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Howard Gardner
Review by Bernadette Hernandez

Target audience: Teachers, trainers, coaches, parents - those people who have an interest in defining, understanding and exploring the concept of intelligence/intelligences and its place within the learning arena.

Summary of content: Howard Gardner's 'Frames of Mind' - The theory of multiple intelligencies challenges the traditional views of "IQ", in which intelligence testing is solely on specific measurable traits; like general problem solving skill and comprehension (check the internet). He puts forward the idea that there are seven or more intelligencies and that it is not 'if you are smart' but how you are smart.

The book has been written in three parts. Part one summarises the principle themes of frames of mind and explains where multiplie intelligences is situated within the history of intelligence and he then reviews 'what is an intelligence'.

Then in part two of the book he describes in detail each of the 7 intelligences: the 'Linguistic', 'Logical', 'Mathematical', 'Musical', 'Spatial', 'Bodily, 'Kinesthetic' and the 'Personal Intelliegence'. Following the introduction of the intelligences and a description of their perspective 'modes of operations', he presents a critique of the theory in terms of "those deficiencies most evident at the time of writing this book"

In part three of the book Howard Gardner concludes with some considerations of how intelligence can and does develop within a culture, and how they can be utilised in various educational settings.

Recommended features:
Howard Gardner's theory on 'Multiple Intelligencies'.
Chapter 5 Linguistic Intelligence
Chapter 6 Musical Intelligence
Chapter 7 Logical Mathematical Intelligence
Chapter 8 Spatial Intelligence
Chapter 9 Bodily Kinesthetic Intelligence
Chapter 10 The Personal Intelligences
Chapter 14 The application of Intelligences

Personal impressions: This excellent book really opens up the world of so called 'Intelligence' and how the educational world appears to evolve around one or two intelligences. It looks at how the world could look if we were to consider the idea that there may be more than a couple of intelligences. This book requires time and concentration to read but is well worth it.

If all the reader wanted to know was 'What are Multiple Intelligences, then I would read the recommended chapters above. If you are someone who also needs to know what has led Howard Gardner to 'Frames of Minds' then it is important to read the first four chapters. This is one of the books from which 'Accelerated Learning' has been developed. Therefore, knowledge of 'Multiple Intelligence' could answer some of the questions that we have as trainers, coaches and managers and as parents.

Bernadette Hernandez
November 2004