I have purchased books by more prestigious authors, with more content, more pages, better/more durable covers as well as more knowledge being provided in the same, for prices less than half of what I paid for this book. The book is very small, and 'very wordy' for lack of a better term.
Want a better analogy? Ever had a 500 word assignment to submit but fall short of 200 words? Now think of how you would stretch that out by making it more 'wordy' and adding LOTS of blank spaces and leaving as many lines as possible. All that put together, selling it for almost a thousand bucks ':/' THATS HOW THIS BOOK FEELS.
Giving it 3 stars because it was packed securely and in a very neat manner and not to undervalue the knowdlwdge it provides just because it was overpriced.
Want a better analogy? Ever had a 500 word assignment to submit but fall short of 200 words? Now think of how you would stretch that out by making it more 'wordy' and adding LOTS of blank spaces and leaving as many lines as possible. All that put together, selling it for almost a thousand bucks ':/' THATS HOW THIS BOOK FEELS.
Giving it 3 stars because it was packed securely and in a very neat manner and not to undervalue the knowdlwdge it provides just because it was overpriced.
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Not the book you’re looking for?Preview — Mastermind by Maria Konnikova
No fictional character is more renowned for his powers of thought and observation than Sherlock Holmes. But is his extraordinary intellect merely a gift of fiction, or can we learn to cultivate these abilities ourselves, to improve our lives at work and at home?
We can, says psychologist and journalist Maria Konnikova, and in Mastermind she shows us how. Beginning with the..more
We can, says psychologist and journalist Maria Konnikova, and in Mastermind she shows us how. Beginning with the..more
Published January 3rd 2013 by Viking Adult (first published 2013)
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Masha VolskiIn a sense, this book genuinely makes you feel smarter. Like that dream textbook that you seem to have a conversation with? It's extremely…moreIn a sense, this book genuinely makes you feel smarter. Like that dream textbook that you seem to have a conversation with? It's extremely interesting, however there is so much information to absorb that it took me a while to finish. I read it in addition to other books because it is more about the information than the storyline. (less)
Ravenclaw's Rationality 127 books — 81 voters
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Rating details
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'Mindless: How to Regurgitate Useless Information'
Do you know what I learned in the first hour of this book while I went on my morning 5 mile run before I realized that there are no chapter markers?
Absolutely nothing. I actually groaned out loud numerous times and yelled 'Come ON! Are you serious?' to the running path. The only explanation I can think of is that author must have been paid by the word, because she has reinvented the meaning of taking commonly known ideas and taken the phrase 'be..more
Do you know what I learned in the first hour of this book while I went on my morning 5 mile run before I realized that there are no chapter markers?
Absolutely nothing. I actually groaned out loud numerous times and yelled 'Come ON! Are you serious?' to the running path. The only explanation I can think of is that author must have been paid by the word, because she has reinvented the meaning of taking commonly known ideas and taken the phrase 'be..more
Feb 06, 2014Andreas rated it it was amazing
I was surprised about the many negative reviews here at Goodreads. The main complain is that the author doesn't come up with something new, which is true, and that the Sherlock Holmes examples are taken too far.
In the last months I have read a couple of books about our brain, perception, memory and how we think. Many of the discoveries can be found here in the book, nicely wrapped in the world of Sherlock Holmes. This by itself is an amazing thing! It's astonishing how good it works and a great..more
In the last months I have read a couple of books about our brain, perception, memory and how we think. Many of the discoveries can be found here in the book, nicely wrapped in the world of Sherlock Holmes. This by itself is an amazing thing! It's astonishing how good it works and a great..more
Feb 28, 2013Janey rated it did not like it
If you're an avid Sherlock Holmes fan like me, then most likely you have already come across the examples and quotations explored in this book. Because that's what this book is all about: quotations, quotations and exploring and dissecting those Sherlock quotations in every manner possible. In short, you won't be learning anything new.
