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The Code of the Extraordinary Mind: 10 Unconventional Laws to Redefine Your Life and Succeed On Your Own Terms
What if you questioned everything you know and threw out all the pieces that hold you back? With The Code of the Extraordinary Mind, you can.
Learn to think like the greatest creative minds of our era—to question, challenge, and create new rules for your ideas of love, education, spirituality, work, happiness, and meaning. The Code of the Extraordinary Mind is a blueprint for retraining our minds to hack everything—how we work, love, parent, and heal—and learn to succeed on our own terms.
No matter where you’re starting from, you can build a life that’s truly extraordinary and make a dent in the universe. In this book, you will learn to bend reality, question the brules, transcend the culturescape, embrace your quest, practice consciousness engineering, live in blissipline, and push humanity forward. You will question your limits and realize that there are none. Your understanding of the world around you and your place in it will change, and you will find yourself operating at a new, extraordinary level in every way—with happiness, purpose, fulfillment, and love.
Learn to think like the greatest creative minds of our era—to question, challenge, and create new rules for your ideas of love, education, spirituality, work, happiness, and meaning. The Code of the Extraordinary Mind is a blueprint for retraining our minds to hack everything—how we work, love, parent, and heal—and learn to succeed on our own terms.
No matter where you’re starting from, you can build a life that’s truly extraordinary and make a dent in the universe. In this book, you will learn to bend reality, question the brules, transcend the culturescape, embrace your quest, practice consciousness engineering, live in blissipline, and push humanity forward. You will question your limits and realize that there are none. Your understanding of the world around you and your place in it will change, and you will find yourself operating at a new, extraordinary level in every way—with happiness, purpose, fulfillment, and love.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published May 10, 2016
About the author
Vishen Lakhiani
25 books483 followersVishen is an author and entrepreneur in the ed-tech space. He is the founder and CEO of Mindvalley, an education technology company specialising in learning experience design.
Mindvalley creates tech and platforms that power online academies in areas that traditional education ignores. These include mindfulness, personal growth, wellness, spirituality and more. Mindvalley employs 200 people and has 500,000 students globally.
Vishen is also one of the world's leading experts on company culture and has won numerous awards for workspace design In addition to founder of Mindvalley, he is the founder of the transformational festival A-Fest, the popular meditation app, Omvana, and the author of "The Code of the Extraordinary Mind."
Vishen quest is to help move humanity to a more holistic, integrated education system that caters for the whole being.
Mindvalley creates tech and platforms that power online academies in areas that traditional education ignores. These include mindfulness, personal growth, wellness, spirituality and more. Mindvalley employs 200 people and has 500,000 students globally.
Vishen is also one of the world's leading experts on company culture and has won numerous awards for workspace design In addition to founder of Mindvalley, he is the founder of the transformational festival A-Fest, the popular meditation app, Omvana, and the author of "The Code of the Extraordinary Mind."
Vishen quest is to help move humanity to a more holistic, integrated education system that caters for the whole being.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 946 reviews
July 25, 2016
This guy should read Ego is the Enemy. Got a little tired of him using himself for almost all the examples in the book .
July 20, 2016
I did find the book went on a bit, the author was constantly referring people to his website.
I felt the key takeaways are:
1) don't live by society's rules, decide what is appropriate for you, university, a particular career path may not be right for you
2) overcome limiting beliefs, believe in yourself
3) trust your intuition - be guided in which customers to call
4) visualise success
5) exercise
6) meditate
7) have a quest/mission in life
I wouldn't recommend the book to anyone who has a fair amount of experience already in personal development
I felt the key takeaways are:
1) don't live by society's rules, decide what is appropriate for you, university, a particular career path may not be right for you
2) overcome limiting beliefs, believe in yourself
3) trust your intuition - be guided in which customers to call
4) visualise success
5) exercise
6) meditate
7) have a quest/mission in life
I wouldn't recommend the book to anyone who has a fair amount of experience already in personal development
June 22, 2020
Actions from this book probably changed my life more than from any other
This book contains a new philosophy of living and entrepreneurship. It’s controversial in many places, but if you are open-minded, this is the perfect book to read.
I have known about Mindvalley and Vishen for several years. I observe what Vishen researches all the time because he is very open about his company culture. He shares a lot of interesting information for personal life, and he shares ...
Read my summary of this book here: https://www.mentorist.app/books/the-c...
This book contains a new philosophy of living and entrepreneurship. It’s controversial in many places, but if you are open-minded, this is the perfect book to read.
I have known about Mindvalley and Vishen for several years. I observe what Vishen researches all the time because he is very open about his company culture. He shares a lot of interesting information for personal life, and he shares ...
Read my summary of this book here: https://www.mentorist.app/books/the-c...
August 4, 2016
Oh boy, this was terrible. He said right from the outset that readers would either love it or hate it, and I definitely hated it. Not because it shook my worldview, but because the author is such a self-promoter and braggart who is basically (and admittedly) repackaging well-explored self-help ideas that are fairly old hat by this point.
October 15, 2016
Perhaps I've reached the end of the road with self-help books because this felt recycled. The author didn't provide anything new, and his parables were not especially interesting. Much of the time, I felt like the author was marketing his own business or justifying his own actions. I did on a few occasions get that sickly feeling in my gut, especially hearing regurgitated principles under the guise of an updated label, that this book was just another money-grab in the booming self-help industry. But for anyone who hasn't read widely in this genre, you may get some value out of this.
June 23, 2019
I expected way more from Vishen...it's um, probably one of the worst self development books I've ever read. Vishen's biography (oh the luxury, the travels!) + self development nuggets (which you can find in ANY other book) + self advertising (every.single.chapter has a link) = this book. Especially the self advertising was the thing which I grew tired off.
Yes he's successful. And yes he has an interesting life so far....so interesting he used mostly himself as an example in the book. Sometimes I also had the feeling he was taking revenge on companies who fired him by writing about them (several times) and how successful he became afterwards (dito). The intro starts with a promise this book won't take long to get down to business, compared to other books. After that, be prepared to read several chapters on what this book is all about (You will learn to blabla) before really getting into it. Of all the books I've read, this was the longest intro ever. The best stuff is found in the appendix.
