Print List Price:	$18.00
Kindle Price:	$14.99 Save $3.01 (17%)
Sold by:	Penguin Group (USA) LLC Price set by seller.

Add Audible narration to your purchase for just $8.99

You've subscribed to ! We will preorder your items within 24 hours of when they become available. When new books are released, we'll charge your default payment method for the lowest price available during the pre-order period.

Update your device or payment method, cancel individual pre-orders or your subscription at
Your Memberships & Subscriptions

There was an error. We were unable to process your subscription due to an error. Please refresh and try again.

The Coddling of the American Mind: How Good Intentions and Bad Ideas Are Setting Up a Generation for Failure by [Greg Lukianoff, Jonathan Haidt]

Follow the Authors

Jonathan Haidt

Greg Lukianoff

The Coddling of the American Mind: How Good Intentions and Bad Ideas Are Setting Up a Generation for Failure Kindle Edition

by Greg Lukianoff (Author), Jonathan Haidt (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

4.7 8,432 ratings

See all formats and editions

Price

New from

Used from

Kindle

"Please retry"

$14.99

—

Audible Audiobook, Unabridged

"Please retry"

$0.00

$7.95 with discounted Audible membership

Hardcover, Illustrated

"Please retry"

$16.47

$12.49

$7.43

Paperback

"Please retry"

$15.99

$10.20

$6.81

Audio CD, Audiobook, Unabridged

"Please retry"

$39.59

—

$32.00

Kindle
$14.99 Read with Our Free App
Audiobook
$0.00 Free with your 3-Month Audible trial
Hardcover
$16.47

71 Used from $7.43 24 New from $12.49 1 Collectible from $14.99
Paperback
$15.99

59 Used from $6.81 43 New from $10.20
Audio CD
$39.59

3 Used from $32.00

Something is going wrong on many college campuses in the last few years. Rates of anxiety, depression, and suicide are rising. Speakers are shouted down. Students and professors say they are walking on eggshells and afraid to speak honestly. How did this happen?

First Amendment expert Greg Lukianoff and social psychologist Jonathan Haidt show how the new problems on campus have their origins in three terrible ideas that have become increasingly woven into American childhood and education: what doesn’t kill you makes you weaker; always trust your feelings; and life is a battle between good people and evil people. These three Great Untruths are incompatible with basic psychological principles, as well as ancient wisdom from many cultures. They interfere with healthy development. Anyone who embraces these untruths—and the resulting culture of safetyism—is less likely to become an autonomous adult able to navigate the bumpy road of life.

Lukianoff and Haidt investigate the many social trends that have intersected to produce these untruths. They situate the conflicts on campus in the context of America’s rapidly rising political polarization, including a rise in hate crimes and off-campus provocation. They explore changes in childhood including the rise of fearful parenting, the decline of unsupervised play, and the new world of social media that has engulfed teenagers in the last decade.

This is a book for anyone who is confused by what is happening on college campuses today, or has children, or is concerned about the growing inability of Americans to live, work, and cooperate across party lines.

Print length

352 pages
Language

English
Sticky notes

On Kindle Scribe
Publisher

Penguin Books
Publication date

September 4, 2018
File size

5397 KB
Page Flip

Enabled
Word Wise

Enabled
Enhanced typesetting

Enabled
See all details

Lowest Pricein this set of products
Bill Bryson
16,499
Kindle Edition
$7.99
Highest ratedin this set of products
Robert Jordan
21,905
Kindle Edition
$9.99
This item:
Greg Lukianoff
8,432
Kindle Edition
$14.99
Jonathan Haidt
10,281
Kindle Edition
$9.99
Jonathan Haidt
4,504
Kindle Edition
$12.99

Popular Highlights in this book

What are popular highlights?

There is a principle in philosophy and rhetoric called the principle of charity, which says that one should interpret other people’s statements in their best, most reasonable form, not in the worst or most offensive way possible.
Highlighted by 6,621 Kindle readers
Avoiding triggers is a symptom of PTSD, not a treatment for it.
Highlighted by 6,245 Kindle readers
Many university students are learning to think in distorted ways, and this increases their likelihood of becoming fragile, anxious, and easily hurt.
Highlighted by 4,542 Kindle readers

Editorial Reviews

Review

“A disturbing and comprehensive analysis of recent campus trends . . . Lukianoff and Haidt notice something unprecedented and frightening . . . The consequences of a generation unable or disinclined to engage with ideas that make them uncomfortable are dire for society, and open the door—accessible from both the left and the right—to various forms of authoritarianism.” —Thomas Chatterton Williams, The New York Times Book Review (cover review and Editors’ Choice selection)

"So how do you create ‘wiser kids’? Get them off their screens. Argue with them. Get them out of their narrow worlds of family, school and university. Boot them out for a challenging Gap year. It all makes perfect sense . . . the cure seems a glorious revelation." —Philip Delves Broughton, Evening Standard

“The authors, both of whom are liberal academics—almost a tautology on today’s campuses—do a great job of showing how ‘safetyism’ is cramping young minds. Students are treated like candles, which can be extinguished by a puff of wind. The goal of a Socratic education should be to turn them into fires, which thrive on the wind. Instead, they are sheltered from anything that could cause offence . . . Their advice is sound. Their book is excellent. Liberal parents, in particular, should read it.”— Edward Luce, Financial Times

