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Mindshift: Break Through Obstacles to Learning and Discover Your Hidden Potential
Mindshift reveals how we can overcome stereotypes and preconceived ideas about what is possible for us to learn and become—regardless of age.
In an age when we are constantly being asked to retrain and reinvent ourselves, to adapt to new technologies and changing industries, this book assuages our fears and inspires us with a sense of possibility. Our passions and talents may actually surprise us. In Mindshift, Barbara Oakley tells the stories of people who have overcome learning "handicaps" of all kinds—such as Imposter's Syndrome and advancing age—and shows how we can turn perceived weaknesses into strengths. For example, people may feel like they're at a disadvantage if they pursue a new field later in life; yet those who change careers can be fertile cross-pollinators—they bring valuable insights from one discipline to another. The power of simple persistence in building talent is also often underestimated.
Dr. Oakley reveals the latest neuroscientific insights into how our brains change when we learn something new. She shares strategies for learning that are backed by brain science, including practical exercises to apply in our own lives.
In an age when we are constantly being asked to retrain and reinvent ourselves, to adapt to new technologies and changing industries, this book assuages our fears and inspires us with a sense of possibility. Our passions and talents may actually surprise us. In Mindshift, Barbara Oakley tells the stories of people who have overcome learning "handicaps" of all kinds—such as Imposter's Syndrome and advancing age—and shows how we can turn perceived weaknesses into strengths. For example, people may feel like they're at a disadvantage if they pursue a new field later in life; yet those who change careers can be fertile cross-pollinators—they bring valuable insights from one discipline to another. The power of simple persistence in building talent is also often underestimated.
Dr. Oakley reveals the latest neuroscientific insights into how our brains change when we learn something new. She shares strategies for learning that are backed by brain science, including practical exercises to apply in our own lives.
304 pages, Paperback
First published April 18, 2017
803 people are currently reading
6459 people want to read
About the author
Barbara Oakley
40 books1,275 followersBarbara Oakley, PhD, a 'female Indiana Jones,' is one of the few women to hold a doctorate in systems engineering. She chronicled her adventures on Soviet fishing boats in the Bering Sea in Hair of the Dog: Tales from Aboard a Russian Trawler. She also served as a radio operator in Antarctica and rose from private to captain in the U.S. Army. Now an associate professor of engineering at Oakland University in Michigan, Oakley is a recent vice president of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society. Her work has appeared in publications ranging from The New York Times to the IEEE Transactions on Nanobioscience.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 214 reviews
August 31, 2018
LOOOOOVED this book & since I’m struggling with my own career path currently was super helpful in making me realize its “not too late” to go out and do what you want to do even at 36 yrs old(my age lol) Also extremely helpful info on how one can get educated without walking into a classroom which I found extremely helpful! Highly recommend to anyone who’s thinking of changing career paths! It’s a great guide to how we all could actually follow our dreams and change careers and be happy working since it’s never “too late” Great book!
May 19, 2017
A great companion to Mindshift, the MOOC. Also a continuation of the MOOC Learning How to Learn. If you've taken either of Oakley's online courses, you know exactly what to expect with this.
It covers exactly the same material as the MOOC with the same title, namely: inspiration for lifelong learning, gentle nudges to go outside mental comfort zones, a huge variety of tips for learning, and just enough neuroscience to provide scientific support for the material.
The book does contain additional examples and material that was not covered in the MOOC and some of these were the most interesting to me personally.
Chapter 5 told the story of a successful ninth-grade dropout which I found relatable (I never dropped out, but my memories of school echo his experience). I was also fascinated by the work of Joan McCord, who found some very counter-intuitive results from a study of average and juvenile delinquent boys: well-meaning assistance had, on average, negative outcomes over the boy's lifetimes. It was eye-opening and drove home the key point: keep your mind flexible enough to cope with unexpected facts.
Chapter 8 featured more biographical information about Terry Sejnowski (Oakley's co-instructor for the two MOOCS) which was very impressive. It also contained a sidebar titled "Never Too Old to Learn and Change", the first paragraph of which I felt was speaking directly to me:
The side bar goes on to deal with these thoughts. Yes, it would be marvelous to have started something earlier in life and have devoted every day to mastering it. But in doing so, you would have lost out on other areas of growth and learning. Not only is it not too late to start now, learning something new later in life is wonderful for your brain. Also, your existing experience in other areas might bring you insights you couldn't otherwise have.
Everyone will get something different out of this book. There is lots of interesting material. Some of it will resonate more or less strongly for you. Oakley also encourages you to participate throughout the book, to take notes and brainstorm while reading. So you'll get more or less out of it depending on how actively you participate.
