Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don't Know
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- Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
- Create Date：2021-05-08 08:15:57
- Update Date：2025-09-24
- Status：finish
- Author：Adam M. Grant
- ISBN：0753553899
- Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle
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Summary
Think Again is a book about the benefit of doubt， and about how we can get better at embracing the unknown and the joy of being wrong。 Evidence has shown that creative geniuses are not attached to one identity， but constantly willing to rethink their stances and that leaders who admit they don't know something and seek critical feedback lead more productive and innovative teams。
New evidence shows us that as a mindset and a skilllset， rethinking can be taught and Grant explains how to develop the necessary qualities to do it。 Section 1 explores why we struggle to think again and how we can learn to do it as individuals， arguing that 'grit' alone can actually be counterproductive。 Section 2 discusses how we can help others think again through learning about 'argument literacy'。 And the final section 3 looks at how schools， businesses and governments fall short in building cultures that encourage rethinking。
In the end， learning to rethink may be the secret skill to give you the edge in a world changing faster than ever。
New evidence shows us that as a mindset and a skilllset， rethinking can be taught and Grant explains how to develop the necessary qualities to do it。 Section 1 explores why we struggle to think again and how we can learn to do it as individuals， arguing that 'grit' alone can actually be counterproductive。 Section 2 discusses how we can help others think again through learning about 'argument literacy'。 And the final section 3 looks at how schools， businesses and governments fall short in building cultures that encourage rethinking。
In the end， learning to rethink may be the secret skill to give you the edge in a world changing faster than ever。
Reviews
Sophie
，
“He knew that making too many points could come at the cost of developing， elaborating， and reinforcing his best ones。”“In a heated argument， you can always stop and ask， “What evidence would change your mind？” If the answer is “nothing，” then there’s no point in continuing the debate。”
Jennifer
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An interesting book about the powers and pitfalls of questioning yourself。
Tammy Durm
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Notes for myselfConfident humility - faith in strengths， aware of weaknesses and blind spots。 Admitting what we don't know， seeking help， exploring opposing views。 Improves quality of rethinking， opens mind to rethinking。 Pay more attention to evidence。 Arrogance is blind to weaknesses and blind spots。Stay in scientist mode。 Refuse to let beliefs become part of identity - detach present from past opinions。 Let go of commitment to yesterday's opinions。 Be like a scientist - defining self as pursu Notes for myselfConfident humility - faith in strengths， aware of weaknesses and blind spots。 Admitting what we don't know， seeking help， exploring opposing views。 Improves quality of rethinking， opens mind to rethinking。 Pay more attention to evidence。 Arrogance is blind to weaknesses and blind spots。Stay in scientist mode。 Refuse to let beliefs become part of identity - detach present from past opinions。 Let go of commitment to yesterday's opinions。 Be like a scientist - defining self as pursuing the truth - not attaching opinions to identity。 Single most important driver of forecaster's success is how often they updated their beliefs。 People who are right a lot listen a lot， and change their mind a lot。 Beginners mindset - better learners seek more opinions。 Quest for knowledge never finished。 Ideas survive not because they are true， but because they are interesting。 When core beliefs are threatened it triggers amygdala （lizard brain）。 Our opinion can become so sacred that we grow hostile to the mere thought of being wrong。 Joy of being wrong - you are less wrong than before or you have learned something。 Erase the pain of being wrong。 It leads to the right answer。 Define self by values rather than opinions。 Flexibility to update opinions。 See your own opinion as a "hunch" - a possibility - keep seeking new info， evidence， especially disconfirming。Mark of emotional intelligence is to avoid internalizing every thought/feeling。 Task conflict keeps us from being trapped in overconfident cycles， gives us diversity of thought。 Challenge network， murder board， blind peer review。 Silence disrespects the value of your views and our ability to have a civil disagreement。 Intellectual not emotional。 Vigorous and feisty rather than combative or aggressive。 Disagree because they care。 NOT relationship conflict。 Debate is about ideas - think like scientist - not a preacher or a prosecutor。 Opportunities to test and refine thinking， see new way of looking at things。 Asking people "how" activates rethinking cycle。 Ask people to explain how those policies would work in practice - or how they'd explain them to an expert。 People believe they know much more than they actually do。 Ask how it works。 Shift focus from why to how。Summary through pg 93:Detach opinions from identityDetach opinions from past opinionsAvoid internalizing every thoughtHave a beginner/scientist mindset - pursuing truthSeek more opinions， including opposing viewsSeek more evidence， especially disconfirming Define self by values， not opinions （flexibility to update opinions）Continued。。。