank for much of my intrigue [http://tinyurl.com/2xpbjm ] and you now add to it.

[Dwayne Melancon]

Thanks for the great comments everyone!
Rosa, you know - I agree about the title, and I probably wouldn't have read it without my wife's recommendation (she isn't really sure why she picked it up except that it was originally published by a small publishing house in Beaverton, near where we live).

Another interesting thing about this book is that it has been published with several subtitles:
* The Warrior Philosophy for Conquering the Challenges of Business Life
* Thriving, Winning and Succeeding in Life's Every Endeavor
* The Asian Path to Thriving, Winning and Succeeding

Karen, my wife recommended it for a few reasons:
1) There are some threads of "how can a woman professional be aggressive and not be penalized for it."
2) The advice and thoughts are very malleable and easy to apply to work and non-work interactions.
3) She knows I like models, strategy, and business philosophy and this was a great fit for it.

By the way - the author's also published a couple of books on The Art of War for Women.

[Dwayne Melancon]

By the way, Rosa - I think this fits well with Aloha, but can't wait to learn how you perceive it.

Chin-Ning gives lots of examples that often seem paradoxical - but they clearly show how your application of Thick Face, Black Heart can be good or bad depending on your intent. True Practicioners do what is necessary in the moment to achieve their long term objectives even if the short term actions are not comfortable. Her examples reminded me of my pediatrician:

When I was about 12 years old I had an infection (a boil) in my finger, and my mother took me to the doctor. He had to lance the boil. Even with local anesthetic, it was the most painful thing I have ever experienced.

I was screaming, and the doctor was obviously very rattled by this but he did what was necessary and kept cutting. I got better fairly quickly afterward.

I am sure he didn't want to cause me pain, but I am glad he did - if he'd backed away from the pain of lancing the boil, I might have lost my finger. He used thick face and black heart to do what the situation required in order to achieve his long term objective.

[Rosa Say]

Okay Dwayne, you've clinched it for me... I have to read this book.

[AJIT]

Hello,
When i read this book, i came to know that the copy i had had couple of pages missing in it. How can it be possible?
Details of the missing pages are as follows:
The chapter Be True To your Life, Be true to your desires, Which has a story Nita's Grief on Page 101.
After that The pages 102 and 103 seem to be missing. I directly find page 104, having the PAragraph titled, An Employees Dharma.

Where can i get these 2 missing pages.Am i missing something?

-Ajit