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Summary: Technological changes favor visual thinkers
Review: "It is possible . . . that conditions are reversing themselves in a way that is especially favorable to some who are strong visual thinkers but who may have had serious difficulties in conventional academic settings. . . . Different kinds of problems and different kinds of tools may require different talents and favor different kinds of brains." --Thomas G. West, from the preface to the first edition of In the Mind's Eye, 1991. From the cover of the updated edition of In the Mind's Eye: "Every once in a while a book comes along that turns one's thinking upside down. In the Mind's Eye is such a book." --Roeper Review. "Thomas West brings to life the fascinating capacities and syndromes that arise from our visual-spatial imagination. His book proves beyond doubt that we are not all points on a single bell curve of intelligence." --Howard Gardner, Ph.D., Author of Frames of Mind: The Theory of Multiple Intelligences. "Thomas West . . . claims that visualization is not only a legitimate way to solve problems, it is a superior way; the best minds have used it. West urges us to join the dyslexics of the world and use pictures instead of words. In the process we get fascinating glimpses of how other minds have worked--minds that have changed the world." --Alvy Ray Smith, Ph.D., Graphics Fellow, Advanced Technology, Microsoft Corporation. From the frontispiece of the updated edition of In the Mind's Eye: "Faraday, in his mind's eye, saw lines of force traversing all space where the mathematicians saw centres of force attracting at a distance: Faraday saw a medium where they saw nothing but distance: Faraday sought the seat of the phenomena in real actions going on in the medium, they were satisfied that they had found it in a power of action at a distance impressed on the electric fluids." --James Clerk Maxwell, A Treatise on Electricity and Magnetism.
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Summary: Technology set me free!
Review: As a dyslexic myself, I find reading somewhat difficult, still at times I could not put this book down. I found it more than thought provoking and often had to stop to reflect on what I had just read. This of course was no fault of the author as his rich content and artful descriptions were a delight. I just wanted to absorb every bit of the information and supporting evidence supplied. The book is a wonderful inspiration to those like myself and conveys some unique insights into the workings of the dyslexic mind. I have as many of West's subjects found success much later in life and find the parallels in the historical figures he describes uncanny. I feel this book is a requirement for anyone doing research into dyslexia and dyslexia related differences.
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Summary: My Center Begins at a Different Place: Eccentric-Gifted
Review: I am a spatial thinker who still struggles with language (I am autistic), and this book was amazing to me. It points out that the very same areas that cause difficulty for so many people and cause them to be looked down upon, are somehow tied into the areas of great strength that they may grow up to show. (In other words, having difficulty with language can actually be simply a symptom of having extreme ability in visual or spatial thinking). This book has strong implications for anyone who has ever considered autism, dyslexia, or learning difficulties to be horrible things that must be stamped out. It shows that the apparent "weakness" and "lack of ability" in some areas can really be an aspect of a major (but often unrecognized) area of strength. It speculates that the very skills that cause people to have difficulty in language and arithmetic (and hence in school) are vital and useful skills which have only recently been characterized as deficiencies. It shows that intelligence and creativity are not in fact synonymous with language ability. People who are autistic, dyslexic, or have other "learning difficulties" may be amazed to find themselves somewhere in this book; and people who seek to eradicate autism, dyslexia, and other "learning difficulties" may open their eyes and think twice about what exactly it is that they would be eradicating.
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Summary: language is not synonymous with intelligence
Review: I am a spatial thinker who still struggles with language (I am autistic), and this book was amazing to me. It points out that the very same areas that cause difficulty for so many people and cause them to be looked down upon, are somehow tied into the areas of great strength that they may grow up to show. (In other words, having difficulty with language can actually be simply a symptom of having extreme ability in visual or spatial thinking). This book has strong implications for anyone who has ever considered autism, dyslexia, or learning difficulties to be horrible things that must be stamped out. It shows that the apparent "weakness" and "lack of ability" in some areas can really be an aspect of a major (but often unrecognized) area of strength. It speculates that the very skills that cause people to have difficulty in language and arithmetic (and hence in school) are vital and useful skills which have only recently been characterized as deficiencies. It shows that intelligence and creativity are not in fact synonymous with language ability. People who are autistic, dyslexic, or have other "learning difficulties" may be amazed to find themselves somewhere in this book; and people who seek to eradicate autism, dyslexia, and other "learning difficulties" may open their eyes and think twice about what exactly it is that they would be eradicating.
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Summary: A review from a dyslexic
Review: I read this book after seeing what other people were reading after reading Dr. Sally Shaywitz's book. The title leads me to believe I wouldn't get much from it, but I was very mistaken. I found myself underlining passages and writing notes in the margins. West details a very compelling argument. His theory is since it appears the people with literary disabilities have superior visual/spatial skills, these skills may often be mutually exclusive. Hence, people with superior literary skills often have poor visual/spatial skills. He postulates that since human society has only been post-literate for hundreds of years compared to pre-literate for thousand of years, people with better visual/spatial skills would have a survival advantage as better hunter/gatherers and avoid other dangers. People with superior literary skills in a pre-literate society would have poor survival skills although they would be needed as say shamans, storytellers or record-keepers. The theory makes sense evolutionarily as it seems to confirm Shaywitz's observation that 1 in 5 people have some reading disability. Which at the time seemed high to me. West goes on to argue that society has been selecting against people with poor literary skills and details the danger this can pose. He argues it appears that society is turning back to needing people with high visual/spatial skills with the advent of cheap highly graphic computers and other visual modes of information communication. West details several famous (Einstein, Churchill, and Edison) and not-so-famous people (Faraday, Tesla and Maxwell) with literary disabilities but superior visual/spatial skills and how their skills were important for their success. I feel that dyslexics, educators, and policy makers should read this book. West makes a very persuasive argument that society should not select for only one skill set because you never know what skills a future society may need. In an aside, the film Gattaca uses West's theory as a basis of the plot even mentioning how Einstein was dyslexic. If you find this book compelling, you will enjoy the film.
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Summary: if your child is a puzzle whiz, buy this book now
Review: I read this book slowly. Word by word. Not because I am dyslexic, but because I didn't want to miss anything that the author had to say. This book let me understand that my family isn't alone in struggling with the paradox of not hearing but seeing too well. A must have book and I am a confirmed library user.
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Summary: My Center Begins at a Different Place: Eccentric-Gifted
Review: If you have your own voice, know it is precious. If your child has the same, cherish, accept and nuture it. It is hope, we all live life threaded by hope. Please read this gentleman's book, his words eclipse my own with more passion and presience. Thank you Mr. Thomas G. West. Dr. Mario T. Scaduto Ph.D.
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Summary: Winner of Award as Outstanding Academic Book
Review: In the Mind's Eye was selected as one of the "Outstanding Academic Books of 1998" by Choice magazine, a publication of the Association of College & Research Libraries of the American Library Association. In January 1999, the book was designated as among the "best of the best" for 1998, being among 13 books in the psychology category recommended for inclusion in college and university libraries. Selection for the award is based on "overall excellence in presentation and scholarship, importance relative to other literature in the field, distinction as a first treatment . . ............"
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Summary: Innovative
Review: This author challenges the status quo about learning and creativity. His ideas challenge you think and re-visit your preconceptions. On the other hand, his writing style is difficult and repetitive. Although interested I found it difficult to finish this book.
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Summary: I was blown away by this book.
Review: This book discusses the difference between visual and linquistic thinking, and shows how some of the greatest thinkers had linquistic problems but had hyper-visualization abilities. Great book for the parent of a gifted child who has problems writing, reading or listening.
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