It covers exactly the same material as the MOOC with the same title, namely: inspiration for lifelong learning, gentle nudges to go outside mental comfort zones, a huge variety of tips for learning, and just enough neuroscience to provide scientific support for the material.
The book does contain additional examples and material that was not covered in the MOOC and some of these were the most interesting to me personally.
Chapter 5 told the story of a successful ninth-grade dropout which I found relatable (I never dropped out, but my memories of school echo his experience). I was also fascinated by the work of Joan McCord, who found some very counter-intuitive results from a study of average and juvenile delinquent boys: well-meaning assistance had, on average, negative outcomes over the boy's lifetimes. It was eye-opening and drove home the key point: keep your mind flexible enough to cope with unexpected facts.
Chapter 8 featured more biographical information about Terry Sejnowski (Oakley's co-instructor for the two MOOCS) which was very impressive. It also contained a sidebar titled "Never Too Old to Learn and Change", the first paragraph of which I felt was speaking directly to me:
...When we are in our twenties, we think, "I could have been a first-rate guitarist if I'd just started when I was a kid!" When we reach age sixty, we look wistfully back at the more open possibilities of our thirties. We forget that when we were in our thirties, our options often seemed equally limited. Even college freshmen look with envy on other students who began studying French, physics, or philosophy in high school....
The side bar goes on to deal with these thoughts. Yes, it would be marvelous to have started something earlier in life and have devoted every day to mastering it. But in doing so, you would have lost out on other areas of growth and learning. Not only is it not too late to start now, learning something new later in life is wonderful for your brain. Also, your existing experience in other areas might bring you insights you couldn't otherwise have.
Everyone will get something different out of this book. There is lots of interesting material. Some of it will resonate more or less strongly for you. Oakley also encourages you to participate throughout the book, to take notes and brainstorm while reading. So you'll get more or less out of it depending on how actively you participate.
May 23, 2021
I loved the first part of the book, which had interesting and scientifically backed ideas to overcome overstacles, while the second half was just one long advertisement for online courses.
August 17, 2024
2024-08-17 Finished reading this (again) a couple days ago. Wonderful. So many great insights on ways to help grow one's skills and expand your views on what you can do with your career(s) and abilities. From personal histories to neuroscience, from practice to theories, this book is so refreshing and helpful. I fully endorse it.
2024-06-14 Here is the review I just submitted to Amazon:
"I had the privilege of reading this book in manuscript, before it was published, since I was friendly with the author, and very interested in the topic of the book. I was not disappointed. The insights, enthusiasm, and great worldwide examples of how the principles actually worked were wonderful.
My only regret is that I did not make time to write a review of the book till now. But it seems the book has done just fine without my review. But I just thought I would add it here and now anyway, just in case anyone else cares. Enjoy. The perspective of this book is great and I highly recommend it."
I wanted to keep it short and sweet there. But here on GR, I feel like I have more space and community to expand on some things.
1. Since I received and read the manuscript many years ago, I have continued to be "friendly" with the author, and we have become quite good friend. I am VERY proud of that fact.
2. I have some distinct memories of this book, will recount some here, but also plan to reread the book, since it probably has gone through some revisions since my original reading in any case. And my memory needs updating too.
3. It has always seemed reasonable, but after a career of over 45 years, I am even more convinced now than ever, that one needs to develop (and benefits from developing) multiple job (and other) skills in life.
I look forward to sharing more on this later, as I remember and read more.
2024-06-14 Here is the review I just submitted to Amazon:
"I had the privilege of reading this book in manuscript, before it was published, since I was friendly with the author, and very interested in the topic of the book. I was not disappointed. The insights, enthusiasm, and great worldwide examples of how the principles actually worked were wonderful.
My only regret is that I did not make time to write a review of the book till now. But it seems the book has done just fine without my review. But I just thought I would add it here and now anyway, just in case anyone else cares. Enjoy. The perspective of this book is great and I highly recommend it."
I wanted to keep it short and sweet there. But here on GR, I feel like I have more space and community to expand on some things.
1. Since I received and read the manuscript many years ago, I have continued to be "friendly" with the author, and we have become quite good friend. I am VERY proud of that fact.
2. I have some distinct memories of this book, will recount some here, but also plan to reread the book, since it probably has gone through some revisions since my original reading in any case. And my memory needs updating too.
3. It has always seemed reasonable, but after a career of over 45 years, I am even more convinced now than ever, that one needs to develop (and benefits from developing) multiple job (and other) skills in life.
I look forward to sharing more on this later, as I remember and read more.
April 25, 2017
Pleasant book, but ideas are very trivial to me.
