The power of mindset is a simple yet revolutionary concept that world-renowned psychologist Carol S. Dweck, Ph.D., of Stanford University, found after decades of research. She demonstrates in this outstanding book how our perception of our skills and abilities may have a significant impact on our performance in virtually every aspect of human effort, including the arts, sports, employment, and education.
Individuals with a growth mentality, or the belief that talents can be developed, are more likely to thrive than those with a fixed mindset, or the belief that abilities are fixed. Mindset demonstrates how excellent parents, educators, managers, and athletes may apply this concept to promote exceptional achievement.
Dweck provides fresh perspectives on her already well-known and widely accepted ideas in this edition. She explains what she refers to as a false growth mindset and offers advice on how to embrace a more profound and authentic growth mindset.
She also applies the concept of mentality to social and organizational cultures, broadening its application beyond just the individual. With the right attitude, you can inspire those you lead, teach, and care about to change your lives.
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About The Author
Many people regard Carol S. Dweck, Ph.D., to be one of the top scholars in the domains of developmental psychology, social psychology, and personality. She holds nine lifetime achievement awards for her research, has been elected to the National Academy of Sciences and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and is the Lewis and Virginia Eaton Professor of Psychology at Stanford University.
She has given countries advice on economic and educational issues and spoke before the UN on the eve of their new global development plan. Nearly all major national publications have featured her work, and she has appeared on Today, Good Morning America, and 20/20. She resides in Palo Alto, California, with her spouse.
Review
A good book is one whose advice you believe in. A wonderful book is one whose advice you follow. This is a book that can change your life, as its ideas have changed mine.”—Robert J. Sternberg, co-author of Teaching for Wisdom, Intelligence, Creativity, and Success
“An essential read for parents, teachers, and coaches… as well as for those who want to feel more successful and fulfilled.” —Library Journal (starred review)
“Everyone should read this book.” —Chip and Dan Heath, authors of Made to Stick
“One of the most influential books ever about motivation.” —Po Bronson, author of NurtureShock
“If you manage people or are a parent (which is a form of managing people), drop everything and read Mindset.”—Guy Kawasaki, author of The Art of the Start 2.0
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Summary
The author, a young researcher, studied how people cope with failures by watching children solve puzzles. They found that these children were able to turn failure into a gift and knew that human qualities, such as intellectual skills, could be cultivated through effort. The discovery led them to question whether they were on to something or if they were.
The debate about human nature has been ongoing since the dawn of time, with experts arguing that there is a strong physical basis for differences in intelligence.
Some believe that physical differences include bumps on the skull, size and shape of the skull, and genes, while others point to differences in backgrounds, experiences, training, or ways of learning. Alfred Binet, the inventor of the IQ test, believed that education and practice could bring about fundamental changes in intelligence.
Today, the majority of experts concur that genes and environment work together harmoniously during our development. However, scientists are learning that people have more capacity for lifelong learning and brain development than they ever thought. Each person has a unique genetic endowment, but experience, training, and personal effort take them the rest of the way.
Robert Sternberg, the present-day guru of intelligence, writes that the major factor in whether people achieve expertise is not some fixed prior ability, but purposeful engagement.
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A fixed mindset, characterized by inflexible qualities, instills a constant need to prove oneself repeatedly. This mindset is ingrained in many people from an early age, with the goal of proving one’s intelligence, personality, and moral character. This mindset is prevalent in various aspects of life, including the classroom, careers, and relationships.
On the other hand, the growth mindset believes that basic qualities can be developed through effort and experience. This mindset is based on the belief that a person’s true potential is unknown and unknowable. This mindset has been applied to many great figures, such as Darwin, Tolstoy, Ben Hogan, Cindy Sherman, and Geraldine Page.
The belief that cherished qualities can be developed creates a passion for learning and growth. It encourages individuals to focus on overcoming deficiencies, seeking experiences that stretch them, and seeking friends and partners who challenge them to grow. This mindset allows people to thrive during challenging times in their lives, as it allows them to grow and develop their skills.
The two types of mindsets are the fixed mindset and the growth mindset. When faced with failure, people with a fixed mindset feel like failures or losers, viewing their situation as a direct measure of their competence and worth. They view their lives as pitiful, unfair, and unlucky. But when they aren’t failing, they feel as worthy and hopeful as those with a growth mindset.
People with the fixed mindset would cope by not putting much effort into doing well in anything, doing nothing, staying in bed, getting drunk, eating, yelling, crying, and breaking something. However, when faced with failure, people with the growth mindset would think about trying harder in class, being more careful when parking, and resolving issues with their best friend.
Those with the growth mindset, instead of labeling themselves and giving up, are prepared to take risks, confront challenges, and persist in their efforts. Such behavior highlights the importance of understanding and embracing both mindsets when dealing with challenges.
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