Based on psychologist Howard Gardner's pioneering theory of "multiple intelligences," the original edition of 7 Kinds of Smart identified seven distinct ways of being smart, including "word smart," "music smart," "logic smart," and "people smart." Now, with the addition of two new kinds of smart--"naturalist" and "existential"--7 Kinds of Smart offers even more interesting information about how the human psyche functions. Complete with checklists for determining one's strongest and weakest intelligences, exercises, practical tips for developing each type of smart, a revised bibliography for further reading, and a guide to related Internet sites, this book continues to be an essential resource, offering cutting-edge research for general consumption.
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About the Author
Thomas Armstrong, Ph.D., is a psychologist, learning specialist, and consultant to educational groups around the world. He has written for Family Circle, Ladies' Home Journal, and Parenting magazine, and is the author of nine books, including Awakening Your Child's Natural Genius and The Myth of the A.D.D. Child.
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I've been a writer and speaker for twenty-five years, focusing on the diversity of ways in which people learn and grow. I like to read (my favorite writer is Jorge Luis Borges), paint, meditate (I do mindfulness meditation), and play Scrabble (even though my wife usually beats me). I'm particularly excited about my new book (out in December 2012) Neurodiversity in the Classroom: Strength-Based Strategies to Help Students with Special Needs Achieve Success in School and Life It suggests that we think about brain diversity in the same way we think about biodiversity and cultural diversity. I used to work as a learning disability specialist and was disheartened by the negative labels we throw at children. I believe we need to honor and celebrate the uniqueness of each learner. My book Neurodiversity in the Classroom focuses on the strengths and abilities of students with mental health labels, including autism, dyslexia, ADHD, mood disorders, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, and intellectual disabilities. It suggests seven practical steps that educators can take to enrich the school experiences of these kids. I hope that you buy Neurodiversity in the Classroom, and tell other people about it!
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
67 of 67 people found the following review helpful
By Mr Mondo
Format:Paperback
There's literally a little something for everyone in this book, which popularizes the cognitive psychological work of Howard Gardner, whom Armstrong goes out of his way to credit with developing the theory of multiple intelligences.
That little something should be a comfort to all of us -- we each are smart in our own way. Gardner has identified seven specific types of intelligence that all human beings have access to in varying degrees. Armstrong's very welcome addition is to help lay readers understand what qualities are embodied in each intelligence and how to gauge our own specific level in each category.
He also explains that we need not be limited by those intelligences that are least developed in us. It is never too late to take up activities that will help us cultivate each of the seven primary intelligences and, in the process, have fun, experience personal growth and enjoy life.
Gardner is, from what I've read, still tinkering with adding more types of intelligences to his original list of seven. This edition of Armstrong's book lists two new possibilities -- naturalistic intelligence and existential intelligence -- and explains Gardner's criteria for identifying intelligences that can be added to the list.
This is not a feel-good, self-help book. The theory of multiple intelligences could be a major breakthrough in cognitive psychology and certainly warrants further research. Armstrong's gift is to make those of us who don't toil in the groves of psychological academe aware of Howard Gardner's work and its potential impact on our individual lives.
Buy the book, read it and think about the intelligences you have most developed. Think about others around you and their hierarchy of developed intelligences.
... Read more ›24 of 24 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Mass Market Paperback
For people interested in learning more about multiple intelligences without the lengthy sentences and academic verbosity, this is a great book. Not only is it simple in its text, but it's also fun to read because of the exercises and tests included for each intelligence. You learn that in real life there is no one true way to label a "smart" person, and for the more unconventional and unusual among us this is good news! You can realize and apply your talents to everyday life, and try to develop the intelligences in which you are not as strong. So when you look at your old high school report cards or college transcripts and groan loudly in disgust, throw them in the trash and read this book
27 of 29 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Ever wondered why some are good at sports and others not? We say that they have a "talent". Armstrong tells us that this is in fact an intelligence, and we have seven of them. Some people are good at maths, others at music and some with a ball. Think about what this means! There are no losers; only people which are more gifted in one area than another.
Now the great thing is that you if you're not "talented" in an area you can still learn how to develop that intelligence. Maybe you always wanted to play the piano but because you were dismissed as a musicians in your early years by a notorious music teacher, you have always been very reluctant to start learning. You know, you still can do it!