December 4, 2020
took longer than i thought but c'est la vie
listened to a lot of chief keef thought, thanks barbara i really enjoyed the book
MOOC MOOC MOOC i really enjoy talking about MOOCs
listened to a lot of chief keef thought, thanks barbara i really enjoyed the book
MOOC MOOC MOOC i really enjoy talking about MOOCs
March 29, 2018
I liked the concept and the writer (who also read the audiobook and did a good job with the audio).
But the material seemed to be somewhat repetitive after a while.
Also, I liked the examples of the real-life people who have made mid-life career shifts. But, they were too long, at least in the audiobook format. We had to practically start at birth (or at least with family of origin - everyone has issues with their parents, apparently) to get through their first career and then their decision to change careers. This got repetitive over time.
Overall, I liked the information, but thought it could be more concise.
But the material seemed to be somewhat repetitive after a while.
Also, I liked the examples of the real-life people who have made mid-life career shifts. But, they were too long, at least in the audiobook format. We had to practically start at birth (or at least with family of origin - everyone has issues with their parents, apparently) to get through their first career and then their decision to change careers. This got repetitive over time.
Overall, I liked the information, but thought it could be more concise.
May 16, 2018
There are many valuable lessons in this book. The problem is I don't like her way of writing. She presented problem A, and in the midway, she turned to problem B, and then in the midway of problem B, she turned back to the solution of problem A, which seems, well, a little bit sloppy to me. Overall, good book.
June 26, 2021
I might have a learning-how-to-learn overload (recently I’ve been reading mostly about skills, learning, and making changes), but I’ve found this book extremely tedious. Any piece of advice is drowning in the long personal anecdotes presented from an angle that best confirms the author’s hypothesis. In those stories there is also very little substance: we read WHAT the portrayed people did but we don’t learn HOW, what methods did they use.
There is also a little contradiction: on one hand, Barbara Oakley is praising MOOCs and individual learning, on the other, all the anecdotes highlight the importance of teachers and mentors, and most of the described career changes happened through formal education and obtaining new university diplomas. All in all, the content of the book is a bit like a MOOC: superficial and promising on the outside, but it simply doesn’t deliver.
There is also a little contradiction: on one hand, Barbara Oakley is praising MOOCs and individual learning, on the other, all the anecdotes highlight the importance of teachers and mentors, and most of the described career changes happened through formal education and obtaining new university diplomas. All in all, the content of the book is a bit like a MOOC: superficial and promising on the outside, but it simply doesn’t deliver.
August 29, 2020
If you are into inspiring stories of people who shifted their thought and succeeded despite the odd hand played at them, you’re going to love the first 6 chapters. And you’ll be bored through the final 6 that also contain stories but babble a lot, unless you want to make a MOOC of your own. In that case there is one more chapter you’ll want to read.
Boredom after chapter 6 made me start this book twice.
What also is understandable but annoyed me, is that the book is an advertisement for Coursera more than one would expect, even from the top sought offered class.
Boredom after chapter 6 made me start this book twice.
What also is understandable but annoyed me, is that the book is an advertisement for Coursera more than one would expect, even from the top sought offered class.
May 20, 2020
After reading about half of the books, I wanted to give it a 3 stars. Mostly because barb here just showed some people who got their successes trying something different and out-of-the-box thinking. But those examples aren’t some frequent happenings. Though she pointed out the reasons and the struggles and hardships of the people who got successes but it's unlikely to happen. Well this is true that she showed evidences that it's not impossible to take a major career turn, rather sometimes it becomes a blessings. But the flow of the book was somehow boring and typical.
Then I read rest of the books. And those last 4-5 chapters earn another star for the book. Although some of those chapters aren’t like the other chapter’s lesson. The history of making the MOOC "Learning how to learn", some strategy for making good MOOC and the challenges for making MOOC - those were somehow informative. She also jotted down how to learn more effectively from a MOOC.
N.B: Don't miss the note section of the book. It contains summary type explanation, some insightful but short analysis and useful information.
Then I read rest of the books. And those last 4-5 chapters earn another star for the book. Although some of those chapters aren’t like the other chapter’s lesson. The history of making the MOOC "Learning how to learn", some strategy for making good MOOC and the challenges for making MOOC - those were somehow informative. She also jotted down how to learn more effectively from a MOOC.
N.B: Don't miss the note section of the book. It contains summary type explanation, some insightful but short analysis and useful information.
April 2, 2022
Easy and very nice read.
Simple, but efficient ideas about learning process.
Simple, but efficient ideas about learning process.
