In this right book for right now, the management thinker and author undoubtedly argues for an evolving, and not a fixed, scientific approach to decision making. Adam Grant emphasizes that learning requires focus. “But, unlearning and relearning requires much more – it requires choosing courage over comfort.”
As problems in the modern life evolve, so must our responses, to tackle inequality, racism, political, economic or social issues. Through data and storytelling, the author reveals that real achievers and great thinkers don’t let their own expertise or experience stand in the way of thinking, and be perpetual students to discover new solutions to problems.
The book teaches how to encourage and teach open-mindedness by regularly re-examining current assumptions to arrive at better results and to prepare the society for better tomorrow. The past couple of years have provided plenty of food for rethinking on various long standing issues. In a violently evolving and divided world, this book offers lessons that are more important than ever.
In an increasingly accelerating changing society, the young and internationally sought after author distills complex research into compelling case for why each of us should continually question old assumptions and embrace new perspectives. Therefore, to reinvent yourself, keep an open mind and seek to understand your unexamined and unchallenged belief system. The author says it’s a teachable skill. “Rethink what we already know …. That’s not just a useful lesson; it could be a vital one.” People can be taught to think again through ‘argument literacy.’
Creative geniuses aren’t attached to one identity; but constantly re-strategize their stances. The leaders who admit they don’t know something and seek critical feedback lead more productive and responsive teams.
From the Book
“Identity foreclosure can stop us from evolving….When we dedicate ourselves to a plan and it isn’t going as we hoped, our first instinct isn’t usually to rethink it. Instead, we tend to double down and sink more resources in the plan. This pattern is called escalation of commitment. Evidence shows that entrepreneurs persist with failing strategies when they should pivot.”
“We spend too much time striving for peak happiness, overlooking the fact that happiness depends more on the frequency of positive emotions than their intensity.”
“Most of us take pride in our knowledge and expertise, and in staying true to our beliefs and opinions. That makes sense in a stable world, where we get rewarded for having conviction in our ideas. The problem is that we live in a rapidly changing world, where we need to spend as much time rethinking as we do thinking.”
“We’re swift to recognize when other people need to think again. We question the judgment of experts whenever we seek out a second opinion on a medical diagnosis. Unfortunately, when it comes to our own knowledge and opinions, we often favor feeling right over being right.”
“Mental horsepower doesn’t guarantee mental dexterity. No matter how much brainpower you have, if you lack the motivation to change your mind, you’ll miss many occasions to think again.”
“Only one trait consistently predicted presidential greatness… What set great presidents apart was their intellectual curiosity and openness. They read widely and were as eager to learn about developments in biology, philosophy, architecture, and music as in domestic and foreign affairs. They were interested in hearing new views and revising their old ones. They saw many of their policies as experiments to run, not points to score.”