“Their distinctive contribution to the higher-education debate is to meet safetyism on its own, psychological turf . . . Lukianoff and Haidt tell us that safetyism undermines the freedom of inquiry and speech that are indispensable to universities.” —Jonathan Marks, Commentary

“The remedies the book outlines should be considered on college campuses, among parents of current and future students, and by anyone longing for a more sane society.” —Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

“Perhaps the strongest argument in Haidt and Lukianoff’s favour, though, is this: if you see this issue as being about little more than a few sanctimonious teenagers throwing hissy fits on campus then, yes, it is probably receiving too much attention. But if you accept their premise, that it’s really a story about mental wellbeing and emotional fragility, about a generation acting out because it has been set up to fail by bad parenting and poorly designed institutions, then their message is an urgent one. And it is one that resonates well beyond dusty libraries and manicured quadrangles, into all of our lives.” —Josh Glancy, The Sunday Times (UK)

“Jonathan Haidt and Greg Lukianoff’s new book, The Coddling of the American Mind: How Good Intentions and Bad Ideas Are Setting Up a Generation for Failure, persuasively unpacks the causes of the current predicament on campus – which they link to wider parenting, cultural and political trends . . . The Coddling of the American Mind is both an enlightening but disquieting read. We have a lot of challenges in front of us.” —Quillette, Matthew Lesh

"The authors remind us of some of the campus happenings that, since 2015, have afrighted old liberals like me . . . In the end [despite some objections] I agreed with Messrs Lukianoff and Haidt that protecting kids has gone too far, and that some campus behaviour is absurd and worrying." —David Aaronovitch, The Times (UK)

"The speed with which campus life has changed for the worse is one of the most important points made by Greg Lukianoff and Jonathan Haidt in this important if disturbing book." —Niall Ferguson, Sunday Times

“Rising intolerance for opposing viewpoints is a challenge not only on college campuses but also in our national political discourse. The future of our democracy requires us to understand what’s happening and why—so that we can find solutions and take action. Reading The Coddling of the American Mind is a great place to start.” —Michael Bloomberg, Founder of Bloomberg LP & Bloomberg Philanthropies, and 108th Mayor of New York City

“Our behavior in society is not immune to the power of rational scientific analysis. Through that lens, prepare yourself for a candid look at the softening of America, and what we can do about it.” —Neil DeGrasse Tyson, director, Hayden Planetarium, and author of Astrophysics for People in a Hurry

“Lukianoff and Haidt explain the phenomenon of “helicopter parenting” and its dangers—how overprotection amplifies children’s fears and makes them less likely to become adults who can manage their own lives. Children must be challenged and exposed to stressors—including different perspectives—in order to thrive.” —Susan McDaniel, University of Rochester, former President of the American Psychological Association

“An important examination of dismaying social and cultural trends.” —Kirkus Reviews

"I lament the title of this book, as it may alienate the very people who need to engage with its arguments and obscures its message of inclusion. Equal parts mental health manual, parenting guide, sociological study, and political manifesto, it points to a positive way forward of hope, health, and humanism. I only wish I had read it when I was still a professor and a much younger mother." —Anne-Marie Slaughter, President and CEO, New America, and author of Unfinished Business

“A compelling and timely argument against attitudes and practices that, however well-intended, are damaging our universities, harming our children and leaving an entire generation intellectually and emotionally ill-prepared for an ever-more fraught and complex world. A brave and necessary work.” —Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks, Emeritus Chief Rabbi of UK & Commonwealth; professor, New York University; and author of Not in God’s Name

“No one is omniscient or infallible, so a willingness to evaluate new ideas is vital to understanding our world. Yet universities, which ought to be forums for open debate, are developing a reputation for dogmatism and intolerance. Haidt and Lukianoff, distinguished advocates of freedom of expression, offer a deep analysis of what’s going wrong on campus, and how we can hold universities to their highest ideals.” —Steven Pinker, professor, Harvard University, and author of Enlightenment Now

“This book synthesizes the teachings of many disciplines to illuminate the causes of major problems besetting college students and campuses, including declines in mental health, academic freedom, and collegiality. More importantly, the authors present evidence-based strategies for overcoming these challenges. An engrossing, thought-provoking, and ultimately inspiring read.” —Nadine Strossen, past President, ACLU, and author of HATE: Why We Should Resist it with Free Speech, Not Censorship

“How can we as a nation do a better job of preparing young men and women of all backgrounds to be seekers of truth and sustainers of democracy? In The Coddling of the American Mind, Greg Lukianoff and Jonathan Haidt provide a rigorous analysis of this perennial challenge as it presents itself today, and offer thoughtful prescriptions for meeting it. What’s more, the book models the virtues and practical wisdom its authors rightly propose as the keys to progress. Lukianoff and Haidt teach young people—and all of us—by example as well as precept.” —Cornel West, professor, Harvard University, and author of Democracy Matters; and Robert P. George, professor, Princeton University, and author of Conscience and Its Enemies

