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fbroom's review against another edition
3.0
Dr. Robinson is passionate about transforming the education system. He criticizes the current education system and the standardized tests that can’t measure really anything. The curriculum is something invented in the industrial revolution to prepare students to be factory workers. He is clearly passionate about spreading awareness and pushing to change the old traditional educational systems.
On the other hand most of the book is concentrated about how important it is that you find your element/passion because being in your element will drive you to do your best and also be happy and satisfied. The book contains a lot of stories of people who have made it. Every chapter has at least 3 or 4 stories. It is entertaining. Realistically I’m not really sure, the problem is that we only know about those made it and we’ll never know about those who followed their dreams and never made it. Some chapters were kind of boring or just common sense.
Summary:
Chapter 1: The Element
The Element is the meeting point between natural aptitude and personal passion. Many people set aside their passions to pursue things they don’t care about for the sake of financial security. It is important find your element, where you fit. High achievers are often people who have found their element.
Chapter 2: Think differently
Intelligence is misunderstood. Intelligence is diverse and also distinctive, every human has some kind of intelligence. Creativity and intelligence are synonyms. Stories of Gordon Parks, Mick Fleetwood, and Bart Conner are examples. Mick’s parents for example let him leave school and follow his musical dream.
Chapter 3: Beyond Imaging
Creativity is applied imagination. Creativity involves generating new ideas, imagining different possibilities and considering alternatives. Stories
Chapter 4: In The Zone
When you’re in the zone, you do your best?
Chapter 5: Finding Your Tribe
Some people flourish when they’re around people of similar natures. Find people that bring your element in you
Chapter 6: What will they think?
Friends, family and culture may stop you from being in your element, again a lot of success stories of people who persisted against the pressure and never gave up. Paulo Coelho is one example who resisted his parents and became a writer.
Chapter 7: Do you feel lucky?
A lot of people turned bad events into events that made them stars, Chuck Close is one example. It is important to appreciate the things around you, this is how you’ll find opportunities everywhere.
Chapter 8: Somebody help me
A lot of people wouldn’t have become who they are if not for there for mentors. Mentorship can play a huge role in becoming who we are.
Chapter 9: Is it too late?
No. it’s not too late, a lot of people have only shined when they turned 50, 60 or 70. Don’t give up. As long as you keep your mind fresh and active you’ll be fine.
Chapter 10: For love or money
Chapter 11: Making the grade
This chapter is all about the traditional school systems, the crappy standardized tests and what we must do to transform those education system
On the other hand most of the book is concentrated about how important it is that you find your element/passion because being in your element will drive you to do your best and also be happy and satisfied. The book contains a lot of stories of people who have made it. Every chapter has at least 3 or 4 stories. It is entertaining. Realistically I’m not really sure, the problem is that we only know about those made it and we’ll never know about those who followed their dreams and never made it. Some chapters were kind of boring or just common sense.
Summary:
Chapter 1: The Element
The Element is the meeting point between natural aptitude and personal passion. Many people set aside their passions to pursue things they don’t care about for the sake of financial security. It is important find your element, where you fit. High achievers are often people who have found their element.
Chapter 2: Think differently
Intelligence is misunderstood. Intelligence is diverse and also distinctive, every human has some kind of intelligence. Creativity and intelligence are synonyms. Stories of Gordon Parks, Mick Fleetwood, and Bart Conner are examples. Mick’s parents for example let him leave school and follow his musical dream.
Chapter 3: Beyond Imaging
Creativity is applied imagination. Creativity involves generating new ideas, imagining different possibilities and considering alternatives. Stories
Chapter 4: In The Zone
When you’re in the zone, you do your best?
Chapter 5: Finding Your Tribe
Some people flourish when they’re around people of similar natures. Find people that bring your element in you
Chapter 6: What will they think?
Friends, family and culture may stop you from being in your element, again a lot of success stories of people who persisted against the pressure and never gave up. Paulo Coelho is one example who resisted his parents and became a writer.
Chapter 7: Do you feel lucky?
A lot of people turned bad events into events that made them stars, Chuck Close is one example. It is important to appreciate the things around you, this is how you’ll find opportunities everywhere.
Chapter 8: Somebody help me
A lot of people wouldn’t have become who they are if not for there for mentors. Mentorship can play a huge role in becoming who we are.
Chapter 9: Is it too late?
No. it’s not too late, a lot of people have only shined when they turned 50, 60 or 70. Don’t give up. As long as you keep your mind fresh and active you’ll be fine.
Chapter 10: For love or money
Chapter 11: Making the grade
This chapter is all about the traditional school systems, the crappy standardized tests and what we must do to transform those education system
kmw333's review against another edition
It seemed like it wasn't adding any new content after a while and went stale
neuroqueer_af's review against another edition
2.0
Engagingly written, but basically a longer version of Robinson's most famous TED Talk.
opal360's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
Lots of food for thought here. The book is 15 years old now so parts felt a little dated, maybe a little corny. I do feel the writer cherry-picks his examples - he cites figures from the performing arts a lot and I think their career paths will often look radically different from someone whose calling involves working with words or numbers, ie resembles more closely the "academic" subjects offered in school. I am interested in reading the follow-up book, though.
beillumined's review against another edition
4.0
This focuses a lot (especially toward the end) on the education system, which some might not find interesting. Which makes sense considering I work at a high school and my boss gave it to everyone in my department. But other than that, this book is incredibly interesting. It is all about finding your passion in life, and no matter what that is, how it can make you happy. And your passion doesn't necessarily have to be a creative hobby, your passion can be your job. This book made me feel really empowered about my job and all that I have brought to it, because I think maybe, that's my passion. A must read for anyone who thinks they haven't found their "Element."
cristiangarcia's review against another edition
5.0
A beautiful tale about discovering our element in life. Throughout candid stories, Ken Robinson takes us on a incredible journey towards self-discovery.
princesspersephone's review against another edition
3.0
Ken Robinson gave a lot of interesting stories and anecdotes in this book, but for some reason it fell flat for me in terms of igniting inspiration and sparking new motivation and thought. I enjoyed this book, but I was hoping for more.
There were many times it brought up good questions to invite you to ponder on different aspects of what you want out of life however (my favorite being "HOW are you intelligent?"). He then goes on to talk more about divergent thinking and how you can only inspire others if you yourself are working from inspired action in a field that flows with how you are wired.. However there were a lot of extra things added that continuously made me think where is this going?"
All in all still a good book, even laughed out loud a few times at some of his little quips.
"If a man speaks his mind alone in a forest and no one is around to hear him is he still wrong?"
This is one of my favorite quotes and I want it printed and framed so I can appreciate it for years to come haha
There were many times it brought up good questions to invite you to ponder on different aspects of what you want out of life however (my favorite being "HOW are you intelligent?"). He then goes on to talk more about divergent thinking and how you can only inspire others if you yourself are working from inspired action in a field that flows with how you are wired.. However there were a lot of extra things added that continuously made me think where is this going?"
All in all still a good book, even laughed out loud a few times at some of his little quips.
"If a man speaks his mind alone in a forest and no one is around to hear him is he still wrong?"
This is one of my favorite quotes and I want it printed and framed so I can appreciate it for years to come haha