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Changing Minds
Think about the last time you tried to change someone’s mind about something important: a voter’s political beliefs; a customer’s favorite brand; a spouse’s decorating taste. Chances are you weren’t successful in shifting that person’s beliefs in any way. In his book, Changing Minds, Harvard psychologist Howard Gardner explains what happens during the course of changing a mind – and offers ways to influence that process.
Remember that we don’t change our minds overnight, it happens in gradual stages that can be powerfully influenced along the way. This book provides insights that can broaden our horizons and shape our lives.
Remember that we don’t change our minds overnight, it happens in gradual stages that can be powerfully influenced along the way. This book provides insights that can broaden our horizons and shape our lives.
244 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2004
122 people are currently reading
2536 people want to read
About the author
Howard Gardner
140 books662 followersHoward Gardner is the John H. and Elisabeth A. Hobbs Professor of Cognition and Education at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. He also holds positions as Adjunct Professor of Psychology at Harvard University and Senior Director of Harvard Project Zero. Among numerous honors, Gardner received a MacArthur Prize Fellowship in 1981. He has received honorary degrees from 26 colleges and universities, including institutions in Bulgaria, Chile, Greece, Ireland, Israel, Italy, and South Korea. In 2005 and again in 2008, he was selected by Foreign Policy and Prospect magazines as one of the 100 most influential public intellectuals in the world. The author of 25 books translated into 28 languages, and several hundred articles, Gardner is best known in educational circles for his theory of multiple intelligences, a critique of the notion that there exists but a single human intelligence that can be adequately assessed by standard psychometric instruments.
During the past two decades, Gardner and colleagues at Project Zero have been involved in the design of performance-based assessments; education for understanding; the use of multiple intelligences to achieve more personalized curriculum, instruction, and pedagogy; and the quality of interdisciplinary efforts in education. Since the middle 1990s, in collaboration with psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi and William Damon, Gardner has directed the GoodWork Project-- a study of work that is excellent, engaging, and ethical. More recently, with long time Project Zero colleagues Lynn Barendsen and Wendy Fischman, he has conducted reflection sessions designed to enhance the understanding and incidence of good work among young people. With Carrie James and other colleagues at Project Zero, he is also investigating the nature of trust in contemporary society and ethical dimensions entailed in the use of the new digital media. Among new research undertakings are a study of effective collaboration among non-profit institutions in education and a study of conceptions of quality, nationally and internationally, in the contemporary era. In 2008 he delivered a set of three lectures at New York's Museum of Modern Art on the topic "The True, The Beautiful, and The Good: econsiderations in a post-modern, digital era."
from http://www.howardgardner.com/bio/bio....
During the past two decades, Gardner and colleagues at Project Zero have been involved in the design of performance-based assessments; education for understanding; the use of multiple intelligences to achieve more personalized curriculum, instruction, and pedagogy; and the quality of interdisciplinary efforts in education. Since the middle 1990s, in collaboration with psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi and William Damon, Gardner has directed the GoodWork Project-- a study of work that is excellent, engaging, and ethical. More recently, with long time Project Zero colleagues Lynn Barendsen and Wendy Fischman, he has conducted reflection sessions designed to enhance the understanding and incidence of good work among young people. With Carrie James and other colleagues at Project Zero, he is also investigating the nature of trust in contemporary society and ethical dimensions entailed in the use of the new digital media. Among new research undertakings are a study of effective collaboration among non-profit institutions in education and a study of conceptions of quality, nationally and internationally, in the contemporary era. In 2008 he delivered a set of three lectures at New York's Museum of Modern Art on the topic "The True, The Beautiful, and The Good: econsiderations in a post-modern, digital era."
from http://www.howardgardner.com/bio/bio....
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
April 2, 2009
This book was extremely disappointing. Despite its subtitle, it really never talks much about the art and science of changing our own and other people's minds. A far more appropriate subtitle would be: Examples of Famous People Who Changed Their Minds With No Explanation For Why or How, and Some Other Stuff I Think Is Interesting
The first three chapters, apparently, explain how people change their minds. It makes a claim that mind change happens over time, not with sudden epiphanies, but give no evidence, cites no research, and never elaborates. The first chapter is about the "contents of the mind." Which basically means, we think about stuff. He spends most of this chapter talking about the 80/20 principle, with no other relevance other than this is something someone might change their mind about. The second chapter is about multiple intelligences, such as logical intelligence and emotional intelligence, which didn't seem very relevant to mind changing. The third chapter makes the obvious claim that children are more easily shaped than adults.