December 12, 2023
Great info! Humans have the ability to keep learning no matter how old you are. If you apply yourself you will be able to learn anything you want. You just have to believe in yourself! Also the Moocs, massive online open courses are a great new resource for people to learn from home!
January 26, 2020
Сборник историй о смене карьеры благодаря онлайн обучению. Также в книге есть глава про создание собственного онлайн курса.
May 3, 2018
This book's strength is providing very personal stories of those who have overcome the odds or found the courage to pursue their passions or change careers. From a theoretical physicist switching to neuroscience, a well regarded IBM engineer learning wood carving, to a high school dropout who made it to one of the best universities in America, to an unmotivated young man whose stubbornness led to him trying to prove his doubters wrong, there are many powerful stories here. There's ample motivation for those who are struggling with the tried and tested pathways, or those contemplating whether it's worth taking the risk to pursue their passion.
However, the book is rather short on depth. While some serious theories about working memory and chunking, the need to simplify and the Pomodoro method are discussed it's all rather brief and cursory. There were interesting insights from her interviews with some key players in Singapore's attempts to deepen skills (the only chapter in the book that wasn't based on a personal story that was largely anecdotal), but even the idea of a pi shaped model and the need for "second skilling" was only touched upon. Chapters 11 and 12 were the most egregious examples - they seemed tacked on advertisements for MOOCs and in particular her MOOC.
If you need motivation, and some inspiring stories of people who have found ways to overcome obstacles, then by all means read this book, if you're looking for a deeper look at issues such as potential career obsolescence, skills retraining, reinventing oneself in terms of a potential mid career switch or the broader impacts of technology in today’s world or even just simple practical steps to learn new skills (the author did do a famous MOOC on how to learn after all) you’ll be rather disappointed.
However, the book is rather short on depth. While some serious theories about working memory and chunking, the need to simplify and the Pomodoro method are discussed it's all rather brief and cursory. There were interesting insights from her interviews with some key players in Singapore's attempts to deepen skills (the only chapter in the book that wasn't based on a personal story that was largely anecdotal), but even the idea of a pi shaped model and the need for "second skilling" was only touched upon. Chapters 11 and 12 were the most egregious examples - they seemed tacked on advertisements for MOOCs and in particular her MOOC.
If you need motivation, and some inspiring stories of people who have found ways to overcome obstacles, then by all means read this book, if you're looking for a deeper look at issues such as potential career obsolescence, skills retraining, reinventing oneself in terms of a potential mid career switch or the broader impacts of technology in today’s world or even just simple practical steps to learn new skills (the author did do a famous MOOC on how to learn after all) you’ll be rather disappointed.
November 2, 2017
I love this course. It might be where I am in my life, in that I am thinking a lot right now about what I should do differently going forward if anything, and is my job still right for me? I have used many many of the techniques in the book successfully in my education and career and they work. I needed a reminder for many things though, and several of the techniques are new to me. The book is a companion to the most popular MOOC of all time, which can be found here: https://www.coursera.org/learn/mindshift
I highly recommend this book. It can be a life changer, or at least a reminder for doing things that are helpful in learning new and challenging topics, and for getting out of ruts in your thinking. It can become a call to action as well.
I highly recommend this book. It can be a life changer, or at least a reminder for doing things that are helpful in learning new and challenging topics, and for getting out of ruts in your thinking. It can become a call to action as well.
August 13, 2022
At times amusing but never particularly helpful. The book is comprised of a wide variety of anecdotal examples of people changing careers and finding happiness in the results. Sprinkled with some relevant but unexamined science writing.
Felt like advice a well intentioned but ultimately clueless guidance counselor might give. Skip the book. Just go ahead and buy a "hang in there" kitty poster for similar effect.
Felt like advice a well intentioned but ultimately clueless guidance counselor might give. Skip the book. Just go ahead and buy a "hang in there" kitty poster for similar effect.
August 31, 2018
Very interesting, well researched book about cognitive learning and how to move past previous blocks.
December 6, 2021
I stumbled on this and started it without having read A Mind for Numbers: How to Excel at Math and Science, so I definitely want to go back and give the earlier volume a try. This one has the character of a sophomore effort -- interesting, but often obviously an assortment of anecdotes and ideas.
Still, these are for the most part useful, solid self-help for the ambitious self learner. We can all benefit from learning something new, and many of us should seriously consider major shifts to our careers. In the first chapter, Oakley talks about Graham Keir, a jazz musician who became a doctor with a specialty in hearing and sound research; the lesson here is to "broaden our passions." I think of how I've expanded my teaching portfolio, and gained some administrative experience. The translation gigs and all the research I do could turn into original writing. It really is possible. All it takes is a concerted effort to in "chunking" things, dividing them up into small, repeatable tasks so that we improve steadily all the time.