“Objectionable words and ideas, as defined by self-appointed guardians on university campuses, are often treated like violence from sticks and stones. Many students cringe at robust debate; maintaining their ideas of good and evil requires no less than the silencing of disagreeable speakers. Lukianoff and Haidt brilliantly explain how this drift to fragility occurred, how the distinction between words and actions was lost, and what needs to be done. Critical reading to understand the current campus conflicts.” —Mark Yudof, president emeritus, University of California; and professor emeritus, UC Berkeley School of Law

"This book is a much needed guide for how to thrive in a pluralistic society. Lukianoff and Haidt demonstrate how ancient wisdom and modern psychology can encourage more dialogue across lines of difference, build stronger institutions, and make us happier. They provide an antidote to our seemingly intractable divisions, and not a moment too soon.” —Kirsten Powers, author of The Silencing

"We can talk ourselves into believing that some kinds of speech will shatter us, or we can talk ourselves out of that belief. The authors know the science. We are not as fragile as our self-appointed protectors suppose. Read this deeply informed book to become a more resilient soul in a more resilient democracy.” —Philip E. Tetlock, author of Superforecasting: The Art and Science of Prediction

“In this expansion of their 2015 piece for the Atlantic, Lukianoff and Haidt argue that the urge to insulate oneself against offensive ideas has had deleterious consequences, making students less resilient, more prone to undesirable “emotional reasoning,” less capable of engaging critically with others’ viewpoints, and more likely to cultivate an “us-versus-them” mentality . . . the path they advocate—take on challenges, cultivate resilience, and try to reflect rather than responding based solely on initial emotional responses—deserves consideration.” —Publishers Weekly

Review

“A disturbing and comprehensive analysis of recent campus trends… Lukianoff and Haidt notice something unprecedented and frightening… The consequences of a generation unable or disinclined to engage with ideas that make them uncomfortable are dire for society, and open the door – accessible from both the left and the right – to various forms of authoritarianism.” — Thomas Chatterton Williams, The New York Times Book Review (cover review and Editors’ Choice selection)

"So how do you create ‘wiser kids’? Get them off their screens. Argue with them. Get them out of their narrow worlds of family, school and university. Boot them out for a challenging Gap year. It all makes perfect sense…the cure seems a glorious revelation."— Philip Delves Broughton, Evening Standard

“The authors, both of whom are liberal academics — almost a tautology on today’s campuses — do a great job of showing how ‘safetyism’ is cramping young minds. Students are treated like candles, which can be extinguished by a puff of wind. The goal of a Socratic education should be to turn them into fires, which thrive on the wind. Instead, they are sheltered from anything that could cause offence. . . Their advice is sound. Their book is excellent. Liberal parents, in particular, should read it.”— Edward Luce, Financial Times

“Their distinctive contribution to the higher-education debate is to meet safetyism on its own, psychological turf… Lukianoff and Haidt tell us that safetyism undermines the freedom of inquiry and speech that are indispensable to universities.” — Jonathan Marks, Commentary

“The remedies the book outlines should be considered on college campuses, among parents of current and future students, and by anyone longing for a more sane society.” — Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

“Perhaps the strongest argument in Haidt and Lukianoff’s favour, though, is this: if you see this issue as being about little more than a few sanctimonious teenagers throwing hissy fits on campus then, yes, it is probably receiving too much attention. But if you accept their premise, that it’s really a story about mental wellbeing and emotional fragility, about a generation acting out because it has been set up to fail by bad parenting and poorly designed institutions, then their message is an urgent one. And it is one that resonates well beyond dusty libraries and manicured quadrangles, into all of our lives.”—Josh Glancy, The Sunday Times (UK)

“Jonathan Haidt and Greg Lukianoff’s new book, The Coddling of the American Mind: How Good Intentions and Bad Ideas Are Setting Up a Generation for Failure, persuasively unpacks the causes of the current predicament on campus – which they link to wider parenting, cultural and political trends. . .The Coddling of the American Mind is both an enlightening but disquieting read. We have a lot of challenges in front of us.” — Quillette, Matthew Lesh

"The authors remind us of some of the campus happenings that, since 2015, have afrighted old liberals like me... In the end [despite some objections] I agreed with Messrs Lukianoff and Haidt that protecting kids has gone too far, and that some campus behaviour is absurd and worrying." — David Aaronovitch, The Times (UK)

"The speed with which campus life has changed for the worse is one of the most important points made by Greg Lukianoff and Jonathan Haidt in this important if disturbing book." —Niall Ferguson, Sunday Times

“Rising intolerance for opposing viewpoints is a challenge not only on college campuses but also in our national political discourse. The future of our democracy requires us to understand what’s happening and why—so that we can find solutions and take action. Reading The Coddling of the American Mind is a great place to start.” —Michael Bloomberg, Founder of Bloomberg LP & Bloomberg Philanthropies, and 108th Mayor of New York City

“Our behavior in society is not immune to the power of rational scientific analysis. Through that lens, prepare yourself for a candid look at the softening of America, and what we can do about it.” —Neil deGrasse Tyson, director, Hayden Planetarium, and author of Astrophysics for People in a Hurry

“Lukianoff and Haidt explain the phenomenon of “helicopter parenting” and its dangers--how overprotection amplifies children’s fears and makes them less likely to become adults who can manage their own lives. Children must be challenged and exposed to stressors—including different perspectives—in order to thrive.” —Susan McDaniel, University of Rochester, former President of the American Psychological Association

