The Element: How Finding Your Passion Changes Everything

Finding my Element...or Telling me about others who had?

SO. I picked up this book originally because I heard a speech by the author about the book. The speech was wonderful! However, the book was just repeating over and over ALL these success stories about people who weren't successful in school, but made it big time after they dropped out or moved on or whatever. I thought this book was going to inspire me to GO find my element...nope. It inspired me to want to hurt allll the people in the book who were living their dreams when they didn't work hard in school. I'm working my butt off in school, and my element is sitting on a shelf collecting dust because everyone seems to get in my way. This book did not help me to feel better about not having my element, but it helped me feel depressed and angry toward our school system, most of which I knew about the No Child Left Behind...but overall, not what I was expecting. A huge disappointment.

3 out of 10 people found this review helpful.

Definitely Recommended

Very thought provoking. It makes you question your misconceptions of creativity and intelligence. Excellent for any educator as well, to understand that students will shine in their own way.

When you love what you do, it doesn't feel like work. Find your passion and attain "the Element."

According to author and education consultant Sir Ken Robinson, today's educational systems promote only certain types of learning and recognize only certain types of intelligence and creativity. Yet people are happiest when they follow their talents and do what they love. Robinson, writing with co-author Lou Aronica, describes this avenue to fulfillment as "the Element," the intersection of ability and passion. He uses stories of artists, scientists, athletes and musicians to support his theory. While Robinson makes a strong case for finding your Element, he doesn't tell you how to get there. Since he relies on case histories of the famous, some readers might feel more distanced than motivated. Nonetheless, getAbstract recommends this thoughtful self-help book, which challenges traditional views of intelligence and creativity.

Frustrating!!!

I was assigned this book to read as a school related project. Unfortunately for me and for the upcoming tests I will have on it, I could barely get through it. The repetitiveness of certain topics such as intelligence, and "the zone" broke down my already small amount of patients very quickly. Towards the beginning of the book, I was in amazement and was very happy to agree with Robinson's stance on non-essential classes, and cutting of the arts from schools, but after the necessary amount of explanation, I felt like the excessive information was wasting my time and energy. Before starting to read, I was building a sense of excitement, "wow", I though, "this book may really change my life and help me achieve success" however, learning the overwhelming amount of success stories of wealthy celebrities made me feel of lesser quality as a young person. Unlike most of the examples written about, I do have school grades that I am proud of, and I do not have one passion that I cannot figure out. The style of writing is too "matter of fact" for my taste, and I simply have a lot of trouble getting through it. I do not recommend this for teenagers whatsoever.

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Completely Inspiring, but a One Time Read

After watching Ken Robinson's TED video in my senior English class I knew I had to read The Element. Ken Robinson's strong speech about the lack of creativity in the U.S. school systems was inspiring, and was very relatable. After reading the book I was surprisingly disappointed. Many of the people featured in Robinson's book turned out to be musicians or noble peace prizewinners, not just basic everyday people who did something great in medicine or founded a National Park. I was also disappointed with the repetition throughout the entire book, leaving you feeling overwhelmed and frozen in time. I would have liked to see the chapters build off each other rather than bounce from topic to topic and not ever pinpointing a solid idea.
The Element wasn't just filled with stories of famous people and run on topics. It opened doors to new ideas that never crossed my mind. While reading The Element you might want to jot ideas down because the topics touched on leave you thinking; for example how the IQ test was formed and used throughout history and how the ACT has the same basic structure but used for different purposes. Some of the other topics The Element presents you with just reinforce things we already do on an everyday basis, like associating ourselves with people with similar interests. Robinson refers to this as finding your tribe, and personally I think it plays a large part in everyday life.
I rated The Element a 3.0 out of 5.0 stars because it had its ups and downs. Some chapters kept you on your toes while others slowly put you to sleep. I think The Element overall has great potential in getting you inspired and keeping dreams alive, but I think most would agree it's a one time read.

Robinson brings ideas to light, but once through is enough.

After watching Ken Robinson's TED video in my senior English class I knew I had to read The Element. Ken Robinson's strong speech about the lack of creativity in the U.S. school systems was inspiring, and was very relatable. After reading the book I was surprisingly disappointed.
Many of the people featured in Robinson's book turned out to be musicians or Noble Peace prizewinners, not just basic everyday people who did something great in medicine or founded a National Park. I was also disappointed with the repetition throughout the entire book, leaving you feeling overwhelmed and frozen in time. I would have like to see the chapters build off each other rather than bounce from topic to topic and not ever pinpointing a solid idea.
The Element wasn't just filled with storied of famous people and run-on topics. It opened doors to new ideas that never crossed my mind. While reading The Element you might want to jot ideas down because the topics touched on leave you thinking; for example, how the IQ test was formed and used throughout history and how the ACT has the same basic structure but used for different purposes. Some of the other topics The Element present you with just reinforce things we already do on an everyday basis, like associating ourselves with people with similar interests. Robinson refers to this as finding your tribe, and personally I think it plays a large part in everyday life.
I rated The Element a 3.0 out of 5.0 stars because it had its ups and downs. Some chapters kept you on your toes while others slowly put you to sleep. I think The Element overall has great potential in getting you inspired and keeping dreams alive, but I think most would agree it's a one-time read.

very very disappointed with B & N delivery...

ordered this book a week ago, but still have not received it.. takes too long.

0 out of 9 people found this review helpful.

The Element--a life changing experience

Every so often a book comes along that shakes your world. Whether you're already doing what you love, or know someone who isn't, this book is an absolute marvel. Aside from being a scathing indictment on our antiquated educational system, it is a wonderful motivator to do what you love and love what you do. I've bought copies for everyone at my office and in my family!

element

This is an excellent book on creativity. It is used as required material for the Creative minds class at De Anza College. I strongly recommend this book.

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

The Element

All teachers, parents and students should have this as required reading!!!

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

I prefer Sugar's "The Silent Crisis Destroying America's Brightest Minds"

Sugar's 'The Silent Crisis Destroying America's Brightest Minds" is a book that is all about educational reality, the facts on the ground, not vacuous educational theories.

Sugar pioneered the SMARTGRADES school notebooks that contain the new learning technology, ACANDY Processing Tools, that empower students for academic success. She transformed my kids into Grade A students, soI speak from experience, not hypothetical theory. Its not all about teaching, its all about learning.

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

inspiring

This book will help you find your way if you don't know which way to go, forgot what to do, feel like you don't belong, can't see where others belong or what they have to give. It will give you inspiration if life has become old-boring-tired, to find new life and direction. It helps you see that we all have something to give and to receive from everyone and everything. And clarifies that everything has meaning and purpose.

Great for parents, kids, and school officials

I thought his information and ideas were great, and that more schools and parents should take his ideas into consideration. Some parts of the book were a little slow reading, but I thought his message was GREAT!!!

If you don't know what you want to be when you grow up, read this!

If your children need to know what they should do for a career, have them read this or read it and guide them through the decision process. Ken Robinson has done an excellant job putting things into perspective. I wish this book was required reading by High School seniors and College freshman. Did you hear me teachers & professors?
This is a great book for anyone.

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