The second chapter covers "mindshift" proper, citing former bus driver Claudia Meadows who brought herself out of depression by focusing on exercise and planning and a "fun spiritual path." "What mindshift are you trying to accomplish?" asks Oakley. Oh, ma'am, where do I even start...
It's inspiring to have the voices of ambitious self-learners that Oakley interviews. I listen to people like Ali Naqvi, from chapter 3, and I recognize things that I do already. The pomodoro technique; thinking actively with metaphors. Naqvi also practices teaching himself things out loud -- I'll have to try that.
We should consider the past skills and courses we've taken that seem useless in the moment but maybe are not -- I think of my STEM major in college, which seems to have gone un-used in some ways, but in other ways I have continued to learn to learn, and to take on difficult projects with a rigorous and robust approach. I didn't get it exactly when I was in college, but the memories stay with me.
The fifth chapter is an adult-education exercise in metacognition: put your learning goals in writing. The government of Singapore "takes a unique approach to encourage continuous learning and second-skilling," says the sixth chapter. (All educators seem in love with Singapore, and I suppose there is something to the whole thing. Though one wonders if Oakley gave enough attention to the weak points of the Singapore system. I'm honestly not knowledgeable enough to say.)
We "level the educational playing field" when we turn our weaknesses into strengths, and involve others in our education. So runs the seventh chapter, which again, I'm not sure how well this small piece holds together. Oakley has us ask ourselves "Do you feel that people have a “true potential” that others should support no matter what?," which just doesn't seem to be a coherent question to me, in contrast to her previous exercises.
Trying to foretell career challenges and changes is a good idea, an advanced continuation of the metacognition exercise. "Derailed dreams lead to new dreams," says chapter 9. That's a very consoling thought, and one that I do need, in 2021. I, too, need to turn my midlife crisis into a midlife opportunity. As Arnim Rodeck did, I want to get a good job, but then re-fashion my career to be a content creator and my own boss. It's going to take imparted wisdoms from many sources to make it all happen.
But mostly it's going to take a persistent approach to learning and upgrading skills. Here, Oakley shifts to three chapters on MOOCs, to the exclusion of other practices like in-person degree programs or master-apprentice arrangements. She seems to think she'll get the most impact by describing how to take courses online -- and how to make them. Maybe that's right; at any rate, I'm now taking MOOcs myself -- edX is actually pretty interesting!
Still, these are for the most part useful, solid self-help for the ambitious self learner. We can all benefit from learning something new, and many of us should seriously consider major shifts to our careers. In the first chapter, Oakley talks about Graham Keir, a jazz musician who became a doctor with a specialty in hearing and sound research; the lesson here is to "broaden our passions." I think of how I've expanded my teaching portfolio, and gained some administrative experience. The translation gigs and all the research I do could turn into original writing. It really is possible. All it takes is a concerted effort to in "chunking" things, dividing them up into small, repeatable tasks so that we improve steadily all the time.
The second chapter covers "mindshift" proper, citing former bus driver Claudia Meadows who brought herself out of depression by focusing on exercise and planning and a "fun spiritual path." "What mindshift are you trying to accomplish?" asks Oakley. Oh, ma'am, where do I even start...
It's inspiring to have the voices of ambitious self-learners that Oakley interviews. I listen to people like Ali Naqvi, from chapter 3, and I recognize things that I do already. The pomodoro technique; thinking actively with metaphors. Naqvi also practices teaching himself things out loud -- I'll have to try that.
We should consider the past skills and courses we've taken that seem useless in the moment but maybe are not -- I think of my STEM major in college, which seems to have gone un-used in some ways, but in other ways I have continued to learn to learn, and to take on difficult projects with a rigorous and robust approach. I didn't get it exactly when I was in college, but the memories stay with me.
The fifth chapter is an adult-education exercise in metacognition: put your learning goals in writing. The government of Singapore "takes a unique approach to encourage continuous learning and second-skilling," says the sixth chapter. (All educators seem in love with Singapore, and I suppose there is something to the whole thing. Though one wonders if Oakley gave enough attention to the weak points of the Singapore system. I'm honestly not knowledgeable enough to say.)
We "level the educational playing field" when we turn our weaknesses into strengths, and involve others in our education. So runs the seventh chapter, which again, I'm not sure how well this small piece holds together. Oakley has us ask ourselves "Do you feel that people have a “true potential” that others should support no matter what?," which just doesn't seem to be a coherent question to me, in contrast to her previous exercises.