“An important examination of dismaying social and cultural trends.” —Kirkus Reviews

"I lament the title of this book, as it may alienate the very people who need to engage with its arguments and obscures its message of inclusion. Equal parts mental health manual, parenting guide, sociological study, and political manifesto, it points to a positive way forward of hope, health, and humanism. I only wish I had read it when I was still a professor and a much younger mother." —Anne-Marie Slaughter, President and CEO, New America, and author of Unfinished Business

“A compelling and timely argument against attitudes and practices that, however well-intended, are damaging our universities, harming our children and leaving an entire generation intellectually and emotionally ill-prepared for an ever-more fraught and complex world. A brave and necessary work.” —Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks, Emeritus Chief Rabbi of UK & Commonwealth; professor, New York University; and author of Not in God’s Name

“No one is omniscient or infallible, so a willingness to evaluate new ideas is vital to understanding our world. Yet universities, which ought to be forums for open debate, are developing a reputation for dogmatism and intolerance. Haidt and Lukianoff, distinguished advocates of freedom of expression, offer a deep analysis of what’s going wrong on campus, and how we can hold universities to their highest ideals.” —Steven Pinker, professor, Harvard University, and author of Enlightenment Now

“This book synthesizes the teachings of many disciplines to illuminate the causes of major problems besetting college students and campuses, including declines in mental health, academic freedom, and collegiality. More importantly, the authors present evidence-based strategies for overcoming these challenges. An engrossing, thought-provoking, and ultimately inspiring read.” —Nadine Strossen, past President, ACLU, and author of HATE: Why We Should Resist it with Free Speech, Not Censorship

“How can we as a nation do a better job of preparing young men and women of all backgrounds to be seekers of truth and sustainers of democracy? In The Coddling of the American Mind, Greg Lukianoff and Jonathan Haidt provide a rigorous analysis of this perennial challenge as it presents itself today, and offer thoughtful prescriptions for meeting it. What’s more, the book models the virtues and practical wisdom its authors rightly propose as the keys to progress. Lukianoff and Haidt teach young people—and all of us—by example as well as precept.” —Cornel West, professor, Harvard University, and author of Democracy Matters; and Robert P. George, professor, Princeton University, and author of Conscience and Its Enemies

“Objectionable words and ideas, as defined by self-appointed guardians on university campuses, are often treated like violence from sticks and stones. Many students cringe at robust debate; maintaining their ideas of good and evil requires no less than the silencing of disagreeable speakers. Lukianoff and Haidt brilliantly explain how this drift to fragility occurred, how the distinction between words and actions was lost, and what needs to be done. Critical reading to understand the current campus conflicts.” —Mark Yudof, president emeritus, University of California; and professor emeritus, UC Berkeley School of Law

"This book is a much needed guide for how to thrive in a pluralistic society. Lukianoff and Haidt demonstrate how ancient wisdom and modern psychology can encourage more dialogue across lines of difference, build stronger institutions, and make us happier. They provide an antidote to our seemingly intractable divisions, and not a moment too soon.” —Kirsten Powers, author of The Silencing

"We can talk ourselves into believing that some kinds of speech will shatter us, or we can talk ourselves out of that belief. The authors know the science. We are not as fragile as our self-appointed protectors suppose. Read this deeply informed book to become a more resilient soul in a more resilient democracy.” —Philip E. Tetlock, author of Superforecasting: The Art and Science of Prediction

“In this expansion of their 2015 piece for the Atlantic, Lukianoff and Haidt argue that the urge to insulate oneself against offensive ideas has had deleterious consequences, making students less resilient, more prone to undesirable “emotional reasoning,” less capable of engaging critically with others’ viewpoints, and more likely to cultivate an “us-versus-them” mentality… the path they advocate—take on challenges, cultivate resilience, and try to reflect rather than responding based solely on initial emotional responses—deserves consideration.” —Publishers Weekly --This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition.

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B076NVFT5P
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Penguin Books (September 4, 2018)
Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 4, 2018
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 5397 KB
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
Print length ‏ : ‎ 352 pages

Best Sellers Rank: #28,608 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #3 in Popular Culture
- #16 in Mental Illness
- #18 in Social Psychology & Interactions

Customer Reviews:
4.7 8,432 ratings

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.

Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Videos

Help others learn more about this product by uploading a video!

Upload your video

About the authors

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.