The rest of the book is a list of examples of people who've changed their minds. Though not useful, I found some of this interesting, and I guess that's what kept me reading. For example, there are interesting mini biographies of Charles Darwin, Margaret Thatcher, and Whittaker Chambers. But the last chapter annoyed me. He talks about George W. Bush as though everyone knows that he's a great leader who will save us from the evil terrorists. Perhaps if it were written three years later, it would talk about how Bush lied to us. And that's just the thing. This author writes as though the popular current understanding of world events are stone cold facts. He even talks about Saul of Tarsus as though it were historical fact, rather than a Biblical story. And in case the chapter couldn't get worse, he spends the rest of it talking about himself, basically saying he's never changed his mind much about anything. I guess he just wanted an opportunity to talk about himself.
He also has an annoying penchant for words that start with the same letters. His components of mind change, totally obvious but with no evidence to support it, is: reason, research, resonance, representational redescriptions, resources and rewards, real world events, and resistances. In the epilogue he talks about a completely unrelated thing he's interested in, called GoodWork, which is designated by three M's: mission models, and mirror test.
Do yourself a favor and don't read this book.
The first three chapters, apparently, explain how people change their minds. It makes a claim that mind change happens over time, not with sudden epiphanies, but give no evidence, cites no research, and never elaborates. The first chapter is about the "contents of the mind." Which basically means, we think about stuff. He spends most of this chapter talking about the 80/20 principle, with no other relevance other than this is something someone might change their mind about. The second chapter is about multiple intelligences, such as logical intelligence and emotional intelligence, which didn't seem very relevant to mind changing. The third chapter makes the obvious claim that children are more easily shaped than adults.
The rest of the book is a list of examples of people who've changed their minds. Though not useful, I found some of this interesting, and I guess that's what kept me reading. For example, there are interesting mini biographies of Charles Darwin, Margaret Thatcher, and Whittaker Chambers. But the last chapter annoyed me. He talks about George W. Bush as though everyone knows that he's a great leader who will save us from the evil terrorists. Perhaps if it were written three years later, it would talk about how Bush lied to us. And that's just the thing. This author writes as though the popular current understanding of world events are stone cold facts. He even talks about Saul of Tarsus as though it were historical fact, rather than a Biblical story. And in case the chapter couldn't get worse, he spends the rest of it talking about himself, basically saying he's never changed his mind much about anything. I guess he just wanted an opportunity to talk about himself.
He also has an annoying penchant for words that start with the same letters. His components of mind change, totally obvious but with no evidence to support it, is: reason, research, resonance, representational redescriptions, resources and rewards, real world events, and resistances. In the epilogue he talks about a completely unrelated thing he's interested in, called GoodWork, which is designated by three M's: mission models, and mirror test.
Do yourself a favor and don't read this book.
October 29, 2007
A waste of 80% of my time and money. It's irony that the book started by explaining the 80:20 principle as illustration, because that's just exactly what the book is all about. 20% of the book already covers 80% of the idea, the rest is rather lengthy reiteration of the previous points.
Don't get me wrong. Gardner does propose new ideas (to me). The 7 levers of mind change is useful and quick summary of his earlier concept of multiple intelligences is a nice bonus. But the rest is examples and stories most non-Americans probably find hard to relate to. Although I suspect it is more of the writing style (dry and academical) that might put off many (me included).
Just get the summary of this book and you'll be fine. Only read it from beginning to end of you are (a) rabid fan of the author, or (b) desperately trying to impress chicks, or (c) just received a life-sentence
Don't get me wrong. Gardner does propose new ideas (to me). The 7 levers of mind change is useful and quick summary of his earlier concept of multiple intelligences is a nice bonus. But the rest is examples and stories most non-Americans probably find hard to relate to. Although I suspect it is more of the writing style (dry and academical) that might put off many (me included).
Just get the summary of this book and you'll be fine. Only read it from beginning to end of you are (a) rabid fan of the author, or (b) desperately trying to impress chicks, or (c) just received a life-sentence
May 27, 2016
I read this cover to cover. It is like a long psychology today article, or like an informal chat over a beer with a tenured professor who did enough in the past that no one is reviewing his research or his teaching anymore. The book is a loose collection of anecdotes, I imagine Gardner reading some biographies he thought were interesting and then suddenly realizing he had to publish something soon so he thought about what did these diverse people have in common and then he gave it some structure. In between he takes pot shots at Fellow Worker Noam Chomsky and Brother Cornel West. He manages to plug some of his other books, too.
If you want to huff and puff about university politics and Margaret Thatcher, this might be worthwhile, but if you are looking for a book that looks scientifically at persuasion, you will be as disappointed as I was.
