Sternberg presents a theory of thinking styles that aims to explain why aptitude tests, school grades, and classroom performance often fail to identify real ability.

Part I. The Nature of Thinking Styles: 1. What are thinking styles and why do we need them?; 2. Functions of mental self-government; 3. Forms of mental self-government; Part II. The Theory of Mental Self-government: 4. Levels, scope, and leanings of mental self-government; 5. Principles of styles of thinking; 6. The development of thinking styles; 7. Thinking styles in the classroom: what have we learned?; Part III. Thinking Styles in Home, School, and Society: 8. A capsule history of theory and research on styles; 9. Why a theory of mental self-government?