Book Review: “Mindset” by Carol Dweck

What an utter disappointment this book was. I wasted a few evenings reading it, having to force myself to read on, thinking the good stuff must be just around the corner. Well, it never came.

This will be a short review, as I do not want to waste much more time or energy on the book. For the same reason I won’t monitor or respond to comments in this post.

Here is a summary of the key content. If you believe you are born with a set amount of talent for a given subject or sport, you have a fixed mindset and are doomed. If you believe you can get better at anything by working at it, you have a growth mindset and will be a great human being.

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After introducing this concept, Dr. Dweck gives example after example of an individual or team doing badly, stating they had a fixed mindset. John McEnroe pops up as a frequent example. Yup, some of her examples are that old. Then follow those who did well and therefore had a growth mindset. Like Tiger Woods… Well at least he is still sort of active. The approach appears to be to take any event ever and claim this binary view of humanity was the cause for the outcome.

Why this book has the reputation it has, is beyond me.

2 thoughts on “Book Review: “Mindset” by Carol Dweck

  • 26th March 2017 at 1:38 pm
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    The negative review makes me want to read the book even more. I’m surprised. However, having read so many books in the psychology and education genres, I can definitely see how the book can be 4 pages of good ideas and 300 pages of nothing.

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