But if you're such a ginormous fan that you'll read even the back of a shampoo if it's labeled Sherlock Holmes, then by all means, read this. This book is more of..more
But if you're such a ginormous fan that you'll read even the back of a shampoo if it's labeled Sherlock Holmes, then by all means, read this. This book is more of..more
Jul 17, 2013Bayla rated it really liked it
'If you get only one thing out of this book, it should be this; the most powerful mind is the quiet mind. It is the mind that is present,reflective, mindful of its thoughts and its state. It doesn't often multitask, and when it does, it does so with a purpose' (p. 257).
A fine blend of character analysis, psychological research, and good writing, Mastermind: How to Think Like Sherlock Holmes caught my interest and held it all the way through, which is a difficult task for nonfiction in general. M..more
A fine blend of character analysis, psychological research, and good writing, Mastermind: How to Think Like Sherlock Holmes caught my interest and held it all the way through, which is a difficult task for nonfiction in general. M..more
Jan 21, 2013Aaron Thibeault rated it really liked it
*A full executive summary of this book is available here: http://newbooksinbrief.com/2013/01/28..
The main argument: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s character Sherlock Holmes is as popular today as when he was created back in the late 19th century. This comes as no surprise, of course, since there is just something about Holmes’ peculiar qualities—his keen observation, clever imagination, and incisive reasoning capabilities—that is both awe-inspiring and inspirational. We admire Holmes for cutting thro..more
The main argument: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s character Sherlock Holmes is as popular today as when he was created back in the late 19th century. This comes as no surprise, of course, since there is just something about Holmes’ peculiar qualities—his keen observation, clever imagination, and incisive reasoning capabilities—that is both awe-inspiring and inspirational. We admire Holmes for cutting thro..more
By Maria Konnikova. Grade: B
Sherlock Holmes, hands down, is my favourite detective, and Conan Doyle an absolute genius. Like all fans of his genre, I’ve devoured the books, the TV shows, and now, the movies. This is one such adaptation wherein author Maria Konnikova, a graduate of Harvard University and holder of PhD in psychology from Columbia University, applies her brain to find the science beneath the thrill.
The point of this book is simple. There’s something about Sherlock Holmes that keeps..more
Sherlock Holmes, hands down, is my favourite detective, and Conan Doyle an absolute genius. Like all fans of his genre, I’ve devoured the books, the TV shows, and now, the movies. This is one such adaptation wherein author Maria Konnikova, a graduate of Harvard University and holder of PhD in psychology from Columbia University, applies her brain to find the science beneath the thrill.
The point of this book is simple. There’s something about Sherlock Holmes that keeps..more
Dec 30, 2012Leah rated it it was amazing
Just a note: I review Sherlock Holmes-related books on a blog, so my reviews on Goodreads are generally shortened versions of those posts
Maria Konnikova, a doctoral candidate in psychology at New York’s Columbia University, first encountered Sherlock Holmes as a child, when her father read Waton’s accounts to her and her siblings at bedtime. As happens for many, the sleuth stuck with her, and in Mastermind she combines current psychological insights with lessons from the Canon, in the touchingly..more
Maria Konnikova, a doctoral candidate in psychology at New York’s Columbia University, first encountered Sherlock Holmes as a child, when her father read Waton’s accounts to her and her siblings at bedtime. As happens for many, the sleuth stuck with her, and in Mastermind she combines current psychological insights with lessons from the Canon, in the touchingly..more
Well written grammatically but..
An extremely frustrating read in so far as that the inescapable premise of the book appears to be that psychological principles can be taught upon the back of an entire fiction. There is such paradoxical logic in this that at times I felt genuine anger, the work is simply riding the crest of a huge wave of interest in Sherlock Holmes at present, this is not in the main, psychology, but literary review in the guise of science, and as such the whole thing appears..more
An extremely frustrating read in so far as that the inescapable premise of the book appears to be that psychological principles can be taught upon the back of an entire fiction. There is such paradoxical logic in this that at times I felt genuine anger, the work is simply riding the crest of a huge wave of interest in Sherlock Holmes at present, this is not in the main, psychology, but literary review in the guise of science, and as such the whole thing appears..more
Jan 03, 2013Lisa rated it did not like it
I'm not going to finish this book because (1) it is redundant (padded like a high school paper with an assigned word count); (2) the psychological and neurological concepts are fairly basic; and (3) it's more about Holmes her hero than a book on mindfulness. If you're a big Sherlock Holmes fan, you'd probably like this.
