Extraordinary Minds: Portraits Of 4 Exceptional Individuals And An Examination Of Our Own Extraordinariness (Masterminds) [Paperback]

Howard E. Gardner (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0465021255 | ISBN-13: 978-0465021253 | Publication Date: April 11, 1998

Fifteen years ago, psychologist and educator Howard Gardner introduced the idea of multiple intelligences, challenging the presumption that intelligence consists of verbal or analytic abilities only—those intelligences that schools tend to measure. He argued for a broader understanding of the intelligent mind, one that embraces creation in the arts and music, spatial reasoning, and the ability to understand ourselves and others.Today, Gardner’s ideas have become widely accepted—indeed, they have changed how we think about intelligence, genius, creativity, and even leadership, and he is widely regarded as one of the most important voices writing on these subjects.Now, in Extraordinary Minds, a book as riveting as it is new, Gardner poses an important question: Is there a set of traits shared by all truly great achievers—those we deem extraordinary—no matter their field or the time period within which they did their important work?In an attempt to answer this question, Gardner first examines how most of us mature into more or less competent adults. He then examines closely four persons who lived unquestionably extraordinary lives—Mozart, Freud, Woolf, and Gandhi—using each as an exemplar of a different kind of extraordinariness: Mozart as the master of a discipline, Freud as the innovative founder of a new discipline, Woolf as the great introspector, and Gandhi as the influencer.What can we learn about ourselves from the experiences of the extraordinary? Interestingly, Gardner finds that an excess of raw power is not the most impressive characteristic shared by superachievers; rather, these extraordinary individuals all have had a special talent for identifying their own strengths and weaknesses, for accurately analyzing the events of their own lives, and for converting into future successes those inevitable setbacks that mark every life.Gardner provides answers to a number of provocative questions, among them: How do we explain extraordinary times—Athens in the fifth century B.C., the T’ang Dynasty in the eighth century, Islamic Society in the late Middle Ages, and New York at the middle of the century? What is the relation among genius, creativity, fame, success, and moral extraordinariness? Does extraordinariness make for a happier, more fulfilling life, or does it simply create a special onus?

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Howard Gardner is the John H. and Elisabeth A. Hobbs Professor in Cognition and Education at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Among numerous honors, Gardner received a MacArthur Prize Fellowship in 1981. In 1990, he was the first American to receive the University of Louisville's Grawemeyer Award in education. In 2000, he was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship. He lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Basic Books (April 11, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0465021255
• ISBN-13: 978-0465021253
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.2 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #732,875 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A good culminating read, after Gardner's others., May 17, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (Wyoming) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Extraordinary Minds: Portraits Of 4 Exceptional Individuals And An Examination Of Our Own Extraordinariness (Masterminds) (Paperback)

This book pulls together Gardner's cognitive theory on extraordinary individuals and leaders. He refines his framework for the study of extraordinary individuals of the 20th century by identfying four forms: the master, maker, introspector, and influencer. It builds upon elements from Creating Minds and Leading Minds. The one individual that ties all three books together is the life of Gandhi. A very interesting, fast read for those in leadership positions.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Extraordinary!, January 16, 2001

By 

Leon M. Bodevin "Do right and fear no man" (Lemoore, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Extraordinary Minds: Portraits Of 4 Exceptional Individuals And An Examination Of Our Own Extraordinariness (Masterminds) (Paperback)

I am continually amazed at how Gardner always puts out original and thought-provoking books. This is such a great book for anyone who wants to know what makes leaders and creators extraordinary. Gardner discovers that most great people are not great in many areas, but know their skills and have worked hard to develop those skills way beyond their contemporaries. Those who enjoy this book would also enjoy Creating Minds and Leading Minds (my favorite Gardner book). Like this one, they are packed full of useful information on great men and women.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Interesting, August 23, 2000

By 

[e-mail] - See all my reviews

This review is from: Extraordinary Minds: Portraits Of 4 Exceptional Individuals And An Examination Of Our Own Extraordinariness (Masterminds) (Paperback)

An interesting analysis of what an extraodinary mind is and does. Through presenting 4 types of extraordinary minds : Master, Maker, Introspector, and Influencer, and then providing an example for each (Mozart, Freud, Woolf, and Gandhi respectively) insight is gained. It is a quick, but knowledgable read, and I reccomend it for those interested in seeing what makes a mind higher than the average individual. Overall, intriguing in the fact that Gardner is able to pick out traits and then term them on the path to extraoridinariness.