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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 Discrimination Social justice

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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)
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A must listen for anyone looking to make sense of what is society and it’s limitations today. Where can we improve?

Anyone as a partner or educator should have this in their repertoire to help them do a better job of both

Great read

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massive help me and a great understanding about human behaviour. Alot of worrisome stories about the Orwellian school system of today.

Good book.

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A well written journey through bad ideas, from origin to conclusion. That then offers positive solutions to them.

An insight into intersectional thinking

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A counter argument to the predelection for unthinking partisanship, this book clearly sets out the problems of the current education system and fashions in parenting which result in intellectual fragility and safetyism. There have also been effective revolutions on campuses across the US, and the scourge of cancel culture, which the authors suggest could undermine the whole point of universities which should be the search for Truth.
Unusually for an academic text there are very practical chapters of suggestions for nurturing good mental health (CBT), establishing anti-fragility in young children, and, for college leaders, managing attempts to prevent speakers or unpopular viewpoints being expressed on campus.
It is a very humane and patient and calm book. And very clearly set out. And very honest. The authors state their political viewpoints as a way of establishing that they are talking in good faith.
Altogether very enlightening, accessible and scholarly. I loved it and will be reading The Righteous Mind next.

truly enlightening & so relevant

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A great book in many respects, worth a listen for all those across the political spectrum

A must read for those in academia

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I believe Ive just read excellent explanation for majority of the mental health issues of human beings in any age.
Very good read, I wish it was translated into more languages.

Dangers of safetism

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Let’s hope that society and educational institutions can fix this mess for the future generations.

Very relevant, highly recommend.

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Johnathan Haidt is a great writer and a wonderful narrator.
It’s the best audio book I’ve experienced. If the subject matter interests you then this book will not disappoint.
Can’t wait to talk about it.

This will start a deep dive

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"I blame the parents",used to be the shout..".I blame the parent'..is the most likely replacement for that call.
Haidts book explains his findings and offers observations which are very much plausible to describe what has happened In the last Forty or so years to rearing children in the west and priniciply in The States...Wonder why rights are everything and responsibility is at the feet of the patriarchy..Why its a legal matter to know where your kids sre,but you grew up wild and free .i
This book sets our carefully and with a wondergul pace to the delivery,what has gone awry and some ways hopefully to keep us all safe and sane.

why youngsters are scared silly...

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This book is astonishingly relevant to politics, parenting, technological trends, psychology and many other aspects of modern Western life. It essentially explains exactly what is going wrong with political debate in our society today and how we can all strive to fix these issues on a personal basis. It’s also compelling and straightforward - Jonathan Haidt is both an excellent writer and a great narrator. Everyone should read or listen to this, I can’t recommend it enough.

A Must-Listen

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