Vote Now, Next Book Discussion August

[MJ DeMarco]

Let's hear your nominations for this month's book discussion!

Don't forget to give us your take on July's book, Never Split the Difference, by Voss. (I'm half way done with it.)

I nominate The Chimp Paradox which continually comes in 2nd place in our voting! I haven't read it, but many folks here have recommended it.

Also, Why We Sleep (our Insider giveaway drawing this month)...

 

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[Primeperiwinkle]

I feel like we need a novel about a leader... like a biography.

I can nominate all kinds of cool books and I will but .. I dunno.. I’m in the mood for a bio of a magnate like Rockefeller. Anybody have any ideas like that??

 

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[ChrisV]

So how does this work? I think we should 'like' the posts of books we'd like to see on the list, then tally them up. Sorry if that's how you usually do it since I never participated in a nomination.

The problem with that book is it is 10,000 pages and will take months to finish. It's also a super difficult read as Rand's style is a bit of an acquired taste.

Yes I definitely recommend it, but yea, I'd like to read something I haven't read. Nominate it and if it gets enough likes, I can throw it in the vote.

Fair enough. Yea, the length was my one reservation when posting that.

I feel like we need a novel about a leader... like a biography.

I can nominate all kinds of cool books and I will but .. I dunno.. I’m in the mood for a bio of a magnate like Rockefeller. Anybody have any ideas like that??

I like the idea a lot. I liked Steve Jobs' bio but I feel like everyone and their moms have read that. Arnold Schwarzenegger's bio is really popular. Here's a list of Amazon's Best Selling Biographies of all time:

Amazon Best Sellers: Best Books

Discover the best books in Amazon Best Sellers. Find the top 100 most popular Amazon books.

www.amazon.com

The Righteous Mind: Why Good People Are Divided by Politics and Religion by Jonathan Haidt

This book shows the importance of learning about morality. Our morality comes from our nature and nurture (upbringing). However, there is another answer: rationalism. We grow into our rationality as caterpillars grow into butterflies. If the caterpillar eats enough leaves, it will (eventually) grow wings. And if the child gets enough experiences of turn-taking, sharing, and playground justice, it will (eventually) become a moral creature, able to use its rational capacities to solve even harder problems. Rationality is our nature, and good moral reasoning is the endpoint of development.

"The mind is divided into parts, like a rider (controlled processes) on an elephant (automatic processes)"
The elephant is in control, and it makes judgements based on emotions and impulses. The rider is the person steering the elephant. It is our rational mind. He justifies the actions of the elephant.
To win an argument, talk to the elephant first. If you argue with logical reasoning, they will almost always try to find counterpoints to fight back. Even if your point holds more weight, it will only make them angrier. Intuition comes first, logical reasoning second.

We are subconsciously groupish, the psychological term being "cognitive dissonance", we follow the herd. We are obsessively concerned about how people think of us. Our intuitions can be shaped by how the people around us react to some news/events. Groups are not bad, it leads to forming a moral sense and unites ideas, but the same group can prevent us from accepting other groups' moral values and ideas.

This book is really good to understand politics. The author Haidt says that our genetic composition affects the way we think."Before arguing with someone on politics, it is better to understand our moral grounds. It is better to talk through our differences for a better understanding." Although I didn't understand a lot on my first read, however, this book is really deep and a must-read if you're into politics.

I cosign this. That book was one of the most important books I've ever read. Seriously.

If anyone wants a quick taste of what it's about, check out this TED talk.

Seriously, it will change a lot of the way you see the world.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8SOQduoLgRw


Also @A_Random_Guy you may enjoy this post I posted a weed ago:

NOTABLE! Required Viewing: Why Creating Value Is A *Moral* Imperative - Jonathan Haidt On The Power Of Capitalism

@ChrisV if you want to read the massive novel by Rand so much why not start another thread discussing it? Make a schedule so ppl have a chance in hell of keeping up?

I haven't even read this s*** yet lol..it's long. i started it a little but i was hoping this would give me motivation to read the rest.. from what i've read so far it's excellent, but maybe a thread would add some extra motivation

 

[ChrisV]

Atlas Shrugged. All about creating value and capitalism.

