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27 of 27 people found the following review helpful:
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Science, not self-help |
May 13, 2009 |
| Reviewer:
Ambrose Tuscano
from Truckee, CA
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Let me keep this brief by sorting out for potential buyers why they
should consider buying this book despite some negative reviews.
1. This is not a self-help book. It is a summary of a body of
research in a scientific field. It is not SUPPOSED to tell you how to
achieve riches or social popularity or zen, like self-help works.
2. The ideas expressed in this book are not necessarily totally
new. Dr. Dweck has been doing research in this field for a long time,
and many of the people she cites as growth-minded thinkers were doing
it long before she came up with these ideas. However, the reason to buy
and read this book is that it lays out for readers the beginnings of a
unified theory of how humans learn. Specifically, it focuses on two
very general approaches to learning. Yes, the anecodotes seem very
simple and repetitive, but they all work to support this theory.
3. I don't want to overstate the importance of the ideas Mindset
presents, but in my mind, there's not a person I've ever met (including
me) who couldn't improve their own life just by reading, understanding
and applying the ideas in this book. Not surprisingly, those who come
away from this book complaining that it didn't tell them how to apply
the ideas it contains are missing the forest for the trees. It's very
difficult to admit when one's faults are exposed . As I said earlier,
we all have fixed mindsets about something or other in our lives.
Consequently, someone who thinks too much in a fixed mindset hears all
the ways that their life could be better if they embraced the idea that
they can learn and do anything with the appropriate amount of work,
their inate response is: "How?" The problem is that the solution is too
simple for them to admit that they've been missing it their whole
lives. There is no real big secret to this book. It simply provides
evidence (and anecdotal support) for the idea that a growth mindset can
enrich people's lives in a multitude of ways.
So go out and buy this book if you think that there's something in
you life that you'd like to change or if you'd like your children to
have a chance to maximize their potential. However, if you recognize
yourself as a know-it-all who's willing to suppress your own and other
people's potential with strict ideas about what can't be done, don't
bother wasting your time.
Thank you for your feedback on this review. We appreciate your input! 
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104 of 112 people found the following review helpful:
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Anyone can benefit from this book |
May 13, 2009 |
| Reviewer:
John Chancellor
from New Orleans
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Unless you are a hermit, you can definitely benefit from this book. For
those interested in improving their lives,their parenting skills, their
leadership skills, their teaching skills and their relationship skills,
this is a must read.
Napoleon Hill, in Think and Grow Rich, stressed the importance of a
positive mental attitude. Normal Vincent Peale, in The Power of a
Positive Mental Attitude, stressed the importance of a positive mental
attitude.
Dweck picks up where both of these very famous works fell short.
Both Hill and Peale understood the importance of a positive mental
attitude. But Dweck shows us how we develop fixed mindset attitudes in
many areas of our lives and the damage our attitude inflicts on us and
on those we interact with. Instead of dwelling on positive or negative
attitude, Dweck used the term fixed mindset and growth mindset.
The book is not just theory. Dweck explains how the fixed mindset
was in part responsible for the downfall of Enron. She also contrast
the fixed mindset of basketball coach Bobby Knight with that of the
growth mindset of legendary coach John Wooden (UCLA). The contrast and
the results are startling.
As far as parenting and teaching skills, there are some very
valuable lessons. We should learn to praise work and not talent. No one
ever failed by striving for constant learning. History is littered with
failures who relied on their God given talent.
The book is a real eye-opener. The fixed mindset verses growth
mindset is not an either or situation. We can possess a growth mindset
in certain areas but a fixed mindset in other areas of our lives. If
you are honest, you will do some "Ahha" when you discover some fixed
mindsets traits about yourself.
If you are a teacher, you will be challenged to ask yourself are
you doing the best job you can do. There are some very inspiring
stories about teachers doing outstanding jobs with childern everyone
else had written off.
Lastly, Dweck tells how we can develop a growth mindset and improve our lives and the lives of those around us.
Thank you for your feedback on this review. We appreciate your input!
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