Think of debate as a dance。 Sometimes people don't want to dance。 （step back from time to time， don't come on too strong， don't step on toes。） - side step， have a conversation about conversationSkilled negotiators do these things:1。 Find common ground。 Demonstrate openness by acknowledging where we agree， what we learned from them。 Concede good points， give credit。 Listen。 2。 Present fewer （strongest） reasons to support your case to avoid watering down the best points。 Cohesive， compelling reasons。 Once a weak point is dismissed， easy to dismiss entire case。 Lost ground is not because of the strength of most compelling point but because of the weakness of least compelling。 Too many is an onslaught。 What doesn't sway us can make our beliefs stronger。 3。 Express curiosity with questions instead of offense/defense。 Genuine questions - no agenda。 Establish we have the right motives。 Sound reasonable， taking everything into account。 Be open to evolving our views in light of logic and/or data。 Consider strongest version of their case。 Not to pander/persuade but to learn。 Listen。5。 Don't have to convince them you are right just open their minds to the possibility that they may be wrong。 Help to facilitate clear expression of another's thoughts。 Want to understand their decision better。 Help them find their own motivation to change。 Hold up a mirror。 Empower them to examine beliefs/behaviors。 Show curiosity， interest。 Resist "righting"。 Listen。6。 Dealing with hostility。 Tranquility is a sign of strength。 Comment on feelings。 Jurors find witnesses with MODERATE confidence most effective。 If nothing can change your mind this is a "religion" for you。 Importance of unlearning things to avoid being ignorant。 Attempt to influence/manipulate activates defense mechanisms。 Listen。7。 Disidentify （identify who we are by who we are not）。 Applying group stereotypes to individuals is absurd。 Interacting with members of another group reduces prejudice 94% of the time。 Power of conversation。 Listen。8。 The gift of attention。 People want sympathy， respect， care - not solutions。 Be empathetic， non judgmental， attentive。 Inverse charisma （listen）。 Attitudes can become more complex， less extreme when listened to。through pg 163The rest。。。Binary bias - seeking clarity & closure by simplifying a complex continuum into two categories。 Complexity = credibility。 Range of perspectives。 Charged conversations cry out for nuance/complexity。 RESIST THE URGE TO SIMPLIFY。 When the only two options are black and white = us vs them。 Desirability bias - we believe what we want to believe。 Climate change has been branded a liberal issue so conservatives are often not fond of finding solutions。。Distinguish skeptics from deniers。 Good to be a skeptic。 Need time/take time to be confused。 Good to make several drafts。 Quality means rethinking， reworking， polishing。 Example of four different versions of a horse drawing。 Going back to the drawing board is to be celebrated。 Critique -I'd love to hear why。。。Have you considered。。。What does excellence look like？ Continually update criteria。 Rewrite， rewrite， rewrite。 Kids can become comfortable with rethinking， revising， multiple drafts of drawings。 When communicating with kids express more humility， exude more curiosity， share the joy of discovery and new ways of thinking。 Habits to develop - revising drafts and skills。 Rethinking also collective capability and depends on org culture。 NASA example of overconfidence。 Need learning culture to innovate more and make fewer mistakes。 Thrive with psychological safety and accountability。 Emphasis on results undermines this。 What leads you to that assumption？ Why is it correct？ What if it's wrong？ Uncertainties？ Disadvantages？ HOW DO YOU KNOW？Care more about unproving than proving。 Fine line between heroic persistence and foolish stubbornness。 See work as what you do rather than who you are。 Happiness comes from mastery and meaning。 RecapDEVELOP THE HABIT OF THINKING AGAINThink like a scientist。Define your identify in terms of values， not opinions。Seek out info that goes against your views。CALIBRATE YOUR CONFIDENCEBe aware of getting stranded at the summit of Mount StupidHarness the benefits of doubt。Embrace the joy of being wrong。 INVITE OTHERS TO QUESTION YOUR THIKINGLearn something new from each person you meet。Build a challenge network。Don't shy away from constructive conflict。ASK BETTER QUESTIONSPractice the art of persuasive listening。Question how rather than why。Ask "What evidence would change your mind？"Ask how people originally formed an opinion。APPROACH DISAGREEMENTS AS DANCE， NOT BATTLEAcknowledge common ground。Less is more Reinforce freedom of choice。Have a conversation about the conversation。 。。。more
Jay
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Grant writes a Malcolm Gladwell-ian style book here （or does Gladwell write Grant-ian books？）。 There are a number of interesting examples of the topics he writes about， and I find myself remembering the examples more than the topics （same as with Gladwell books）。 And the author is a presence in the flow of the book。 A nice look into the difficulties of rethinking an issue or position。 There is hope， and a few suggestions along the way。
Connie