If you are new to self development, this book is a nice intro. I liked the 6 phase meditation. But if you are a self help junkie like me searching for gems and hate repetitive (even subliminal) advertising, don't read it.
I'm sure Vishen is a nice guy but because of this book I won't sign up for Mindvalley programs. Just being brutally honest here. In my humble opinion he's not a writer, but a public speaker.
Yes he's successful. And yes he has an interesting life so far....so interesting he used mostly himself as an example in the book. Sometimes I also had the feeling he was taking revenge on companies who fired him by writing about them (several times) and how successful he became afterwards (dito). The intro starts with a promise this book won't take long to get down to business, compared to other books. After that, be prepared to read several chapters on what this book is all about (You will learn to blabla) before really getting into it. Of all the books I've read, this was the longest intro ever. The best stuff is found in the appendix.
If you are new to self development, this book is a nice intro. I liked the 6 phase meditation. But if you are a self help junkie like me searching for gems and hate repetitive (even subliminal) advertising, don't read it.
I'm sure Vishen is a nice guy but because of this book I won't sign up for Mindvalley programs. Just being brutally honest here. In my humble opinion he's not a writer, but a public speaker.
August 17, 2018
I recieved this book as a free Goodreads giveaway.
I'd like to start off by saying I WANTED to like this book. I really truly wanted to be able to read it and take even a tiny piece of advice from it and help improve my life. But, alas, by the 3/4 mark in the book i found myself skimming more than reading just to say I actually read it all the way through.
I'll also admit to skimming the reviews before writing my own just to make sure I wasn't completely out in left field with my overall impression of the book, but nope, there are plenty of others who share some of my opinions, so here goes...
I felt as if this book was just one big ploy to get us to visit his website. Plain and simple. This became even more apparent when we get to the end of the book and he reveals one of his end goals was to have a billion (yup, with a big fat B) members. Even if I found any of the advice in the book useful, since coming to this particular conclusion I simply refuse to even go peek at it, because that's just how I roll. I'm not going to be another tick closer to that mark.
Second, I found that most of the book was written (and I really hope it wasn't intentional, but whatever) in a very egotistical tone. I mean, holy shitballs dude, if I have to hear about some fabulous vacation one more time, or some ultra exclusive retreat you attended (that probably cost more than I'd make in 5 years IF I had zero expenses and saved every single penny I earned, INCLUDING the ones I picked up off the sidewalk), or the week long whatever they were that you spend with Bill Gates or Elon Musk or insert random super rich person here, I was going to puke. WE GET IT. You have money. You are able to do all these ultra exclusive things that us poor (in both senses of the word) schmucks could never do. No offense, but get over yourself. These witty anecdotes were the main reason I checked out of this book after about chapter 2 (we'll completely discount the fact that I grew weary of the rules he was proposing because they could never apply to my life).
I'm not going to get into any more specifics because I just don't have it in me. I'd much rather move on to the next book in my ever-growing pile and read something to hopefully take the place of the drivel this book inserted in my brain over the last week.
Saying all that, the writing itself (completely ignoring the content) wasn't too horrific, so it's got that going for it... I'll give you another cookie (star) for that...
Ok, two more points then I'm done...
I really hope this proof I recieved as part of the giveaway (I recieved an uncorrected ARC) was properly fact checked.... because last time I checked Calgary is only about 2000km AWAY and 2 provinces removed from Ontario, and not IN Ontario, as was written in the book (ok, I checked -- Google is a wonderful tool you know -- Calgary to the westernmost edge of Ontario is 1500 km...)
Second, the last time I checked, the first person (I'd bet my life on it) that 95% of the planet thinks of when one talks about race wars and ethnic cleansing is NOT Stalin. Sure, he'd make the conversation. But dude, come on. I'll give you a hint... it starts with H and ends with itler. Maybe you didn't want his name appearing in the text on account of how it may influence the categorizing robots at Amazon or iTunes.... if that's the case, think of a better situation to comment upon then.
I'll leave you with this final thought... Proposing a change in lifestyle for others and saying you have proof it works, and then only using yourself as an example throughout the whole book just stinks of faulty scientific methodology and an overinflated ego. Fill the book with proven success stories and MAYBE the author would have more credibility.
I'd like to start off by saying I WANTED to like this book. I really truly wanted to be able to read it and take even a tiny piece of advice from it and help improve my life. But, alas, by the 3/4 mark in the book i found myself skimming more than reading just to say I actually read it all the way through.
I'll also admit to skimming the reviews before writing my own just to make sure I wasn't completely out in left field with my overall impression of the book, but nope, there are plenty of others who share some of my opinions, so here goes...
I felt as if this book was just one big ploy to get us to visit his website. Plain and simple. This became even more apparent when we get to the end of the book and he reveals one of his end goals was to have a billion (yup, with a big fat B) members. Even if I found any of the advice in the book useful, since coming to this particular conclusion I simply refuse to even go peek at it, because that's just how I roll. I'm not going to be another tick closer to that mark.
Second, I found that most of the book was written (and I really hope it wasn't intentional, but whatever) in a very egotistical tone. I mean, holy shitballs dude, if I have to hear about some fabulous vacation one more time, or some ultra exclusive retreat you attended (that probably cost more than I'd make in 5 years IF I had zero expenses and saved every single penny I earned, INCLUDING the ones I picked up off the sidewalk), or the week long whatever they were that you spend with Bill Gates or Elon Musk or insert random super rich person here, I was going to puke. WE GET IT. You have money. You are able to do all these ultra exclusive things that us poor (in both senses of the word) schmucks could never do. No offense, but get over yourself. These witty anecdotes were the main reason I checked out of this book after about chapter 2 (we'll completely discount the fact that I grew weary of the rules he was proposing because they could never apply to my life).
