Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #505382 in Books
• Published on: 1998-04
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 192 pages

Synopsis
Radical in its implications, this original and important work may change forever the views we hold about the nature of learning. In The Power of Mindful Learning, Ellen Langer uses her innovative theory of mindulness, introduced in her influential earlier book, to dramatically enhance the way we learn. In business, sports, laboratories, or at home, our learning is hobbled by certain antiquated and pervasive misconceptions. In this pithy, liberating, and delightful book she gives us a fresh, new view of learning in the broadest sense. Such familiar notions as delayed gratification, the basics, or even right answers, are all incapacitating myths which Langer explodes one by one. She replaces them with her concept of mindful or conditional learning which she demonstrates, with fascinating examples from her research, to be extraordinarily effective. Mindful learning takes place with an awareness of context and of the ever-changing nature of information. Learning without this awareness, as Langer shows convincingly, has severely limited uses and often sets on up for failure.

With stunning applications to skills as diverse as paying attention, CPR, investment analysis, psychotherapy, or playing a musical instrument, The Power of Mindful Learning is for all who are curious and intellectually adventurous.

Customer Reviews

Food for thought ....
This is a thought provoking book on "education" and "learning" by Ellen Langer, a professor of Psychology at Harvard. She argues that traditional methods of learning can produce mindless behaviour because they tend to suggest that there is only one answer to a problem or a single correct way to tackle a task. She also argues that it is important to teach skills and facts conditionally, to adopt varying perspectives and to set the stage for doubt and an awareness that different situations may call for different approaches or answers.

The book describes seven myths that in the view of the author undermine true learning and discuses how we can avoid their debilitating effects. The myths are:

1. The basics must be learnt so well that they become second nature. 2. Paying attention means staying focused on one thing at one time. 3. Delaying gratification is important. 4. Rote memorisation is necessary in education. 5. Forgetting is a problem. 6. Intelligence is knowing "what's out there." 7. There are right and wrong answers.

The arguments are backed up by a number of scientific studies - many of them conducted by the author her self.

Whether you agree with all her ideas or not - the book will cause you to question some very deeply held beliefs - something we all need to do from time to time!

Challenging typical thinking about learning
Ellen did a great job with this book, giving us the why-to's explaining why we need a different attitude against learning. At large I agree with her analysis that traditional education feeds us 7 beliefs which aren't very useful once we leave the classroom to go to the school of live. Actually, these beliefs aren't useful for the classroom neither, but they seem designed into the way schools teach. As such it should be required reading for anyone considering a career in education or as trainer in a business context.

Next to the analysis and showing what goes wrong, you'll get a partial solution, consisting of guidelines of how one can do better. These guidelines are useful for teachers or trainers as well as for learners. As teacher it boils down to avoiding the 7 myths, and teaching students to learn more mindfully. The book backs up this recommendation with the research findings that proves this approach is far more effective. As learner, the recommendation is that you start having a more mindful attitude while learning.

The book only gets 4 stars, because it would have been more useful if it had been more of a how-to book as well. That might be an idea for the next edition. Meanwhile, other how-to books which are compatible with notion of emotional intelligence and which will complement this one are Don Blackberry's "Rediscover the joy of learning" and the books by Michael Grinder.

Patrick Merlevede -- author of "7 Steps to Emotional Intelligence"

Must reading for any teacher or student.
Langer compares the rote method of learning and performing (as a musician, teacher or student) with mindful learning which includes the dynamic variable of context. The context of the event is a part of the event and has an impact on what happens during the event. Teaching and learning is a dynamic process involving multiple communications in a combination of languages. If you want to improve your learning or performance of almost anything, read The Power of Mindful Learning by Ellem J.Langer. Better yet, invite her to your school district for a seminar. Look for her in the Psychology Department at Harvard University. I would like to obtain a list of her other books and papers. I am looking for a copy of her Psychology of Control. Any offers?