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Punished by Rewards

The Trouble with Gold Stars, Incentive Plans, A's, Praise, and Other Bribes

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Punished by Rewards

By: Alfie Kohn
Narrated by: Alfie Kohn
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About this listen

The basic strategy we use for raising children, teaching students, and managing workers can be summarized in six words: Do this and you'll get that. We dangle goodies (from candy bars to sales commissions) in front of people in much the same way we train the family pet.

Drawing on a wealth of psychological research, Alfie Kohn points the way to a more successful strategy based on working with people instead of doing things to them. "Do rewards motivate people?" asks Kohn. "Yes. They motivate people to get rewards." Seasoned with humor and familiar examples, Punished by Rewards presents an argument unsettling to hear but impossible to dismiss.

©1993 Alfie Kohn (P)2017 Tantor Parenting & Families Personal Development Personal Success Psychology Psychology & Mental Health Relationships Witty Motivation

Critic Reviews

"A clear, convincing demonstration of the shortcomings of pop-behaviorism, written with style, humor, and authority." ( Kirkus)
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This is an academic book, with lots of research. If that’s not your thing, you may not enjoy it. However, I believe every person could benefit by reading this book as it contains insightful looks at parenting, teaching and managing.

The fact that it has an epilogue with updates is a bonus as well. Thank you Mr Kohn for this wonderful book.

Now, implementation is the hurdle!

Insightful, intriguing and fresh.

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Very thought provoking and challenging. John makes a compelling and undeniable case against rewards (and punishment while he’s at it). Challenges so many things that I knew to be a fact of life growing up in a western (Australian) family and education system. Enjoyed every minute

Worth the time to listen!

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Liked the subject and still seems relevant (original book published in the late 90s). The odd interjected joke was welcome given some sections were repetitive (explaining the same concept just with different variables). I found the afterword the most enjoyable section as it gave a solid idea how the concept was received the real-world.

Interesting, but repetitive at times

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