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Title: Intelligence Reframed: Multiple Intelligences for the 21st Century by Howard Gardner ISBN: 0-465-02611-7 Publisher: Basic Books Pub. Date: 20 September, 2000 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $18.00 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.08 (13 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: An excellent update on Howard Gardner's thinkings.
Comment: Intelligent Pictures in our Minds
Almost two decades ago, a Harvard University developmental psychologist, Howard Gardner, wrote Frames of Mind: The Theory of Multiple Intelligences, a book he believed he was writing predominantly to enlighten mainstream psychologists, not educators. In that book, he proposed a novel notion: the psychological construct 'intelligence' should be formally measured in more ways than simply through the dry statistical analytical lenses of the widely accepted logical and linguistic IQ-type formalized tests, tests so standardized for most schooling systems. Gardner questioned the classical belief that human beings could have only one 'mode of representation' about the world; instead, he suggested that a more pluralistic viewpoint for measuring mental functioning ought to be addressed - a variety of intelligent ways of thinking.
In Frames, Gardner theorized a master list of seven basic intelligences to represent these other modes, including the widely accepted linguistic-verbal and logical-mathematical, and visual-spatial, bodily-kinesthetic, musical-rhythmic, and the two most criticized, interpersonal and intrapersonal. Frames was well received by those in the educational arena and the wider community at large. It was translated into Chinese, French, German, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, and Spanish. It was selected by five book clubs. Frames became Gardner's claim-to-fame.
In his second 1999 book, Intelligence Reframed: Multiple Intelligences for the 21st Century, the 'father' of the Theory of Multiple Intelligences (MI) once again acquaints his followers with another first-rate book that continues the argument he made in earlier books, that there are multiple forms of intelligences. Although he 'canonizes' two additional intelligences, naturalistic and existential, he feels that what is more important is how people make use of MI to carry out daily tasks prized in the culture. This latter statement was well summarized during a recent interview when Gardner said "The fact that we have the same intelligences means that we can communicate with one another. But the fact that we represent things mentally in numerous symbolic systems to one another means that we are not necessarily going to construe things in the same way or see the same options."
The strength of the book lies in its core, the next three chapter describing and justifying "the ways in which MI theory can be applied to scholastic and "wider world" settings. Gardner's line of reasoning is persuasive, not because of the extensiveness of the information he includes, and his realization that certain mainstream institutions may encounter difficulty implementing his "multiple approaches to understanding", but because his script, as always, is vibrant and lucid enough to hold our interests more than a monotonous statistical analyses of a psychometric theory of intelligence would, yet firm and advanced enough that he can be taken as a serious thinker rather than as some pop cognitivist.
These three chapters outline how others have successfully implemented MI; they detail how the MI model can be easily applied to classroom learning and also infused into the "the wider society." In fact, all of Chapter 11 comments on MI in the wider world of institutions and business communities. Here, Gardner outlines ways that he has observed MI "at work in children's museums", including possibilities within art museums, and finally, within the workplace. The book concluded with Chapter 12 where he addresses (somewhat) the question first introduced in Chapter 1: Who Owns Intelligence? While the jury will be out most likely well in the 21st century on this deep and philosophical problem, may it be said, for now, that the "proprietary rights" to intelligences belong to all? Intelligence Reframed is especially important for the way in which it lays out a challenge to the 'psychometric consensus.' More specifically, the book is important for the following four reasons.
If there is a weakness in the book, it lies within the opening and closing chapters. Here the book stumbles somewhat in its attempt to address the authentic ownership of intelligence. It is suggested that "intelligence is too important to be left to the intelligence testers", that the book lay "out a position that challenges the psychometric consensus", that the book adopt the stance that humans ought to develop a better method of viewing cognitive potential and that what matters more than developing tests to measure intelligences is the practical applications of intelligences. There are some interesting calls for greater human individualization provided in these two chapters. But the details given to intellectual renovators is inconsequential and save for intellectual generalities, is slightly outdated; long-standing MI supporters will find little in these two chapters that they did not already know.
