Mastermind: How to Think Like Sherlock Holmes

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Mastermind: How to Think Like Sherlock Holmes
Mastermind, How to Think Like Sherlock Holmes Book Cover.jpeg
First edition
Author Maria Konnikova
LanguageEnglish
SubjectCritical thinking
Publisher Viking
Publication date
January 3, 2013
Media typePrint
Pages276
ISBN 978-0-670-02657-9
Followed byThe Confidence Game: Why We Fall For It...Every Time (Viking) 

Mastermind: How to Think Like Sherlock Holmes, released January 3, 2013, [1] is a book written by Maria Konnikova exploring ways to improve mindfulness, logical thinking and observation using Arthur Conan Doyle's fictional character Sherlock Holmes as an exemplar. Konnikova intertwines her analysis of Holmes's "habits of mind" with findings from the modern-day fields of neuroscience and psychology and offers advice on how to become a more rational thinker. [2]

Contents

Overview

In Mastermind, Konnikova uses what she refers to as the Watson System and the Holmes System to categorize and discuss people's habits of mind; their mindfulness and decision-making processes. The Watson System, according to Konnikova, is the more natural of the two: rapid, intuitive, reactionary, credulous. The Holmes System is slow, methodical, logical, and comprehensive. [3]

Konnikova helps the reader conceptualize acts of memory formation, retention and retrieval by borrowing Holmes's problem solving metaphor: the brain attic. If the brain is an attic, with finite space, then each bit of information placed there needs to be chosen carefully, organized and stored in a way that is both useful and accessible. "When we are forced to do multiple things at once," Konnikova says, "not only do we perform worse on all of them but our memory decreases and our general well-being suffers a palpable hit." [4]

Konnikova recommends developing "a healthy dose of skepticism", along with inquisitiveness, mindfulness, restraint, and a desire to "look for evidence that both confirms and disconfirms" closely held beliefs. [2] She provides readers with a number of research-based suggestions for increasing self-awareness and emphasizes the need for life-long learning to cultivate "Holmes-style creativity:" [4] practise mental and physical distancing when working out problems (i.e., go for a walk), reduce distractions (i.e., turn off the phone when eating dinner), challenge one's own "built-in reactions and first impressions" to reduce the Watson-like habit of reaching conclusions before all the evidence is in or becoming distracted by superfluous details. [2] [5] [6]

Reception

Konnikova received praise for what one reviewer called the "ingenious delivery system" of using Holmes and Watson to "personify rational and intuitive modes of thought." [7] The book is well-organized, thought-provoking, and entertaining, especially for Holmes fans. [2] [5] [7] [8] Some reviewers point out that, because Holmes is fictional, his problem-solving abilities came from Conan Doyle's construct. It is Holmes, not Watson (who is, largely, portrayed in Mastermind as "unthinking"), that is the key problem solver in the stories, [3] making his "amazing feats of insight," according to one reviewer, a "little too opportunistic." [8] Reviewers found the book to be based in science, though more of a self-help book than an in-depth exploration of the concepts held within it. [3] [9] [10]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sherlock Holmes</span> Fictional character (consulting detective) created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Sherlock Holmes is a fictional detective created by British author Arthur Conan Doyle. Referring to himself as a "consulting detective" in the stories, Holmes is known for his proficiency with observation, deduction, forensic science and logical reasoning that borders on the fantastic, which he employs when investigating cases for a wide variety of clients, including Scotland Yard.

<i>The Hound of the Baskervilles</i> Crime novel by Arthur Conan Doyle

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Professor James Moriarty is a fictional character and criminal mastermind created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle to be a formidable enemy for the author's fictional detective Sherlock Holmes. He was created primarily as a device by which Doyle could kill Holmes and end the hero's stories. Professor Moriarty first appears in the short story "The Adventure of the Final Problem", first published in The Strand Magazine in December 1893. He also plays a role in the final Sherlock Holmes novel The Valley of Fear, but without a direct appearance. Holmes mentions Moriarty in five other stories: "The Adventure of the Empty House", "The Adventure of the Norwood Builder", "The Adventure of the Missing Three-Quarter", "The Adventure of the Illustrious Client", and "His Last Bow".

