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Kirsten's Reviews > Mindset: The New Psychology of Success
Mindset: The New Psychology of Success
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Let me save you the money and the aggravation: The point of this book is (admittedly) not terrible, but it could be summed up real fast. Here you go, you're welcome.
Often, people see their abilities as 'fixed' and this attitude stops them from working to better themselves, turns out that if you work hard and keep the right can-do attitude, that you can accomplish more than if you think you're doomed to be a particular skill level forever. There are examples of this all around you.
Boom. Done. But no. What you get with this book is an endless diatribe. Hey, you remember that thing that happened in history? Where X person did Y thing that turned out to be good/bad? Well, if it was bad, it was TOTALLY because they had a fixed mindset. If it was good, it was 100% because of their growth mindset. This is true of literally any example in history ever no matter how poorly researched it might be. Is there any scientific basis for these historical claims? Absolutely not. Michael Jordan? SURE THING. That guy from that one business that went bad? WHAT A FIX MINDED DUMBASS. Bethoven? Duh. Seriously, I don't think I have ever read something so repetitive and belabored in my life. Sure, lady, you make a good point: People shouldn't limit themselves. Maybe give it a break after about 15 pages and I think it would probably be plenty.
Often, people see their abilities as 'fixed' and this attitude stops them from working to better themselves, turns out that if you work hard and keep the right can-do attitude, that you can accomplish more than if you think you're doomed to be a particular skill level forever. There are examples of this all around you.
Boom. Done. But no. What you get with this book is an endless diatribe. Hey, you remember that thing that happened in history? Where X person did Y thing that turned out to be good/bad? Well, if it was bad, it was TOTALLY because they had a fixed mindset. If it was good, it was 100% because of their growth mindset. This is true of literally any example in history ever no matter how poorly researched it might be. Is there any scientific basis for these historical claims? Absolutely not. Michael Jordan? SURE THING. That guy from that one business that went bad? WHAT A FIX MINDED DUMBASS. Bethoven? Duh. Seriously, I don't think I have ever read something so repetitive and belabored in my life. Sure, lady, you make a good point: People shouldn't limit themselves. Maybe give it a break after about 15 pages and I think it would probably be plenty.
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Started Reading
July 30, 2015
– Shelved
July 30, 2015
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Finished Reading
Comments Showing 1-50 of 55 (55 new)
message 1:
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Ash
(new)
Jul 31, 2015 09:44PM
....what a nightmare
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I'm sure this will be a very valuable lesson as you finish your PhD in chemistry.
haha, glad I don't have to read this book now.
Thank you. I am deeply disturbed that she writes off the idea that people responding strongly to bad circumstances must have a fixed mindset- completely disregarding people with low self-esteem and depression.
Megan wrote: "Thank you. I am deeply disturbed that she writes off the idea that people responding strongly to bad circumstances must have a fixed mindset- completely disregarding people with low self-esteem and..."Glad you felt this way, too! It is deeply harmful to promote the idea that depression is something you can always think your way out of or cure by sheer force of will (mindset). This type of thinking leads, in many cases (mine included), to gradual increase in hopelessness and worthlessness. It's lucky that instead of Dr. Dweck, I had supportive friends and family when I was struggling the most with depression.
Initially, I was thinking, whoa, the book's bad, but "Bitch?" Then I read further about the good doctor's thoughts on depression. This sounds about as scientific as The Secret. Dweck = Dreck...got it. And yeah, I'm here because a CEO told me to check it out.
Ha ha. I could hear your annoyance here in my living room.
Literally read 15 pages before coming here to cosign!
Thank you! Exactly what I was thinking.
My general feeling is that almost ALL books tend to be of this repetitive nature with a rather small portion for takeaway. As a result, I try to generally review what the message was. Since messages can always be distilled to something small, they would never really make a good book. What makes the book credible is the research behind it. Herein lines the weird part about your review. As a PhD student, you must value citing sources and the research about coming to the conclusions about a message. Thus I can't understand your harsh rating of 1 of 5 stars. Perhaps the core of the problem was that you were forced to read the book as opposed to reading it out of enjoyment. I find myself curious if you read much in general, because maybe then you'd see the same pattern of seeming repetition that I have, yet forgive it because the sources make it credible.
I really like the idea of adopting the growth mindset although the endless anecdotes were blantly put, tiring. I was disappointed that she thinks depressed people should just adopt a growth mindset when they are at their lowest. That went over my head coz I didn’t understand what she meant there. Like babe I barely thought I had a mind let alone any kind of mindset when I was at my darkest hour.
This review is f*cking lit 🔥 F*ck this book. I‘m not going to read it.
I too read this book for work. I picked it based on it's high reviews. Too bad I hadn't seen your review before I read it. It was 200 pages too long.
I just “finished it� and feel exactly the same.
Damn, comment section is like about to wage a war on this book. No book is perfect, and this book is not bad either. It gives you a different perspective. Take what helps you leave the rest.
I don’t know what you complain about. Pick up what’s interesting and move on. It’s the industry that says „Well we have a good idea but it would fill just 5 pages. We need to buff this up and make it 15$ not 5$.� But does this mean the idea is bad too? I don’t think so. Your comment about depression on the other hand is true.
I love this review and wholeheartedly agree with how redundant and boring it was. And yeah, can’t think your way out of depression, that’s some damaging thinking. I also love the reviews of the review, made me lol. I’m surprised that no one has mentioned that a PhD student spelled “aggravation� wrong. Let’s not forget about spell check!