Nevertheless, Intelligence Reframed is Howard E. Gardner: it is a delightful and entertaining read and beautifully written by one of the best writers in the field of developmental cognitive science. Dr. Gardner has, once again, provided readers with a significant and well-articulated text that should be widely read and discussed. As with his previous books, detailed reference notes have been conveniently located in a section at the end of the book, so that the flow of the text is continuous. The four appendices (Books and Articles by Howard Gardner, Other Works About The Theory of Multiple Intelligences, Videos, Newsletters, and Miscellany, and Contacts on Multiple Intelligences Theory and its Application) represent a welcomed background for the more interested reader. The 292 pages of the book clearly delineate and reframe the original (1983) picture of his many 'kinds of minds' image. Every chapter title, save one, contains either the word 'intelligence' or 'intelligences' - an indication of the central theme throughout the book - to "challenge the psychometric consensus" by updating the reader with numerous fresh viewpoints from a cognitive developmental standpoint.
Like so many of the author's earlier books, Intelligence Reframed ought to have a powerful impact on all who read it because Gardner puts into words a common sense type of message that so many people in psychology, education, and the greater world already know: human beings are very special from each another. They learn in dissimilar kinds of ways, and to treat all of them as if they were the same and call everybody stupid who fails to resemble a certain prototype is simply a misguided assessment.
Rating: 4
Summary: Stimulating and insightful
Comment: I haven't read "Frames of Mind," although I'm familiar with the theory of multiple intelligences from other sources, so this was my first introduction to Gardner's writing. I found the book fascinating: each chapter focuses on one aspect of the theory (e.g., its applicability in the work place, or other candidates for "intelligences" besides the original 7). They're well written and easy to understand, and, although the depth of the discussion varies, I learned something from every chapter. I don't agree with the critics who argue that Gardner is coasting on his reputation: like Ornstein's right brain/left brain theory, the concept of multiple intelligences has taken on a life of its own, so I felt that Gardner's comments on what his theory is (and isn't), and how he views it today, were appropriate. I was especially struck by his discussion of "leader" intelligence: he describes a leader as primarily a good storyteller and communicator, and I found this an extremely enlightening comment on American politics. This is a good general introduction to Gardner's theories, as well as to his current thinking, and I found it stimulating and thought-provoking.
Rating: 3
Summary: Theorizing the Day Away
Comment: Before discovering the writings of Howard Gardner I had been exposed to individuals espousing his theories. The concept always struck me as interesting and something I wanted to read more about as I believe the concept of g to be valid but ultimately limiting. These exciting ideas concerning Multiple Intelligences seemed to expand the definition of intelligence outward to include talents and abilities. Now, however, after reading "Intelligence Reframed" I have been cured of my enthusiasm for this theory. Disecting the term "intelligence" until it becomes useless is the order of the day in the MI Theory. Eschewing the psychometric field, Gardner theorizes endlessly while stating that MI is "based wholly on empirical evidence" (pg 85). That evidence seems peripheral at best, completely unrelated at worst. There are definately some interesting thoughts and ideas in this book. Unfortunately they are surrounded by the above mentioned nebulous theorizing and outright egotism (see cover of book). If you want some scientifically sound reappraisals of intelligence check the works of Robert Sternberg. If any cutting edge thinking is to revolutionize the view of intelligence (and thus it's measurement) it might well be Sternberg's Triarchic Theory.
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Title: Frames of Mind: The Theory of Multiple Intelligences by Howard Gardner ISBN: 0465025102 Publisher: Basic Books Pub. Date: March, 1993 List Price(USD): $21.00 |
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Title: Multiple Intelligences: The Theory in Practice by Howard E. Gardner ISBN: 046501822X Publisher: Basic Books Pub. Date: March, 1993 List Price(USD): $21.00 |
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Title: The Unschooled Mind: How Children Think and How Schools Should Teach by Howard Gardner ISBN: 0465088961 Publisher: Basic Books Pub. Date: May, 1993 List Price(USD): $21.00 |
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Title: The Disciplined Mind: Beyond Facts and Standardized Tests, the K-12 Education That Every Child Deserves by Howard Gardner ISBN: 0140296247 Publisher: Penguin USA (Paper) Pub. Date: 08 August, 2000 List Price(USD): $15.00 |
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Title: 7 Kinds of Smart: Identifying and Developing Your Multiple Intelligences by Thomas Armstrong ISBN: 0452281377 Publisher: Plume Pub. Date: October, 1999 List Price(USD): $14.00 |
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