The Mind in the Making: the Relation of Intelligence to Social Reform

by James Harvey Robinson

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Genres: Philosophy, Psychology, Self Help, Nonfiction, Science, Society, Personal Development

256 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1921

About the author

James Harvey Robinson, American historian.

Reviews

[Stephen Frantz · Rating 2 out of 5]

Dated philosophy, but well presented. He argues that we will never progress in our study of humanity until we discard our inherited assumptions. These include religion, private ownership, government, and nationalism. Idealistic.

[Omer Eldirdiri · Rating 5 out of 5]

What is "the mind"?

We often talk about things as though they're given facts that are well known to us, while in fact we know nothing about, and "The Mind" is one of them. The question is: can I "know" the thing that I use to know with? Can I "think" of the thing I use to think with? Do I really 'use' my mind. or is it my mind that's really using me?

How about 'day dreaming'?
could it be a window into the area of the mind that's beyond our day-to-day thinking? could my day-dreams tell me something about who really I am?

People used to define humans as "thinking being", or "dreaming beings", or "imagining beings", but it appears that the common denominator in all humans is that they are "suffering beings". I don't know of a non-human species of animal that suffer except those which live in close proximity to humans.

Humans have travelled long distances in so called 'natural sciences' such as physics, biology, chemistry. But: what about 'human sciences'. Via elaborate ma thematic equations humans -or some of them in fact- managed to send a robot to planet March and manipulate it from the earth. But so far we aren't yet close to an equation to manipulates the issue of 'human to human' relationship. The human species is still the only in the animal kingdom which endeavours to extirpate it's own species.

The book was written in the aftermath of the first world war which testified to the imbalance between natural sciences and human sciences where achievements in natural sciences were used to the detriment of masses of people. However, the author didn't live to the second world war where over 50 million people were exterminated!

The Book is available for free -and legitimate- download on this site:
http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/8077

[Danielovic · Rating 3 out of 5]

Starts out strong, building up an intellectual and philosophical interpretation on how human thinking developed. The later part of the book is interesting but falls short of the level built up before, perhaps from a perspective reading the book almost a century later. The author describes a potential future and the current situation that we can observe a lot better now from a very differentiated perspective and see the building up of the thinking that sparked the cold war in a good manner (american patriotism etc).

[Dina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had been sitting in my "to read" folder for a year, and finally. Frankly, what a joy. This would be great read for high schoolers, and generally for all. The author goes briefly into history, tracing our civilization from Greek's progressive thought to Rome's Dark ages, and then to present. He shows how much of us still operate in outdated fashion, stuck in ancient institutions. The call for different structure since the old one is presently laying in shackles to business and financial interests. Great read overall.

[Karthik · Rating 2 out of 5]

The author says that communication can be used for sharing information or for rhetoric, and this book falls almost entirely in the latter category. With very few examples for the theories posited, it often seems like one man’s unsubstantiated rhetoric, even when I agree with the author.

The best quote on the mind, is from a reference mentioned in this book, and not from within the book itself, but that is worth quoting in its entirety:

The poet-clergyman, John Donne, who lived in the time of James I, has given a beautifully honest picture of the doings of a saint’s mind (my note: applicable to any mind):

“I throw myself down in my chamber and call in and invite God and His angels thither, and when they are there I neglect God and His angels for the noise of a fly, for the rattling of a coach, for the whining of a door. I talk on in the same posture of praying, eyes lifted up, knees bowed down, as though I prayed to God, and if God or His angels should ask me when I thought last of God in that prayer I cannot tell. Sometimes I find that I had forgot what I was about, but when I began to forget it I cannot tell. A memory of yesterday’s pleasures, a fear of tomorrow’s dangers, a straw under my knee, a nose in mine ear, a light in mine eye, an anything, a nothing, a fancy, a chimera in my brain troubles me in my prayer.

- Quoted by Robert Lynd, The Art of Letters

[Joe Simmons · Rating 2 out of 5]

I picked up The Mind in the Making because I saw it mentioned by Napoleon Hill, expecting it to offer practical insights into shaping one’s mindset for success. Instead, I found it dated, overly academic, and surprisingly dry. Gesell’s focus on child development and education theory felt disconnected from what I was hoping for—there’s very little actionable advice here if you’re looking for personal or professional growth strategies. Some interesting historical context, but overall it didn’t hold my attention and wasn’t worth the effort for me. Might have been why it took so long to finish it. It’s not a big read at all.

[Ramanqu · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a sane, well balanced volume that discusses the human mind, its history,ways of thinking, and the resulting consequences of each. It's more of a lengthy essay than a book. Due it's heavy involvement with the historical scene of its time, it might be outdated in some regards. But all in all, I enjoyed reading it.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Robinson covers the origin of mankind and how our minds have developed across centuries to today. He illustrates the importance of how developing our mind today beyond school and job training is essential for the future survival of man (or average man). This book is amazing.

[Jessica]

The copy I have is too battered so I stopped reading it. I intend to reread a newer copy at some point. Good so far

[Leon M · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting analysis of common methods of thinking and how most people don't weigh up arguments for and against but rather choose just to "rationalize" the position that they chose on the basis of emotion beforehand.

Goes on to advertise a new form of education, i.e. teaching our kids to think critical about the institutions ruling our life, as this may be the only chance to inspire creative thoughts about society and - in the far future - this may even lead to social innovators, questioning society for the good of mankind.

Very interesting and recommendable book, and very short, too. I learnt from it to think critical about all those beliefs accepted without question by most, and - in addition to that - to start questioning my own beliefs and try to recognize when I'm just rationalizing an emotionally inspired standpoint of mine!

[Dina · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great book. One has to read it to appreciate it. Advancement of a human from an ape to Egyptian gods to Greek philosophers and then Dark Ages and then back to scientific reason. Technologically advanced but socially still stuck a thousand years back. James is calling for humans to utilize scientific method in their socio/political living.

[Bertram & Debra Green · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent Read

I put this book in my top ten of great books I have read, in terms of the concepts it puts across and explains so very well. It really enhanced my understanding of the workings of something which often causes me much confusion and bewilderment - the workings of my own mind.

[Amado · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a wake up call for everyone that is blind sided by what's going in the world.

[Evolution145]

Mentioned by "Dale Carnage how to win friends and influence people"

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Both Mind in the Making books are worth reading (this one included, of course)