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Peter Jeremy William Huggins, known professionally as Jeremy Brett, was an English actor. He played fictional detective Sherlock Holmes in four Granada TV series from 1984 to 1994 in all 41 episodes. His career spanned from stage, to television and film, to Shakespeare and musical theatre. He also played the smitten Freddy Eynsford-Hill in the 1964 Warner Bros. production of My Fair Lady.

Mastermind, Master Mind or The Mastermind may refer to:

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Mycroft Holmes is a fictional character appearing in stories written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle from 1893 to 1908. The elder brother of detective Sherlock Holmes, he is a government official and a founding member of the Diogenes Club. Mycroft is described as having abilities of deduction and knowledge exceeding even those of his brother, though their practical use is limited by his dislike of fieldwork.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Final Problem</span> Short story by Arthur Conan Doyle featuring Sherlock Holmes

"The Final Problem" is a short story by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle featuring his detective character Sherlock Holmes. It was first published in The Strand Magazine in the United Kingdom, and McClure's in the United States, under the title "The Adventure of the Final Problem" in December 1893. It appears in book form as part of the collection The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Problem of Thor Bridge</span> Short story by Arthur Conan Doyle

"The Problem of Thor Bridge" is a Sherlock Holmes short story by Arthur Conan Doyle collected in The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes (1927). It was first published in 1922 in The Strand Magazine (UK) and Hearst's International (US).

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Professor Moriarty in other media</span>

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References

  1. ↑ Fong, Joss (January 10, 2013). "It's Elementary". The Scientist. Midland, Ontario, Canada: LabX Media Group. Retrieved February 13, 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Leddy, Chuck (January 7, 2013). "Discovering the Sherlock Holmes in all of us: Book Review". Boston Globe. Boston, MA. p. G.6. Retrieved February 13, 2016.
  3. 1 2 3 Scott, Sophie (January 28, 2013). "Mastermind: How to Think Like Sherlock Holmes - Review". The Guardian. Guardian News and Media Limited. Retrieved February 17, 2016.
  4. 1 2 Kaye, Marcia (January 13, 2013). "Thinking Outside of the Box". Toronto Star. Toronto, Ontario. p. IN.6.
  5. 1 2 O'Brien, Jonathan (January 27, 2013). "Elementary Skills to Free Your Inner Super Sleuth". Sunday Business Post. Ireland: Post Publications Limited. Retrieved February 18, 2016.
  6. ↑ Crace, John (January 14, 2013). "G2: Arts: Digested read: Declutter your 'brain attic' - and soon you'll be as smart as the great Sherlock Holmes!". The Guardian. London (UK). p. 19.
  7. 1 2 Hutson, Matthew (January 11, 2013). "Books: The Brain of Baker Street". The Wall Street Journal. Dow Jones and Company, Inc. Retrieved February 18, 2016.
  8. 1 2 McDowell, Lesley (April 13, 2014). "Mastermind: How to Think Like Sherlock Holmes" . The Independent. London (UK). p. 20. Archived from the original on 2022-05-12. Retrieved February 18, 2016.
  9. ↑ Bouton, Katherine (March 12, 2013). "Seeing, and Thinking, Like Sherlock Holmes". New York Times. No. East Coast Late Edition. New York, NY. p. D.3. Retrieved February 18, 2016.
  10. ↑ Bai, Nina (March 1, 2013). "MIND Reviews: Mastermind. Elementary Mind-Set: Mastermind: How to Think Like Sherlock Holmes". Scientific American. Scientific America, A Division of Nature America, Inc. Retrieved February 18, 2016.
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