Trying to foretell career challenges and changes is a good idea, an advanced continuation of the metacognition exercise. "Derailed dreams lead to new dreams," says chapter 9. That's a very consoling thought, and one that I do need, in 2021. I, too, need to turn my midlife crisis into a midlife opportunity. As Arnim Rodeck did, I want to get a good job, but then re-fashion my career to be a content creator and my own boss. It's going to take imparted wisdoms from many sources to make it all happen.
But mostly it's going to take a persistent approach to learning and upgrading skills. Here, Oakley shifts to three chapters on MOOCs, to the exclusion of other practices like in-person degree programs or master-apprentice arrangements. She seems to think she'll get the most impact by describing how to take courses online -- and how to make them. Maybe that's right; at any rate, I'm now taking MOOcs myself -- edX is actually pretty interesting!
September 19, 2019
I came across this book in quite an unconventional way, speed post from papa. Its not every other day that I have self help books urgently seeking me, so i gave it a read.
The content iterates over various real life people in real scenarios where they overcame challenges to pursue new unrelated careers after abandoning supposedly successful careers. It evangelizes the need to develop skills in more than one career for a wholesome life experience. However I didn't share the same enthusiasm so I just nodded through most of the book. Towards the end I arrived at the chapter which possibly papa thought i could relate to; a chapter on MOOCs. Being aware of my predilection to devouring medical courses online, he assumed i might get consoled into not feeling guilty about salivating over other careers. It did work to a degree, but possibly not the way in which it intented. I realised that all the pharmacology, anatomy, oncolgy, neurobioliogy course videos that i binge watch on weekends doesn't amount to any 'learning' if i don't pursue or use them in some manner. Its sort of hard to study fMRI scans of roadkills or peer through microscopes in my free time so i don't really see (yet) how useful its for me to know fun facts about clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats among our prokaryotic friends.
This book is definitely helpful in giving confidence to multi talented people, but not much use for mediocre ogres like me who are already bad at the one thing they do for a living, they don't need to be bad at two!
The content iterates over various real life people in real scenarios where they overcame challenges to pursue new unrelated careers after abandoning supposedly successful careers. It evangelizes the need to develop skills in more than one career for a wholesome life experience. However I didn't share the same enthusiasm so I just nodded through most of the book. Towards the end I arrived at the chapter which possibly papa thought i could relate to; a chapter on MOOCs. Being aware of my predilection to devouring medical courses online, he assumed i might get consoled into not feeling guilty about salivating over other careers. It did work to a degree, but possibly not the way in which it intented. I realised that all the pharmacology, anatomy, oncolgy, neurobioliogy course videos that i binge watch on weekends doesn't amount to any 'learning' if i don't pursue or use them in some manner. Its sort of hard to study fMRI scans of roadkills or peer through microscopes in my free time so i don't really see (yet) how useful its for me to know fun facts about clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats among our prokaryotic friends.
This book is definitely helpful in giving confidence to multi talented people, but not much use for mediocre ogres like me who are already bad at the one thing they do for a living, they don't need to be bad at two!
October 10, 2022
Some years ago, Professor Oakley delivered a lecture at Auckland University about neural pathways and how understanding them might impact teaching and learning. I enjoyed the lecture, so endeavoured to bolster my professional development by learning more from this gifted academic. I was not disappointed with the way this book addressed the preconceived ideas many people muddy the waters of learning with.
"Lifelong learning" is a mantra many employees are compelled to adopt as they find new technologies push the boundaries of their existing knowledge, or new research demands a rethink about their industry. "Mindshift" encourages the reader to uncover and develop talents through moocs or mentors or plain hard work. Dr Oakley also shows us how we can broaden our passions and how even apparent disadvantages such as using a second language can come with hidden advantages. There are numerous stories and anecdotes to make the content more palatable - for instance, the story of Graham Keir, who was musically gifted at school, became a jazz performer, and then through a quirk of fate, decided to become a medical doctor and how he had developed such audial discernment through his musical career, that when he listened to people's hearts, he could make very quick, very accurate diagnoses.
Barbara Oakley writes with a passion for her subject - she herself changed careers from the Arts to Engineering - and the prompt to the reader to "apply" each chapter's information is engaging too. This is a book that ticks the box for "professional development' but is not dry or dull.
"Lifelong learning" is a mantra many employees are compelled to adopt as they find new technologies push the boundaries of their existing knowledge, or new research demands a rethink about their industry. "Mindshift" encourages the reader to uncover and develop talents through moocs or mentors or plain hard work. Dr Oakley also shows us how we can broaden our passions and how even apparent disadvantages such as using a second language can come with hidden advantages. There are numerous stories and anecdotes to make the content more palatable - for instance, the story of Graham Keir, who was musically gifted at school, became a jazz performer, and then through a quirk of fate, decided to become a medical doctor and how he had developed such audial discernment through his musical career, that when he listened to people's hearts, he could make very quick, very accurate diagnoses.