I'm not going to get into any more specifics because I just don't have it in me. I'd much rather move on to the next book in my ever-growing pile and read something to hopefully take the place of the drivel this book inserted in my brain over the last week.
Saying all that, the writing itself (completely ignoring the content) wasn't too horrific, so it's got that going for it... I'll give you another cookie (star) for that...
Ok, two more points then I'm done...
I really hope this proof I recieved as part of the giveaway (I recieved an uncorrected ARC) was properly fact checked.... because last time I checked Calgary is only about 2000km AWAY and 2 provinces removed from Ontario, and not IN Ontario, as was written in the book (ok, I checked -- Google is a wonderful tool you know -- Calgary to the westernmost edge of Ontario is 1500 km...)
Second, the last time I checked, the first person (I'd bet my life on it) that 95% of the planet thinks of when one talks about race wars and ethnic cleansing is NOT Stalin. Sure, he'd make the conversation. But dude, come on. I'll give you a hint... it starts with H and ends with itler. Maybe you didn't want his name appearing in the text on account of how it may influence the categorizing robots at Amazon or iTunes.... if that's the case, think of a better situation to comment upon then.
I'll leave you with this final thought... Proposing a change in lifestyle for others and saying you have proof it works, and then only using yourself as an example throughout the whole book just stinks of faulty scientific methodology and an overinflated ego. Fill the book with proven success stories and MAYBE the author would have more credibility.
June 18, 2016
This dude says to ignore brules, "bullshit rules". I say ignore bullshit advice, which is what 80% of this book is.
October 23, 2017
It is a little annoying when a book starts off by saying "This isn't going to be one of those type of books" and then ends up being exactly that type of book.
And there is one massive intro to try get this point across.
Secondly a lot of the book is focused around name dropping and using himself in most of the examples of success.
It might have been better in a biography format with the amount it centred around Vishen.
Lastly the book felt like a marketing tool for his website/courses. I get that this all forms part of his success story. But being pointed to the website in every chapter is just too much.
Now that I've ranted a little.
There are little nuggets of useful ideas/mindsets that can and should be adopted.
I like the idea of not conforming to bullshit rules, simply because everyone else does.
Not everyone will like/agree with his stance on religion/spirituality. But each to his own, that is what the book is about.
No doubt that Vishen has made a super success of his life, and that is great.
For me if the book conveyed the important information in a non-infomercial type of way, and used other real-world samples it might have resonated a bit more.
Each to his own for picking up this book. But it is not something I'll go around recommending.
And there is one massive intro to try get this point across.
Secondly a lot of the book is focused around name dropping and using himself in most of the examples of success.
It might have been better in a biography format with the amount it centred around Vishen.
Lastly the book felt like a marketing tool for his website/courses. I get that this all forms part of his success story. But being pointed to the website in every chapter is just too much.
Now that I've ranted a little.
There are little nuggets of useful ideas/mindsets that can and should be adopted.
I like the idea of not conforming to bullshit rules, simply because everyone else does.
Not everyone will like/agree with his stance on religion/spirituality. But each to his own, that is what the book is about.
No doubt that Vishen has made a super success of his life, and that is great.
For me if the book conveyed the important information in a non-infomercial type of way, and used other real-world samples it might have resonated a bit more.
Each to his own for picking up this book. But it is not something I'll go around recommending.
May 10, 2016
If you want to live an authentic life, read this book, apply the exercises, and learn a few new words along the way! As a way to find your own authenticity, Vishen suggests to start questioning the rules imposed by the culturescape, who include our parents, teachers, clergymen, and those in authority. In order to transcend your culturescape, throw out the Brules with the bathwater …. oh, and Brules = Bullshit Rules. Question the rules imposed by the culturescape, then differentiate the rules from the brules. Transform your inner world by bending your reality to fit the new consciousness you are engineering for your future, and do this daily, with blissful discipline ….. blissipline! Vishen talks about the importance of gratitude and forgiveness and how happiness is the automatic result. Once you reach this intrinsically inspired blissful place, outer influences, disappointments, obstacles, brakes and breaks cannot derail you. Therefore, you become, in a word, unfuckwithable! … and emotionally more intelligent. This book highlights 10 actions to take, known as the code, to get you started on the road to finding your passion. I am still in the process of identifying the brules in my culturescape and it has been eye-opening to say the least! Guess what? … I don’t need a PhD to share the knowledge and insights that I have already accumulated, and I don’t have to be the eternal student! So what will happen if we all follow our passion? Less doctors, engineers, and scientists, and more dancers, actors, and beach bums? No, I don’t believe that. I believe we’ll have more passionate people doing what is good for all of humanity, not just themselves. This book is easy to read, with great stories, and overall, it is practical. Definitely one of the best books in the Self-Help genre. Live with fervor and passion!!
February 4, 2017
I noticed this book based on the high rating on Goodreads. And this time I could not disagree with Goodreads more.
It's a cocktail of everything. And the author had successfully mixed his academic background in computer engineering and family background as an Malaysian Indian into whatever he is preaching. And the title happened to be "the code..."
I saw shadows of Adler, CBT. And there are, again, brief introductions on self compassion, forgiveness and the art of giving.
I thought that I would be reading the latest research on brain. And I stepped into a feel-good motivational talk by an entrepreneur who listed carefully about his Facebook online courses and forums at the end of his book.
It's a cocktail of everything. And the author had successfully mixed his academic background in computer engineering and family background as an Malaysian Indian into whatever he is preaching. And the title happened to be "the code..."
I saw shadows of Adler, CBT. And there are, again, brief introductions on self compassion, forgiveness and the art of giving.
I thought that I would be reading the latest research on brain. And I stepped into a feel-good motivational talk by an entrepreneur who listed carefully about his Facebook online courses and forums at the end of his book.
August 31, 2016
I really disliked the lapses into infomercial and name dropping, but the content was sufficient to overcome those shortcomings. First the new words: "blissipline" (the discipline of living a life of bliss -- Joseph Campbell would be proud.), "brules" (bullshit rules we tell ourselves), and "unfuckwithable" (an inner resilience and strength.)
