Book Review: Think Again

“The purpose of learning isn’t to affirm our beliefs; it’s to evolve our beliefs.” (p. 26)

Photo by Ed Ortiz

Think Again by Adam Grant was an interesting read, but I’m a bit on the fence, so to speak, about this book. It offered a lot of good insights about reframing the way we make decisions, but I think, at least for me, it came a little too late. The book was published in 2021, two years before my retirement, and most of the things the author discusses are areas I’m already knowledgeable about. Still, I learned a few things and managed to take a couple of pages of notes.

I really liked how he started the book. In the prologue, he said the following:

“Intelligence is traditionally viewed as the ability to think and learn. Yet… there’s another set of cognitive skills that might matter more: the ability to rethink and unlearn.” (p. 2)

The ability to rethink and unlearn is extremely important. We see it all the time, especially in our current political environment: people who are unwilling to rethink and unlearn the past and embark on a new and better direction for the benefit of all. Then, a couple of pages later, he said the following:

“Part of the problem is cognitive laziness… we often prefer the ease of hanging on to old views over the difficulty of grappling with new ones… Questioning ourselves makes the world more unpredictable. It requires us to admit that the facts may have changed, that what was once right may now be wrong. Reconsidering something we believe deeply can threaten our identity.” (p. 4)

Reading this immediately triggered thoughts about what is going on right now: forcing our will on others through bullying and even wars, trying to reverse women’s rights just because some men find it difficult to adapt to a new reality, cutting budgets and reducing manpower to save money while spending much more on armed conflicts and special interests. The list goes on, and much of this we have seen before. Those things didn’t work in the past, are not working now, and will not work in the future. Cognitive laziness is indeed part of the problem.

On pages 22–26, Grant introduces four types of mental modes, or ways people tend to think about situations. These are Preachers, Prosecutors, Politicians, and Scientists.

In preacher mode, “changing our minds is a mark of moral weakness.” This is probably debatable, but I’m okay with it as a general observation. In prosecutor mode, “allowing ourselves to be persuaded is admitting defeat.” In politician mode, “we flip-flop in response to carrots and sticks.”

Grant recommends that we think like scientists: “actively open-minded… searching for reasons why we might be wrong… and revising our views based on what we learn.” I tend to operate in this mode, and it seems that the older I get, the more I challenge what I know.

I liked what he said about lifelong learners: “A mark of lifelong learners is recognizing that they can learn something from everyone they meet.” (p. 54) It’s one of the reasons I love blogging. Every day I learn something new from reading other people’s blog posts.

In the chapter about the “Joy of Being Wrong,” Grant discusses an area of extreme importance in today’s world. He talks about the “dictator policing your thoughts” and goes on to say a few things, but I’m going to highlight two of them:

“The totalitarian ego, and its job is to keep out threatening information… the totalitarian ego steps in like a bodyguard for our minds, protecting our self-image by feeding us comforting lies.” (p. 59)

“The inner dictator manages to prevail by activating an overconfidence cycle. First, our wrong opinions are shielded in filter bubbles, where we feel pride when we see only information that supports our convictions. Then our beliefs are sealed in echo chambers, where we hear only from people who intensify and validate them.” (p. 61)

On page 74, Grant said something that I’m still thinking about, and I’m not sure I agree with 100%.

“When we find out we might be wrong, a standard defense is ‘I’m entitled to my opinion.’ I’d like to modify that: yes, we’re entitled to hold opinions inside our own heads. If we choose to express them out loud, though, I think it’s our responsibility to ground them in logic and facts, share our reasoning with others, and change our minds when better evidence emerges.” (p. 74)

I’m a firm believer that ordinary people are entitled to their opinions, and I think the listener is the one with the responsibility to assess those opinions based on current knowledge. Or perhaps the listener needs to do some homework to learn more about a particular subject. I think if every opinion needs to go through Grant’s standard, then only those with the skills to overpower others with their words will be able to express themselves.

Introverts like me operate differently. We like to listen, even if in our heads we are saying, “What in the world are you saying? That doesn’t make sense whatsoever,” while nodding so the speaker doesn’t feel bad. I say “ordinary people” because there are people who are expert debaters and present logic, facts, and reasoning for a living. Not every person has that capacity, and if we feel in our gut that something is morally wrong—even if a hundred people say it is not, and even if there is a possibility that we might be wrong—then we should still be able to express our opinion, even if we cannot completely articulate the reasons behind it.

Now, here is something that is spot on:

“Every time you encounter new information, you have a choice. You can attach your opinions to your identity and stand your ground… or you can operate more like a scientist… committed to the pursuit of truth—even if it means proving yourself wrong. The faster you are to recognize when you’re wrong, the faster you can move toward getting it right.” (p. 76)

While narrating an experience in a high school classroom where students were taught how to examine evidence, he provided some very good fact-checking guidelines:

“(1) interrogate information instead of simply consuming it, (2) reject rank and popularity as a proxy for reliability, and (3) understand that the sender of information is often not its source.” (p. 190)

Toward the end of the book, he said the following:

“It’s a mistake to follow traditions because the status quo is familiar. We’re better off questioning whether past routines are serving us well in the present and guiding us toward a better future.” (p. 222)

There is so much truth in that statement.

