Mastermind by Maria Konnikova: book review

Mastermind:How to Think Like Sherlock Holmes (2013) is written by psychiatrist and journalist Maria Konnikova. Written in four parts: Understanding (Yourself); From Observation to Imagination; The Art of Deduction; and The Science and Art of Self-Knowledge, the book explores how people store information and organize knowledge. The author maintains that, with practice and experience, readers can learn from the detective’s astute observation and methods of logical deduction. The readers too can become perceptive, creative problem-solvers.

Detective Sherlock Holmes, the fictional character created by Arthur Conan Doyle in 1887, has fascinated readers for 127 years. Movies continue to be made depicting the famous detective. In Mastermind the author includes extracts and examples from Arthur Conan Doyle’s four novels and 56 short stories featuring Sherlock Holmes and his side-kick Dr Watson as they solve the most baffling crimes using logic and “systematized common sense.”

Konnikova dissects the detective’s thought processes from observation to logical conclusion. But as Holmes says: “Elementary … it is one of those instances where the reasoner can produce an effect which seems remarkable to his neighbour, because the latter has missed the one little point which is the basis of the deduction.” Whether it’s solving a crime, making a decision, or coming to a personal determination, the process of deduction remains the same – “you take all of your observations … you put them in order, starting from the beginning and leaving nothing out” (the chain of reasoning and the test of possibilities) and you determine what feasible answer remains.

The mind-set of a detective is: ever-ready attention to detail; environmental appropriateness (the context); adaptability; acknowledging limitations; cultivating quiet; constant vigilance, and habit, habit, habit.

Mastermind is an interesting read with generous references to the greatest fictional detective of all time. It includes tips to master reasoning and deduction - especially for beginners because, while the approach may be innovative, the tips don't extend the average reader to explore their depths of reasoning. Rather, it does emphasize the science of habitual observation - and transforming 'seeing' into 'observing.'

Comments

Pir-E-Kamil - The Perfect Mentor by Umera Ahmed: book review

The Perfect Mentor pbuh (2011) is set in Lahore and Islamabad in Pakistan. The novel commences with Imama Mubeen in medical university. She wants to be an eye specialist. Her parents have arranged for her to marry her first cousin Asjad. Salar Sikander, her neighbour, is 18 years old with an IQ of 150+ and a photographic memory. He has long hair tied in a ponytail. He imbibes alcohol, treats women disrespectfully and is generally a “weird chap” and a rude, belligerent teenager. In the past three years he has tried to commit suicide three times. He tries again. Imama and her brother, Waseem, answer the servant’s call to help Salar. They stop the bleeding from his wrist and save his life. Imama and Asjad have been engaged for three years, because she wants to finish her studies first. Imama is really delaying her marriage to Asjad because she loves Jalal Ansar. She proposes to him and he says yes. But he knows his parents won’t agree, nor will Imama’s parents. That

Flaws in the Glass, a self-portrait by Patrick White: book review

The manuscript, Flaws in the Glass (1981), is Patrick Victor Martindale White’s autobiography. White, born in 1912 in England, migrated to Sydney, Australia, when he was six months old. For three years, at the age of 20, he studied French and German literature at King’s College at the University of Cambridge in England. Throughout his life, he published 12 novels. In 1957 he won the inaugural Miles Franklin Literary Award for Voss, published in 1956. In 1961, Riders in the Chariot became a best-seller, winning the Miles Franklin Literary Award. In 1973, he was the first Australian author to be awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature for The Eye of the Storm, despite many critics describing his works as ‘un-Australian’ and himself as ‘Australia’s most unreadable novelist.’ In 1979, The Twyborn Affair was short-listed for the Booker Prize, but he withdrew it from the competition to give younger writers the opportunity to win the award. His autobiography, Flaws in the Glass

Sister cities discussed: Canberra and Islamabad

Two months ago, in March 2015, Australia and Pakistan agreed to explore ways to deepen ties. The relationship between Australia and Pakistan has been strong for decades, and the two countries continue to keep dialogues open. The annual bilateral discussions were held in Australia in March to continue engagements on a wide range of matters of mutual interest. The Pakistan delegation discussed points of interest will include sports, agriculture, economic growth, trade, border protection, business, and education. The possible twinning of the cities of Canberra, the capital of Australia, and Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan, were also on the agenda (i.e. called twin towns or sister cities). Sister City relationships are twinning arrangements that build friendships as well as government, business, culture, and community linkages. Canberra currently has international Sister City relationships with Beijing in China and Nara in Japan. One example of existing

FEAST OR FAMINE

Search This Blog