Barbara Oakley writes with a passion for her subject - she herself changed careers from the Arts to Engineering - and the prompt to the reader to "apply" each chapter's information is engaging too. This is a book that ticks the box for "professional development' but is not dry or dull.
August 11, 2017
I really enjoyed this book. The major themes are learning how to learn, the innovation of massive open online courses, re-framing what we think about learning- turning a negative into a positive, some tools to make MOOCs easier---what specifically are we trying to learn? I even got to network because of this book, contacted Zach who was mentioned throughout the book and we will hopefully have lunch sometime next month as he works in NYC, close to me. In this age and the invention of the internet, traditional learning environments are giving ways to massive open online courses bringing millions of people all over the world to discuss ideas. Throughout my life, I plan on actively learning and this book gave me the foundation to do that. I also am thinking about teaching a course on corruption in my state and this book will make me potentially a better instructor, on top of registering for Learning how to learn on coursera.
March 24, 2021
A follow up to her course 'Learning How to Learn', the most successful Mass Open Online Course of all time at the publication, Oakley shows us it's never to late to switch gears and learn something new, overcome a previous terror of a subject, or take up a new subject. She proves you can teach an old dog new tricks, several tricks, and does a deep dive into online learning and the options available.
There's no way this will appeal to everyone, but if you've spent years thinking 'I'm not good at math' or 'I'm stuck in this job because this is all I'm good at', reading some of the quick bios of second skillers she presents and how they went from things like musician to doctor or silicon valley product launcher to master woodworker, give this a try. And while you're at it, go take her course online. Your brain can do anything.
There's no way this will appeal to everyone, but if you've spent years thinking 'I'm not good at math' or 'I'm stuck in this job because this is all I'm good at', reading some of the quick bios of second skillers she presents and how they went from things like musician to doctor or silicon valley product launcher to master woodworker, give this a try. And while you're at it, go take her course online. Your brain can do anything.
March 8, 2018
Actual rating: 3.5 stars
Initial thoughts: The title Mindshift is pretty fitting, as the book examines different ways people have reframed their minds/their perspectives to achieve their goals. Perhaps because the author strongly believes in metaphors as aids to teaching, most of the chapters are based on specific people and their life experiences. I found this to be an engaging approach, though there were minor factual errors (about Singapore) that distracted me; same with audiobook mispronunciations of terms (Malay became "may-lay) and names (Sun Yat Sen became "Sen Yat Sen"). Still, it's evident that Oakley knows what she is talking about and is very passionate about the mechanics of how to learn and how to prime our minds for action.
Initial thoughts: The title Mindshift is pretty fitting, as the book examines different ways people have reframed their minds/their perspectives to achieve their goals. Perhaps because the author strongly believes in metaphors as aids to teaching, most of the chapters are based on specific people and their life experiences. I found this to be an engaging approach, though there were minor factual errors (about Singapore) that distracted me; same with audiobook mispronunciations of terms (Malay became "may-lay) and names (Sun Yat Sen became "Sen Yat Sen"). Still, it's evident that Oakley knows what she is talking about and is very passionate about the mechanics of how to learn and how to prime our minds for action.
August 30, 2021
I adore both the books by Barbara Oakley and highly recommend them, along with her course "Learning How to Learn."
Mindshift encourages exploring one's passion and career possibilities one can explore in life. It's never too late to learn something afresh and excel in fields divergent to our experience. Moreover, learning often spills over different areas, and we can bring our experiences from one domain to another in our unique way.
Each chapter sets out with a real-life example and has a message in it. Interlaced are "Key Mindshift" ideas to take away and ending with the "Now you try! " section to help reflect the chapter's takeaway.
As for my critical feedback, I wouldn't say I liked the structuring of the book.
Probably it's just me, but I like books that build the story right from the chapter name, and I feel the book somewhat lacks an overall structure. Many chapter names do not reveal what we are going to come across in this chapter. There are many takeaways, but I had to re-read many chapters again to understand the complete picture.
Overall a good book and is on my list to revisit someday!!
Mindshift encourages exploring one's passion and career possibilities one can explore in life. It's never too late to learn something afresh and excel in fields divergent to our experience. Moreover, learning often spills over different areas, and we can bring our experiences from one domain to another in our unique way.
Each chapter sets out with a real-life example and has a message in it. Interlaced are "Key Mindshift" ideas to take away and ending with the "Now you try! " section to help reflect the chapter's takeaway.