Mar 19, 2014Emeraldia Ayakashi rated it really liked it
I do not think like Sherlock Holmes. Not in the least . This is the rather depressing conclusion I came to researching , until I read this book ..
Watch and observe. This is the secret key. When I first read these words, I was a child then and I was amazed.
Alertness and keen sense of observation used by Sherlock Holmes to solve the biggest mysteries are legendary. Although Sherlock Holmes is often used a survey to ascertain the facts , its approach demonstrates that he relied too much on his int..more
Watch and observe. This is the secret key. When I first read these words, I was a child then and I was amazed.
Alertness and keen sense of observation used by Sherlock Holmes to solve the biggest mysteries are legendary. Although Sherlock Holmes is often used a survey to ascertain the facts , its approach demonstrates that he relied too much on his int..more
A marketing ploy with a catchy title, devoid of any new, insightful content whatsoever. I am both a zealous Sherlock Holmes fan and familiar with Konnikova's work for the New Yorker, which, while not especially well-written or scientifically rigorous, at least attempts to discuss new research findings in contemporary neuroscience. At least it gets the mental gears turning in fresh directions. But, this useless, supposed 'close-reading' of Holmes is a merely a childish regurgitation of detail thr..more
Simplistic and lacking research behind many of the suppositions, the book is more homage to Holmes and Doyle than how to improve thought process.
May 13, 2013Rob Slaven rated it liked it Shelves: non-fiction, _freetofirstpersonwhoasks, first-reads
As usual, I received this book for nothing from a GoodReads giveaway but despite that kindness I give it my candid opinion below.
Our author's submission is one of those that tries to be two things at once, cross-selling you on a bit of neuroscience in the context of Sherlock Holmes as favorite fictional genius. The basic format boils down to something like this:
* Quote from a Sherlock Holmes story
* Here's what Holmes did that was so genius
* Here's what Watson, mental midget, did. [explanation of..more
Our author's submission is one of those that tries to be two things at once, cross-selling you on a bit of neuroscience in the context of Sherlock Holmes as favorite fictional genius. The basic format boils down to something like this:
* Quote from a Sherlock Holmes story
* Here's what Holmes did that was so genius
* Here's what Watson, mental midget, did. [explanation of..more
As a psychology student, I am familiar with many of the studies that the author has mentioned to support her explanations. But, I like how she puts it across in a manner that layman could easily understand. What makes it different from mainstream psychology books, is that she takes sherlock holmes stories to explain how he trained his brain to think, and gives examples from his words and actions.
She also delves into real life incidents in the criminal world at the time when Sherlock holmes was..more
She also delves into real life incidents in the criminal world at the time when Sherlock holmes was..more
Oct 12, 2018Ahmed ElMashad rated it did not like it · review of another edition
1) What is the book about ?
-Maria Konnikova explains how she thinks Sherlock Holmes think. So the title is misleading.
2) What to expect from the book ?
-Redundancy, and hours of a boring book.
3) Recommended for whom?
-Any Sherlockian who has a lot of time to spare, and want to read something Holmesian.
-Maria Konnikova explains how she thinks Sherlock Holmes think. So the title is misleading.
2) What to expect from the book ?
-Redundancy, and hours of a boring book.
3) Recommended for whom?
-Any Sherlockian who has a lot of time to spare, and want to read something Holmesian.
Dec 21, 2012Science For The People added it
Featured on Skeptically Speaking show #193 on December 21, 2012, on our special Book Review episode. This book was reviewed by Scott Huler and the review can be heard starting at timestamp 00:00:58. http://skepticallyspeaking.ca/episode..
May 22, 2019Akib Ahmed rated it it was amazing
A book that deserves a reread (twice in my case). The writer gave emphasis on two Ms: Mindfulness and Motivation, but described Sherlock Holmes as much more than that. The level of isolation he provided his thoughts with was so extraordinary that resulted in him accurately deducing each case. This book deserves reread not because it's about Sherlock Holmes, instead, this book gives me methods to think elementarily.
