The author of 18 books and several hundred articles, Gardner is best known in educational circles for his theory of multiple intelligences, a critique of the notion that there exists but a single human intelligence that can be assessed by standard psychometric instruments.

The book challenges the status quo in education and offers a theory that there are other intelligences besides math and languages, stressing the need for schools to teach to those areas as well.

A total of 21 essays which support Gardner’s theory were chosen to be included in the book.

Auh’s chapter titled, "Depth in Music History via Technology," offers a broad critique of advanced music institutions and makes a strong suggestion for the use of the Internet in finding new techniques.