Mindshift: Break Through Obstacles to Learning and Discover Your Hidden Potential

Mindshift reveals how we will overcome stereotypes and preconceived ideas about what is conceivable for us to learn and transform.

At a time when we are constantly being asked to retrain and reinvent ourselves to adapt to new technologies and changing industries, this book shows us how we will uncover and develop talents we didn’t realize we had—it doesn’t matter what our age or background. We’re steadily told to “follow our passions.” But in Mindshift, Dr. Barbara Oakley shows us how we will broaden our passions. Drawing on the up to date neuroscientific insights, Dr. Oakley shepherds us past simplistic ideas of “aptitude” and “ability,” which provide only a snapshot of who we are now—with little consideration about how we will change.
Even seemingly “bad” traits, such as a poor memory, come with hidden advantages—like increased creativity. Profiling people from around the globe who have overcome learning limitations of a wide variety, Dr. Oakley shows us how we will turn perceived weaknesses, such as impostor syndrome and advancing age, into strengths. People may feel like they’re at a disadvantage if they pursue a new field later in life; yet those who change careers can also be fertile cross-pollinators: They bring valuable insights from one discipline to another. Dr. Oakley teaches us strategies for learning that are backed by neuroscience so that we will realize the joy and benefits of a learning way of life. Mindshift takes us deep inside the world of how people change and grow. Our biggest stumbling blocks can also be our own preconceptions, but with the right mental insights, we will tap into hidden potential and create new opportunities.