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
Math, Better Explained
The Unquiet Grave
Diaspora
The Cold Start Problem
Devil Take the Hindmost
The Innovators
The First Conspiracy
The Art of Stillness
I Contain Multitudes
Ten Lessons for a Post-Pandemic World
The Internet of Money Volume 1
Thinking and Deciding
A Father First
Blueprint
The Old Way
Think Like a Monk
With the Old Breed
Hunger of Memory
Into The Silence
A Hall of Mirrors
Down to Earth
The Gifts of Imperfection
The Laws of Thermodynamics
The Gallic Wars
Knowledge and The Wealth of Nations
Bowling Alone
Tuxedo Park
How To Live
The Measure of Reality
Memories, Dreams, Reflections
Built To Last
In FED We Trust
The Power Broker
A Cultural History of Physics
With All Due Respect
The Righteous Mind
Work Rules!
Successful Investing is a Process
The Theory of Investment Value
Plowman's Folly
How Google Works
Permanent Record
To Sell is Human
The Peacemaker's Code
What Works on Wall Street
Acid Test
Who
Epic Measures
Surface Detail
The Power of Broke
Into Thin Air
How Buildings Learn
The Piano Tuner
Hyperbole and a Half
Necessary Dreams
Autobiography of a Spiritually Incorrect Mystic
Living Within Limits
Scotland
Six Thinking Hats
Pandemic 1918
Who's In Charge
Trump: America First
Parasite Rex
Dear Chairman: Boardroom Battles and the Rise of Shareholder Activism
Tools and Weapons
The Agile Gene
The Fish That Ate The Whale
The Lord of the Rings
The Supermen
Queen of Fashion
Dealing with Darwin
Means Of Ascent
The Craft
Your Symphony of Selves
One of a Kind
Things Never To Tell Children
The Book of Laughter and Forgetting
Levels of the Game
Red Star Over The Pacific
Hornblower Saga
Water in Plain Sight
Diet for a Small Planet
The Grapes of Wrath
Wild And Crazy Guys
Decrypting Money
The Emotion Code
You
Great Expectations
Biography of the Dollar
I Love Capitalism
Chaos Monkeys
Conscious Business
From Bacteria to Bach and Back
Cradle to Cradle
The Secret of Fatima
Competing in the Age of AI
Jane Eyre
Turtles All The Way Down
Tent Life in Siberia