New vocabulary aside, the book hit on some of my bigger beefs with meditation and mindfulness. I'm too pragmatic for the 'woo woo' meditation crowd. I'm also in love with paradoxical thinking which jars with 'oneness'. The strength of the book is how it cuts through that and plucks out the benefits of meditation and removes a lot of the dross. I've actually incorporated the six stage meditation into my daily life, in large part because it seems to incorporate the scientific studies on what works and what doesn't with meditation.
The other benefit I've noticed is it helped me with the paradox of goal setting and living in the moment. I'm not satisfied merely focusing on the present (and yes I know goal setting is something you do in the present), nor am I satisfied looking at my long term goals. The two practices often feel (and are) at cross purposes. The book didn't resolve the paradox, just acknowledged each viewpoint's importance. Changing the goal focus from means goals (goals that are a means to an end) to end goals (goals that are an end in themselves) was particularly helpful.
New vocabulary aside, the book hit on some of my bigger beefs with meditation and mindfulness. I'm too pragmatic for the 'woo woo' meditation crowd. I'm also in love with paradoxical thinking which jars with 'oneness'. The strength of the book is how it cuts through that and plucks out the benefits of meditation and removes a lot of the dross. I've actually incorporated the six stage meditation into my daily life, in large part because it seems to incorporate the scientific studies on what works and what doesn't with meditation.
The other benefit I've noticed is it helped me with the paradox of goal setting and living in the moment. I'm not satisfied merely focusing on the present (and yes I know goal setting is something you do in the present), nor am I satisfied looking at my long term goals. The two practices often feel (and are) at cross purposes. The book didn't resolve the paradox, just acknowledged each viewpoint's importance. Changing the goal focus from means goals (goals that are a means to an end) to end goals (goals that are an end in themselves) was particularly helpful.
July 17, 2016
A third of the way through this book it lost credibility. I lost trust in the authors stories an name dropping.
October 9, 2017
I was hoping for a mind blowing experience while reading this book; one that would change my life and outlook but alas, it is just another egotistical writer who just wanted to spend hours of his readers' lives reading about how he is above and beyond the norm ("extraordinary").
I was not into it at all. It felt more like a braggadocious book than anything else.
I was not into it at all. It felt more like a braggadocious book than anything else.
November 8, 2020
A book that contains superb ideas for progressive thinking. Some may like the idea, and some may not. I like it a little better than dislikes. Vishen has excellent ideas and suggestions about creating a fresh way of thinking and producing a more open and purposeful world than the one we’re living in right now. It talks about letting go of moral values and culture that would hinder personal growth (brules). However, I think one should cautiously discern before deciding to discard any of the moral values you’ve grown up with. Good culture and moral values shape a person. We need that in us. It also holds many people back from significant achievements because of modesty and overly careful moral and cultural values.
Breaking down several barriers and incorporating several principals from original opinions to create one grand thought of togetherness without being ruled by the judgment. Changing your worldview and how you see yourself….
There are fascinating teachings that cross my path as relevant, like meditation and mindfulness, for my own achievements.
For someone who’s been bogged down by life’s drama, this book would help get your perception back on track.
For me, as I’ve read it so far, this book has brought some realization and awareness to how my life has taken shape and what needs to be done to go forward and thrive in my dire situation.
Changing the way you think might be the very first step out of the rut!
A good deal of new teachings packed into this book.
Yes, I would recommend it to anyone needing a shift of mindset and an alternative way to look at your world and yourself!
Breaking down several barriers and incorporating several principals from original opinions to create one grand thought of togetherness without being ruled by the judgment. Changing your worldview and how you see yourself….
There are fascinating teachings that cross my path as relevant, like meditation and mindfulness, for my own achievements.
For someone who’s been bogged down by life’s drama, this book would help get your perception back on track.
For me, as I’ve read it so far, this book has brought some realization and awareness to how my life has taken shape and what needs to be done to go forward and thrive in my dire situation.
Changing the way you think might be the very first step out of the rut!
A good deal of new teachings packed into this book.
Yes, I would recommend it to anyone needing a shift of mindset and an alternative way to look at your world and yourself!
October 9, 2017
I am halfway through the book and I have found only a couple of helpful things which are actually reminders and not mind-blowing.
A couple of observations:
1. The way the author refers to all the celebrities as 'friends' seems fake.
2. Every now and then you are 'encouraged' to go his website.
3. The author lost me in the very beginning when he gave an example of 'being selfish is good sometimes' with the heart analogy. That example made this book look like a storybook.
A couple of observations:
1. The way the author refers to all the celebrities as 'friends' seems fake.
2. Every now and then you are 'encouraged' to go his website.
3. The author lost me in the very beginning when he gave an example of 'being selfish is good sometimes' with the heart analogy. That example made this book look like a storybook.
May 20, 2016
How do you review a book that has potentially saved you from a lifelong struggle to find answers to personal questions or solutions to problems “conventional” human beings don’t have answers to?
It’s hard. It’s baffling. It’s overwhelming. It’s humbling.
Yes, it’s not easy reviewing a book that offers hope for humanity … a chance to cut yourself loose from whatever metaphorical shackles that imprison you, and transcend to levels beyond those dreams you never thought you had a right to dream.
IT DOESN’T MATTER WHAT GENDER, RELIGION, COLOR YOU ARE OR ARE NOT. OR WHAT SITUATION YOU ARE IN. OR HOW WHACKY YOUR DREAM IS. And that’s just the beginning of the good news...
The author, Vishen Lakhiani has gone over and beyond to not only pour out his soulful (and sometimes humorous) anecdotes, but also provide a plethora of tools to help his readers get unstuck and start living a life of “BLISSIPLINE” (which is one of the twenty new words he coined to help anchor the principles he talks about).