Jonathan Haidt
Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.
Jonathan Haidt is the Thomas Cooley Professor of Ethical Leadership at New York University's Stern School of Business. He received his Ph.D. in social psychology from the University of Pennsylvania in 1992 and then did post-doctoral research at the University of Chicago and in Orissa, India. He taught at the University of Virginia for 16 years before moving to NYU-Stern in 2011. He was named one of the "top global thinkers" by Foreign Policy magazine, and one of the "top world thinkers" by Prospect magazine.
His research focuses on morality - its emotional foundations, cultural variations, and developmental course. He began his career studying the negative moral emotions, such as disgust, shame, and vengeance, but then moved on to the understudied positive moral emotions, such as admiration, awe, and moral elevation. He is the co-developer of Moral Foundations theory, and of the research site YourMorals.org. He is a co-founder of HeterodoxAcademy.org, which advocates for viewpoint diversity in higher education. He uses his research to help people understand and respect the moral motives of their enemies (see CivilPolitics.org, and see his TED talks). He is the author of The Happiness Hypothesis: Finding Modern Truth in Ancient Wisdom; The Righteous Mind: Why Good People are Divided by Politics and Religion; and (with Greg Lukianoff) The Coddling of the American Mind: How good intentions and bad ideas are setting a generation up for failure. For more information see www.JonathanHaidt.com.
See more on the author's page
Greg Lukianoff
Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.
Greg Lukianoff is an attorney and the president of the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE). He is the author of "Unlearning Liberty: Campus Censorship and the End of American Debate" and his writing has appeared in The Washington Post, The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The Wall Street Journal, and The Boston Globe, in addition to dozens of other publications. He is a regular columnist for The Huffington Post and has appeared on television shows, including the "CBS Evening News," "Fox & Friends," "The Today Show," CNN's "New Day," C-SPAN's "Washington Journal," and "Stossel." He received the 2008 Playboy Foundation Freedom of Expression Award and the 2010 Ford Hall Forum's Louis P. and Evelyn Smith First Amendment Award on behalf of FIRE. He is a graduate of American University and Stanford Law School.
See more on the author's page

Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5

8,432 global ratings

5 star
4 star
3 star
2 star
1 star

How customer reviews and ratings work

Reviews with images

See all photos

Sort reviews by

Top reviews from the United States

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.

understanding changing our children’s educational systems

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on June 11, 2019

Verified Purchase

My first thoughts after reading this book were, “I am glad I am no longer an active college professor: I never could walk on eggshells!”

And as Lukianoff and Haidt well present, college professors, today, are walking on eggshells. Many are afraid to live up to their university goals of teaching the truth as they see it. Furthermore, they are afraid to support their fellow professors who do try to teach honestly for fear of retribution.

But let’s back up: this book is not really about professors: instead, this book started as a serious observation that there is a rising rate of teen depression, anxiety, and suicides. But in the investigation of this problem, Lukianoff and Haidt discovered that this is but one of the outcomes. Among the other outcomes were the polarization of American politics, social injustices, and suppression of free speech, particularly on college campuses. And while Lukianoff and Haidt posit that these situations started in 2013 and continue today, I saw evidence of what is in the book as early as 2008 and perhaps even earlier at a state university. In other words, these didn’t just start with the “iGen” children coming of age at this time.

Greg Lukianoff and Jonathan Haidt are well qualified to make such observations. Greg Lukianoff is the President of FIRE, the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education. He has served in this position for more than a decade. Thus, he has been a keen observer of the challenges that people have had to face in American education. Jonathan Haidt is a Social Psychologist and a Professor at New York University. As a professor and social psychologist, he has first-hand experience with students as well the ability to understand the dynamics within these populations.

Lukianoff and Haidt present the case that there are three great “Untruths” that are underlying our treatment of youth today:

1) What doesn’t kill you makes you weaker.
2) Always trust your feelings.
3) Life is a battle between good people and evil people.

Note that the first is a perversion of Nietzsche’s famous dictum: “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.” The second is favorite advice of many pop psychologists today. And the third is a simplistic view originating from religion: “us vs. them.” The authors present convincing evidence that these “Untruths” are active and lead to bad ideas of how to treat children.

One of the predominant themes, in this book, is that Cognitive Behavioral Psychology, CBT, presents valid tools by which to evaluate and rectify the situations which create harm from these Untruths in American society. I very much agree with the authors here. If I were to evaluate today’s political situations, the very distortions that CBT points out are active and frontmost in American polarization.

Then Lukianoff and Haidt examine how intimidation and violence originate. A very quick synopsis is the quote they use from Nelson Mandela: “When we dehumanize and demonize our opponents, we abandon the possibility of peacefully resolving our differences, and seek to justify violence against them.” Here, the authors show how words have become defined as violence and the misguided concept that people need protection for their safety against speech that challenges their previously held conceptions. This then makes it possible for “witch hunts” to occur.

The features of witch hunts are they arise quickly, there are alleged crimes against society, the crimes are often fabricated, and the proponents of the witch hunts invoke fear into anyone trying to defend the accused. Witch hunts are used to generate mob cohesion and to create a “common enemy” to destroy.

As Lukianoff and Haidt show, witch hunts are occurring on US Campuses today in a “call out” mob mentality where the prevailing beliefs are challenged. Internally, it appears that the “call outs” are being made from the left while externally, the “call outs” are being made from the right. It is important to note here that 60% of the professorate is identified as being Far Left or Liberal while only 20% of the professorate is identified as Far Right or Conservative.

Some of the witch hunts have been created by the professorate, themselves, in asking for condemnation of a professor who challenges their ideologies. Thus, it suppresses free speech as well as suppresses critical thinking. The witch hunts, particularly at universities where the leadership has been weak, has resulted in both harm to the employment of professors as well in some cases, direct violence to the professors. Other professors who might agree with an “outcast professor” stay silent as they fear the same thing might occur to them.

