A little bit of humour would have improved the book by a lot.

* Learning is possible, at any age, in any subject
* Learning is a way of life, it's a natural process that shall not be avoided
* The world belongs to the generalists, broadening horizons is a necessity ( )

A thoroughly fascinating book. So think about this - what if for those courses/training you've received poor grades in, or done poorly in, or just could not "get it" no matter how hard you studied involved you using an incorrect method to learn it? Now consider how you might have studied differently if someone had shown you that the method you were using to try to learn it was an incorrect method?

What if, maybe if you chose to outline the materials differently...or drawn a road map to follow for solving a problem...or drew a cartoon with the concepts...or studied in "chunks" of material, then stopped...or studied the material in portions, knowing that if you knew the correct "portion" amount to study, did that amount only, knowing that your brain operations would embed that knowledge while you slept?

What if you believed because you did poorly in high school math that you would never be good at numbers...but found out about someone who did the same thing, learned how to study math in a different way and became a professor in engineering? Well, meet the author of this book who did exactly that.

This book will show you that despite what you think is your passion (because you are so good at it), might not be something that you should be doing...you're doing it because you were directed in that path because of what your HS teachers said was your best talent?

This book is so full of stories of people that found ways of learning things that they were horrible at...or never pursued something because someone told them they'd never be good at it...and despite those comments, they excelled at something because they found the correct way of studying it to learn it.

Beyond the stories, the author overwhelmingly shows how our education system is broken because it has not kept up with the manner in which people today learn...or learn differently. Nothing against teachers specifically, because they are rewarded for teaching the same old ways. The future is online learning...the author explains why. One of the last chapters alone is worth the cost because it has a list of organizations that offer online courses on so many subjects it is dizzying...and many are absolutely free.

The author presents a MOOC (Massive Open Online Course), "Learning How to Learn" which millions have taken...which shows you how following an alternative method of learning something may give you great success. I've not yet taken it, but I will be...despite being semi-retired and not in need of further education....I will do it solely because I never want to not be a learner in some way. ( )

What is a mindshift? Barbara Oakley provides this definition: “A “mindshift” is a deep change in life that occurs thanks to learning. In the book, Oakley describes a framework of tools that can be applied to best take advantage of learning. In each case, she uses provides a vignette of how a real person faced a life difficulty, how they solved it, and why it matters. One great part of this is the diverse group of individuals, women and man of all ages, from across the globe. Oakley discusses a variety of topics, asks the reader to work through a series of questions, and provides tools and resources to enable a person to answer these questions. Here are a sample of the topics and questions that Mindshift considers:

Broaden Your Passion >>“What could you do or be if you decided to instead broaden your passion and tried to accomplish something that demanded the most from you? What skills and knowledge could you bring with you from your past that could serve you as you really challenge yourself?”

Taking Active Steps >> “What mindshift are you trying to accomplish? What thoughts are keeping you stuck? Do you tell yourself that you are too old to make a career change?”

Considering What Underpins Your Mindshift >>
“Should the reality of the working world be a factor in your mindshift? If so, how strongly? Do you have a weakness you can change into a strength?

I really enjoyed Mindshift, but it is not a “one-shot”, quick-read book that provides all the answers. It’s a book that can help someone making a life change to do so in a coherent manner. Oakley’s shares her own failures and successes; along with others in a global community. Mindshift provides a framework for a learner’s next logical step: How to apply what you learn when making a shift in your life. In addition, Oakley provides valuable insights into maximizing learning using new tools, such as MOOCs. (She also provides a fascinating look behind the scenes of making a MOOC). Finally, I appreciated the thorough job of providing references that support the facts on learning that are provided. If you are considering a life or career change, I recommend Mindshift as a very useful guide. ( )