WHEN YOU ARE DONE WITH THIS BOOK, YOU WILL LOOK AT THE WORLD AND YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES DIFFERENTLY. YOU WILL BE EQUIPPED WITH MODELS AND SYSTEMS THAT WILL ENABLE YOU TO IDENTIFY WHAT’S HOLDING YOU BACK, GET UNSTUCK, AND MOVE FORWARD UNPERTURBED AND WITH NEW-FOUND DETERMINATION.
In this one-of-a-kind book, Vishen Lakhiani has thought “outside the book” and created a FREE WITH THIS BOOK online learning platform where readers can
* Access video and audio resources describing the exercises in detail
* Download the meditation technique mentioned in the book as an Android or iOS app
* Watch video interviews and tap into the success strategies of movers and shakers like Peter Diamandis, Arianna Huffington, Ken Wilber, Michael Beckwith, Emily Fletcher etc.
* Join a community of readers and interact directly with Vishen Lakhiani
* And so much more…
If you have insight into the principles of computer engineering, you are aware of “dynamic allocation” where a program allocates memory on demand to perform certain tasks. When it it done, it releases the memory.The author suggests we can (similarly) allocate models of reality we desire and release them when they have outlived their purpose or are expired. He goes in depth to describe tools he uses that have helped him reprogram his mind and continually upgrade his models of reality, leading up to the abundant lifestyle he enjoys today. AND YOU CAN DO IT TOO!
This book also contains the wisdom from two hundred hours of interviews with some of the most influential people. Pretty awesome, eh?
I’m a big fan of people who move humanity forward in their own way. And the author has played his part with this book, that has far exceeded my expectations with its golden wisdom, rich list of references, and an invaluable online experience. Not to mention the hope for a new and exciting life ahead (something we can’t buy with Mastercard, right?).
I would like to challenge the author with a subsequent Afterword in the book where he talks about his and some of the people he interviewed’s opinion on what the world would be like if all of humanity was uplifted, and everyone was living a life of happy abundance. What are the challenges the human race would face? If we all achieved mastery over our minds, would we try to dominate others’ minds?
In conclusion, I’d like to end with the gratitude exercise the author talks about over and over. I’m humbled and grateful to the author for taking the initiative to write this. I’m grateful for the opportunity to read this wonderful book. And I’m grateful for the thought that I too one day, can make my own small contribution to moving humanity forward, by continually updating my own models of reality.
It’s hard. It’s baffling. It’s overwhelming. It’s humbling.
Yes, it’s not easy reviewing a book that offers hope for humanity … a chance to cut yourself loose from whatever metaphorical shackles that imprison you, and transcend to levels beyond those dreams you never thought you had a right to dream.
IT DOESN’T MATTER WHAT GENDER, RELIGION, COLOR YOU ARE OR ARE NOT. OR WHAT SITUATION YOU ARE IN. OR HOW WHACKY YOUR DREAM IS. And that’s just the beginning of the good news...
The author, Vishen Lakhiani has gone over and beyond to not only pour out his soulful (and sometimes humorous) anecdotes, but also provide a plethora of tools to help his readers get unstuck and start living a life of “BLISSIPLINE” (which is one of the twenty new words he coined to help anchor the principles he talks about).
WHEN YOU ARE DONE WITH THIS BOOK, YOU WILL LOOK AT THE WORLD AND YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES DIFFERENTLY. YOU WILL BE EQUIPPED WITH MODELS AND SYSTEMS THAT WILL ENABLE YOU TO IDENTIFY WHAT’S HOLDING YOU BACK, GET UNSTUCK, AND MOVE FORWARD UNPERTURBED AND WITH NEW-FOUND DETERMINATION.
In this one-of-a-kind book, Vishen Lakhiani has thought “outside the book” and created a FREE WITH THIS BOOK online learning platform where readers can
* Access video and audio resources describing the exercises in detail
* Download the meditation technique mentioned in the book as an Android or iOS app
* Watch video interviews and tap into the success strategies of movers and shakers like Peter Diamandis, Arianna Huffington, Ken Wilber, Michael Beckwith, Emily Fletcher etc.
* Join a community of readers and interact directly with Vishen Lakhiani
* And so much more…
If you have insight into the principles of computer engineering, you are aware of “dynamic allocation” where a program allocates memory on demand to perform certain tasks. When it it done, it releases the memory.The author suggests we can (similarly) allocate models of reality we desire and release them when they have outlived their purpose or are expired. He goes in depth to describe tools he uses that have helped him reprogram his mind and continually upgrade his models of reality, leading up to the abundant lifestyle he enjoys today. AND YOU CAN DO IT TOO!
This book also contains the wisdom from two hundred hours of interviews with some of the most influential people. Pretty awesome, eh?
I’m a big fan of people who move humanity forward in their own way. And the author has played his part with this book, that has far exceeded my expectations with its golden wisdom, rich list of references, and an invaluable online experience. Not to mention the hope for a new and exciting life ahead (something we can’t buy with Mastercard, right?).
I would like to challenge the author with a subsequent Afterword in the book where he talks about his and some of the people he interviewed’s opinion on what the world would be like if all of humanity was uplifted, and everyone was living a life of happy abundance. What are the challenges the human race would face? If we all achieved mastery over our minds, would we try to dominate others’ minds?
In conclusion, I’d like to end with the gratitude exercise the author talks about over and over. I’m humbled and grateful to the author for taking the initiative to write this. I’m grateful for the opportunity to read this wonderful book. And I’m grateful for the thought that I too one day, can make my own small contribution to moving humanity forward, by continually updating my own models of reality.
December 5, 2016
Not really a self-help book, or maybe a self-help book for people who don't like self-help books? I found it to be more of a helpful manifesto for discarding the BS and cracking on with a life valuable to oneself and others.
September 17, 2017
You need to, like, bend reality, bro!
... and other such puffery delivered in dudely terms. I can't be surprised that a desi guy is as adept at brodom as any other silicon valley whiteboy but I am a bit disappointed that he's emptier than average.
