Editorial Review:
What do you and Isaac Newton, Albert Einstein, Aristotle, and Immanuel Kant all have in common? . . . Mind Magic! Widely considered one of the great thinkers of the 20th century, Swiss psychologist Jean Piaget offered insights into how our minds work that are widely accepted by psychologists and educators as keys to successful teaching and learning. John Laurence Miller, Ph.D., who studied with Piaget, shows readers how to apply the ideas of this revolutionary thinker’s work. Mind Magic demonstrates how you can understand how your own mind naturally works and how to use that knowledge to build intelligence.
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Customer Reviews
Average Customer Rating: 
A great introduction to Piaget... and the mind.  2008-10-05
I picked this book up on a whim, and was surprised at how much I enjoyed it. Normally, a book with a title like "mind magic" is full of junk science and affirmation techniques. But Dr. Miller is a smart guy and a good writer, and what he shares in this book are some excellent methods for understanding how the mind works... and how we can get past the roadblocks that prevent us from accomplishing our goals.
You might not be able to see the cover well from the thumbnail, but this book is really meant to introduce the reader to the research of Piaget, a scientist who spent most of his career trying to understand how the minds of children developed. The author is clearly a follower of Piaget's theories, and references Piaget's research constantly throughout the book. But it's very interesting, readable stuff -- Dr. Miller does a great job of making it palatable for a casual reader.
My only complaint about the book is that the "mind magic" hook is a little forced at times... it feels like an afterthought meant to tie several different essays together. But since the information in the book is so useful, this is a minor gripe at best. I walked away with a new appreciation for how complex intelligence is, and how we take for granted how differently different people can see things. It's really all a matter of perspective, and this book does a great job of teaching the reader tricks to get around getting stuck when approaching a problem.
New label, but no groundbreaking idea  2007-05-13
I know this is not likely to go down well with many, but as a teacher who seeks to find a way to help children learn mathematics better, I feel that this book does not meet my needs at all. This book has a great premise to begin with. The idea that we possess a mind that has as much potential as any genius is very attractive. Unfortunately, it loses steam quickly well into its first few chapters. Many ideas such as yin and yang of learning and natural learning are really not new at all. They are just old concepts rehashed under new labels. In fact, other people have done a better job in addressing these ideas, such as Educational Kinesiology and writers such as Margaret Donaldson on the idea of natural learning and Daniel Goldman on the role of emotion on learning. No wonder Seymour Papert, in his foreword, politely warns the reader not to 'let anyone, even Miller tell you which is the right way to be you.' I guess I have to look elsewhere for better ideas and advice.
Mind Magic 2006-11-14
I read this book all in one sitting in one day, and that says alot considering how this is abnormal for me. My problem with this book is it felt as if I was wading through materials of fluff that could have been covered in a book maybe half the size (MY OPINION). Sure the points are important - but they seem to be common sense... but thats just to me (MY OPINION).
I was also quite annoyed at how the 2nd to last chapter seemed to just be built simply to convince me to buy more books on the subject and delve into it... as if my $15.95 weren't enough. I'm returning it tomorrow and getting myself a nice computer book especially since he promoted this so-called "mind magic" before the last chapter.
Ok, well all in all the book is not that bad - I would suggest it to anybody as a decent read, but not as a decent buy (unless you got money). For those who took psychology classes (especially developmental psychology), I think you should skip buying. For those who have been in some kind of science/math for years and have read the tips pros give to stay motivated and efficient in the subject, I think you should skip buying. For those who are starting out from perhaps a low-SES and don't know what the hell SES is, you should buy it (I know the book doesn't say SES in it.) Oh yea and finally if you are the smartest person in the world (no such thing) then buy this book to read while your on that soapbox of yours. SO I have to go now, I give it 4 stars - I was going to give it 3... but even with the information reiterated again and again (as if I was actually taking a class and he had to spread the information throughout a whole semester) at least there were thoughtful studies put in there - and thats what made it worthwhile for me. But I want my $15.95 back.
Thinking about Thinking 2005-09-18
Is genius level thinking only for the exceptionally gifted? Can we learn to think more effectively? If we understand our mind we
according to Joel Miller can apply our minds to understanding our minds. This is the ultimate power, the power of the mind to achieve high levels of mind consciousness. He challenges us by saying "you may be far better off, if you develop your own "right way"". Thinking is like fingerprints in that each of us is unique.
He highlights three skills:
1) Adaptability
2) Adept Manager of Information (Being the Architect of your own Information Management systems).
3) Creativity
We are powerful because of our ability to grow and adapt.
He talks about Yin and Yang phases of thinking that are natural and important (self-expressive, expansive... and then narrowing, self-correcting) like business cycles. It is the mind's way of learning from its experiences and errors. It we keep practicing we natuarally get better and better so stay out of the way. It is normal to learn.
He encourages us to learn by observing and understanding the thinking of people that we want to emulate. Do not demand things from the mind too quickly. Observe and respect the positive role of errors in our thinking.
Identify yourself as the empowered learner, see yourself as capable and adapting, as the one in charge.
Some helpful hints, monitor your progress, know your unique style, brainstorm, use the support of others, read for new perspectives. Use Analogies, timelines, prototypes, experiments, explore historical context, combine theory and practice.
Ten Tips from the Scientists
1)Make a lot of guesses, take a position, bold guesses from practice.Learn to love your mistakes.
2) Question the legitimacy of the problem... ie are you barking up the wrong tree. Are you sure you know what the problem is.
3) Question your assumptions, be aware of the them, write them down.
4) Try to do the impossible!
5) Respect your subconscious. Sleep on it.
6) Believe in the power of peer review
7) Cope with setbacks by taking a break, talking to a friend, using fresh approach. Don't be afraid to time-box solutions.
8) Love the hard work, don't wait for a Eureka Experience
9) Record interactions and side effects.
10) Don't be afraid to reinvent the wheel.
Flashbacks 2005-06-27
Mind Magic" provides remarkable insights into how our minds work. For months since I finished reading the book it has continued to resonate as events I was experiencing personally brought me back to "Mind Magic" and a greater awareness my learning processes.
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