Abstract This chapter compares two complementary approaches to understanding opinions at a deep level regarding the controversial topic of power sources. The first method is the emerging and increasingly popular technology of text mining, which uses text as inputs from people, analyzing the structure of the texts. Freely emitted text allows for methods such as sentiment analysis to understand the underlying minds of the people generating the text. The second method, mind genomics, is composed of experiments using systematically varied text and experiments with people, designed to understand the algebra of the mind. Our empirical study involved a mind genomics assessment of solar energy and nuclear energy, respectively. Data from mind genomics suggest that people focus primarily on who should use solar and nuclear energy. We compare the two methods to show the similarities, differences, and potential connections between the two approaches to understanding people's opinions.