The Code of the Extraordinary Mind: Summary Review & Takeaways
This is a summary review of The Code of the Extraordinary Mind containing key details about the book.
What is The Code of the Extraordinary Mind About?
The Code of the Extraordinary Mind teaches its readers to think for themselves, question, challenge, and break free of the norms and limiting rules that shackle them to ordinary life. This book challenges its readers to re-code themselves - replacing their old, limiting models that hold them back.
Who is the Author of The Code of the Extraordinary Mind?
Vishen Lakhiani is a Malaysian entrepreneur, author, and motivational speaker, of Indian descent. He is the founder and CEO of Mindvalley.
[Favorite Quote]: “Live life as though everything is rigged in your favor."
What are key takeaways from The Code of the Extraordinary Mind?
Takeaway #1 Standing Out From The Ordinary Is Good
From childhood we're told how to behave and how to think, then comes peer pressure and fitting in with society which tries to determine how we look and how we live from the number of kids we should have to our marital status, job status, income, home, and personal life. If you're already 'outside of the norm' it means that you're on your way to being extraordinary, continue to transcend the culturescape, don't worry about standing out from the crowd, it's a great thing, not a bad thing!
Takeaway #2 Question The Brules
What's a brule? It's a bullshit rule! These are outdated rules that we follow blindly because we've been told to, sometimes for generations, but that hinder us from following our dreams. Education is a great example, we're told that in order to be successful, to get a well-paying job, we need a University education. Is it true? No, just look at what Steve Jobs created, Richard Branson, Alan Sugar, and many more.
Takeaway #3 Upgrading Your Mind
When it comes to technology you probably update regularly to get the new features, can the same be said of your mind? Consciousness engineering, updating the hardware and software of your mind is required if you seek an extraordinary life. In this case, the hardware is your idea of reality aka your beliefs and the software is your system for living, it includes your habits which determine how well you utilize the software.
Think of your systems for living like apps, they are designed to either solve problems or achieve goals. If an app stops working you update it or replace it for something better. How do you update an app inside of you? Through discovery – Reading, watching, asking others for recommendations etc. Extraordinary people know that they must optimize each of their systems regularly including fitness, spirituality, finances etc and then measure how effective the updated system is. Once upgrades have been carried out, you can start re-coding your mind.
Takeaway #4 Bending Reality
Your happiness needs to be top priority. You might be working to achieve a goal that you think will make you happy next month or next year but whilst still keeping hold of that goal (which might be making you feel stressed at the moment), you need to be sure you're having fun, feeling joy, and being happy right now in this present moment.
Takeaway #5 Blissiplining Yourself
You have probably experienced short bursts of bliss but hit a lot when they go again, you'll be pleased to know that when you have an extraordinary mind that feeling of bliss can be made to last longer but you must discipline yourself to feel it aka blissipline yourself! Feeling blissful starts with feeling grateful so don't skip the gratitude practice.
Takeaway #6 Embracing The Journey To An Extraordinary Life
Goals are important but don't confuse mean goals with end goals. A mean goal is something that society believes we should have to be happy I.e kids, a partner, a large home, a good job. An end goal is something that makes you feel happy, fulfilled, and satisfied, it could be the freedom to travel whenever you want, seeing your novel printed, watching your kids discover their passion. Extraordinary people don't look to the outside world to find the motivation to follow their dreams and reach their goals, they depend on themselves and nothing and no one can stop them on their quest for greatness.
Book details
- Print length: 288 Pages
- Audiobook: 9 hrs
- Genre: Self Help, Nonfiction, Personal Development, Psychology, Business
What are the chapters in The Code of the Extraordinary Mind?
Chapter One - Transcend the Culturescape
Chapter Two - Question the Brules
Chapter Three - Practice Consciousness Engineering
Chapter Four - Rewrite Your Models for Reality
Chapter Five - Upgrade Your Systems for Living
Chapter Six - Bend Reality
Chapter Seven - Live in Blissipline
Chapter Eight - Create a Vision for Your Future
Chapter Nine - Be Unfuckwithable
Chapter Ten - Embrace Your Quest
What is a good quote from The Code of the Extraordinary Mind?
“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma—which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.”
― Vishen Lakhiani - The Code of the Extraordinary Mind Quotes
What do critics say?
Here's what one of the prominent reviewers had to say about the book: "Entertains while teaching, succinctly explaining how to shed the cultural baggage that has been holding you back, so you can free your life and become the extraordinary person you were meant to be.” — JJ Virgin, celebrity nutrition and fitness expert, New York Times bestselling author
* The summary points above have been concluded from the book and other public sources. The editor of this summary review made every effort to maintain information accuracy, including any published quotes, chapters, or takeaways
Chief Editor
Tal Gur is an author, founder, and impact-driven entrepreneur at heart. After trading his daily grind for a life of his own daring design, he spent a decade pursuing 100 major life goals around the globe. His journey and most recent book, The Art of Fully Living, has led him to found Elevate Society.