Maybe Howard Gardner versus Martin Gardner would be a good celebrity death match or epic rap battle. At least for me. I'm rooting for Martin, though.
If you want to huff and puff about university politics and Margaret Thatcher, this might be worthwhile, but if you are looking for a book that looks scientifically at persuasion, you will be as disappointed as I was.
Maybe Howard Gardner versus Martin Gardner would be a good celebrity death match or epic rap battle. At least for me. I'm rooting for Martin, though.
September 15, 2007
I went into this book expecting little, and, despite the author's professed knowledge to the contrary, it failed to change my mind. Gardner is known for his work in education on multiple intelligences. Here, he repackages things for a business audience and trys just as hard to sort various concepts and strategies into levers and forms and I don't remember what other terms. He has 7 strategies that all start with "re" - but if this is for simplicity's sake, I don't know that elements like "representational redescription" are really all that helpful or easy to remember. Then he goes on to mention various scenarios and say things like "see, there are 4 of the levers here - research, resonance, etc." Likely, but 4 of 7 of these "levers" are in pretty much any interaction; it doesn't mean that they are actually the decisive factors. The book is very anecdotal, and doesn't have any convincing information on what is different in scenarios that DO change minds versus the scenarios of apparent failures. Book club conclusion? "This is an interesting topic, and someone should write a good book about it."
October 31, 2010
Little of interest,
I stopped reading when I got to the part about how BP transformed into
a great company.
Many dead from a refinery explosion & the GOM spill later leaves one
wondering if the author knows what he's talking about.
I stopped reading when I got to the part about how BP transformed into
a great company.
Many dead from a refinery explosion & the GOM spill later leaves one
wondering if the author knows what he's talking about.
February 27, 2024
This book was a complete waste of time (though thankfully not much money, as I bought it very used—water damage… there is no evidence of this copy ever having been actually read).
From the get go, the author’s name dropping, his excessive explanation of his special method, his spending pages trying to explain some difficult concept before turning to the “simpler” explanation … and introducing lots of new lingo for his own “new” approach … Within the first 60 pages I had already become very impatient with this book and its author.
My primary interest in the book was not about how to change minds of institutions or groups of people who were attending some presentation… it was how to deal with this issue on an individual level… primarily my own family members.
Well, only one chapter dealt with individuals, and that started out, oddly, with dream sequences, then moved to the Lawrence Summers/Colonel West incident from almost 20 years ago, and ended with the John Adams – Thomas Jefferson correspondence. HELLO?! Adams and Jefferson concluded their long correspondence without ever having changed the others’ mind, you dope!
Which shows up my main problem with this book. It’s pretty much all anecdotal, and that not from the author’s personal experience, but mostly from news and history. … Urgh.
From the get go, the author’s name dropping, his excessive explanation of his special method, his spending pages trying to explain some difficult concept before turning to the “simpler” explanation … and introducing lots of new lingo for his own “new” approach … Within the first 60 pages I had already become very impatient with this book and its author.
My primary interest in the book was not about how to change minds of institutions or groups of people who were attending some presentation… it was how to deal with this issue on an individual level… primarily my own family members.
Well, only one chapter dealt with individuals, and that started out, oddly, with dream sequences, then moved to the Lawrence Summers/Colonel West incident from almost 20 years ago, and ended with the John Adams – Thomas Jefferson correspondence. HELLO?! Adams and Jefferson concluded their long correspondence without ever having changed the others’ mind, you dope!
Which shows up my main problem with this book. It’s pretty much all anecdotal, and that not from the author’s personal experience, but mostly from news and history. … Urgh.
January 5, 2023
General reviews:
- đây là một cuốn sách viết ở tầm trừu tượng và khái quát hoá/lý thuyết hoá cao hơn (so với các sách kỹ năng) về tư duy/ cách suy nghĩ. Có lẽ có thể nói là nó mang nhiều từ trừu tượng và học thuật nhiều hơn chăng?
- đọc cuốn này xong mới hiểu được rõ hơn chút về thuyết “trí thông minh đa dạng” do tác giả là một trong những người đề xướng thuyết này, và có giải thích sơ qua trong quyển này.
- thêm điểm cho cách viết và trình bày của tác giả (về cảm nhận là hơi giống cách viết của học giả Nguyễn Hiến Lê - tức là đơn giản và trong sáng). Cái này cũng một phần nên khen đội ngũ dịch, biên tập và hiệu đính đã làm rất tốt để mang tới cho người đọc một bản dịch tiếng Việt trong sáng, ko bị tối nghĩa khi chuyển từ văn phạm Anh sang Việt.