The authors observe a cycle of polarization. A typical “polarization cycle” looks something like this: First, a professor says or writes something that is interpreted as provocative or inflammatory, regardless of what the intent was. Then, an activist retells the story to amplify the outrage. Next, a multitude of people writes angry posts on social media and threatening emails to the professor involved. The college or university administration fails to defend the professor and may take steps to sanction the professor regardless of the rights of the professor. Lastly, people that hear the story distort it to fit their views as confirmation bias. Things are out of control, and each side views the other side as evil, thus negating any chance for de-escalation.

“How did we get here?” Lukianoff and Haidt ask this very question. There appear to be six explanatory threads, but the threads do not affect everybody, and even amongst the people affected, the effects are different. The six identified threads are 1) rising political polarization, 2) rising teen anxiety and depression, 3) changes in parenting practices, 4) the decline of free play and the restricted opportunities for childhood independence, 5) the growth of a corporate campus bureaucracy, and 6) a rising passion for “social justice” for major events where the concepts of “justice” have been perverted. These deserve more treatment in this already long review.

First, there has been a growing shift towards the left in the college professorate. With the controversial election of President Trump, the campuses have become hotbeds of resistive political activity, and this activity is inflicted on the student bodies. Thus, there is and continues to be “witch hunt” activity in the long practice of universities to bring to campus a diverse set of provocative speakers. The major reason for doing this is to expose the student body to diverse views and to create discussions leading to the use of critical thinking. Conservatives speakers invited on many campuses resulted in violent displays of resistance and then either harassed on campus to prevent them from speaking or disinvited to prevent further violence.

Second, the rising trend in teen depression and suicides has fostered an atmosphere of expectancy of depression amongst the student bodies on campuses. This trend is more significant with females than males, although very recent statistics show a sharp upturn for males as well. Much of this is attributed to the use of social media, which projects a distorted view of appearances and reality as well as creates in people the feeling of being left out of various activities. There also is a feedback mechanism at work here: students are more likely today than in the past to seek out mental health counselors for anxiety. As the mental health bureaucracy processes these visits, it may well suggest symptoms of mental unhealth. This is expanded on in the fifth thread.

Third, parents have developed a fear of letting their children have unsupervised play. In part, some of this was caused by the highly publicized child abductions. Another factor in this has been the passage of child protection laws and the arrests of parents under those laws for letting their children be unsupervised. A culture of “safetyism” (that is, the child must be totally safe at all times,) has been built up and reinforced. There has been the observation that children seem to be growing up slower than in past years with regards to maturity. There are class distinctions: parents of the upper middle classes have the resources to involve their children in sophisticated activities such as music and art lessons. In the meantime, parents of generally the lower classes have subjected their children to adversity and possibly uncaring relationships as the parent struggle in their daily lives.

Fourth, the decline of free and unsupervised play has resulted in children less competent to face the world as they age. Children are not able to take small risks and learn from them. Children spend more time on mobile devices than in engaging in physical and social experiences. The socialization of children has suffered. Children no longer have the opportunity to solve small disputes without parents or other adults being involved. They now rely on “third parties” to take over when a situation arises where they may be disagreements.

Fifth, the bureaucracies of universities and colleges have greatly expanded the enforcement of the culture of safetyism. As an example, presented by Lukianoff and Haidt, a student visits a counselor for anxiety. During the visit, the counselor makes a leading statement, “Oh wow. People feel very anxious when they are in great danger.” The student now is being led to perceive danger. But this is not the end of it. The counselor then doing their required diligence under the campus rules reports to the Dean of Students that there was a cause for a visit. The Dean then sends a note to the student “I received a report that others are worried about your well being. … you are to refrain from discussing these issues with other students and use the appropriate resources listed below. If you involve other students … you will face disciplinary action. …“ A fictional example? No, it happened on a campus (references to it are given in the book.)

Universities are big business today, generating over a half trillion dollars annually. To support this revenue, they have created bureaucracies to perform research, education, fundraising, (who here hasn’t received a fundraising letter from their alma mater?) branding, marketing, and legal compliance. Students are considered to be “customers” with all of which that connotes. They are sold a product. “The customer is always right,” so that students are invited by the university to author their educational experiences according to their desires rather than towards the need of the education purportedly being received. As a result, the university overreacts as in the example above. In demands to reduce dissension on campus, (under the thread of movement towards the left,) universities have tried to restrict free speech on their campuses.

Sixth and lastly, the concept of social justice has been distorted. There is no widely accepted definition of “social justice,” but it would involve people getting what they deserve (distributive justice) and that the rules are applied fairly (procedural justice.) Social justice when it is consistent with these precepts is beneficial. Such social justice would remove artificial barriers and treat all people fairly. Today, under the various laws created with good intents, such as Title IX requiring universities and colleges to divide universities resources between female and male participants fairly, there are unintended consequences. Social justice is now being applied to the outcomes of groups rather than looking at justice for individuals. It is now considered acceptable to harm people for the desired outcomes. Thus, the distributive and procedural precepts of justice are being violated while reducing the fairness to individuals.

Lukianoff and Haidt propose a large number of fixes to these problems under the title, “Wising Up.” Most of these are direct and logical consequences of the six threads discussed. The universities and colleges have a lot to do to clean up their cultures. Lukianoff and Haidt are optimistic that they can do the work needed. Probably the best recommendations are, 1) reduce child access to social media in both time and type, 2) Allow children the freedom to play and develop their socialization skills, and 3) get rid of identity politics in the nation as this is fueling extremism towards both the left and right.