... and other such puffery delivered in dudely terms. I can't be surprised that a desi guy is as adept at brodom as any other silicon valley whiteboy but I am a bit disappointed that he's emptier than average.
May 10, 2016
I really couldn't put this book down. My roommate got early access to it and when they finished told me to read it. I'm usually not a personal development guy but this book was good. It was very straight forward and gave me tangible things I could do each day to improve. Most books I find usually just say some high level rhetoric and leave me feeling the same once I close them. I highly recommend this book!
June 16, 2016
Certain chapters really spoke to me, others not so much. Good food for thought. 3.5 stars
October 19, 2017
Don't bother. The book is not well written. It takes to long to get to any point. I ditched it in the first chapter.
May 12, 2016
I'm generally pretty leery of self-help books, but this was far and away, perhaps one of the best I've ever read. It offers practical, life changing advice that you can slowly introduce into your routine to help you succeed. I finished this in practically one sitting and I can' wait to begin applying the different life hacks into my life to see where it takes me. Just reading this book put me in a better state of being, I can hardly imagine what actually applying this book will do for me. I'm most excited about adding the six phase meditation to my morning routine, it's not a huge time commitment but it has the potential to open up so many doors. I'll have to write a follow up review after I've been practicing the life hacks for a set amount of time and can see and feel the results. A wonderful read that will open your mind and make you think about your perception of reality.
I received this book for free from Goodread's Giveaways in return for my honest, unbiased opinion.
I received this book for free from Goodread's Giveaways in return for my honest, unbiased opinion.
May 8, 2016
One of the best books I've ever read.
If you think you already know so much about this topic, you'll find the book will teach you a lot more. It gives you a no non-sense detailed descriptions of how Vishen work his way to success, and of course, all his experience meeting highly successful people and what he learned from them. The book consist of lots of meat and muscle from page one, every word is useful, not a single page is wasted.
If you think you already know so much about this topic, you'll find the book will teach you a lot more. It gives you a no non-sense detailed descriptions of how Vishen work his way to success, and of course, all his experience meeting highly successful people and what he learned from them. The book consist of lots of meat and muscle from page one, every word is useful, not a single page is wasted.
August 14, 2017
Por aquí tenéis la reseña sobre el libro de Vishen, en español :)
https://librosparacambiardevida.com/t...
https://librosparacambiardevida.com/t...
May 5, 2022
Como sacado de algún sistema informativo, independientemente de la formación académica del autor, Vishen Lakhiani te empuja a hackear el pensamiento convencional, echando a un lado las reglas que han ido de generación en generación, reglas las cuales Lakhiani llama el paisaje cultural, y dejar entre dicho en el mundo mental las verdades e ideas relativas que la gente debería creer.
El Código de la Mente Extraordinaria es un plan de leyes que pretende suavizar o liberarnos de la auto imposición de una vida ordinaria. Se argumenta que todo lo que sabemos sobre el mundo está moldeado por el condicionamiento y el hábito. Y, por lo tanto, la mayoría de las personas viven sus vidas basadas en reglas limitantes y creencias obsoletas sobre casi todo (amor, trabajo, dinero, crianza de los hijos, sexo, salud y más), que heredan y transmiten de generación en generación.
Hasta aquí todo marcha bien, el autor nos proporciona diez leyes extraordinarias para desafiar las ideas convencionales, con el fin de establecer objetivos duraderos, atención plena, felicidad y significado. Leyes que a la medida que avanzas las irás acertando en las cuatro partes del libro: Vivir en el espacio cultura, el despertar, reprogramación y convertirse en alguien extraordinario.
Personalmente, el texto se hace algo interesante mas allá de las tantas intervenciones de las experiencias personales, algo común en el tipo de todos estos libros, y como es normal en el tipo de clasificación que le da, como libro de autoayuda. Nos ofrece datos que puede ser analizado más a fondo. Si eres de esos que te cuesta leer estos tipos de textos, con que te leas las últimas páginas, específicamente donde el autor ofrece las herramientas para tu viaje, aquí hace un condensado de todo, quizás te resulte suficiente.
El Código de la Mente Extraordinaria es un plan de leyes que pretende suavizar o liberarnos de la auto imposición de una vida ordinaria. Se argumenta que todo lo que sabemos sobre el mundo está moldeado por el condicionamiento y el hábito. Y, por lo tanto, la mayoría de las personas viven sus vidas basadas en reglas limitantes y creencias obsoletas sobre casi todo (amor, trabajo, dinero, crianza de los hijos, sexo, salud y más), que heredan y transmiten de generación en generación.
Hasta aquí todo marcha bien, el autor nos proporciona diez leyes extraordinarias para desafiar las ideas convencionales, con el fin de establecer objetivos duraderos, atención plena, felicidad y significado. Leyes que a la medida que avanzas las irás acertando en las cuatro partes del libro: Vivir en el espacio cultura, el despertar, reprogramación y convertirse en alguien extraordinario.
Personalmente, el texto se hace algo interesante mas allá de las tantas intervenciones de las experiencias personales, algo común en el tipo de todos estos libros, y como es normal en el tipo de clasificación que le da, como libro de autoayuda. Nos ofrece datos que puede ser analizado más a fondo. Si eres de esos que te cuesta leer estos tipos de textos, con que te leas las últimas páginas, específicamente donde el autor ofrece las herramientas para tu viaje, aquí hace un condensado de todo, quizás te resulte suficiente.
April 7, 2018
Here are a few books that are mentioned in this self-help guide.
Love Relationships - Men are from Mars and Women are from Venus (done)
Friendships - How to win friends and Influence People (done)
Adventures - Losing my Virginity - Richard Branson (downloaded)
Environment - Magic of thinking Big (downloaded)
Health and Fitness - Bullet Proof Diet
Intellectual Life - Learning to Speed Read - Improve Your memory - Jim KWIK Courses
Skills - The Four Hour Work week
Spiritual Growth - Autobiography of a Yogi, Conversations with GOD
Careers - Originals by Adman Grant
Creative Life - The War of Art
Family Life - Mastery of Love
Community Life - Delivering Happiness
Other Books mentioned in this Book:
Future Strong - Bill Jenson
Learned Optimism
The Happiness Advantage
I might have missed a few others but the very important thing that we need to understand is that "NEVER READ A BOOK WRITTEN BY A SALES MAN"
I have previously read another book written by a salesman, Caldini's - BE OBSESSED OR BE AVERAGE.
