Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don't Know

Adam Grant

Feb 2021 · Sold by Penguin

About this ebook

#1 New York Times Bestseller

“THIS. This is the right book for right now. Yes, learning requires focus. But, unlearning and relearning requires much more—it requires choosing courage over comfort. In Think Again, Adam Grant weaves together research and storytelling to help us build the intellectual and emotional muscle we need to stay curious enough about the world to actually change it. I’ve never felt so hopeful about what I don’t know.”
—Brené Brown, Ph.D., #1 New York Times bestselling author of Dare to Lead

The #1 New York Times bestselling author of Hidden Potential, Originals, and Give and Take examines the critical art of rethinking: learning to question your opinions and open other people's minds, which can position you for excellence at work and wisdom in life

Intelligence is usually seen as the ability to think and learn, but in a rapidly changing world, there's another set of cognitive skills that might matter more: the ability to rethink and unlearn. In our daily lives, too many of us favor the comfort of conviction over the discomfort of doubt. We listen to opinions that make us feel good, instead of ideas that make us think hard. We see disagreement as a threat to our egos, rather than an opportunity to learn. We surround ourselves with people who agree with our conclusions, when we should be gravitating toward those who challenge our thought process. The result is that our beliefs get brittle long before our bones. We think too much like preachers defending our sacred beliefs, prosecutors proving the other side wrong, and politicians campaigning for approval--and too little like scientists searching for truth. Intelligence is no cure, and it can even be a curse: being good at thinking can make us worse at rethinking. The brighter we are, the blinder to our own limitations we can become.

Organizational psychologist Adam Grant is an expert on opening other people's minds--and our own. As Wharton's top-rated professor and the bestselling author of Originals and Give and Take, he makes it one of his guiding principles to argue like he's right but listen like he's wrong. With bold ideas and rigorous evidence, he investigates how we can embrace the joy of being wrong, bring nuance to charged conversations, and build schools, workplaces, and communities of lifelong learners. You'll learn how an international debate champion wins arguments, a Black musician persuades white supremacists to abandon hate, a vaccine whisperer convinces concerned parents to immunize their children, and Adam has coaxed Yankees fans to root for the Red Sox. Think Again reveals that we don't have to believe everything we think or internalize everything we feel. It's an invitation to let go of views that are no longer serving us well and prize mental flexibility over foolish consistency. If knowledge is power, knowing what we don't know is wisdom.

Ratings and reviews

Favourite Quote : Collecting a teacher's knowledge may help us solve challenges of the day but understanding how a teacher thinks can help us navigate the challenges of a lifetime. Ultimately education is more than the information we accumulate in our heads (Chapter 9) Favourite Chapter : In Chapter 11, the author shares about Candice Walker who saw a patient writhing on a floor in pain in a hospital. When no one assisted, she took charge and get the patient on a wheelchair and get the patient urgent treatment. When she showed up to work, she brought bagels and coffee for the patients who were grateful of her presence. She also shared jokes and engage the patients. Candice Walker is not a doctor, nurse or social worker. She is a cleaner in the hospital. When asked why she did it, she answered that it was a part of her. Identities are open system and we dont have to stick to only do what our job dictates but rather we are to start rethinking our options by asking what we do daily and make a difference. Who should read it : The book is for everyone as it shares many insights about rethinking. The book shares about individual, interpersonal and collective rethinking. In the last chapter the author gave tips on what we can do to start the rethinking habits that we should develop in the course of our lives.

Had a hard time putting this down. Add this to your must read list. Good content and lots of things to think (again) about. Great read and fairly easy—finished in 24 hours or just a little over.

One of the most insightful books I've read in some time. Some of the ideas that resonated strongly with me but more importantly I learned about some ways of thinking that I didn't know before. Thoroughly enjoyed it!

About the author

Adam Grant is an organizational psychologist at Wharton, where he has been the top-rated professor for seven straight years. He is one of TED's most popular speakers, his books have sold millions of copies, his talks have been viewed more than 25 million times, and his podcast WorkLife with Adam Grant has topped the charts. His pioneering research has inspired people to rethink fundamental assumptions about motivation, generosity, and creativity. He has been recognized as one of the world's ten most influential management thinkers and Fortune's 40 Under 40, and has received distinguished scientific achievement awards from the American Psychological Association and the National Science Foundation. Adam received his B.A. from Harvard and his Ph.D. from the University of Michigan, and he is a former Junior Olympic springboard diver. He lives in Philadelphia with his wife and their three children.