In a world that seems to be going to hell in a hand basket maybe we need to stop valuing pure intelligence or money as a goal and instead look towards the ability to abandon ideas that are no longer valid and relearn when presented with new information. That is the goal of Adam Grant’s book Think Again, to help us learn to rethink our opinions and then later in the book to give us the tools to engage constructively with others that have differing opinions in a quest to bring consensus to the conversation.
My favourite quote is probably this:
We’re swift to recognize when other people need to think again. We question the judgement of experts whenever we seek out a second opinion on a medical diagnosis. Unfortunately, when it comes to our knowledge and opinions, we often favor feeling right over being right. In everyday life, we make diagnoses of our own, ranging from whom we hire to when we marry. We need to develop the habit of forming our own second opinions. Pg 18
Next time you think someone is wrong on the internet, stop and think about where you may need to relearn instead of just spreading vitriol.
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