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How Not to Be Wrong

The Art of Changing Your Mind

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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

There's no point having a mind if you never change it.

In his best-selling How to Be Right, James provided an invigorating guide to how to talk to people with bad opinions. And yet the question he always gets asked is: 'if you're so sure about everything, haven't you ever changed your mind?'

In an age of us vs them, tribal loyalties and bitter divisions, the ability to change our minds may be the most important power we have. In this intimate, personal new book, James' focus shifts from talking to other people to how you talk to yourself about what you really think. Ranging across a dazzling array of big topics, cultural questions and political hot potatoes, James reveals where he has changed his mind, explains what convinced him and shows why all of us need to kick the tyres of our opinions, check our assumptions and make sure we really think what we think we do.

Coloured with stories of changing minds from the incredible guests on his podcasts and callers to his radio show, and spanning big ideas like press regulation and Brexit through to playful subjects like football and dog-ownership, How Not to Be Wrong is packed with revelations, outrage, conversations and lots of humour.

Because in a world that seems more divided than ever, if you can't change your own mind you'll never really be able to change anyone else's.

©2020 James O'Brien (P)2020 Penguin Audio
Politics & Government Social Sciences Thought-Provoking Sports
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Was a nice listen and also mind question some of my own set opinions.

Insightful

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[Cathartic, Brutal honesty, introspective ,Painful,sarcastic, Ill-informed,misunderstood,Sad Refreshing ,divisive,Numb, Healing, divorce, bittersweet, busy,biased, unhelpful,ungrateful, estranged,goodbye,good luck,opportunistic. ]I'm sorry you felt that way and I'm glad you got the help you needed as you seem like a very giving and forgiving person. You had very inadequate people in your life. Interesting story.

Like eating greens

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Like many quick witted and articulate people, James O’Brien enjoys an argument. What redeems him from being too pleased with himself, is his newly acquired self knowledge .
He movingly and honestly confronts his earlier prejudices and discusses the accumulation of insights that have made him a happier and more tolerant man. He has retained his passion for truth and social justice but has learned to be kinder and less judgemental by examining his fears and hidden motives . I found this book very worthwhile and have increased my respect for him as a journalist and interviewer. It is an important personal testament.

An exercise in humility

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thoroughly recommended. A deep dive into the barriers we construct against changing our minds. Personal and universal at the same time, there is something here for everyone. His honesty is brave but ultimately generous as it provides a model for us all in how to grow. The reading is as engaging and bright as you'd expect from a seasoned broadcaster. Don't hesitate to get this.

First rate

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I often find myself agreeing with JO’B and I find it encouraging to know that he continues to challenge himself as much as he does others.
Well worth a listen!

Compassionate and thought provoking

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