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  • The Scout Mindset

  • Why Some People See Things Clearly and Others Don't
  • By: Julia Galef
  • Narrated by: Julia Galef
  • Length: 6 hrs and 26 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (84 ratings)

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The Scout Mindset

By: Julia Galef
Narrated by: Julia Galef
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Publisher's Summary

Winner of best smart thinking book 2022 (Business Book Awards)

Guardian best books of 2021

When it comes to what we believe, humans see what they want to see. In other words, we have what Julia Galef calls a 'soldier' mindset. From tribalism and wishful thinking, to rationalising in our personal lives and everything in between, we are driven to defend the ideas we most want to believe—and shoot down those we don't.

But if we want to get things right more often we should train ourselves to think more like a scout. Unlike the soldier, a scout's goal isn't to defend one side over the other. It's to go out, survey the territory and come back with as accurate a map as possible. Regardless of what they hope to be the case, above all, the scout wants to know what's actually true.

In The Scout Mindset, Galef shows that what makes scouts better at getting things right isn't that they're smarter or more knowledgeable than everyone else. It's a handful of emotional skills, habits and ways of looking at the world—which anyone can learn.

With fascinating examples ranging from how to survive being stranded in the middle of the ocean, to how Jeff Bezos avoids overconfidence, to how superforecasters outperform CIA operatives, to Reddit threads and modern partisan politics, Galef explores why our brains deceive us and what we can do to change the way we think.

©2021 Julia Galef (P)2021 Hachette Audio UK

Critic Reviews

"Original, thought-provoking and a joy to read." (Tim Harford)

"This is a book that will make a real difference in how you think." (Sean Carroll) 

"Highly recommended. It's not easy to become (more of) a scout, but it's hard not to be inspired by this book." (Rutger Bregman)

"With insights that are both sharp and actionable, The Scout Mindset picks up where Predictably Irrational left off. Reading it will teach you to think more clearly, see yourself more accurately, and be wrong a little less often." (Adam Grant)

What listeners say about The Scout Mindset

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changed my mindset for good

I think everyone could benefit from reading this book... some people more than others 😒 *looks at my colleagues*

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Much better than I thought it would be

Even the most intuitively curious, flexibly minded and unbiased person will enjoy and take new ideas away from this book.

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Be a scout, not a soldier

This audio book had some big ideas, well explained.
The central premise - we often engage arguments from a combative mindset, where we entrench our position, seek compatible facts as ammunition, and fight tooth and nail - which can be a real problem when we're wrong.
Being a scout, on the other hand, keeps us open to new data and points of view, anything that helps us better understand and navigate that map of reality.
The narrator was clear and could be speed to 1.5x without impacting comprehension.
A physical copy could be preferable for some as the book has many references...
That stated, I've been able to rewind and repeat key segments, and the convenience of the audio book can't be overstated.

Well worth your time.

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Great chaser for Thinking Fast and Slow

Scout Mindset worked to reinforce and structure many of the ideas set out in Thinking Fast and Slow which was more dense and somewhat more abstract. It would be much easier to finish Think Fast and Slow, and imagine that you understand your biases and have cured yourself so to speak. Julia keeps questioning herself and pushing the reader to reinforce mental processes and self checks to lessen the likelihood of blind bias.
In many ways this is a much more practical book but both books are more valuable for having listened the other.

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Will listen to again

This audio book was enjoyable to listen to and informative. I will definitely listen a second time to pickup on ideas I missed first time.

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Articulated powerful ideas and practices!

I loved this book - in a world so divided by opposing beliefs and identities, it offers a practical and generous approach to seeing things more clearly and structuring an identity around intellectual humility and shared humanity. Thanks for collecting these ideas and stories and presenting them so succinctly and engagingly.

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Inspiring and practical

Clear articulation of the theory with good use of examples to illustrate it. Already started putting the practical suggestions into play, and looking forward to sharing the book with my team and peers.

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No genuine point or learnings

I wanted to like this. It’s sort of meanders through some subjects and examples but doesn’t in my view, make any points or give me anything that I can apply to my actual life.

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if you're considering this book, you're already a Scout, don't bother.

Essentially a highschool essay with references to Reddit discussion and memes.
Better packaged as a podcast than something you spend money or credits on.

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