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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.

 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)
No one is omniscient or infallible, so a willingness to evaluate new ideas is vital to understanding our world. Yet universities, which ought to be forums for open debate, are developing a reputation for dogmatism and intolerance. Haidt and Lukianoff, distinguished advocates of freedom of expression, offer a deep analysis of what's going wrong on campus, and how we can hold universities to their highest ideals. (Steven Pinker)
Our behavior in society is not immune to the power of rational scientific analysis. Through that lens, prepare yourself for a candid look at the softening of America, and what we can do about it. (Neil deGrasse Tyson)
We can talk ourselves into believing that some kinds of speech will shatter us, or we can talk ourselves out of that belief. The authors know the science. We are not as fragile as our self-appointed protectors suppose. Read this deeply informed book to become a more resilient soul in a more resilient democracy. (Philip E. Tetlock)
Their message is an urgent one... it is one that resonates well beyond dusty libraries and manicured quadrangles, into all of our lives (Josh Glancy)
The book models the virtues and practical wisdom its authors rightly propose as the keys to progress. Lukianoff and Haidt teach young people -and all of us- by example as well as precept (Cornel West)
All stars
Most relevant
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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I’m not sure if I’m getting old but as someone who sometimes supports students, I seem to have noticed that many seem to be a little bit less resilient and more fragile than perhaps I was in my day. I have recently changed my style so that I can offer students the options of answering a question when I ask it or going away and thinking about it and then replying to me. Personally I find this a hopeless way of learning as I can’t really find out what student already knows and am able to give them an answer and help them think things through. Along with the fact that almost anything Jonathan Haidt writes is almost always an amazing book and certainly ‘the happiness hypothesis’ and ‘the righteous mind’ have been two of my favourite books of the last decade, and that is why I chose this book. It’s a much narrower subject but I also thought it would have a lot to offer and it certainly does. The book begins with dismantling several untruths such as what doesn’t kill you makes you weaker, always trust your feelings and people can be divided into good people and bad people. I believe all the three statements are nonsense to me but I do see others taking them on board to be true. However, we know that bones will break if we don’t put pressure on them and become stronger when we do, babies are stronger to the pressure delivered by natural birth rather than Caesarean and babies who are born in a germ free environment are much weaker than those exposed to germs. So the main message in this book is that we need to accept some pressure and stress to help make us more functional and stronger human beings in both college and the work place. Perhaps his book is not as strong as the other two Haidt books I have read but it certainly gives me plenty of food for thought. I personally found the chapter on what Internet he is doing to us on our phones alongside social media fascinating and thought-provoking. And I loved the last bit of how to do CBT which I’m going to employ and trial on one of my colleagues to see if it will help with their anxiety. There is a summary of what to do at the end, it might be of benefit. This is a fascinating book and well worth reading alongside Alex Beard’s ‘natural born learners’ which I read at the same time.

Another great Haidt book

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The title initially put me off this book, I thought it was negative. However the book is not at all its a very good snapshot of the time and quite positive. Well written and read, very clear and concise so that difficult subjects are accessible without any previous knowledge of social sciences. Quite fascinating and of the time. Also references to the CBT work that both authors are involved in.

A very good snapshot of the time and positive

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One of the best books I’ve heard on a very current and pressing issue in society.

The underlying message is concisely told by a good narrator and author. Much of the takeaway lessons are essential reading for those with any involvement with young people and parents.

I think the argument made is powerful and pressing. It struck a note with me and my own practice , as I work with young people and see the consequences of our neglect of the problem until now.

Rarely has a book been so needed.

Highly recommended

Must read for parents and those who work with young people

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Why gen z and the internet gen are so angry and scared and confused is summed up nicely in this book.

Really not sure about the narrator through, makes it quite hard to listen for long stretches.

A good listen, and explains a lot about gen Z

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