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I recently read one of Adam Grant's earlier books， Give and Take， and enjoyed it so much I decided to read this， his latest one。 It seems especially relevant at this time， when our society is deeply divided on many issues and it seems sometimes tolerance and debate are missing。 It's also a great learning tool to recognize our own areas where our beliefs might need some updating。 I know it's made me look critically at ways in which I could listen to opposing beliefs with a more open mind。 I appre I recently read one of Adam Grant's earlier books， Give and Take， and enjoyed it so much I decided to read this， his latest one。 It seems especially relevant at this time， when our society is deeply divided on many issues and it seems sometimes tolerance and debate are missing。 It's also a great learning tool to recognize our own areas where our beliefs might need some updating。 I know it's made me look critically at ways in which I could listen to opposing beliefs with a more open mind。 I appreciate all the data he shares， and although data can be dry， his writing style is entertaining and engaging。 I would definitely recommend this book。 。。。more
Shona Chambers
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Really enjoyable read or in this case listen on audible。
Khawaja Saud Masud
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Baseline for developing critical thinking。
Deborah
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An engaging and eye-opening discussion about the way we think and how/why we hold onto our opinions and assumptions。 Adam Grant is a professor and organizational psychologist and with this book he urges you to rethink and think again。 He covers a variety of topics with relevant cultural， historical， and anecdotal examples。 We learn about desirability and confirmation bias， cognitive laziness， and archetypal patterns。 He says people become either Preachers， Prosecutors， or Politicians。 Instead， w An engaging and eye-opening discussion about the way we think and how/why we hold onto our opinions and assumptions。 Adam Grant is a professor and organizational psychologist and with this book he urges you to rethink and think again。 He covers a variety of topics with relevant cultural， historical， and anecdotal examples。 We learn about desirability and confirmation bias， cognitive laziness， and archetypal patterns。 He says people become either Preachers， Prosecutors， or Politicians。 Instead， we should all be Scientists， never assuming our opinions and thoughts are correct and always being willing to test and retest what we know。 I didn’t particularly care for the research evidence he presented。 The studies all seemed very generalized and blatantly transparent。 Like he cited a research study where they tested the relationships between bosses and workers in a company setting。 And I’m paraphrasing here， but basically the study showed that a boss who isn’t afraid to open themselves up for critique influences their workers in a more positive way than a boss that is not open to discussions and collaborative methods。 Like…duh， you needed to do research to know that？ Overall I thought his book was an excellent discussion starter in which he presents numerous observations and reflections。 But it’s mostly all theories and concepts so if you’re looking for something more concrete and evidential than look elsewhere。 。。。more
Mary
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Excellent。
Hayley Miller
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This gets bumped up from a 4 star to a 5 star because of the very last word
Andrew Clinton
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If I had to sum up this book in a short sentence， it would be to be open minded。 Think Again shows the power of questioning yourself， and your beliefs in all aspects of life。 I was reminded of two pivotal life events where I thought again and it winded up changing my life course for the better。 I originally was looking at colleges to run cross country， and my decision to think again led me to attend West Virginia University， which helped open my mind and introduced to me a ton of wonderful peopl If I had to sum up this book in a short sentence， it would be to be open minded。 Think Again shows the power of questioning yourself， and your beliefs in all aspects of life。 I was reminded of two pivotal life events where I thought again and it winded up changing my life course for the better。 I originally was looking at colleges to run cross country， and my decision to think again led me to attend West Virginia University， which helped open my mind and introduced to me a ton of wonderful people。 The second was when I decided to re-think my choice to become a teacher。 This opened the gate for me to start my career at EmpiRx Health， which has also helped open my mind and helped me build a more healthy mental perspective。 We can all afford to re-think our thoughts。 You just never know how it may change your life。 。。。more
Richard Paugh
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I was going to write something here， but now I'm rethinking it 😜 I was going to write something here， but now I'm rethinking it 😜 。。。more
Amy
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What I really liked about this book was an idea that goes something along the lines of: instead of worrying or cursing over the "other" and why everyone else is wrong， maybe focus more on the weaknesses in your own thinking。Reading this book will give you plenty to think about， so it was helpful to have a section near the end that almost seemed like a recap that just suggested some ways in which you could challenge yourself to be a more flexible thinker。 What I really liked about this book was an idea that goes something along the lines of: instead of worrying or cursing over the "other" and why everyone else is wrong， maybe focus more on the weaknesses in your own thinking。Reading this book will give you plenty to think about， so it was helpful to have a section near the end that almost seemed like a recap that just suggested some ways in which you could challenge yourself to be a more flexible thinker。 。。。more
