Mindset: The New Psychology of Success

It's tough to imagine a book that could have a more profound impact upon a person's self-perception than Mindset, it is a truly phenomenal work that is both easy to read and packed with in-depth research and justifications for the author's hypothesis on learning and development. The book shelf for self-help/useful psychology is incredibly bloated and it always seems like the next book has more ringing praise than the last and, whilst I've read some excellent books on clinical psychology that are peerless, this will always be the book that I remember most fondly for changing my *own* mindset to one where failure was a necessary bump in the road to success, and not an irreversible breakdown. Bear in mind, this isn't a book that will simply inform you, it's a book that will actively change you. The core concept that Dweck puts across is that humans generally fall into two types of mindset when it comes to achievement, success, learning and ability; the growth mindset and the fixed mindset. Quintessentially the growth mindset is the "Practice makes perfect"/"Try, try and try again"/"Back in the saddle" school of thought whereas the fixed mindset is typically the "I've either got a knack for it or I haven't"/"Talent is born, not developed"/"If I need to practice then I can't be that good". Needless to say in the pages within Dweck tries to detach people from a fixed mindset and steer them towards the growth version, giving plenty of real life and 'laboratory' examples of her conceptions and why they do, and should, matter to us. This is not just a book aimed at children either, we should never stop growing as people and everyone from students to seasoned academics or established athletes to those just joining an MMA club will find much to mull after reading this. The only gripe I had when reading was the author's irritating habit of stuffing politics, particularly gender politics, into her extrapolations about different peoples attitudes to learning and the impact this has on the academic, corporate and political world. With this being Dweck's life's work as a psychologist I would have preferred she keep her political conjugating to herself to instead focus on the fascinating subject matter, she is free of course to release numerous other books covering such other topics as she so wishes. In summary, if you want to be convinced (within reason) that 'Effort is what creates success' then buy this book immediately.

A really motivating and practical read. The book does a great job of explaining the difference between a fixed and growth mindset, and it gives clear examples of how to apply the concepts in everyday life. The advice feels actionable rather than just theoretical, which makes it easy to start making changes straight away. It’s inspiring without being overbearing, and it genuinely makes you think about how you approach challenges and learning. Definitely a book that can help you unlock your potential if you take the lessons to heart.

Sometimes one reads a book that is so convincing that all the arguements against it seem trivial in the extreme. 'Mindset', in my opinion, is a typical example of this, although it has imperfections. Not only is it a powerful thesis backed by overwhelming evidence and persuasive power, it has the extraordinary ability to linger memorably in the mind long after the last chapter; a true measure of an influential reading experience. Dweck's passion for teaching and learning is evident throughout, producing a layer of academic acumen that strengthens her case. Also, there is a compassion towards her learners, particularly the children , that says a great deal about her and her feelings towards her subjects. It's heartbreaking to think that there are teachers out there- many of them that have been teaching and lecturing for years - that do not share her views- or her caring attitude- about the 'growth mindset.' of her learners. In fact, it is disturbing to think they might be hindered in their lifes by out-dated views. I wish every class in the world was aware about the views and opinions expressed in this book. The world would be a richer place for it. For example, chapter 3- exploring the truth about ability and accomplishment- is simply a wonderful exposition about the flexibility of the human mind. (It should be shown to every child who mistakenly believes that he/she is not artistic.) Limiting beliefs can be shattered by this level of research. On the downside, Dweck really does hammer the message home about the ability of the mind to grow and expand it's skill base. Sometimes it's too much and repetitive. Since she's so strong with her case, it can be like she's preaching to the converted after the first 3 chapters. (Chapter 5 on Business is far too long-winded and dull). In addition, I am not too keen on branding people in this fashion. I mean, is really ethical to put someone in a box labelled 'Fixed-mindset'- is this not a generalisation and de-humanising? If so, maybe fans of John McEnroe should steer well clear of this as he gets a rough ride in this book. By the way, hasn't he grown his skills as a tennis commentator over the years? In summary, an excellent book on the psychology of success; if a little dry and repetitive for my tastes.