As your seven intelligences are set at different levels, you can choose which ones that are important to you and develop these. I have even started to categorize things I do into these intelligences to see what kind of improvements I make.
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Mass Market Paperback
This book is a delightful way to learn more about Gardner's MI theory. The exercises are fun. The lists at the end of each section generate a lot of wonderful ideas for ways to discover more about your child's intelligences (or your own, for that matter). As a teacher of grades 7 -11, I found this book invaluable!
17 of 20 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is a great book. It not only corrects the wrongful thinking of the value of IQ tests, it shows you what real smarts are and how to develop those areas.
For anyone that has children, that think and excel in different areas from each other, this book gives you hope and direction that everyone can be anything they want to be if they put their minds to it.
For anyone that has children, that think and excel in different areas from each other, this book gives you hope and direction that everyone can be anything they want to be if they put their minds to it.
19 of 23 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Thomas Armstrong's book make Howard Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences very accessible to the general public. Each intelligence is very well defined. Especially fun are all the suggestions on how to develop these aspects of your own intelligence(s).
Somehow the concept of 'multiple intelligences' developed by Howard Gardner has not been as successful as the one of 'emotional intelligence' developed by David Coleman. It is a shame because 'multiple intelligences' is a multiple as rich and useful as 'emotional intellingence.' Emotional intelligence is a really helpful concept. But, 'multiple intelligences' is even more so.
12 of 15 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Mass Market Paperback
Leaders, entrepreneurs, and managers must be consummate teachers to be highly successful.
Gardner's model as made readable by Armstrong provides keys to effectively communicating wisdom and experience in a way that behavior.)
Working with leaders, managers, and entrepreneurs around the world, I have always observed an "aha" reaction when presenting what is covered herein.
I recommend this book highly
Most Recent Customer Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
Interesting
The book has an interesting approach but it is not very deep and deals very much with things you could gain from your own self examination.
Published 1 month ago by perran09
4.0 out of 5 stars
Have not finished
I have not finished reading this book yet but if you are reading this review to see if the book is worth it, it is. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Ryan Thomas
4.0 out of 5 stars
Does Some Good
I read this book at the recommendation of a friend, and I found it fairly interesting. It's basic thesis is that there are many different kinds of intelligence (spatial, for... Read more
Published 19 months ago by Ohioan
5.0 out of 5 stars
Best in its class
One of the best books I have ever read. This man was my professor in San Francisco. He is brilliant. Read more
Published on September 5, 2010 by Patricia Ann Gonzalez
4.0 out of 5 stars
A good learning opportunity
I ordered this book for a course I am taking this month. It was helpful to purchase it ahead and read it before, I am taking the class. Read more
Published on June 9, 2010 by C. Schultz
5.0 out of 5 stars
Easy read and very informative!
I have a couple of Gardner's books. This author is much more reader friendly than Gardner and bases a great deal of the information in his book upon research by him (and duly... Read more
Published on July 29, 2008 by Christine
5.0 out of 5 stars
Powerful, Insightful and Liberating!
Significant work has explained the various types of human intelligences. Research published argues that the usual view of human intelligence is far too narrow. Read more
Published on May 27, 2008 by C. Clayton
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good lay reference re MI
Presents a readable summary of multiple intelligence theory with real world examples of strengths and weaknesses in each. Read more
Published on March 10, 2008 by L. B. Kacir
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Smart Buy
This is a well written summary of the latest information about multiple intelligences. I homeschool my eldest son, and I've found this text to be very helpful when it comes to... Read more
Published on September 15, 2007 by Linda A. Malcor
5.0 out of 5 stars
Valuable in identifying how we best learn, for effective learning and...
Dr. Armstrong's "Seven Kinds of Smart" is written and researched by The Teacher who really gets it: A person is unique and has uniquely different ways of learning. Read more
Published on May 6, 2007 by Los Angeles Reader
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 100
books:
See all 100 books this book cites
2
books
cite this book:
- Celebrate Your Self: Making Life Work For You by Dorothy Corkille Briggs on page 133, and Back Matter
- Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within by Natalie Goldberg on page 34, and Back Matter
- Science Matters by Robert M. Hazen on page 105, and Back Matter
- Never Too Late (Ulverscroft General Series) by Nancy John on page 72, and Back Matter
- Multiple Intelligences: A Collection by Robin Fogarty in Back Matter (1), and Back Matter (2)
See all 100 books this book cites
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