133 people found this helpful

Helpful

Eric Mabbott

Excellent accessible cultural analysis - A must-read!

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on February 12, 2019

Verified Purchase

What is happening on the college campus? Is it really as bad as the news stories report? What can be done about it? Jonathan Haidt and Greg Lukianoff have put together a book to help. The title is long enough to make a puritan blush, but it certainly sums up the message of the book: good intentions and bad ideas can do a lot of damage. The book was born out of a 2015 article written for the Atlantic by the same title (You can read it here). This is the second book by Jonathan Haidt I have reviewed. The Righteous Mind here. This book is not a screed against the “kids today” and how we just need to get back to the good old days. Haidt is a moral psychologist who works as a professor at NYU. Lukianoff is the president of FIRE (Foundation for Individual Rights in Education) which focuses on defending First Amendment rights in higher education. Both men independently noticed some disturbing trends which led them to co-author their initial article. Afterward, they decided to put their research into a book to delve deeper into the problem and offer solutions. The book is divided into four parts:

Part 1: Three Bad Ideas

The authors explore three key bad ideas which seem to be accepted more and more in society:

1) Kids are incredibly fragile.
2) We should always trust our feelings.
3) Life is a battle between good and evil people.

These ideas are bad because they are false. First, children are anti-fragile. They are not like glass which shatters. Rather they are more like a muscle that gets stronger when tested. This is not to say trauma is acceptable any more than we would say an athlete getting injured is getting stronger. The point is that kids are stronger than we think.

Second, the problem with always trusting our emotions is that we can be easily fooled. We lose the ability to have a healthy confrontation because we stop caring about someone’s intent and only care about their impact on our emotional state.

Third, when we boil relationships down to only a conflict between good and evil people we will not be open to compromise or even listening to the other side. If I think my opponent is basically Hitler then I am not going to reason or persuade him. I am going to fight him.

These three key ideas are being taught and reinforced in our education system, entertainment, and social media. The problem with these ideas is not the intent behind them which is protection and the betterment of society. The problem is that these ideas in action make everything worse and actually do the opposite of what they intend: we become more fragile, more angry, more stressed and anxious and so on.

Part 2: Bad Ideas in Action

This section catalogs cases where these bad ideas were put into play. The authors are careful to note that events are not indicative of every college campus. However, they are present in major universities predominantly on the west and east coasts. The authors review some of the riots that occurred in recent years on college campuses as well as the march in Charlottesville. They examine the nature of intimidation and violence that is trending in the news. Then they look at why our society is so prone to witch hunts and the importance of viewpoint diversity.

Part 3: How Did We Get Here?

This section was the most emotionally difficult part of the book for me. The authors dissect how we arrived in this situation focusing upon polarization, anxiety and depression, the decline of play, the rise of safety policies, and the quest for justice. They examine the influences of social media, screens, overprotection, and misguided efforts to achieve social justice. This section is not blasting those who want justice, school administrators, parents or children. The authors are interpreting the data in terms of “six threads” that together help explain how it is we arrived in our present state.

Part 4: Wising Up

Again, the book is not just old men yelling to protect their lawns. The authors present solutions along three lines: families, universities and society. They encourage parents to allow their kids to take calculated risks while resisting the urge to jump in as soon as they struggle. The authors talk about teaching children how to cope with disappointment and pain. They strongly recommend limiting screen time. There are more solutions, but if you want to know them you should read the book!

REFLECTIONS

This book came out at the right time for me as I had just finished reading Haidt’s The Righteous Mind. I also watched the news and was actively wrestling with my own use of social media. Normally it takes me less than five minutes to fall asleep at night (apparently I’m overtired). Yet there was one-night last spring (2018) that I couldn’t go to sleep because I was so angry about things someone I didn’t know said on social media. My mind wouldn’t rest as I rolled over what my response would be to this person and how I would show them how wrong they were. I think it was around 1:00 am that I finalized my brilliant rhetorical salvo I would unleash in the morning. However, when I woke up I knew something was wrong with me. I needed to back off social media. Last fall I even deactivated my Facebook account. I didn’t even self-righteously announce it beforehand! The point is that I was primed to read this book.

This book thoughtfully and fairly engages with serious issues in our society which will get worse unless we commit to making serious changes. I appreciate the authors’ desire not to castigate or vilify anyone. They want to make things better. They assume that the people involved in these issues on the campus are acting in good faith. This allows for thoughtful analysis and generous criticism that actually contributes to the conversation. My only criticism is that the final three chapters which present solutions are very short. Perhaps in time, the authors can present how they and some of the groups they point to as good examples are handling these modern challenges. Also, this book cannot give us the reason why we ought to live this way except for the general improvement of society. For Christians, grace and holiness are central for how we interact with others (or at least they should be!). There are core reasons why we are compelled as followers of Christ to live differently than society. As a holy people (set apart by mercy) we do not participate in that which is abhorrent to God. But as people who have been saved by grace, we explain our hope and commitment to Jesus with gentleness, respect, and love. This is not really a criticism. It is an acknowledgment of the limits of a non-Christian book.

