Changing Minds

The Art and Science of Changing Our Own and Other People's Minds

Howard Gardner

Recommended By

Book Reviews

Book Synopsis

"Changing Minds" by Howard Gardner explores various factors and strategies that influence persuasion and the process of changing someone's mind.

In this thought-provoking book, Gardner delves into the complex dynamics of human cognition and highlights the power of various forms of intelligence in shaping individuals' beliefs and attitudes. Drawing on years of research and real-life examples, the author sheds light on the multifaceted nature of persuasion, emphasizing that it is not solely dependent on logical arguments or emotional appeals.

Gardner discusses the seven "levers" of persuasion, including reason, research, resonance, representational redescriptions, resources and rewards, real-world events, and resistance. Through each lever, he illustrates how different approaches can be employed to effectively change someone's viewpoint, even in the face of strong resistance.

The book also explores the concept of "multiple intelligences" and how understanding different cognitive strengths can enhance one's ability to influence others. Gardner emphasizes that these intelligences, such as linguistic, logical-mathematical, spatial, musical, bodily-kinesthetic, interpersonal, and intrapersonal, play a significant role in both the persuasion process and the ability to resist persuasion.

As Gardner presents compelling insights, he emphasizes the importance of ethics and the need to be aware of the ethical boundaries when attempting to change minds. He encourages readers to consider the long-term consequences and potential ethical dilemmas associated with persuasive tactics.

"Changing Minds" provides a comprehensive understanding of persuasion and how it can be employed ethically and effectively. By incorporating psychological principles, real-life examples, and Gardner's expertise in multiple intelligences, this book offers valuable insights for anyone seeking to understand the intricacies of human persuasion and influence.

Explore More Books

See All
The Varieties of Religious Experience
Art of the Living Dead
Open
In Praise of Shadows
How The Mind Works
Shattered
The Story of the Human Body
King of Capital
The Song of the Cell
Love Yourself Like Your Life Depends On It
Brave New Words
Behave
As I Lay Dying
The Ten Golden Rules of Leadership
QED
Where Do School Funds Go?
Evolving Ourselves
Schulz and Peanuts
The Little Liar
The Humanure Handbook
Where The Wild Things Are
The Emperor of All Maladies
The Singularity Is Near
Radical Chic and Mau-Mauing the Flak Catchers
Freedom from the Known
Iacocca
Statistical Consequences of Fat Tails
The Method Method
When To Jump
The Art of Living and Dying
Crucial Conversations
Marc's Mission
Daughter of the Heartland
The Odyssey
The DevOps Handbook
How to Make Millions with Your Ideas
The Energy World Is Flat
The Deficit Myth
I'd Like To Play Alone, Please
Physics from Finance
Heretics of Dune
Save The Cat!
Models of My Life
Prosperity
Philosophy and Scientific Realism
Destined For War
More Heat Than Light
Superintelligence
Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World
The Meaning of It All
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
Lincoln In The Bardo
Lincoln
The Evolution of Cooperation
The Demon Under The Microscope
My Inventions
Sustainable Energy Without the Hot Air
The Origin of Species
Friday Forward
An Apology for the Builder
Permanent Record
Anti Americanism
Reminiscences of a Stock Operator
Howard Hughes
America's Cultural Revolution
Sea Flight
The Quest
The Law
Forged in Crisis
Rational Decisions
On Trails
Calculus Made Easy
Quality Investing
Sex at Dawn
Just Mercy
The Hockey Stick Illusion
Secrets of Closing the Sale
The Plot Against the President
Liberating Learning
Toussaint Louverture
The Museum of Other People
Winners Take All
The Tipping Point
Positioning
Winning The Loser's Game
David Foster Wallace
Treasure Island
Financial Derivatives
Creative Selection
When Reason Goes on Holiday
Greenlights
The Farming Ladder
World War 3.0
The Art of Memoir
Getting It Done
Rock On
I Heard God Laughing
Kill It With Fire
Very Classy