As Robert J. Sternberg writes, A style is a way of thinking. It is not an ability, but rather a preferred way of using the abilities one has. Thinking Styles offers a complete theory of how different people think and learn. Combining personal anecdote with scientific study, Dr. Sternberg examines the variety of ways in which people develop and use their talents, and he argues that academic and professional criteria of ability often confuse differences in thinking styles with differences in intelligence.