"The book depicts a dystopian United States in which private businesses suffer under increasingly burdensome laws and regulations. Railroad executive Dagny Taggart and her lover, steel magnate Hank Rearden, struggle against "looters" who want to exploit their productivity. Dagny and Hank discover that a mysterious figure called John Galt is persuading other business leaders to abandon their companies and disappear as a "strike" of productive individuals against the looters. The novel ends with the strikers planning to build a new capitalist society based on Galt's philosophy of reason and individualism."

Also Library of Congress's #2 most influential book people have ever read, second only to The Bible. To give this a little context, Dale Carnegie's "How to Win Friends and Influence People," was only #7, Viktor Frankl's "Man's Search for Meaning," by Viktor Frankl was tied for #9.

1. The Bible.
2. "Atlas Shrugged," by Ayn Rand.
3. "The Road Less Traveled," by M. Scott Peck.
4. "To Kill a Mockingbird," by Harper Lee.
5. "The Lord of the Rings," by J. R. R. Tolkien.
6. "Gone With the Wind," by Margaret Mitchell.
7. "How to Win Friends and Influence People," by Dale Carnegie.
8. The Book of Mormon.
9. (tied, in alphabetical order by title) "The Feminine Mystique," by Betty Friedan.
"A Gift From the Sea," by Anne Morrow Lindbergh.
"Man's Search for Meaning," by Viktor Frankl.
"Passages," by Gail Sheehy.
"When Bad Things Happen to Good People," by Harold S. Kushner. Book Recall

Book Notes (Published 1991)

www.nytimes.com

I think it's the perfect book for this forum.

It's been spoken about a number of times here:

Atlas Shrugged

After watching the movie, I am currently reading Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand. It has been a disturbing read for me, written in 1957... but with crazy parallels to the "occupy" movements happening currently in the United States, and the trend towards socialism. From Wikipedia : The book...

www.thefastlaneforum.com

"I call those who are very good at wealth creation "Prime Movers," borrowing a term used by Ayn Rand in The Fountainhead to characterize great creators, and also used by Aristotle in a different context.
My fascination with prime movers was first kindled by Ayn Rand's epic novel Atlas Shrugged (rated in a Library of Congress survey to be second only to the Bible in its influence on people's lives), in which she showed businessmen to be heroic and moral achievers without whom the whole world would collapse into stagnation and poverty."

 

[MJ DeMarco]

2. "Atlas Shrugged," by Ayn Rand.

The problem with that book is it is 10,000 pages and will take months to finish. It's also a super difficult read as Rand's style is a bit of an acquired taste.

MJ I thought you wanted us to read The Untethered Soul or are you wanting something you haven’t read?

Yes I definitely recommend it, but yea, I'd like to read something I haven't read. Nominate it and if it gets enough likes, I can throw it in the vote.

 

[Primeperiwinkle]

I nominate The Obstacle is The Way by Ryan Holiday

You’re a new business/small business and you want encouragement, Spartan style? This is kickass modern stoic wisdom -with NO BS - to get through your thick head and land deep into your psyche!

 

[ExecutionisKing]

I can nominate all kinds of cool books and I will but .. I dunno.. I’m in the mood for a bio of a magnate like Rockefeller. Anybody have any ideas like that??

That one is a THICK 676 pager from Chernow- the guy is thorough. Did you finish that one @Primeperiwinkle ? Guessing you mean business magnates, not just historical figures? If not, Isaacson did a great job with Ben Franklin, might intrigue you.
See below, a couple ideas for businessmen.

I like this idea. I LOVE reading about these guys. Titan was fantastic. I am reading the Jack Ma book right now.

Have you explored any of Ron's other biographies?
I really like Ma and his company. I put further reading about him on hold when I saw how many book options existed- which one are you reading @GPM ?

Ok, maybe I went overboard, but enjoyed all 3 of these magnate's stories- left a bite of each below. I nominate...any of them! Really...

Sam Walton- Made in America- perhaps the entrepreneur of that century. Very driven, always getting his hands dirty, always experimenting, testing, learning. Drove a hard bargain for his customers. Employees loved him, very involved in creating a strong culture. Very frugal with company money- pushed company forward with technology, but many thought he resisted tech, because of how hard he pushed to be sure an investment was deserving. Really enjoyed this.