He concludes the book with 30 practical takeaways that can help us improve our rethinking skills. It’s a nice way to summarize the content of the book.

Something he said stayed with me. It’s really a question that, as he said, “we need to ask more often, both of ourselves and of others.” (p. 211)

“How do you know?”

Think Again was an excellent read that I think will benefit those starting a new leadership role or perhaps those struggling to understand the current political environment. It will help readers rethink choices and make better decisions in the future.

About the Author:

Adam Grant is an organizational psychologist and bestselling author who explores the science of character, connection, culture, and change. Adam received his B.A. from Harvard and his Ph.D. from the University of Michigan.

53 thoughts on “Book Review: Think Again”

  1. Hi Edward…
    I had a really good time reading. Think again. I even got the audio version to listen to chapters again after reading. Many of the things you highlight in thia piece, were scribbled next to, in my hardcopy.
    I lent it to my brother, and he and I have often discussed some of the things we agreed with or disagreed with. It did help me consider my approach to most topics. Critical thinking is such an important skill to develop.
    It was an interesting read, very engaging. It was nice to see a blogger mention it.

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    1. Thank you, Nigel. I agree with you that critical thinking is important and must be cultivated. It’s so great that you are able to discuss the book with your brother; books are always good conversation starters.

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      1. They sure are. Every road trip we may listen to one. The Last we listened to and discussed was Mindset by Carol Dweck. Very interesting. We had to pause several times to discuss.

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  2. Isn’t it bizarre when you read a book and realize you already know all the things?? It’s like, “Heck, maybe I AM smart” I think, with my four college degrees and low self-esteem. I didn’t realize so many of us were inflexible until COVID 19 and the concept of being good to each other, protecting each other, turned into identity politics and conspiracy theories. I used to be a college English/Lit/Creative Writing professor, and one of my FAVORITE assignments was just to have students write a report. That’s it. No opinions. The textbook even had a chapter called “Just the Facts, Ma’am.” They struggled so hard! Every semester, I warned them, DO NOT PICK A TOPIC YOU LOVE! YOU WILL STRUGGLE. Invariably, they picked a topic they loved and struggled, lol. If someone wanted to argue that the drinking age should be lowered to 18 because at 18 you can smoke and fight in a war, but they inevitably arrived at a bunch of scientific articles about the pre-frontal cortex and brain damage, something they’d never considered. Thus, I would argue it’s less important for us to share our opinions than it is to talk about our findings and to remain curious and open. You don’t have to read about the science of alcohol and make a decision. You can simply be aware and use that info later.

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    1. I have been through so much leadership and management training during my time in the Army that I’m already familiar with most of his concepts. That isn’t a bad thing, though; it validates what I’ve learned.

      Selfishness is a real thing, and many people are very protective of their personal space. I think COVID simply illuminated that aspect of humanity.

      I completely agree with you that, during conversations, the most important thing is to share findings and observations openly so people can reach their own conclusions.

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  3. “A mark of lifelong learners is recognizing that they can learn something from everyone they meet.” – so true. It is always interesting to listen to random people. Like you as an introvert, I listen and nod even if they are talking crazy.

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  8. I like the idea of the first passage you mentioned—learning to evolve—and I am a keen advocate of perspective. Perspective changes everything. And often takes us into more meaningful directions that don’t necessarily comply with tradition. But that’s the key to evolution. A very interesting book and post, Edward! The focus on choice is so timely and relevant! Much enjoyed, my friend! Taking some of your notes with me for reflection. Infinite blessings and light your way, always! ✨🙏🍀🌞

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    1. You’re so right that perspective changes everything. Processing new information and reevaluating what we know helps us readjust to a more accurate one. Thank you, my friend, and I’m glad the information resonated with you. 🙏🏼

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  9. An insightful review that highlights the value of intellectual humility and the courage to rethink our assumptions. Your reflections beautifully capture how growth often begins when we remain open to learning, unlearning, and seeing things from new perspectives. In a world full of certainty and quick opinions, this message feels especially timely and important.👌

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  10. You sure offered a great review here, Edward! There’s so much to learn about how we perceive the world, how we have been programmed by media, radio, TV, and movies, teachers, parents, etc. and the role of our own ego (mostly to protect ourselves). It’s a wonder that we can check our own biases at all!
    I love to learn, and put myself in the role of scientist often. But I catch myself falling back into my conditioning too, and therefore, change my mind and edit my words—sometimes mid sentence! Ha!
    I think this book offers a lot of food for thought! Thanks for the review!

    p.s. speaking of politicians, most are lawyers. And that’s probably why we get so much double-speak from them. I love the Braver Angels group because they teach us how to respectfully debate issues with those across the political aisle. Of course our current legislators, and administration could learn a lot from them too!