There is another important lesson that I have learned after reading this book
"DO A THROUGH BACKGROUND CHECK ON THE AUTHOR BEFORE YOU START READING A BOOK"
Read books written by practioners, books written by engineers, books written by people who do research to get profits out of their research.
If you were to read a book written by a SNAKE OIL SALES MAN - The author of this book - Then you can learn how to become a snake oil salesman yourself.
THIS BOOK IS WRITTEN BY A SALESMAN SELLING "MEDITATION" OVER THE INTERNET
It has BULL SHIT written all over it. If i want to learn meditation, I could pay as little as 1000 rupees, that would be ten buck and get taught by masters of meditation in India. I don't need this bull shit.
THE AUTHOR FOOLS THE READERS TIME AND AGAIN WITH MARKETING
The author also cheats the readers with this title to begin with - The Code of Extraordinary mind - I was expecting this book to be in the lines of the TALENT CODE etc... i.e. trying to decipher how amazing people build their minds. So yet again, I think I should have spent some time researching the author and his profession before spending tons of time wasted on reading this book.
BEFORE YOU WATCH A MOVIE YOU NEED TO INQUIRE ABOUT THE DIRECTOR, THE CAST and THE TECHNICIANS.
I think we need to use a similar approach, Spending an hour to research the author could save you 20 - 30 hours wasted in reading their BULL SHIT !
STOP READING SELF-HELP BOOKS FOREVER - SELF HELP DOES NOT HELP ANYONE.
Yet, again I fell for the title and expected this book to contain scientific research about the mind, I regret not doing research about this. Due to my OCD, I would pursue things till the end i.e. If i begin a book, i must read till the last page and thus I am compelled to finish this.
THIS IS THE TRICK I USE TO GET MY LAZINIESS, I JUST START TONS OF THINGS,
Due to MY OCD, I have to complete them and thus I get tons of things done and I remain perpetually engaged.
This also has its own dis-advantages, this particular book for example. He begins with the most important chapter I have read, The CULTURE SCAPE, the BRULES, which are in perfect resonance with reality, i.e. that is how everybody's personality is built, you are shaped by your environment and your ability to be a REBEL and challenge the rules to create your own rules is the first step towards becoming something.
The beginning of this book was absolute genius, But then he proposes the two pillar theory, where in you can create your own models of reality, and by sheer will of mind you can change your belief systems and thus change everything.
OK I was tolerant enough to accept that but then the book descended into ABYSS, HIS SOLUTIONS are USELESS. He was only able to identify the problem and that was it.
Identifying the problem and the roots of the problem is the only contribution of this book.
FORGIVENESS GRATITUDE WTF... He goes on and on about FEELING GOOD, MEDITATING, MONKS, HIS STARTUP, MEETING BIGSHOTS, TONY ROBBINS ON HIS ISLAND. Do I really need to know about these unnecessary BULL SHIT? NO -
By the end of the book, I was so angry with the author that I wanted to slap him for producing a mediocre work that wasted my time.
I AM NOT MAKING THIS MISTAKE AGAIN.
He taught me a few important lessons and RULES that I can follow to choose my next book!
Thanks for that
Love Relationships - Men are from Mars and Women are from Venus (done)
Friendships - How to win friends and Influence People (done)
Adventures - Losing my Virginity - Richard Branson (downloaded)
Environment - Magic of thinking Big (downloaded)
Health and Fitness - Bullet Proof Diet
Intellectual Life - Learning to Speed Read - Improve Your memory - Jim KWIK Courses
Skills - The Four Hour Work week
Spiritual Growth - Autobiography of a Yogi, Conversations with GOD
Careers - Originals by Adman Grant
Creative Life - The War of Art
Family Life - Mastery of Love
Community Life - Delivering Happiness
Other Books mentioned in this Book:
Future Strong - Bill Jenson
Learned Optimism
The Happiness Advantage
I might have missed a few others but the very important thing that we need to understand is that "NEVER READ A BOOK WRITTEN BY A SALES MAN"
I have previously read another book written by a salesman, Caldini's - BE OBSESSED OR BE AVERAGE.
There is another important lesson that I have learned after reading this book
"DO A THROUGH BACKGROUND CHECK ON THE AUTHOR BEFORE YOU START READING A BOOK"
Read books written by practioners, books written by engineers, books written by people who do research to get profits out of their research.
If you were to read a book written by a SNAKE OIL SALES MAN - The author of this book - Then you can learn how to become a snake oil salesman yourself.
THIS BOOK IS WRITTEN BY A SALESMAN SELLING "MEDITATION" OVER THE INTERNET
It has BULL SHIT written all over it. If i want to learn meditation, I could pay as little as 1000 rupees, that would be ten buck and get taught by masters of meditation in India. I don't need this bull shit.
THE AUTHOR FOOLS THE READERS TIME AND AGAIN WITH MARKETING
The author also cheats the readers with this title to begin with - The Code of Extraordinary mind - I was expecting this book to be in the lines of the TALENT CODE etc... i.e. trying to decipher how amazing people build their minds. So yet again, I think I should have spent some time researching the author and his profession before spending tons of time wasted on reading this book.
BEFORE YOU WATCH A MOVIE YOU NEED TO INQUIRE ABOUT THE DIRECTOR, THE CAST and THE TECHNICIANS.
I think we need to use a similar approach, Spending an hour to research the author could save you 20 - 30 hours wasted in reading their BULL SHIT !
STOP READING SELF-HELP BOOKS FOREVER - SELF HELP DOES NOT HELP ANYONE.
