Book Review: ‘Mindset’ by Carol Dweck

Book Review: ‘Mindset’ by Carol Dweck
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Updated 04 June 2024
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Book Review: ‘Mindset’ by Carol Dweck

Book Review: ‘Mindset’ by Carol Dweck

Have you ever had feelings of inadequacy, even after accomplishing something remarkable? Or perhaps you avoid taking on new difficulties out of a worry that failing will reveal your deception. If so, you may benefit from Carol Dweck’s “Mindset: The New Psychology of Success.”

A renowned psychologist, Dweck unveils the groundbreaking idea of fixed vs. growth mindsets. Fixed mindsets believe intelligence and talent are set in stone. Growth mindsets, on the other hand, view them as muscles that can be strengthened through effort and learning.

Imagine yourself struggling with a new skill. A fixed mindset whispers, “See, you’re not good at this.” A growth mindset roars back: “This is tough, but I’m learning and getting better every day!“

Dweck’s book is not just theory. It is packed with real-world examples, from classrooms to CEOs. She demonstrates how embracing a growth mindset can transform students from giving up easily to persevering and thriving.

“Mindset” is for anyone who wants to unlock their full potential. Dweck equips the reader with the tools to reframe setbacks as stepping stones. Instead of dwelling on “I can’t,” you can learn to say, “I can’t yet.” This simple shift in perspective can be a game-changer.

This book is about ditching the drama of fixed mindsets and embracing the “yet” of growth. It is about realizing that your potential is limitless, and the only thing holding you back is the story you tell yourself.


What We Are Reading Today: The Second Emancipation by Howard W. French

What We Are Reading Today: The Second Emancipation by Howard W. French
Updated 06 February 2025
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What We Are Reading Today: The Second Emancipation by Howard W. French

What We Are Reading Today: The Second Emancipation by Howard W. French

“The Second Emancipation,” a work of Odyssean dimension, recasts the liberation of post–World War II colonial Africa and the American civil rights struggle through the lens of Ghana’s revolutionary visionary Kwame Nkrumah (1909–1972), who emerges as the most significant African leader of the twentieth century. 

In its dramatic depiction of a continent that once exuded the promise of a newly won freedom, this book offers a generational work that positions not only Africa but also the American civil rights movement at the forefront of modern-day history.


What We Are Reading Today: ‘California Amphibians and Reptiles’

What We Are Reading Today: ‘California Amphibians and Reptiles’
Updated 05 February 2025
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What We Are Reading Today: ‘California Amphibians and Reptiles’

What We Are Reading Today: ‘California Amphibians and Reptiles’

Authors: Robert Hansen and Jackson D. Shedd

California is home to more than 200 species of reptiles and amphibians that can be found in an extraordinary array of habitats, from coastal temperate rainforests with giant redwoods to southeastern deserts offering dazzling wildflower displays each spring. 

“California Amphibians and Reptiles” covers every species and subspecies in this biodiverse region of the United States, with outstanding color photography and in-depth species accounts that draw on the latest findings on taxonomy and distribution.


What We Are Reading Today: ‘Make Your Bed’

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Updated 04 February 2025
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What We Are Reading Today: ‘Make Your Bed’

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  • The author argues that discipline, resilience and hard work are essential for personal improvement and growth

Author: William H. McRaven

Published in 2017, “Make Your Bed: Small Things That Can Change Your Life … And Maybe The World” by retired US navy four-star admiral, William H. McRaven, is an exploration of discipline and self-control.

According to McRaven, attending diligently to simple daily tasks, such as making one’s bed in the morning, create a sense of discipline and accomplishment.

In addition, having a sense of order and purpose in life can help motivate one to push beyond initial goals.

The author argues that discipline, resilience and hard work are essential for personal improvement and growth.

In the book’s 10 chapters, McRaven outlines specific lessons which include the value of teamwork, perseverance, and the importance of facing adversity.

His style of writing is engaging and he emphasizes some of his own struggles and wins, while elaborating on how the principles he learned can be applied.

The book provides valuable insights that could inspire people to go and “make their bed” if they want to change their own lives, and maybe even the world.

 


What We Are Reading Today: ‘The Power of Cute’

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Updated 04 February 2025
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What We Are Reading Today: ‘The Power of Cute’

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Author: SIMON MAY

Cuteness has taken the planet by storm. Global sensations Hello Kitty and Pokémon, the works of artists Takashi Murakami and Jeff Koons, Heidi the cross-eyed opossum and E.T.—all reflect its gathering power.

But what does “cute” mean, as a sensibility and style? Why is it so pervasive? Is it all infantile fluff, or is there something more uncanny and even menacing going on—in a lighthearted way? In “The Power of Cute,” Simon May provides nuanced and surprising answers.

 


What We Are Reading Today: ‘Uncovering Dinosaur Behavior’ by David Hone

What We Are Reading Today: ‘Uncovering Dinosaur Behavior’ by David Hone
Updated 03 February 2025
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What We Are Reading Today: ‘Uncovering Dinosaur Behavior’ by David Hone

What We Are Reading Today: ‘Uncovering Dinosaur Behavior’ by David Hone

Our understanding of dinosaur behavior has long been hampered by the inevitable lack of evidence from animals that went extinct more than 65 million years ago and whose daily behaviors are rarely reflected by the fossil record. Today, with the discovery of new specimens and the development of new and cutting-edge techniques, paleontologists are making major advances in reconstructing how dinosaurs lived and acted.

“Uncovering Dinosaur Behavior” provides an unparalleled look at this emerging field of science.