- đây là một cuốn sách viết ở tầm trừu tượng và khái quát hoá/lý thuyết hoá cao hơn (so với các sách kỹ năng) về tư duy/ cách suy nghĩ. Có lẽ có thể nói là nó mang nhiều từ trừu tượng và học thuật nhiều hơn chăng?
- đọc cuốn này xong mới hiểu được rõ hơn chút về thuyết “trí thông minh đa dạng” do tác giả là một trong những người đề xướng thuyết này, và có giải thích sơ qua trong quyển này.
- thêm điểm cho cách viết và trình bày của tác giả (về cảm nhận là hơi giống cách viết của học giả Nguyễn Hiến Lê - tức là đơn giản và trong sáng). Cái này cũng một phần nên khen đội ngũ dịch, biên tập và hiệu đính đã làm rất tốt để mang tới cho người đọc một bản dịch tiếng Việt trong sáng, ko bị tối nghĩa khi chuyển từ văn phạm Anh sang Việt.
September 18, 2025
There's nothing wrong with this book about how influential people change the minds of others, but it also offers nothing new that I haven't heard before. It's more examples than actual skills we can implement and I was looking for the latter. The choice of influential leaders in the book is also not the greatest - Margaret Thatcher and George W Bush. They both influenced but don't have great track records.
November 7, 2024
خیلی با مثال ها ارتباط نگرفتم ولی مطالب و ایده هایی که مطرح شده بود اکثرا جذاب و آموزنده بودن.
ولی میشد خلاصه تر باشه.
امیدوارم مفهوم کار ناب ( GoodWork) رایج تر بشه و بتونیم بهش عمل کنیم ✨🧡
ولی میشد خلاصه تر باشه.
امیدوارم مفهوم کار ناب ( GoodWork) رایج تر بشه و بتونیم بهش عمل کنیم ✨🧡
October 23, 2015
Cảm giác rất thất vọng. Đề tài tác giả đưa ra thì hấp hẫn, tuy nhiên, cách giải quyết vấn đề lại không thực sự thuyết phục và triệt để như mong đợi. Hay tại trình còi chưa đủ khả năng hiểu chăng ?
Tác giả đưa ra hai câu hỏi lớn trong cuốn sách. Thứ nhất, điều gì diễn ra trong quá trình thay đổi nhận thức; và thứ hai, chính xác thì điều gì đã tác động khiến người ta thay đổi tư duy và hành động khác đi.
Ba chương đầu dùng để nói về :
1/nội dung của tư duy (hay là ý nghĩa, bao gồm : khái niệm, lý thuyết, câu chuyện và kỹ năng);
2/hình thức của tư duy (8-9 loại hình trí thông minh);
3/bảy yếu tố tác động tới thành công của quá trình thay đổi tư duy;
4/sáu phạm trù (hay lĩnh vực) thay đổi tư duy;
5/có những tư duy dễ dàng thay đổi, thì ngược lại, cũng có những tư duy bảo thủ bén rễ khó nhổ sạch được.
Tác giả dùng những chương còn lại trong sách để lần lượt khảo sát từng phạm trù dưới sự tác động của bảy yếu tố qua các ví dụ cụ thể.
Nhìn chung, tác giả mới chỉ trả lời được câu hỏi "Điều gì tác động khiến người ta thay đổi tư duy?", nhưng không đi kèm với việc giải thích tại sao và từ đâu có bảy yếu tố đó. Ngoài ra, khi khẳng định : sự thành công hay thất bại của quá trình thay đổi phụ thuộc vào việc yếu tố ủng hộ hay chống đối mạnh hơn, tác giả vẫn chưa đưa ra được ranh giới hay manh mối để tiên đoán được thay đổi đó sẽ có kết quả ra sao. Còn về câu hỏi còn lại, tác giả gần như chưa trả lời được chút nào. Thay vì dùng chính các ví dụ để diễn giải quá trình đó, tác giả mới chỉ đơn thuần đưa ra những gạch đầu dòng về mỗi yếu tố tác động từ phía chủ thể người muốn gây ảnh hưởng, chưa có phân tích cụ thể về phía người chịu ảnh hưởng, hay người tiếp nhận quá trình thay đổi tư duy. Và nhìn chung, kết luận của tác giả là, thay đổi tư duy có thể xảy ra trong khoảnh khắc, nhưng thực tế nó là một quá trình lâu dài. Như vậy, có thể nói, biết đâu những gì bạn tác động lên người khác sẽ làm họ thay đổi tư duy trong năm, mười năm nữa ?
