I purchased this book about 4 years ago when I was working a full-time job and going to graduate school to earn a Master of Education degree in Mathematics. The math courses suited me for the most part, since they pertained to both my major and my interests in working with numbers. The education courses, on the other hand, were intimidating, because I grew up with an inferiority complex about my abilities to perform in courses that demanded both extensive amounts of reading and the ability to comprehend several themes and passages.
It was during this period that, because I was going to school and working full-time simultaneously, on many days the only opportunities I had to study were either during my lunch hour or right after I arrived home late at night with thoughts of having to be back at work the next morning. Fortunately, it was also then that I was already enthralled enough with Marilyn's books and Parade column to buy this publication.
Among the several helpful suggestions Marilyn pointed out in this book is that when reading, do not hesitate to write your thoughts and opinions in the margins alongside key paragraphs and sentences. This particular approach, in a manner of speaking, places you on a more equal footing with the professor or author, and it is a valuable reminder that your interpretations and viewpoints are just as important as, if not more important than, the material you are trying to focus upon.
Despite my limited time and resources, this piece of advice helped me to participate adequately in classroom discussions. Except for a couple of B's, which I received before I even bought this book, I ended up graduating with A's in every course.
Thank you, God! And thank you, Marilyn!
First, it does what it says it does. The scores of exercises will pump up the mind. I was hoping for more of the "solve this type of problem and think this way" sort of thing-and there is alot of this. But whats included will give you a more "rounded-off" intellect. In some of the exercises you have to think of which compass direction you are pointed in and try to be aware of it-in others you have to solve a logic puzzle! I have yet to do all of the exercises. Some of them I probably wont do-because of the type of people I work around and the constraints of my environment there. And cryptograms must be some form of intellectual torture technique.
Second, the book gave me a good look at what the really smart folks think of intelligence. I have come to know that there are many facets of it and developing in all areas is important. The Nerd at school is possibly the intellectual equivalent of the corporate executive-they have just developed their intellects along different lines. One seemingly useful, the other seemingly annoying. Try to guess who falls into which category after reading the book!
Bye now {:?)