I think the book was really good explaining when the growth/fixed mindset appears on people. It was great how the book explained the different mindsets in every possible way: business, sports, education, childhood... every person can benefit from the different stories. At the end it was addressed how to be more aware of the fixed mindset, I would love to have more tips on how to overcome the fixed mindset. Recommended for everyone

Ich habe "Mindset: The New Psychology of Success" (im Deutschen oft als "Mindset: Wie Sie Ihr Denken verändern und Ihr Potenzial entfalten" bekannt) von Carol Dweck gelesen, und ich kann mit voller Überzeugung sagen, dass es eines der prägendsten Bücher ist, die ich je in den Händen hatte. Dieses Buch ist kein einfacher Ratgeber, sondern ein tiefgründiges Werk, das unser Verständnis von Erfolg, Lernen und persönlicher Entwicklung auf den Kopf stellt. Dweck präsentiert darin ihre bahnbrechende Forschung zu den Konzepten des "Fixed Mindset" (starres Denken) und des "Growth Mindset" (Wachstumsdenken). Sie erklärt überzeugend, wie diese grundlegenden Überzeugungen über unsere Fähigkeiten und Intelligenz unser gesamtes Leben beeinflussen – von unseren Beziehungen über unsere Karriere bis hin zu unserer Erziehung und unserem Umgang mit Herausforderungen. Besonders beeindruckend fand ich: Die Klarheit und Zugänglichkeit: Dweck schafft es, komplexe psychologische Konzepte auf eine verständliche und nachvollziehbare Weise zu vermitteln. Keine Spur von trockenem Universitäts-Jargon! Die Fülle an Beispielen: Ob aus dem Sport, der Wirtschaft, der Kunst oder dem Elternhaus – die zahlreichen Fallstudien und Anekdoten illustrieren die Theorie perfekt und machen das Buch lebendig. Man erkennt sich oder Menschen aus seinem Umfeld immer wieder in den Beschreibungen. Das war echt ein Augenöffner. Die praktische Anwendbarkeit: Das Buch gibt nicht nur Einblicke, sondern auch konkrete Ansätze, wie man ein Wachstumsdenken entwickeln und fördern kann, sowohl bei sich selbst als auch bei anderen. Das ist besonders wertvoll für Eltern und Lehrende. Die hoffnungsvolle Botschaft: Die Quintessenz, dass wir unsere Fähigkeiten und Intelligenz durch Anstrengung und Hingabe entwickeln können, ist unglaublich ermutigend und befreiend. Es nimmt den Druck des Perfektionismus und öffnet Türen für kontinuierliches Lernen und Verbesserung. Ich habe das Buch bereits mehrfach verschenkt und empfehle es jedem, der: Sich persönlich weiterentwickeln möchte. Herausforderungen nicht als Sackgasse, sondern als Chance sehen will. Eltern oder Pädagoge ist und Kinder zu widerstandsfähigen und lernfreudigen Menschen erziehen möchte. Verantwortung für Teams oder Mitarbeiter trägt und deren Potenzial voll ausschöpfen will. Kurz gesagt: "Mindset" ist ein Game-Changer. Es hat meine Sichtweise auf Erfolg und Misserfolg grundlegend verändert und mir geholfen, mein eigenes Potenzial besser zu erkennen und zu nutzen. Absolute Leseempfehlung!

try to revisit this once every 18 months, it's timeless classic and a sure shot guide on how to develop a growth and resilience

Mindset was a really meaningful read for me, and it changed the way I look at challenges and personal growth. The core idea — the difference between a fixed mindset and a growth mindset — sounds simple at first, but the more you read, the more you realize how often these patterns show up in everyday life. What I liked most is how the book breaks down how our beliefs about ability and talent can either hold us back or push us forward. It made me think about times where I avoided challenges or got frustrated too quickly, and how much of that came from thinking “I’m just not good at this.” The book does a great job showing that with effort, learning, and perseverance, you can grow far beyond where you started. The examples from sports, business, education, and parenting help drive the point home in a way that’s easy to connect to your own life. I also appreciated how the book shows that a growth mindset isn’t about being positive all the time — it’s about embracing the process and being willing to learn from mistakes instead of seeing them as proof of failure. If there’s one drawback, it’s that some sections can feel repetitive, especially once the main concept is established. But even with that, the message is strong enough that the repetition helps reinforce it. Overall, Mindset is a powerful and eye-opening book that makes you more aware of your own habits and beliefs. If you want to improve how you approach challenges, goals, and personal growth, this is definitely a book worth reading.

Great insights are written. I have just started reading it but I could recommend it to anyone who is looking for life detour inorder to live a meaning and purposeful life!