Nội dung trí tuệ được tác giả nhắc đến nhiều và có thể cho là quan trọng nhất, chính là kể chuyện. Thế nhưng, bản thân cuốn sách này lại chưa phải là một minh chứng tốt cho khả năng này của tác giả, nên tôi chưa thực thấy mình thay đổi tư duy chút nào.
Tác giả đưa ra hai câu hỏi lớn trong cuốn sách. Thứ nhất, điều gì diễn ra trong quá trình thay đổi nhận thức; và thứ hai, chính xác thì điều gì đã tác động khiến người ta thay đổi tư duy và hành động khác đi.
Ba chương đầu dùng để nói về :
1/nội dung của tư duy (hay là ý nghĩa, bao gồm : khái niệm, lý thuyết, câu chuyện và kỹ năng);
2/hình thức của tư duy (8-9 loại hình trí thông minh);
3/bảy yếu tố tác động tới thành công của quá trình thay đổi tư duy;
4/sáu phạm trù (hay lĩnh vực) thay đổi tư duy;
5/có những tư duy dễ dàng thay đổi, thì ngược lại, cũng có những tư duy bảo thủ bén rễ khó nhổ sạch được.
Tác giả dùng những chương còn lại trong sách để lần lượt khảo sát từng phạm trù dưới sự tác động của bảy yếu tố qua các ví dụ cụ thể.
Nhìn chung, tác giả mới chỉ trả lời được câu hỏi "Điều gì tác động khiến người ta thay đổi tư duy?", nhưng không đi kèm với việc giải thích tại sao và từ đâu có bảy yếu tố đó. Ngoài ra, khi khẳng định : sự thành công hay thất bại của quá trình thay đổi phụ thuộc vào việc yếu tố ủng hộ hay chống đối mạnh hơn, tác giả vẫn chưa đưa ra được ranh giới hay manh mối để tiên đoán được thay đổi đó sẽ có kết quả ra sao. Còn về câu hỏi còn lại, tác giả gần như chưa trả lời được chút nào. Thay vì dùng chính các ví dụ để diễn giải quá trình đó, tác giả mới chỉ đơn thuần đưa ra những gạch đầu dòng về mỗi yếu tố tác động từ phía chủ thể người muốn gây ảnh hưởng, chưa có phân tích cụ thể về phía người chịu ảnh hưởng, hay người tiếp nhận quá trình thay đổi tư duy. Và nhìn chung, kết luận của tác giả là, thay đổi tư duy có thể xảy ra trong khoảnh khắc, nhưng thực tế nó là một quá trình lâu dài. Như vậy, có thể nói, biết đâu những gì bạn tác động lên người khác sẽ làm họ thay đổi tư duy trong năm, mười năm nữa ?
Nội dung trí tuệ được tác giả nhắc đến nhiều và có thể cho là quan trọng nhất, chính là kể chuyện. Thế nhưng, bản thân cuốn sách này lại chưa phải là một minh chứng tốt cho khả năng này của tác giả, nên tôi chưa thực thấy mình thay đổi tư duy chút nào.
December 13, 2019
This book was a random pick for me. When I first saw the title, the thought that came to my mind was exactly written by Gardner, "How do people change or abandon the way they have customarily thought about an issue of importance and henceforth conceive it in a new way?". I didn't agree with myself at the start of having this thought, but by reading this book, I understood, the author predicted it and warned the readers about it. If you are someone who has a similar thought BE AWARE!!!
Overall the book is more than just what the title mentions. Within the book, a reader is presented with an overall view of what happens in the background while an individual or a group/society is undergoing change. While he explains the nature and characteristic of the change, common elements("leaver", according to Gardner) which categorize each change, is also taught to the reader. In similar lines, explanation of what elements form the brain is also shared (This topic was my favorite). To understand more about the effectiveness of the leavers, nature of its occurrence, and the interplay of both content of the mind and leavers, he has included examples to improve understanding.
While he consistently makes the reader understand the basic elements of the books and explains examples. He also touches upon areas various areas in which, change can be a stimulating factor in an overall behavior change and looks into changes that can be in play within a homogeneous and heterogeneous group. Apart from all these elements, one would be excited to look into chapter 8 and 9 carefully.
Hence my verdict: Great book with lots of information, enough examples to sustain theory, covers large boundaries, relatable.
If you like him, try Thinking, Fast and Slow, Dan Ariely
Overall the book is more than just what the title mentions. Within the book, a reader is presented with an overall view of what happens in the background while an individual or a group/society is undergoing change. While he explains the nature and characteristic of the change, common elements("leaver", according to Gardner) which categorize each change, is also taught to the reader. In similar lines, explanation of what elements form the brain is also shared (This topic was my favorite). To understand more about the effectiveness of the leavers, nature of its occurrence, and the interplay of both content of the mind and leavers, he has included examples to improve understanding.