Larry Ellison- "The difference between God and Larry Ellison" *God doesn't think he's Larry Ellison.
Bill Gates, but cloud computing. (he'd hate that title. considered Bill his greatest rival for years).
Founder of Oracle. Wild guy, smart, quick on feet, brash. Always delivered product late early on.
Stock collapsed after sales contracts fell through, following STAGGERING revenue growth (100% growth for first 8 of 9 yrs -230x (not %) revenue over that time.
Came back stronger. Childhood chip on shoulder. Author unfairly negative at times.
Extremely extravagant spender throughout, long before wealthy, always like nice cars/houses.

J. Paul Getty- How to Be Rich- Richest man in usa in 1958. Smart purchasing, drilling and risks paying off producing oil wells/companies. Made a big move as his career was progressing, buying a patch of Saudi/Kuwait land that had NEVER produced. Risky. Was mocked for that (low) 8 figure buy- 17 yrs after backing out of the SAME deal for 5 figures, when crude prices broke and he lost his nerve. Extraordinarily cheap- grandson involved in kidnapping, refused to pay ransom, thinking other kids/relatives would be at risk- once he received grandson's ear in the mail, agreed to pay small amount of ransom- max tax deductible amount. Incredible amount of misfortune throughout his family line. Lots of great advice, tips and pointers to executives, a view of his views pushed my own beliefs, which I appreciated. Enjoyed his sense of humor throughout.
"In times of rapid change, experience could be your worst enemy."
"The meek shall inherit the Earth, but not its mineral rights."
"If you owe the bank $100, that's your problem. If you owe the bank $100 million, that's the bank's problem."
"The conformist is not born. He is made. I believe the brainwashing process begins in the schools and colleges."

Edit- reading Ted Turner's bio currently, enjoying.

 

[FierceRacoon]

Here are my recommendations,

(1) "The Inner Game of Tennis" by Timothy Gallwey (1972).

The book presents principles underlying peak performance through the medium of tennis. It absolutely nails such nuanced ideas as self-doubt and concentration. A less practical but more entertaining book with similar ideas is "Zen and the Art of Archery" by Eugene Herrigel; both are worth a read.

The Inner Game of Tennis: The Classic Guide to the Mental Side of Peak Performance: W. Timothy Gallwey, Zach Kleiman, Pete Carroll: 8601417207543: Amazon.com: Books


(2) "The Grammar of Fantasy" by Gianni Rodari (1974).


Italian writer and journalist, most famous for his children's books such as Adventures of Cipollino and Gelsomino in The World of Liars, worked on many projects involving children. This book contains techniques for developing imagination and creativity.

Amazon.com: The Grammar of Fantasy: An Introduction to the Art of Inventing Stories (9780915924516): Gianni Rodari, Jack Zipes: Books


(3) "On sense and reference" by Gottlob Frege (1892).

If you are looking for something to contribute to your intellectual growth, this short essay is a classic of western thought, elaborating on the meaning of "a=b". This is the guy who invented the mathematical symbols denoting "for all" and "there exists". After that one you can go ahead and read "On denoting" by Bertrand Russell (1905).

https://home.sandiego.edu/~baber/metaphysics/readings/Frege.SenseAndReference.pdf


(4) "The Use of the Self" by F.M.Alexander (1932).

If you've ever wanted to change your habits, this is the book by a man who devoted his life to the subject. May be hard to understand without practice.
Alexander Technique lessons are a time-effective way for taking care of your body if you sit a lot (and have back and neck pain), as well as for relieving stress and towards greater self-awareness. A private lesson an hour a week with a few extra minutes of self practice here and there will go a long way. The same can be said about e.g. Pilates, but can be hard to find a good instructor, whereas Alexander technique is so niche that every instructor is good, and only those who absolutely love the discipline are teaching it. 1500 hours for teacher certification is the accepted minimum.

The Use of the Self: F.M. Alexander: 9780752843919: Amazon.com: Books


(5) "Radical Acceptance" by Tara Brach (2004).

Warm and insightful, this book has guided me for quite some time. A key idea is "the trance of unworthiness", that is, the feeling of not being good enough. Tara Brach also has an audio CD that can be used as an introduction to meditation.