Apr 08, 2013Crystal Starr Light rated it liked it Shelves: book-club, it-s-not-you-it-s-me, psychology, non-fiction
Sherlock Holmes is the epitome of the mystery genre and the private detective. He uses his senses, his expansive knowledge, and his cunning skill to seek out the truth behind the crimes that come to his door. But what goes on in Sherlock Holmes mind? How does he think? And can we get anywhere near the skill of the Master Detective?
While I like Sherlock Holmes well enough, reading two books and a couple movies based on the stories is not enough to call me a fan. The primary reason I read this boo..more
Jun 03, 2017ArwendeLuhtiene rated it it was amazingWhile I like Sherlock Holmes well enough, reading two books and a couple movies based on the stories is not enough to call me a fan. The primary reason I read this boo..more
Shelves: essay-studies, non-fiction, psychology, sherlock-holmes, self-help, women-writers
I found this book engaging, interesting and useful, both as a Sherlock Holmes fan and as someone who is interested in self-help books about self-awareness and how to hone our critical thinking and problem-solving strategies in our everyday life.
+1 When talking about how bias influences people's thinking, there are also some (brief, though) mentions of various forms of discrimination - sexism, racism, heteronormativity and ableism, mainly. She cites, for example, the study showing that women per..more
+1 When talking about how bias influences people's thinking, there are also some (brief, though) mentions of various forms of discrimination - sexism, racism, heteronormativity and ableism, mainly. She cites, for example, the study showing that women per..more
Wonderful survey of thought processes and cognitive theories woven within a framework of how the characters Sherlock Holmes and John Watson might approach problem solving. I hope Ms. Konnikova continues to write, because she has a talent like Sagan for making science accessible.
I found it less 'how to' than the title suggests, rather 'here are possibilities why you might think a certain way'. I am particularly interested in the additional reading suggestions..the list grows longer with each of..more
Feb 10, 2019Mary rated it it was okI found it less 'how to' than the title suggests, rather 'here are possibilities why you might think a certain way'. I am particularly interested in the additional reading suggestions..the list grows longer with each of..more
Shelves: avoid-this-author, business-and-technical
I’ll give her five stars for the book’s premise, but only two stars for execution. This book is like a good first draft. I would love to get in there and get the material organized in a concise readable format and get the scientific references cited properly so that it could be a good book.
The Writer is very wordy and takes several paragraphs to say what she’s trying to say, yet still doesn’t manage to say it. It’s hard to explain but she has a way of wording things in a mildly sarcastic way so..more
The Writer is very wordy and takes several paragraphs to say what she’s trying to say, yet still doesn’t manage to say it. It’s hard to explain but she has a way of wording things in a mildly sarcastic way so..more
Mar 21, 2019Megan Wilcox rated it liked it · review of another edition
A fascinating book. It was interesting, yes.
I enjoyed the snippets and discussion of many different Holmes cases.
Contained many fancy psychological terms and applications.
I found a few gems of great advice, which I intend to put to good use!
An interesting read, if nothing else.
I enjoyed the snippets and discussion of many different Holmes cases.
Contained many fancy psychological terms and applications.
I found a few gems of great advice, which I intend to put to good use!
An interesting read, if nothing else.
Fans of Sherlock Holmes, detective wannabes, and those who wish to improve their cognitive skills may find “Mastermind: How to Think Like Sherlock Holmes” by Maria Konnikova to be an interesting—and certainly a thought-provoking—read. This nonfiction work tackles the inner functioning and the elements behind the mind of the most well-known detective in literary fiction. Konnikova contrasts what she terms “System Watson” from “System Holmes,” with the former being that which overlooks details and..more
Jan 02, 2014Chanda rated it liked it · review of another edition
For me this was a three-star read but it will easily warrant a higher rating from someone with a more developed interest in the subject matter. I started with gusto but at about the halfway point my interest started to wane and the last half was a struggle. To the author's credit, I can't imagine any less talented writer would have been able to actively engage me that far and certainly not kept me involved enough to actually finish. The irony in my struggle to pay attention was that ultimately,..more
Not what I expected. This book is one third anecdotal observations about using the powers of deduction in everyday life. That was very interesting. One third examples from Sherlock Holmes mysteries, kind of interesting but very chopped up and you never get the entire story. And one third part of some psychology thesis, not interesting at all. Plus the author treats Holmes as if he is not a fictional character but an actual detective from history and as if Conan Doyle did not manipulate both the..more
I had to skim this one, it was pretty boring. It reads a lot like a literary examination of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's books. Before you read this book go to page 257 read the paragraph in the middle of the page that starts with 'If you only get one thing out of this book..' if you like what you read then start at the beginning and if you get bored put the book down.