While he consistently makes the reader understand the basic elements of the books and explains examples. He also touches upon areas various areas in which, change can be a stimulating factor in an overall behavior change and looks into changes that can be in play within a homogeneous and heterogeneous group. Apart from all these elements, one would be excited to look into chapter 8 and 9 carefully.
Hence my verdict: Great book with lots of information, enough examples to sustain theory, covers large boundaries, relatable.
If you like him, try Thinking, Fast and Slow, Dan Ariely
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 10, 2011
This is the last book recommended by Oprah that I will read....written for the "very" average pop consumer. Everything you need to know from this book can be learned in the first 30 pages, which are not bad, but the rest....
December 20, 2019
what is the present content- be an idea, a concept, a story, a theory, a skill. what is the desired content. the more explicitly one can lay these out, the more likely that on can arrive at a strategy suitable for mind changing in the particular instance.
the size of audience. dealing with a large audience or a tiny audience. large audiences are affected chiefly by powerful stories, rendered by individuals who embody their stories in the lives that they lead; intimate audiences can benefit from approaches that are much more individual.
type of audience
when one is dealing with an audience that is large and heterogeneous, one is dealing with the unschooled mind. expertise cannot be assumed
simple stories work the best. one the other hand,s when one is dealing with individuals who share knowledge and expertise, one can assume a mind that is schooled and relatively homogeneous with respect to other minds
Directness of change
political, business, and educational leaders bring about change through the messages that they convey directly to their respective audiences. Creative and innovation individuals bring about change indirectly, through the symbolic products - art works, inventions, scientific theories - that they fashion. in general, mind changes due to indirect creations take longer, but their effects have the potential to last for a far longer period of time. in general, we remember the artistic creator so forgone civilization far more vividly that we recall the political leader.
levels of change and tipping points
classically, change takes place through compulsion, manipulation, persuasion, or through some combination thereof. i have directed attention to deliberate and open attempts at mind change. i have also stressed the classic forms of persuasion: talk , teaching, therapy, and the creation and dissemination of new ideas and product.
every example of mind changing has its unique facets. but in general, such a shift of mind is likely to coalesce when we employ the seven levers of mind change: specifically, when reason 9 often buttressed with research) reinforcement though multiple forms of representation, real world event, resonance, and resources all push in one direction - and resistance s can be identified and successfully counted, conversely, mind changing is unlikely to occur.
human mind is a human creation, and all human creations can be changed. we need not be a passive reflector of our biological heritage or our cultural and historical
we can change our minds and the minds of others around us. \the cognitive perspective provides a way of thinking and an array of tools.
the size of audience. dealing with a large audience or a tiny audience. large audiences are affected chiefly by powerful stories, rendered by individuals who embody their stories in the lives that they lead; intimate audiences can benefit from approaches that are much more individual.
type of audience
when one is dealing with an audience that is large and heterogeneous, one is dealing with the unschooled mind. expertise cannot be assumed
simple stories work the best. one the other hand,s when one is dealing with individuals who share knowledge and expertise, one can assume a mind that is schooled and relatively homogeneous with respect to other minds
Directness of change
political, business, and educational leaders bring about change through the messages that they convey directly to their respective audiences. Creative and innovation individuals bring about change indirectly, through the symbolic products - art works, inventions, scientific theories - that they fashion. in general, mind changes due to indirect creations take longer, but their effects have the potential to last for a far longer period of time. in general, we remember the artistic creator so forgone civilization far more vividly that we recall the political leader.
levels of change and tipping points
classically, change takes place through compulsion, manipulation, persuasion, or through some combination thereof. i have directed attention to deliberate and open attempts at mind change. i have also stressed the classic forms of persuasion: talk , teaching, therapy, and the creation and dissemination of new ideas and product.
every example of mind changing has its unique facets. but in general, such a shift of mind is likely to coalesce when we employ the seven levers of mind change: specifically, when reason 9 often buttressed with research) reinforcement though multiple forms of representation, real world event, resonance, and resources all push in one direction - and resistance s can be identified and successfully counted, conversely, mind changing is unlikely to occur.
