Hi there!
Shirley here to bring you one more book review. Our today’s star is the book Think Again by Adam Grant.
This book got into my top to-read list. It’s really a life-changing book.
I’m going to share with you in which senses this book helped me to change for the better.
I don’t remember how this book ended up on my list. If it was there, though, for sure it might have caught my attention at some point. To refresh my mind, to know what this book is about, I went over to good reads reviews, then, after reading some, I thought to myself: “Yes, it’s what I need now.” I didn’t regret it, on contrary, I loved it so much that I want everybody in the world to read this book too.
The most catching book part lies in modes we are used to using when we’re talking to someone. It falls into three types: preacher, prosecutor, and politician. In the preacher mode, we’re used to sharing our beliefs to promote and protect our ideals. In the prosecutor mode, we kind of try to defend our opinions, try to convince people we’re right, and make them change their minds. Finally, in the politician mode, we try to please people, saying things they want to hear, no matter whether or not what you’re saying is genuine or true, what matters is to win your audience.
The author claims that none of these modes above are effective to communicate well and get the most out of a conversation. He defends that we should keep in the scientific mode. Which consists of questioning ourselves whether our beliefs are true or not, whether what the other person is saying might be right or wrong, what we can learn from that experience (conversation). In other words, to be open-minded to diversity, to novelty. To keep our beliefs flexible over the course of our lives, and not set them in stone.
Adam outlines scientific mode as:
Their role is to activate rethinking cycles by pushing us to be humble about our expertise, doubt our knowledge, and be curious about new perspectives.
The book is divided into three sessions: One, how we can change our own minds. Two, how we can encourage other people to think again. Three, how to think again in the community and be lifelong learners.
Takeaways from “Think Again”
Takeaway 1: To unlock the joy of being wrong
There are two situations in which you can learn from being wrong.
First, to detach the past from the future. What happened in the past, is past. It doesn’t mean that a similar situation will yield the same results from the past. Even though there are similarities between present and past, people, environment, circumstances might be different.
The goal is not to be wrong more often. It’s to recognize that we’re all wrong more often than we’d like to admit, and the more we deny it, the deeper the hole we dig for ourselves.
Second, to detach our opinions from our identity. The environment where we grow up, people we spend time with, books we read, people we follow on social media, have a big influence on the way we manage our lives. It doesn’t mean necessarily that we’re right just because we believe in our thoughts and feelings. Most of the time, they might be biased by our repertory of life.
...it doesn’t become the truth just because you believe it. It’s a sign of wisdom to avoid believing every thought that enters your mind. It’s a mark of emotional intelligence to avoid internalizing every feeling that enters your heart.
Takeaway 2: How x Why
When we are discussing any topic with people we should ask people HOW that action, policy, or belief would fit better for what they’re talking about. This action of explaining HOW make them notice their lack of knowledge and rethink new possibilities.
On the other hand, when we are discussing any topic and ask people WHY they believe that action, policy, or belief would fit better for what they’re talking about, chances are to get people caught up in their emotional territory and double down their convictions.
For instance, if you’re discussing welfare reform with a friend. You both have divergent opinions regarding the topic. If you ask WHY he believes that “X” is important he might end up with emotional reasons to support his arguments. However, if you ask HOW “X” would be better for a specific situation, he might not have so many arguments to support his reasons and ends up being open-minded to new perspectives.
Takeaway 3: Motivational Interviewing
It’s crucial to bear in mind that we don’t have the power to change anyone, but we can sharpen the skill to make them change for themselves by exploring open-ended questions to make them reflect on their beliefs through reflexive listening.
The goal isn’t to tell people what to do; it’s to help them break out of overconfidence cycles and see new possibilities… That can activate a rethinking cycle, in which people approach their own views more scientifically. They develop more humility about their knowledge, doubt in their convictions, and curiosity about alternative points of view.
Outcomes from the book in my life.
While I was reading the book, and after finishing it, I noticed some positive effects like:
- Rethinking Habits: I noticed that after reading this book I’ve been changing my way of thinking even the simplest things like packing food in different containers. For instance, I used to pack food X, Y, and Z into W, X, Z containers, respectively. Now, I’m no longer attached to this mindset. As a result, I felt freedom doing so. I felt malleable as I can adjust things according to my necessity, not because I had set up that way before.
- Creativity: I’m more creative as I try to find out the best way out in every challenging moment. Like when you play chess, you have many options to move, but before moving you must weigh the pros and cons of the moves, to find the best move.
- Open-minded: I’m more open-minded to new events. I take into consideration that I’m might be wrong, and I can learn something new at that moment.
- Curiosity: I’m more curious about what the other person is saying. Rather than sharing my opinion straight away, I question the person trying to understand their point of view.
For whom
As I mentioned in the beginning, I believe that everyone should read this book. I’m pretty sure, that it’ll bring you a lot of food for thought. It’ll make you rethink your plans, your goal, your beliefs, It’s a page-turner book. I bet you’re going to learn a lot from it.
I reviewed a couple of books. If you want to read other Book Reviews like “Think Again”, read here
