Members with This Book
Most Helpful Reviews
see all reviews
Didn’t Like It “Not exactly what I was expecting, and I certainly couldn't recommend it, but we can always find something that sparks thinking. The premise is that the most important ingredient for a fuifilling life is curiosity. The importance of curiosity to education can't be overstated. He cites Sylvan...” see full review » see other reviews » |
Newest Reviews
see all reviews-
“Great book. Very insightful. Highly recommend it to anyone and everyone looking to improve their life, and get more out of it.”
Mattlee wrote this review 2 weeks ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“Not exactly what I was expecting, and I certainly couldn't recommend it, but we can always find something that sparks thinking. The premise is that the most important ingredient for a fuifilling life is curiosity. The importance of curiosity to education can't be overstated. He cites Sylvan Tomkins who says, "The importance of curiosity to thought and memory are so extensive that the absence...would jeopardize intellectual development no less than destruction of brain tissue...there is no human competence which can be achieved in the absence of a sustaining interest." This book iterates Csíkszentmihályi's research into creativity and "flow": we need to have both challenge and support (or skill) to be curious: anxiety and boredom squash curiosity (and learning). ”
Shelley B wrote this review Saturday, July 4 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“I truly believe you can learn anything from any book, and this one is no different. It does set out an interesting hypothesis: the objective is not "to be happy," but rather live a meaningful life, guided by your core values and interests. And what's the central ingredient you need to do that? Curiosity. The author writes that "When we experience curiosity we are willing to leave the familiar and routine and take risks, even if it makes us feel anxious and uncomfortable. Those who deal better with novelty, who function more optimally in a world that is unpredictable, uncertain, and unstable, I call "curious explorers." He later writes: "If we believe that understanding everything, being able to confidently predict the future, and being in control are necessary, then we are going to drift toward stagnation. Doing things that are only mildly pleasurable, we will underestimate two profound sources of happiness and meaning in life: novelty and uncertainty."
Ron B wrote this review Wednesday, June 3 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
Amen. Creativity always come as a surprise, and I wouldn't want to live in a world that was predictable. I liked his concept of the "Buddha mind," or "beginners mind." The author claims five major benefits of curiosity: Health; Intelligence; Meaning and Purpose (less than 20% of our daily activity is spent in this area); social relationships; and Happiness. All very hard to disagree with.
My problem with this book is it's rambling, and full of banal common sense. Do people really need to learn some of these lessons in middle age? I just found it, past the first chapter, incredibly more difficult to read, then actually quite boring. Hence, I cannot recommend it.
I also found insulting his "Our genetic code is 98% identical with our chimpanzee cousins." So what? Wow, that 2% makes a MAJOR difference, doesn't it. A case where a measurement leads to less understanding and insight, not more.”
Displaying 1-3 of 3