human mind is a human creation, and all human creations can be changed. we need not be a passive reflector of our biological heritage or our cultural and historical
we can change our minds and the minds of others around us. \the cognitive perspective provides a way of thinking and an array of tools.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 25, 2017
I don't know that I want to write too much in this book and at any rate I skimmed it (the second book I've skimmed this month). I will just lay out Howard Gardner's basic ideas in Changing Minds. According to Gardner, the components of mind are concepts, theories, and skills. (I don't know if this is true--seems too simple--but I'll bite.) Concepts are objects of study. Pick your favorite: gravity, ego, Pythagorean theorem. Theories are explanations of the world that make use of concepts. Skills involve how something is done given the concepts and theories. Gardner argues that tapping into the concepts, theories, and skills we carry around in our heads help explain who we are, and he believes that real education is about tapping these areas to make sure that what we believe is true. As far as I can tell, the title and subtitle of the book don't really pay off. But what do I know? This may not be a very helpful review. I just skimmed the book, after all.
June 26, 2017
More analysis than how-to manual, which I think is what I was hoping for, but the subject material was interesting nonetheless. I like reading analyses of big mind changes for others.
The author seems incredibly intelligent at categorizing things, but for the sheer number of different concepts introduced, and even for someone like me who can usually hold a lot at the front of my mind all at once, I would not be able to tell you what all the "Re"s were or exactly how many of them existed on which level or category. Some kind of chart or graph might have been really useful.
I definitely feel like the author is on to something, but could maybe use some practice in translating that into something the lay person can understand and digest.
The author seems incredibly intelligent at categorizing things, but for the sheer number of different concepts introduced, and even for someone like me who can usually hold a lot at the front of my mind all at once, I would not be able to tell you what all the "Re"s were or exactly how many of them existed on which level or category. Some kind of chart or graph might have been really useful.
I definitely feel like the author is on to something, but could maybe use some practice in translating that into something the lay person can understand and digest.
October 5, 2024
Un libro decisamente noioso e piatto, con qualche spunto interessante - se fosse stato approfondito diversamente - e tante storie veramente poco accattivanti. Tra queste: una litigata tra professori di Harvard, un battibecco tra presidenti degli Stati Uniti del 1800, il cambio “mentale” di George W. Bush, quello di una spia comunista e nientepopodimeno che le nuove “fantastiche” strategie comunicative ed organizzative della BP (proprio la stessa BP che 6 anni dopo la pubblicazione di questo libro provocherà uno dei più grandi disastri ecologici della storia). Il tutto scritto con la stessa voglia, pare, di un professore delle superiori all’ultimo anno prima della pensione.
Il titolo è, inoltre, fuorviante.
Il titolo è, inoltre, fuorviante.
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May 20, 2021How do you persuade someone else to change their mind? How do you get someone else to come around to your point of view? These are questions at the core of Changing Minds: The Art and Science of Changing Our Own and Other People’s Minds. Howard Gardner is no stranger to the mind, having proposed the idea of multiple intelligences – escaping the bounds of the famed intelligence quotient and moving towards a more wholistic view of the kinds of skills that people can possess that aren’t reflected in such a narrow measure.
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May 20, 2021
پختگی نویسنده از نگارش کتاب کاملا مشخص بود و طبیعتا دور از ذهن نیست که چرا این کتاب تو دانشگاه های ایران تدریس می شه.
خود کتاب از همون قانونی که گفته بود 80% و 20% کاملا پیروی کرده بود .
یه جا نویسنده می گفت: "در عصری که هنر ،موسیقی، نقاشی و ... حاکم شد بدون بحث و بطور غیر مستقیم دیدگاه ها و ذهنیت مردم تغییر کرد". و چه درست!
شاید بشه گفت داشتن اطلاعاتی راجب تاریخ امریکا به درک بهتر کتاب کمک شایانی کنه
در مجموع برای من کتاب خوبی بود ولی مسایل رو خیلی کش داده بود ، و همونطور که گفتم بهتر بود اطلاعات تاریخی و سیاسی من راجب امریکا بیشتر می بود.
بهار 1400
خود کتاب از همون قانونی که گفته بود 80% و 20% کاملا پیروی کرده بود .
یه جا نویسنده می گفت: "در عصری که هنر ،موسیقی، نقاشی و ... حاکم شد بدون بحث و بطور غیر مستقیم دیدگاه ها و ذهنیت مردم تغییر کرد". و چه درست!
شاید بشه گفت داشتن اطلاعاتی راجب تاریخ امریکا به درک بهتر کتاب کمک شایانی کنه
در مجموع برای من کتاب خوبی بود ولی مسایل رو خیلی کش داده بود ، و همونطور که گفتم بهتر بود اطلاعات تاریخی و سیاسی من راجب امریکا بیشتر می بود.
بهار 1400
April 21, 2025
A tricky but important philosophical topic
This exploration of the art of changing minds will make you think about how you think, which is always a good thing in my book. This approach can contribute to one's ability to create a constantly evolving, "conscious personal philosophy." Interesting and educational read, for me, as I grapple with the arcane art of book marketing. Kevin Thomas Morgan
This exploration of the art of changing minds will make you think about how you think, which is always a good thing in my book. This approach can contribute to one's ability to create a constantly evolving, "conscious personal philosophy." Interesting and educational read, for me, as I grapple with the arcane art of book marketing. Kevin Thomas Morgan
November 25, 2025
engaging read! very clear explanations of concepts like resistance, narratives, and the importance of presenting ideas in different forms. the strategies also felt practical and usable in real life, from leadership contexts to everyday communication. some parts were a bit repetitive, but overall i liked how actionable the insights were.
April 4, 2018
If your looking for insights or techniques on how to change minds then this book would be a waste of your time. What is provided are general stories or brief references in which minds were changed whereby you will be left empty-handed or with petty morcels of wisdom.
November 19, 2018
An interesting example as to we can use various methods to change people's minds around us. Unfortunately, I lost track due to the fact that the author has used so many neuroscience and doctoral terms.
May 21, 2020
A brilliant read. So much insight on the issue of changing minds - at national levels, homogeneous groups, through ideas, between intimate people (family, friends) and one's own mind.
Strongly recommended for HR people, business folk, leaders, sales people...
Strongly recommended for HR people, business folk, leaders, sales people...
May 3, 2018
Some nice tips and takes on psychology and neuroscience, but the general feel was that it was unnecessarily dragged out. Most of the contents I found quite irrelevant to the subject matter at hand.
February 13, 2020
“We can change our minds and the minds of others around us”
December 31, 2020
Terrible
Wordy, esoteric, arrogant, and not helpful. This is a terrible book. It was a waste of time to read it.
Wordy, esoteric, arrogant, and not helpful. This is a terrible book. It was a waste of time to read it.
July 22, 2021
Indispensable and spectacularly good. Required reading regardless of what you do.
April 8, 2023
Una perspectiva desde la investigación cognitiva de cómo la gente puede cambiar de opinión. Me pareció muy simple en lo general. Hay mejores libros sobre el tema.
February 12, 2025
Layman’s guide to improving intellectual thinking
December 13, 2019
This book was a random pick for me. When I first saw the title, the thought that came to my mind was exactly written by Gardner, "How do people change or abandon the way they have customarily thought about an issue of importance and henceforth conceive it in a new way?". I didn't agree with myself at the start of having this thought, but by reading this book, I understood, the author predicted it and warned the readers about it. If you are someone who has a similar thought BE AWARE!!!
Overall the book is more than just what the title mentions. Within the book, a reader is presented with an overall view of what happens in the background while an individual or a group/society is undergoing change. While he explains the nature and characteristic of the change, common elements("leaver", according to Gardner) which categorize each change, is also taught to the reader. In similar lines, explanation of what elements form the brain is also shared (This topic was my favorite). To understand more about the effectiveness of the leavers, nature of its occurrence, and the interplay of both content of the mind and leavers, he has included examples to improve understanding.
While he consistently makes the reader understand the basic elements of the books and explains examples. He also touches upon areas various areas in which, change can be a stimulating factor in an overall behavior change and looks into changes that can be in play within a homogeneous and heterogeneous group. Apart from all these elements, one would be excited to look into chapter 8 and 9 carefully.
Hence my verdict: Great book with lots of information, enough examples to sustain theory, covers large boundaries, relatable.
If you like him, try Thinking, Fast and Slow, Dan Ariely
Overall the book is more than just what the title mentions. Within the book, a reader is presented with an overall view of what happens in the background while an individual or a group/society is undergoing change. While he explains the nature and characteristic of the change, common elements("leaver", according to Gardner) which categorize each change, is also taught to the reader. In similar lines, explanation of what elements form the brain is also shared (This topic was my favorite). To understand more about the effectiveness of the leavers, nature of its occurrence, and the interplay of both content of the mind and leavers, he has included examples to improve understanding.
While he consistently makes the reader understand the basic elements of the books and explains examples. He also touches upon areas various areas in which, change can be a stimulating factor in an overall behavior change and looks into changes that can be in play within a homogeneous and heterogeneous group. Apart from all these elements, one would be excited to look into chapter 8 and 9 carefully.
Hence my verdict: Great book with lots of information, enough examples to sustain theory, covers large boundaries, relatable.
If you like him, try Thinking, Fast and Slow, Dan Ariely
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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