Ellen J. Langer

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Mindfulness

Stretches our minds in startling new directions.

Howard Gardner

Ellen Langer has succeeded in writing a book that, in one bite, manages to be scientifically interesting, immensely practical, and dramatically absorbing. It is about the mindsets that lead human beings—even the smartest of them—to become stupid and 'mindless.' Its power as drama in demonstrating that mindlessness leads not only to the banality of dullness, but to a giving up of life itself. In a series of fascinating research studies, Dr. Langer demonstrates that the young can be made more creative, the man in charge made more effective, and the elderly kept from giving in to and dying of their age.

Jerome Bruner, author of Actual Minds, Possible Worlds

A landmark work of social psychology.

Booklist

Table of Contents

1 Introduction

Part One: Mindlessness

2 When the Light's on and Nobody's Home

3 The Roots of Mindlessness

4 The Costs of Mindlessness

Part Two: Mindfulness

5 The Nature of Mindfulness

6 Mindful Aging

7 Creative Uncertainty

8 Mindfulness of the Job

9 Minding Matters: Mindfulness and Health

Epilogue: Beyond Mindfulness

Notes

Index

About the Author