Jan 28, 2013Janet rated it it was ok
I find it annoying when 'scientific' evidence is presented to help prove facts, but no notation is provided except a brief suggested reading at the end of the book. Where are the footnotes or endnotes? Where is the specific study that Konnikova is referencing? Also, I have not read a lot of Doyle and I felt like that was another detriment.
Apr 03, 2018Jehona rated it did not like it · review of another edition
Boring! I only managed to finish it on my third try. It doesn't reveal anything new about Sherlock's thought process. Nothing the average reader cannot see while reading the stories. On top of that, it fails to produce any special trick Holmes uses. Nothing that the average person could just learn to use. Download screen recorder pc. He just seems to be smart.
So, this is not a psychological profile of a fictional character revealing something unexpected on one hand and it is not a collection of useful tricks that one can us..more
So, this is not a psychological profile of a fictional character revealing something unexpected on one hand and it is not a collection of useful tricks that one can us..more
(Will possibly revise in the future)
While the number of Sherlock Holmes references was definitely enjoyable as a huge fan of the famed detective, they often seemed to be interpreted desperately in a way to fit with the material presented, as opposed to embodying the ideas seamlessly. This made the book seem like word vomit in many places, making it far less compelling to read. The material itself seemed interesting, if not entirely new or revolutionary. Never imagined I’d say this about a book,..more
While the number of Sherlock Holmes references was definitely enjoyable as a huge fan of the famed detective, they often seemed to be interpreted desperately in a way to fit with the material presented, as opposed to embodying the ideas seamlessly. This made the book seem like word vomit in many places, making it far less compelling to read. The material itself seemed interesting, if not entirely new or revolutionary. Never imagined I’d say this about a book,..more
Oct 12, 2018anotherfungurl rated it it was amazing
Was a long read, but an interesting one as well. I think I learned a lot from this book.
I have not read Sherlock Holmes or watched the tv series, but I have a good idea of what it is about and who sherlock is.
This book really gave a detailed info about how to think like sherlock, how to be more aware of our surroundings and be focused on the subject, even be able to distract urself in the correct manner.
Everyone should read it. ❤..more
I have not read Sherlock Holmes or watched the tv series, but I have a good idea of what it is about and who sherlock is.
This book really gave a detailed info about how to think like sherlock, how to be more aware of our surroundings and be focused on the subject, even be able to distract urself in the correct manner.
Everyone should read it. ❤..more
topics | posts | views | last activity |
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Mastermind: How to Think Like Sherlock Holmes | 1 | 21 | Apr 10, 2014 06:45AM |
Mastermind: How to Think Like Sherlock Holmes | 1 | 7 | Mar 28, 2014 09:23AM |
Baker Street Irre..:Mastermind: How to Think Like Sherlock Holmes | 2 | 58 | Apr 25, 2013 09:26AM |
Baker Street Irre..:Two new books reviewed | 1 | 17 | Jan 14, 2013 07:41AM |
The powers of deduction | 1 | 26 | Jan 11, 2013 05:09PM |
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“the most powerful mind is the quiet mind. It is the mind that is present, reflective, mindful of its thoughts and its state. It doesn’t often multitask, and when it does, it does so with a purpose.” — 28 likes
“We are terrible at seeking evidence that challenges our own beliefs, but other people do us this favor, just as we are good at finding errors in other people’s beliefs.” — 8 likes
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