Reviews
How Minds Change: The Surprising Science of Belief, Opinion, and Persuasion, by David McRaney
adamsson's review
5.0
My mind changed as I was listening and it felt wonderful. My faith has been shaken in a lot of ways this year but David’s book has done more to restore my faith in the possibility of civil conversation than anything else I’ve read in years. I listened to this in audiobook format but will be purchasing a physical copy as well, it’s just filled with science-backed advice.
elly29's review
informative
medium-paced
4.0
Overall, a thoroughly enjoyable, pragmatic, and informative listen. I thought the points were well-made and well-supported. And, this is in line with learnings gleaned from Jonathan Haidt's "The Righteous Mind."
Key learnings:
The only way to change a mind is through the heart; facts don't do it, and even once a mind is changed only rarely will a person realize that they didn't always think that way.
We are more likely to be open to changing our minds if we don't feel under threat or judged. One must be willing to say that they are wrong, and that becomes harder to do when their reputation, livelihood, or place in the community is at stake.
Debates are dangerous — it is a zero-sum game. Instead of asking who is right, “we should ask ourselves why we see things differently. This creates a collaborative environment.” Then, both sides work together to find out where their differences come from. Collaboration begets trust.
Key learnings:
The only way to change a mind is through the heart; facts don't do it, and even once a mind is changed only rarely will a person realize that they didn't always think that way.
We are more likely to be open to changing our minds if we don't feel under threat or judged. One must be willing to say that they are wrong, and that becomes harder to do when their reputation, livelihood, or place in the community is at stake.
Debates are dangerous — it is a zero-sum game. Instead of asking who is right, “we should ask ourselves why we see things differently. This creates a collaborative environment.” Then, both sides work together to find out where their differences come from. Collaboration begets trust.
rev9of8's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
cdubiel's review
5.0
I read both of McRaney's previous books and enjoyed the journeys they took through typical cognitive fallacies. It is good to occasionally flip one's thinking upside down, and McRaney does this in a deep and intuitive way in this book. McRaney wanted to find out how people with strong convictions flipped over into a new way of thinking. He examines Deep Canvassing and Social Epistomology, two different ways of talking with and listening to people so they can understand others' perspectives. He talks to people like Megan Phelps-Roper, who left the Westboro Baptist Church (and has her own book, UNFOLLOW). He also talks with Charlie Veitch, a 9/11 conspiracy theorist who changed his mind after being on a television show that connected him with the victims' families. I liked the idea of a "tipping point" - people may invite a few new ideas in, then slowly add more until they are fully on the new side and want to know everything about it. I think many of us can relate to this, even if it's just about something innocuous like discovering a hobby or a new author to read. This book leans left, so if you're a die-hard conservative, it may not resonate with you. But who knows... something might change your mind.
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