Changing Minds

Changing Minds: The Art and Science of Changing Our Own and Other People's Minds

This book is focused on two simple questions:

What happens when we change our minds, and what exactly does it take for a person to change her mind and begin to act on the basis of her new opinion?

Based on 20 years of cognitive research, Gardner claims that there are seven techniques you can use to change someone's mind and they can all work together .

1. Reason. Present logical facts in sequence
2. Research. Present relevant data
3. Resonance. Make your position "feel right" to your audience.
4. Representational Redescriptions. Present it in a number of ways that the argument becomes more convincing .
5. Resources and Rewards. Make an offer that your audience finds too good to refuse.
6. Real-World Events. Wars, hurricanes and economic depressions can cause people to change their views.
7. Resistance. Obviously, the greater resistance you face, the harder it will be to convince others to change their minds

Many aspects of life are oriented toward changing minds and this book helps to broaden our horizons and improve our lives.