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    1. Thank you, Sheila. It’s really hard to break away from the programming that we have been conditioned to follow for so long. It’s up to the individual to realize that, and rethink and unlearn—using the author’s words—our way of thinking. I agree with you that current legislators are not doing very well in that department. I have seen videos of that group and they are pretty good. We definitely need more civilized discussions.

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  11. This sounds like a book I would very much enjoy …. Edward! The more you write these fab reviews, the longer my “want to read” list grows. I’m pretty sure I won’t live long enough to read what I already have downloaded to my e-reader far less adding a new one every week or two, lol.
    I also always enjoy that you share your own philosophical outlook related to these reads.
    My favourite quote that you shared from the book:
    “ … The faster you are to recognize when you’re wrong, the faster you can move toward getting it right.”

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    1. Thank you, Terry. I’m not going to post a book review next week, so there is a little break for you. 😀 The book is filled with memorable quotes, which I love. That particular quote is so good.

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  12. Thanks for your book review. I especially liked your comment, “Introverts like me operate differently. We like to listen, even if in our heads we are saying, “What in the world are you saying? That doesn’t make sense whatsoever,” while nodding so the speaker doesn’t feel bad.”

    I’m an introvert too. I’m on a weekly zoom call, invited by a client of my husband’s, where we talk about global current events, politics and religion. I’m learning from people with different views, religions and locations around the nation. I’m the youngest in a group who are mostly men who had high powered careers and are retired. We’re all called on by our group leader to give opinions out loud.

    As an introvert it’s been tough but I’m getting used to it. Also, I get good book recommendations each week and I’m learning about history and world events. It’s a smart group of people. The one I’m reading this week you might want to look at if you haven’t read it already: “Strength to Strength: Finding success, happiness and deep purpose in the second half of life” by Arthur C. Brooks. It’s nine chapters and I read one chapter a day.

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    1. You’re welcome, and what a great group learning opportunity! Those Zoom calls are difficult for us at the beginning, but they get better over time. I have heard of Arthur C. Brooks, but I haven’t read any of his books yet. I’m going to check him out; thank you for the recommendation.

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      1. Thanks. I read one chapter each PT or doctor’s appointment I’m driving my husband to post surgery. It works out well. I have two more days left of the book. The people in the group include neurosurgeons, lawyers, one had a seat on the CBE, and another ran a bond desk on Wall Street. At first I was really intimidated, but realized it’s opened up my world knowledge and they respect my opinion, too. I look at it as a chance to learn more about things I’m unfamiliar with. Plus, how many times do we get to discuss politics and religion these days and learn from others?

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  13. I haven’t read this book so I love hearing your take on it. The four models are interesting — and the scientist reminds me of Neil deGrasse Tyson. His way of questioning everything is so good and when I heard him on a podcast a year or so ago, I remember thinking that our world would be so much better off if we all questioned things like he did.

    Rethinking and unlearning – you have me considering where I need to do that. Thanks for the great quotes and ending question. Great review, my friend!

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  14. I think that as new information comes to light, we have to be able to examine the data without bias and make an informative decision. I know a lot of people who are stuck in their ways and have particular prescribing habits but if there’s something newer and better with less side effects, I’m more willing to try that out versus staying with the old status quo and accepting the minimum.

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  15. I read this book a couple of years ago and thought it was a worthwhile read. A couple of things that stood out to me were:

    – The discussion of confident humility…that you can be confident in your knowledge while being humble enough to recognize you can learn from others.

    – His information on how to how have productive conversations with skeptics.

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  16. Thanks for sharing some of these quotes. In particular, I like the rethinking of intelligence as unlearning and relearning.
    And opinions! Interesting conflict there between speaker and listener. Thanks for interpreting it and responding. I think we all have opinions, but they should be supported by evidence of some sort. You’re right that some folks struggle to manage that in a timely manner. People should respect that and allow for processing.

    Appreciate the book rec!

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    1. You’re very welcome. I agree with you. In an ideal world, it would be wonderful for a person to have the space to give their opinion followed by their reasoning based on facts. But in today’s world, where politicians are experts at giving their opinions based on “alternative facts,” It’s up to the listener to receive someone’s opinion and assess its validity after some rigorous investigation. Thank you very much, Nick.

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  18. Sounds interesting Edward…I like the part about learning something new each day, it’s a great idea, even if it’s something small right?!
    Yes our damn egos get in the way, get in our own way.

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  19. You write a great review, Edward. You offer the information we are seeking as potential readers, and you’re honest about your perception and value of the book. This does sound like a good book. especially today, when no one listens to the other side.

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  21. “Part of the problem is cognitive laziness” Is our issue in the U.S. government cognitive laziness or simply cognitive issues? The average age of a U.S. Senator in the 119th Congress is 61. Senator Chuck Grassley is 91 years old, The President turns 80 in June.

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