I was challenged by this book to consider how I am raising my children particularly in terms of allowing them to take risks and giving them the room to fail. This book also led me to reflect on how I interact with others. I found myself reading this book saying, “Yeah, the Bible says we should do that…” We know it yet we don’t do it. For example: thinking the best of others or at least giving them the benefit of the doubt. Or how about not be hasty with our words in person and especially online? I seem to remember something about taking every thought captive. A good sign to me that this is a good book is that you leave it hopeful that we can do better or at least how I can do better.

THE BOTTOM LINE

I said in my review of The Righteous Mind that I would likely recommend this book over that one. That turned out to be true. This book does a wonderful job explaining current trends and what can be done about them. Positively there seem to be reasons for hope that things are changing already on the college campus. While this is encouraging, the pressure to unnecessarily self-censor seems to be increasing and there remains a cause for concern. This book is well written, engaging and challenging. It is not a Christian book (I'ma pastor) so don’t expect biblical answers or a biblical worldview. I do recommend this book if you are looking for an insightful cultural analysis of the rise of terms like “trigger warning” and “safe space” and the current state of social discourse in America. Overall, an excellent read and well worth your time.

34 people found this helpful

Helpful

Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English

Igor

Esclarecedor

Reviewed in Brazil 🇧🇷 on September 30, 2022

Verified Purchase

Demonstra de maneira clara "o que está de errado com a nossa sociedade". Literalmente, como bons intenções estão estragando uma geração.

Translate review to English

Narciso González

Por fin algo muy bueno que leer para corregir nuestra sociedad

Reviewed in Mexico 🇲🇽 on July 2, 2022

Verified Purchase

Nuestra sociedad necesita un reset y corregir el muy torcido rumbo al que se dirige, los autores hacen de este lo que debe ser libro de texto en todas las escuelas.

2 people found this helpful

Translate review to English

Roger

Truth often hurts.

Reviewed in Germany 🇩🇪 on October 18, 2021

Verified Purchase

But it pays in the end. This seems to me to be the battle Jonathan Haidt is engaged in. He presents convincing arguments about the United States, and how from parenting to college campuses, the pursuit of hearing what makes us feel good can come at the cost of what is true, and that this cost may reveal itself in the future to be way more than we are willing to pay.

2 people found this helpful

Ashish Gupta

Good book

Reviewed in India 🇮🇳 on January 23, 2019

Verified Purchase

Good book

One person found this helpful

名古屋ペンギン

We have similar issues in Japan

Reviewed in Japan 🇯🇵 on January 8, 2022

Verified Purchase

We have similar issues in Japan.
Paranoid parenting, deline of play, bureaucracy of safetyism and so on.
So, we should read this book for fortune-telling of our society!

Amazon Music Stream millions of songs	Amazon Advertising Find, attract, and engage customers	6pm Score deals on fashion brands	AbeBooks Books, art & collectibles	ACX Audiobook Publishing Made Easy	Sell on Amazon Start a Selling Account

Amazon Business Everything For Your Business	Amazon Fresh Groceries & More Right To Your Door	AmazonGlobal Ship Orders Internationally	Home Services Experienced Pros Happiness Guarantee	Amazon Ignite Sell your original Digital Educational Resources	Amazon Web Services Scalable Cloud Computing Services

Audible Listen to Books & Original Audio Performances	Book Depository Books With Free Delivery Worldwide	Box Office Mojo Find Movie Box Office Data	ComiXology Thousands of Digital Comics	DPReview Digital Photography	Fabric Sewing, Quilting & Knitting

Goodreads Book reviews & recommendations	IMDb Movies, TV & Celebrities	IMDbPro Get Info Entertainment Professionals Need	Kindle Direct Publishing Indie Digital & Print Publishing Made Easy	Amazon Photos Unlimited Photo Storage Free With Prime	Prime Video Direct Video Distribution Made Easy

Shopbop Designer Fashion Brands	Amazon Warehouse Great Deals on Quality Used Products	Whole Foods Market America’s Healthiest Grocery Store	Woot! Deals and Shenanigans	Zappos Shoes & Clothing	Ring Smart Home Security Systems

eero WiFi Stream 4K Video in Every Room	Blink Smart Security for Every Home	Neighbors App Real-Time Crime & Safety Alerts	Amazon Subscription Boxes Top subscription boxes – right to your door	PillPack Pharmacy Simplified	Amazon Renewed Like-new products you can trust

Buy for others

Buying and sending eBooks to others

Follow the Authors

The Coddling of the American Mind: How Good Intentions and Bad Ideas Are Setting Up a Generation for Failure Kindle Edition

What do customers buy after viewing this item?

Editorial Reviews

Review

Review

About the Author

Product details

Videos

About the authors

Jonathan Haidt

Greg Lukianoff

Customer reviews

Reviews with images

Top reviews from the United States

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.

Top reviews from other countries

Buy for others

Buying and sending eBooks to others

Follow the Authors

The Coddling of the American Mind: How Good Intentions and Bad Ideas Are Setting Up a Generation for Failure Kindle Edition

What do customers buy after viewing this item?

Editorial Reviews

Review

Review

About the Author

Product details

Videos

About the authors

Jonathan Haidt

Greg Lukianoff

Customer reviews

Reviews with images

Submit a report

Top reviews from the United States

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.

Top reviews from other countries