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The Coddling of the American Mind

How Good Intentions and Bad Ideas Are Setting Up a Generation for Failure

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The Coddling of the American Mind

By: Jonathan Haidt, Greg Lukianoff
Narrated by: Jonathan Haidt
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About this listen

Penguin presents the audiobook edition of The Coddling of the America Mind by Jonathan Haidt and Greg Lukianoff, read by Jonathan Haidt.

What doesn't kill you makes you weaker
Always trust your feelings
Life is a battle between good people and evil people

These three Great Untruths contradict basic psychological principles about well-being, as well as ancient wisdom from many cultures. And yet they have become increasingly woven into education, culminating in a stifling culture of "safetyism" that began on American college campuses and is spreading throughout academic institutions in the English-speaking world.

In this book, free speech campaigner Greg Lukianoff and social psychologist Jonathan Haidt investigate six trends that caused the spread of these untruths, from the decline of unsupervised play to the corporatization of universities and the rise of new ideas about identity and justice.

Lukianoff and Haidt argue that well-intended but misguided attempts to protect young people can hamper their development, with devastating consequences for them, for the educational system and for democracy itself.

©2018 Jonathan Haidt & Greg Lukianoff (P)2018 Penguin Audio Education Freedom & Security Higher & Continuing Education Politics & Government Psychology Psychology & Mental Health Social Psychology & Interactions Thought-Provoking Inspiring Discrimination Social justice

Critic Reviews

"Excellent...their advice is sound...liberal parents, in particular, should read it" (Edward Luce)

"An important if disturbing book.... Lukianoff and Haidt tell a plausible story" (Niall Ferguson)

"A compelling and timely argument against attitudes and practises 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)
All stars
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Brilliant listening, makes sense out of now!
The only thing I have heard that explains why certain things are happening in America and other western countries and what should be done to change certain things to achieve worthwhile goals.

Observed the author on Joe Rogans podcast, heard the book mentioned again and again.
Really should have listened to it sooner, should be freshman reading material!

can't believe I waited this long to listen!!

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The world we live in today is changing rapidly, many of the changes cause great harm long term. We need to vehemently challenge these erroneous ideas.
I cannot recommend this book enough.

This book will solve many of the world's problems

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Liked the quote - Prepare the child for the road not the road for the child.

Book review

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Highly recommend to anyone with interests in parenting and child development - practical and simply put concepts backed up by evidence

Extremely informative & fascinating- must read

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A book most people should listen to or read. Interesting and explains the subject matter very well.

Excellent!

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This book holds a true sense of the reality we currently live in. Although it shares many negatives (truths) of our current way of raising children through safetyism and the impacts it is having on our young people. This book is easily relatable and relevant for an educator or parent.

Truth

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As you despair that the world has gone mad, read this and reassure yourself that you are not alone and surely, ultimately, plain common sense will prevail.

Edifying and reassuring common sense.

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really challenged my views on dealing with viewpoints that I find offensive. thought-provoking in many ways. the concept of a culture of 'safetyism' which causes kids to misinterpret differing points of view as threatening is especially interesting. i didn't find it a light read - requires concentration!

thought-provoking

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Covers implications of the core argument across fields and from different perspectives. Didn’t unnecessarily cover ground it already covered. Presentation was suitable for audiobook format.

Good argument, covers a lot of context

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insightful review and rationale of generational behaviours for parents and teachers to make changes.

Excellent

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