As for my critical feedback, I wouldn't say I liked the structuring of the book.
Probably it's just me, but I like books that build the story right from the chapter name, and I feel the book somewhat lacks an overall structure. Many chapter names do not reveal what we are going to come across in this chapter. There are many takeaways, but I had to re-read many chapters again to understand the complete picture.
Overall a good book and is on my list to revisit someday!!
September 1, 2018
Barbara Oakley has a famous MOOC and has done a lot of research on how to get people to change their life paths.
A good deal of the book is done in a Chatty Kathy style - and for the first several chapters I kept hearing Marge Simpson in my head. But for someone who is trying to figure out how to make career or life changes this book could be a superb resource. At the end of each chapter she urges the reader to step back and make some assessments.
She is a big fan of MOOCs and has a couple of chapters which give the reader a see of strategies to get the most out of that format of learning.
Along the way she tells the stories of a number of interesting people who have used her methods to make major changes (from a very successful engineer to the owner of a work working business, for example).
This could be a quick read but if you are thinking about making changes in your life (especially your career - it would benefit from taking the opportunities to stop and consider her suggestions - all of them won't be winners but many will.
A good deal of the book is done in a Chatty Kathy style - and for the first several chapters I kept hearing Marge Simpson in my head. But for someone who is trying to figure out how to make career or life changes this book could be a superb resource. At the end of each chapter she urges the reader to step back and make some assessments.
She is a big fan of MOOCs and has a couple of chapters which give the reader a see of strategies to get the most out of that format of learning.
Along the way she tells the stories of a number of interesting people who have used her methods to make major changes (from a very successful engineer to the owner of a work working business, for example).
This could be a quick read but if you are thinking about making changes in your life (especially your career - it would benefit from taking the opportunities to stop and consider her suggestions - all of them won't be winners but many will.
July 11, 2017
Second Book By Barbara Oakley.
In First She taught how to efficiently study Maths and Science.
In this one , she teaches how a change in what you are doing can bring about surprising results in academics and career.
She has given many examples to back the theory. One of my favorite was of Adam Khoo.
Last Chapters are devoted to MOOC ( Massive Open Online Courses), and how to study for such courses.
The Final Chapter also documents how she created her own Online Course, which became popular in no time.
Excellent Book.
In First She taught how to efficiently study Maths and Science.
In this one , she teaches how a change in what you are doing can bring about surprising results in academics and career.
She has given many examples to back the theory. One of my favorite was of Adam Khoo.
Last Chapters are devoted to MOOC ( Massive Open Online Courses), and how to study for such courses.
The Final Chapter also documents how she created her own Online Course, which became popular in no time.
Excellent Book.
January 16, 2022
Whereas Oakley's breakthrough book, "A Mind For Numbers", focuses on specific study methods based in neuroscientific research, "Mindshift" tells the stories of different people who were able to make drastic changes in their lives, proving wrong the ever-persistent dogma that people are really only good at one thing.
The book is best consumed as a companion only after reading "Mind for Numbers"; I also think some of the sections of the book could have been left out, such as the long explanations of how online courses are made. I do appreciate the diverse subjects that Oakley has chosen, though.
The book is best consumed as a companion only after reading "Mind for Numbers"; I also think some of the sections of the book could have been left out, such as the long explanations of how online courses are made. I do appreciate the diverse subjects that Oakley has chosen, though.
January 20, 2019
This was a good companion to Learning How to Learn! It used a few-too-many anecdotes for my personal taste, but I love that there are journalling prompts and questions to ask yourself throughout the book.
I wish I used a better note-taking technique with this book (i.e. writing in the margins, underlining things etc) because it is that sort of book. I made a few notes in my bullet journal based on the contents but they could be better. It's definitely a book that I'm going to page through again and I would recommend working through this book instead of just reading through it.
I wish I used a better note-taking technique with this book (i.e. writing in the margins, underlining things etc) because it is that sort of book. I made a few notes in my bullet journal based on the contents but they could be better. It's definitely a book that I'm going to page through again and I would recommend working through this book instead of just reading through it.
April 21, 2020
Intersanta cartea, chiar daca nu vine cu cercetari stiintifice. Am inteles ca in celelate carti, Barbara Oakley vine cu detalii si diseaca firul in patru, venind cu exemple din cercetare. Cartea cuprinde o serie de povestioare interesante despre oameni care au invatat tot felul de lucruri, au trecut de la stiinte umaniste la matematica, de la management la tamplarie. Mintea noastra are capacitatea necesara sa invete mult mai multe decat ne utem imagina.
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