Powerful ideas from top nonfiction
Try Blinkist to get the key ideas from 7,500+ bestselling nonfiction titles and podcasts. Listen or read in just 15 minutes.
Start your free trial
Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
Listen to the Intro
Mindset summary
Carol Dweck
The New Psychology of Success
15 mins
Brief summary
'Mindset' by Carol Dweck explains the importance of having a growth mindset rather than a fixed one. It shows how changing our beliefs about our abilities can lead to greater success in all areas of life.
Table of Contents
Mindset
Summary of 8 key ideas
Audio & text in the Blinkist app
Key idea 1 of 8
Our mindset shapes whether we believe we can learn and change and grow – or not.
From the shape of your skull to the size of your foot, your body’s physical characteristics are more or less entirely predetermined from the start. Of course you can get plastic surgery or break a bone, but we human beings generally have very little control over our bodies’ features.
But what about intellectual and physical abilities, like playing basketball, drawing or solving math problems? Are they hereditary or learned? Today, most scientists agree that if you want to become a concert violinist, you not only need to have a musical disposition, but must dedicate years of your life to practising.
Still, there are as many answers to this question as there are people, for our mindset plays a crucial role in how we see ourselves and others. Simply put, our mindset shapes our beliefs in accomplishing something.
These two extremes form the basis for the concept of a fixed versus a growth mindset. People with a fixed mindset believe they are born naturally gifted at doing some things but utterly incapable of others, whereas people with a growth mindset believe they can become virtuosos of anything if they try hard enough.
So the people in the latter group continue growing throughout their lives, acquiring new skills without reservation and actively engaging in their relationships. For them, life in all its facets is in a constant state of change.
By contrast, people with a fixed mindset often let their black-and-white way of thinking obstruct their development. If they fail at something, they bury their heads in the sand or blame others. They hope for everlasting love in their relationships rather than working on the relationships themselves.
Our mindset shapes whether we believe we can learn and change and grow – or not.
Want to see all full key ideas from Mindset?
Key ideas in Mindset
More knowledge in less time
Read or listen
Get the key ideas from nonfiction bestsellers in minutes, not hours.
Find your next read
Get book lists curated by experts and personalized recommendations.
Shortcasts New
We’ve teamed up with podcast creators to bring you key insights from podcasts.
What is Mindset about?
Mindset (2006) discusses the differences between people with a fixed mindset versus those with a growth mindset. Our mindset determines the way we deal with tough situations and setbacks as well as our willingness to deal with and improve ourselves. This book demonstrates how we can achieve our goals by changing our mindset.
Mindset Review
Mindset (2006) by Carol Dweck is an insightful exploration of the power of our mindset in shaping our success and happiness in life. Here's why this book is definitely worth reading:
- It provides a fresh and transformative perspective on human potential, revealing that our beliefs about our abilities can either hold us back or propel us forward.
- Dweck's work is grounded in rigorous research and studies, making it a reliable and evidence-based resource for understanding the psychology behind personal growth.
- This book offers practical strategies and actionable advice for cultivating a growth mindset, allowing readers to unlock their full potential and embrace lifelong learning.
Who should read Mindset?
- Anyone who wants to find out about different mindsets and how they influence our behavior
- People who want to learn how to realize their own potential to the fullest
Categories with Mindset
Book summaries like Mindset
People ❤️ Blinkist
Sven O.
It's highly addictive to get core insights on personally relevant topics without repetition or triviality. Added to that the apps ability to suggest kindred interests opens up a foundation of knowledge.
Thi Viet Quynh N.
Great app. Good selection of book summaries you can read or listen to while commuting. Instead of scrolling through your social media news feed, this is a much better way to spend your spare time in my opinion.
Jonathan A.
Life changing. The concept of being able to grasp a book's main point in such a short time truly opens multiple opportunities to grow every area of your life at a faster rate.
Renee D.
Great app. Addicting. Perfect for wait times, morning coffee, evening before bed. Extremely well written, thorough, easy to use.
People also liked these summaries
4.7 Stars
Average ratings on iOS and Google Play
34 Million
Downloads on all platforms
10+ years
Experience igniting personal growth
Mindset FAQs
What is the main message of Mindset?
The main message of Mindset is that having a growth mindset can lead to personal and professional development.
How long does it take to read Mindset?
Reading Mindset will take a few hours. However, the Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.
Is Mindset a good book? Is it worth reading?
Mindset is worth reading as it offers valuable insights on nurturing a growth mindset for success and fulfillment.
Who is the author of Mindset?
Carol Dweck is the author of Mindset.
What to read after Mindset?
If you're wondering what to read next after Mindset, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg
- Flow by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
- The Power of Discipline by Daniel Walter
- The 80/20 Principle by Richard Koch
- Think Like a Rocket Scientist by Ozan Varol
- Make Your Bed by William H. McRaven
- The First Minute by Chris Fenning
- Critical Thinking by Richard Paul
- Atomic Habits by James Clear
- Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman