The Promise: According to Stanford psychology professor Carol Dweck, the further you reach, the more you grow. In more than 20 years of research into personality, intelligence and development, she has identified two distinct approaches to life, a divide with powerful implications. Those who believe that intelligence is God-given or intrinsic (the fixed mindset) are likely to stagnate, while those who think that aptitude is flexible and honed through experience (the growth mindset) tend to flourish and thrive. Success rarely comes naturally, but is largely a matter of jettisoning the fixed mindset to embrace change—and her new book, Mindset: The Psychology of Success, offers tips on how to make that shift.
The Test: The idea seems sound, but I wondered how easily the basics of Dweck's growth mindset (be positive, diligent and receptive) can be put into action. Since I'm not (yet) working on the Great American Novel, I chose a more simple trial run by heading to the gym—which has long tested my own tenacity and optimism.
Being lanky by nature, big gains in size and strength had usually eluded me, no matter how hard I worked out. Dweck might say that my problem was not my body type but my fixed mindset: I stuck to the same routine each day, never considering that devoting more time and thought to changing it might be beneficial.
So I swallowed my pride and started asking gym vets for help. Then I spent days devising a different program based on their directions. Unfamiliar with the new techniques and movements, I actually felt weaker than before. But I kept going, constantly reminding myself that lasting success doesn't happen overnight.
After only a few weeks, I could see that my attitude adjustment had really paid off. My strength was skyrocketing, and for the first time I successfully bench-pressed 200 pounds. Of course, Dweck's book didn't show me how to properly pump iron—the gym rats did. But it did give me the motivation to change my routine.
The book teaches how to learn. Such a basic premise for self-improvement is powerful, but broad: It can't provide the in-depth guidance needed to master complex tasks. Consequently, those looking to improve a specific skill—be it their cooking or their golf swing—would be better served by a more topical self-help book.
The Verdict: Heavy on anecdotes, light on novel recommendations. Read it if you're more interested in why people succeed than in how they do it.
Tags:
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Carol Dweck,
distinct approaches,
great american novel,
gym rats,
monotony,
pride,
professor carol,
psychology professor,
self-fullfilling prophecy,
stanford psychology,
success,
tenacity,
vets
