» Changing Minds: The Art And Science of Changing Our Own And Other People's Minds (Leadership for the Common Good)

Changing Minds: The Art And Science of Changing Our Own And Other People's Minds (Leadership for the Common Good) Reviews

Customer Rating:
Summary: Change the Job Interviewer's Mind
Comment: The power to influence another persons thought process or even break free of our own rigid thinking is a highly advantageous skill to have in work and life.

In `Changing Minds' Harvard psychologist, Howard Gardner, demonstrates seven levers that effect mind change. He then teaches us how to align these levers in order to effect the perception and behavior of others. Gardner uses examples on all levels, from the mass influence of a political campaign to influencing the thoughts of individuals.

Naturally mastering this ability can greatly increase our chances of climbing the corporate ladder or landing the job and salary we desire in the first place. Imagine having the tools to be in control of your job interview, to effortlessly tip the balance in your favor. This is a good book for anyone, and it's great for job-seekers!

Danny Iny
Author of the free eBook "Forget Everything You Know About Looking For a Job... And Actually Find One!"
HuntingToHired, www.HuntingToHired.com

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Science of Persuasion
Comment: This is one of my favorite books on persuasion and psychology of changing other people's (as well as your own) mind.

It provides good frameworks for understanding how and why people change their views on a matter. The tools and understanding of decision making contained in the book are a good reference for understanding the psychology of persuasion which could be useful in any type of negotiation, from one on one negotiation to complex multi-party negotiation. I highly recommend this book.

It is excellent and an easy read - but more importantly - it's ideas are readily applicable and useful in your everday life and understanding of complex behavior.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Limited examples, has little respect for the changee
Comment: I agree with many of the unenthusiastic reviews. The book could be much shorter and more effective if the author and editors had cut some of plentiful Harvard family stories. A few more peeves, as well. The author tries to be both a pundit (a word he uses too many times) and just 'ordinary folk'. He's trying to charm you with his folksiness and wonder with the world, and simultaneously wow you with his immense knowledge and insight. I'd rather he simply gave me information. The book seems targeted at people in business (it's published by the Harvard business school) who apparently can only remember things if they rhyme or all start with the same letters, (in this case "re-") like some slogan for a car commercial. Snippets of talk of 'integrity' are thrown in, to compensate for the condescension he seems to have for whoever's mind you're trying to change. One 'piece of advice' is to 'establish common links...In addition to their both being professors and intellectuals, Summers might have emphasized that he and West were the same age...' Good grief! I would hope that 'ordinary folk' (which I assume means non-professors and non-intellectuals) don't fall for such shallow tactics. Some style issues, which may or may not bother you: he has pet words, like 'amalgam' and 'pundit', which are used on every other page. The text in the paperback edition is a bit small, as if they just shrank the hardback pages, instead of re-typesetting the book.

Some useful ideas, but I recommend browsing the appendix, in your library first. Or you can have my copy. :-)

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Don't waste your money or time
Comment: I see other comments that are similar to my opinion. I thought this book was a total waste of time. Self-indulgent, rambling ideas that seemed there only to demonstrate how much the author believes he is brilliant. I can't believe he has so many books and university endorsements. It is rare for me to dislike a book, but this one made me angry. I read the entire thing, so I gave it a fair chance. As a busy consultant, I don't have time to lose on things like this.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Leadership for Change
Comment: Howard Gardner, best known for his theory of intelligence, has written a thought provoking and intriguing book. The title of the book is somewhat misleading, as it deals more with leadership and communication, than with changing the behavior or personalities of individuals. Thus, if you are looking for a self-help book, a book on personal change, or a text on psychotherapies, then this is the wrong book for you. The book is more appropriate for political leaders, corporate leaders, or new supervisors, looking for some non-traditional ideas on the leadership process and on how to influence others. It may take some work to convert the ideas offered here into practice, but Gardner's book should prove interesting to those looking for some creative concepts that are not found in the typical business text on leadership.

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