This review sounds condescending and you're someone taking a Ph.D. I think you got triggered with one part and obviously went out on a massive rant that you disagree about. The book is backed with science and references, something another doctoring student should respect. Calling people derogatory names just because you disagree about something shows your immaturity. Go back to Twitter.
Thank you fir this review. I’m under half way through and on about example 892 of a sports star who kept trying and won. I get it!!! Any examples of HOW to change you mindset. I may never know as I’m too bored to keep going.
You nailed it. I give this review 5 stars. All criticism to the book and her boss is completely accurate.
I believe you have the right of dislike the book or believe that is not useful to you but discart academic work because it does say what you want does make the book 1 star. Read things that doesn't align with things we believe is a good way to grow. I am have that I never considered others opinions whether read or not a book.
Thank you for saving my time. Really appreciate it.
actually, you dont neet to read every single chapter of the every books, even more this book. agreed with you that read this book is kinda boring, but the last chapter (maybe chapter 8) is the essence of this book, Dweck wrote how to have a growth mindset in detail, so i think it is the excess of this book, it's not long winded, but detailed.
You completely missed the whole point of the book. The book in itself represent a journey as such is the journey to understand and then start realising how to be in a growth-mindset. Also there is not a diatribe between fixed and grown mindset, but rather the two may coexist at the same time within each individual. The problems are when only one is prevailing. I am sorry you did not manage to find value in this book.
I liked the stories. And even if the principle is simple and the stories are not well researched, I found it helpful and entertaining learning it from different perspectives/contexts. I nonetheless understand the frustration of a 5th year Ph.D. candidate, especially if your boss asked for you.
The funniest example in the book is about the math student who saw problems on the blackboard and thought they were homework so he went back and solved them, and it turned out to be an unsolved math problem. Yep, growth mindset at work there!
She doesn’t state that depression only affects people with a fixed mindset or claim that it will be fixed (no pun intended) by a growth mindset. What she does state is that having a fixed mindset can exacerbate mental health issues (which I certainly relate to).I enjoyed the book, though I agree - it was a little repetitive.
Castle. wrote: "This review sounds condescending and you're someone taking a Ph.D. I think you got triggered with one part and obviously went out on a massive rant that you disagree about. The book is backed with ..."When you criticize people for how they write, you'd best write properly. Did you mean backed "by" science? And what exactly is a doctoring student? A student who forges documents? Do you mean a doctoral student? Again, if you're going to throw stones, you might want to make sure your house isn't made of glass.
Her review was spectacular.
shamanth wrote: "Damn, comment section is like about to wage a war on this book. No book is perfect, and this book is not bad either. It gives you a different perspective. Take what helps you leave the rest."
It's called a review. It rates the book as good, middling, or bad. That's what reviews do. Reviews are also things that people use to express their opinions. Which people are doing. Then you come in and add, "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all." OK. But you're in the comments section. That's what comments sections are for.
Faisal wrote: "actually, you dont neet to read every single chapter of the every books, even more this book. agreed with you that read this book is kinda boring, but the last chapter (maybe chapter 8) is the esse..."I think you missed the point of her review. The original author's theory--like most self-help bullshit--fails to take in and fully get around the idea that some people are simply unable, on their own, to get of their own heads. Depression can be a very severe form of this, but it's like looking at basketball and saying, "You know what? I've determined that being tall is a very good attribute to have for playing basketball, so if you're playing basketball, you should be tall!" Like, duh. Most depressed people know that their depression distorts the way they think. But being told to be positive doesn't make a person positive, just like being told to be tall doesn't make a person tall.
I have fixed mindset about this book. It's 300 pages too long.
Ironically, it sounds like the author needs to not have a "fixed mindset". BTW how can anyone define someone's "mindset" because people are very complex.
Totally agree with you. I would have written the exact same review. Way too redundant and uninteresting.
I should have read your review before starting this book!
But there is a point that your review doesn't seem to reveal. I knew the whole summed up concept of a fixed and growth mindset from my childhood. But, I couldn't apply that. Because, when you take any lessons from a real life incident or story, you understand it deeply and when it's repetitive you tend to internalise the whole concept. Let me tell you one thing. Even though this book is obviously repetitive. I admit that. But you need to know how you can apply that bunch of knowledge in real life. If you don't know, reading isn't worth it for you. And the last point is that these books aren't made for ultra smart people like you. It's made for the dumbest person on the planet earth. Who doesn't know how to apply that knowledge in real life without getting a real life example which connects with him or her.
I'm not sure what to think.. i've only started the book today and i liked what i read.. reading your review i think i might like it BECAUSE i'm someone with a Fixed Mindset and i was looking for proofs that abilities and traits really change.. i wanted real examples.. not just telling me hey you know intelligence is't fixed and you can develop it.. no!!! I want you to convince me why...
Yes, thank you, same feeling!
Any other book that you can recommend on this topic?
Lol I felt the same! I thought it was sorta embarrassing she was so quick to claim “this person was a success because they had a growth mindset!� With what proof?This book proved to me that even if you have “PhD� in your title� doesn’t make you anymore legitimized to write a “scientific� researched book. What a joke.
I remember absolutely loving this book when I read it probably 8 or 9 years ago. Guess I have a growth mindset after all because your review resonates a lot with me after re-reading it just now. Like, this is a renowned psychologist and she’s extrapolating a handful of research studies and making spurious correlations all over the place. What is happening?
Right?! I agreed with her overall point, but this book should’ve been a 5 page essay.
Fixed mindset person is writing this review
Wish I had read this before the book
you are awesome. thanks for saving me the time. these days so many people who shouldn't write books write books.
I totally agree with your review; it is so much on point!