Yet, again I fell for the title and expected this book to contain scientific research about the mind, I regret not doing research about this. Due to my OCD, I would pursue things till the end i.e. If i begin a book, i must read till the last page and thus I am compelled to finish this.
THIS IS THE TRICK I USE TO GET MY LAZINIESS, I JUST START TONS OF THINGS,
Due to MY OCD, I have to complete them and thus I get tons of things done and I remain perpetually engaged.
This also has its own dis-advantages, this particular book for example. He begins with the most important chapter I have read, The CULTURE SCAPE, the BRULES, which are in perfect resonance with reality, i.e. that is how everybody's personality is built, you are shaped by your environment and your ability to be a REBEL and challenge the rules to create your own rules is the first step towards becoming something.
The beginning of this book was absolute genius, But then he proposes the two pillar theory, where in you can create your own models of reality, and by sheer will of mind you can change your belief systems and thus change everything.
OK I was tolerant enough to accept that but then the book descended into ABYSS, HIS SOLUTIONS are USELESS. He was only able to identify the problem and that was it.
Identifying the problem and the roots of the problem is the only contribution of this book.
FORGIVENESS GRATITUDE WTF... He goes on and on about FEELING GOOD, MEDITATING, MONKS, HIS STARTUP, MEETING BIGSHOTS, TONY ROBBINS ON HIS ISLAND. Do I really need to know about these unnecessary BULL SHIT? NO -
By the end of the book, I was so angry with the author that I wanted to slap him for producing a mediocre work that wasted my time.
I AM NOT MAKING THIS MISTAKE AGAIN.
He taught me a few important lessons and RULES that I can follow to choose my next book!
Thanks for that
September 27, 2020
As i internally processed this audiobook, I took the time to put in practice some of the Rules; even though the concepts are not new but rather scattered around in existing articles or similar writings, this one found its way through: as a concise and well elaborated message.
September 7, 2019
This book has a lot of great food for thought.
Disagree with his thoughts on discarding moral rules or brules.
Other than some of the more self serving self indulgent garbage in this book,
He’s got some great tips and thoughts about opening ones mind and creating a world that’s more open and functional than the one we are living in now.
Breaking down some barriers and incorporating multiple principals from varying beliefs to form one grand idea of togetherness without being ruled by judgment.
Some really interesting tidbits here also that I had never known or heard about like the island of Dumpling and how that came to be.
Then it also contained really interesting things that had already popped onto my path before it, like mindfulness, meditation, and visual meditation to attain things you want. A lot of really interesting things packed into this book.
Though, I agree with your mom on not eating cows, V. ;P That’s one rule you could have kept on with.
And I disagree with his reasoning for doing that, because he’s almost supporting the brainwashing affects of advertisements which goes against everything else he was saying in this book. Hmmmmmmmmm.
For that and the being too supportive in self indulgence, selfishness, greed, and even going as far as to suggest it’s okay to not be moral, he lost a star from me.
Other than that, wonderfully written, great ideas and philosophies, and because the rest of the thoughts were great he gets four stars on this one from me.
And even a recommend.
Disagree with his thoughts on discarding moral rules or brules.
Other than some of the more self serving self indulgent garbage in this book,
He’s got some great tips and thoughts about opening ones mind and creating a world that’s more open and functional than the one we are living in now.
Breaking down some barriers and incorporating multiple principals from varying beliefs to form one grand idea of togetherness without being ruled by judgment.
Some really interesting tidbits here also that I had never known or heard about like the island of Dumpling and how that came to be.
Then it also contained really interesting things that had already popped onto my path before it, like mindfulness, meditation, and visual meditation to attain things you want. A lot of really interesting things packed into this book.
Though, I agree with your mom on not eating cows, V. ;P That’s one rule you could have kept on with.
And I disagree with his reasoning for doing that, because he’s almost supporting the brainwashing affects of advertisements which goes against everything else he was saying in this book. Hmmmmmmmmm.
For that and the being too supportive in self indulgence, selfishness, greed, and even going as far as to suggest it’s okay to not be moral, he lost a star from me.
Other than that, wonderfully written, great ideas and philosophies, and because the rest of the thoughts were great he gets four stars on this one from me.
And even a recommend.
January 3, 2021
Nope. The author has basically taken different rules that have been relayed already clearer in other books and tried to rephrase it in his own way as if he invented that idea himself in the first place.
The importance of visualization and positive thinking has been first mentioned in cybernetics book.
And the most laughable point was when the author said that his drive for writing the book because Richard Branson told him so ? Really ?
Throughout the whole book he talks about being an I individual , not fall prey to social conventions, religion etc , be your own self but yet he writes a book because of Richard Branson’s push. So he himself fell prey to social convention.It would have been much more interesting if he decided to write a book from his own decision not because some famous guy told him so.
I got sick of him talking about himself, how he set up mind valley how he is great how he sold this much.how is that related to extraordinary mind?
This book is basically about author’s self-indulgent autobiography, and how he is good mates with Richard Branson.
Utter disappointment considering how much I was anticipating its contents where my anticipation was built by how much he was selling it in the beginning of the book.
There is nothing extraordinary about this book. Waste of time. Do not recommend.
The importance of visualization and positive thinking has been first mentioned in cybernetics book.
And the most laughable point was when the author said that his drive for writing the book because Richard Branson told him so ? Really ?
Throughout the whole book he talks about being an I individual , not fall prey to social conventions, religion etc , be your own self but yet he writes a book because of Richard Branson’s push. So he himself fell prey to social convention.It would have been much more interesting if he decided to write a book from his own decision not because some famous guy told him so.
I got sick of him talking about himself, how he set up mind valley how he is great how he sold this much.how is that related to extraordinary mind?
This book is basically about author’s self-indulgent autobiography, and how he is good mates with Richard Branson.
Utter disappointment considering how much I was anticipating its contents where my anticipation was built by how much he was selling it in the beginning of the book.
There is nothing extraordinary about this book. Waste of time. Do not recommend.
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