Asri
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This book makes me think a lot。 Especially being raised in a place where -not even rethinking is considered- we barely being encouraged to think at school back home in Indonesia， this book makes me evaluating my experiences in learning。 My favorite chapter is the one where they rewrite the textbook。
Cristina
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'being open to new ideas and listening to other' is always beneficial :） 'being open to new ideas and listening to other' is always beneficial :） 。。。more
Manohar
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I really liked the audiobook。Pretty solid advice throughout。
Akhila Jha
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 Masterpiece Getting a life check up is priceless advice
K Zahner
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Listened to this one with two different “check outs” from the library。 I enjoyed it， made me “think again” ☺️
Adam Spencer
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Especially during these times， thinking again is a skill we can all brush up on。 Adam Grant manages to challenge our thought processes in a fun， entertaining way。
Wellington
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A book that unexpectedly touched on some timely topics 。。。。 like vaccine whisperer （he was referring to measles， not COVID） and Bil and Melinda Gates （who just announced their divorce）。
Marilyn
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Loved the insightful ideas in the book to help， and encourage the idea to look at things from a different perspective， sometimes from the perspective of someone we disagree with。 Very sound advice to consider how we view things as a prosecutor， preacher， or politician， when we really should be looking at things as a scientist and asking more questions。 My husband and I listened to his on Audible during a long drive and it was great to have discussions about the ideas。 It is definitely one of tho Loved the insightful ideas in the book to help， and encourage the idea to look at things from a different perspective， sometimes from the perspective of someone we disagree with。 Very sound advice to consider how we view things as a prosecutor， preacher， or politician， when we really should be looking at things as a scientist and asking more questions。 My husband and I listened to his on Audible during a long drive and it was great to have discussions about the ideas。 It is definitely one of those books that I will need to listen to multiple times。 。。。more
Raymundo
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Un libro muy importante y sencillo de leer。 Nos dice que una habilidad que debemos desarrollar es repensar nuestras acciones y creencias。 En general tomamos una de las siguientes cuatro personalidades: sacerdote， abogado， político， o científico。 Debemos ser más científicos: humildes ante el conocimiento， conocer qué hay mucha incertidumbre ante diferentes acciones。 El libro me ha ayudado a entenderme mejor así como ser más comprensivo con los demás al tomar una personalidad。
Eve
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did not finish
Jody KL
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It was a pretty good and quick read。 There were segments that I felt I got a lot out of， with certain techniques I want to try。 It was interesting reading a self-help book that was written with the backdrop of the past few years。。。
Alison
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Readable and relevant right now。 In the face of so much chatter about how deep set and intractable division is in America， Think Again is fascinating and timely。 Small things we can all attempt to improve how we communicate， listen， and interact。 This is the book I’ll be pressing on everyone。
Jessica
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I was expecting this book to be relevant in terms of politics and keeping an open mind in polarizing debates， but Grant does so much more。 It was applicable to me as a partner， friend， and even homeschooling mom。 The audio version was addicting which is why I finished so quickly。
Miranda
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In a time when grown-ups won't act like grown-ups and the "us and them" mentality is worse than ever， this book teaches valuable ways of finding common ground。 In a time when grown-ups won't act like grown-ups and the "us and them" mentality is worse than ever， this book teaches valuable ways of finding common ground。 。。。more
Ghiath AlMasri
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Rethink againImportant points triggered by author ， learn something new from every person you meet ， don’t shy away from constructive value
Sharon Mccarthy
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This is the book you don't think you need to read， but really do need to read。 Like every one of Adam Grant's books， Think Again is fact-based and fascinating， a useful book for work and life。 Will update this review after I complete it。 This is the book you don't think you need to read， but really do need to read。 Like every one of Adam Grant's books， Think Again is fact-based and fascinating， a useful book for work and life。 Will update this review after I complete it。 。。。more
Jordana
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