Radical Acceptance: Embracing Your Life With the Heart of a Buddha: Tara Brach: 8601300326375: Amazon.com: Books


(6) "Rewire Your Brain for Love" by Marsha Lucas

Somewhat similar to the previous one, but more westernized, more practical. I prefer "Radical Acceptance", though.
If you have a problem interacting with people (fear) AND you are an extrovert, either one of those books can show you the way. Same goes for unhealed trauma. However, if you are just not used to interacting with people, books can only do so much.

Warning: for deep trauma such as from childhood abuse, don't try to do it alone; stop meditation and get support at first signs. Also in general, meditation is a serious study just like anything else and ideally requires commitment and guidance from someone experienced. Even if you just want to learn how to calm down, go and learn from a human being.

Amazon.com

(7) "No Excuses" by Brian Tracy

Brian's understanding of the subjects of personal success and time management is unparalleled. While there is overlap with the whole tradition from Think and Grow Rich to The Magic of Thinking Big to Zig Ziglar's writing to just about everything else on the market, Brian also has a variety of fairly unique and very sensible insights. While I don't agree with everything he writes, as he occasionally deviates from his field of expertise — his stuff on communication is shallow, as is his stuff on personal finance — that is fine; just get the main message. Since then I've tried reading a couple books by Tony Robbins, Awaken The Giant and Money, and my only conclusion is that Tony's followers should have never heard of Brian Tracy. Brian is not trying to sell you a miracle, namely, that as soon as you change your mindset, suddenly everything will change — an unfortunate "Event over Process" mentality also reinforced by Psycho-Cybernetics and even The Power of Now. Instead he explains to you, how success actually happens, while the execution is left to you, as always.

If you want a sample, check out on youtube his "The secrets of self made millionaires". His ideas are more "big picture" than MJ's. Brian does not explain how, but he does explain, what you need in order to execute any "how". Of course, focus and discipline, but that is too vague to be useful. I also recommend his audio program "The Power of Clarity". I've purchased quite a few of his books and courses; those two contain all the key ideas and are cost- and time-effective.

Amazon - No Excuses!: The Power of Self-Discipline: Tracy, Brian: 9782133487521: Books

No Excuses!: The Power of Self-Discipline [Tracy, Brian] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. No Excuses!: The Power of Self-Discipline

www.amazon.com

 

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[MattR82]

Speaking of biographies and autobiographies, it's too bad we never had something from a more mature Kurt Cobain. I went down a bit of a Nirvana cobain YouTube rabbit hole recently and I'll be damned if that guy wasn't a fricking entrepreneur simply pretending he didn't give a damn.

Deadbeat junkies don't force their band to rehearse all day every single day for 6 months before recording an album or jump on a plane to edit a film clip by themself because they weren't happy with how their hired pro did it (teen spirit).

Yep, a burnt out heroin addict made me feel like a lazy bastard. Holy shit lol.

 

[AnneC]

Is there an easy way to see which book was discussed for each of the previous months? A running list at the top of this thread would be super helpful.

 

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[Whiterose]

Hello everyone, I hope you're all having a nice day

I'm sure many of you have watched or at least heard about the guy named Patrick Bet-David. If you haven't, please spend 2 minutes of your time and watch this video to get a little bit familiar with him and his work:

The reason I'm asking you to do it is because he is the author of the book I want to nominate, and I think it's always nice to know a little bit about the author of the book you're going to spend your time (most valuable asset) reading.

The title of the book is: Doing the Impossible: The 25 Laws for Doing the Impossible

The book is easy to read, concisely written. Clarifies many important things: the power of your associations, your credibility, work ethics, dealing with critics, to name a few.

 

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[MJ DeMarco]

Vote now, I've included a variety of options based on a combination of prior book nominations and vote tallies, nominations here, plus likes/comments, etc.

 

[A_Random_Guy]

I’m thoroughly unimpressed with the reviews for Untethered Soul and The Righteous Mind.

Did you all read these reviews?

It takes someone with really high intellect to understand them.

 

[Primeperiwinkle]

I nominate 4 Disciplines of Execution by McChesney

Get your employees working together seamlessly with these PRACTICAL and TESTED steps. Stop hitting the ceiling of income. Figure out what to track and how to make the decisions you need to take your company to the next level.

 

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[A_Random_Guy]

I nominate :
The Righteous Mind: Why Good People Are Divided by Politics and Religion by Jonathan Haidt

This book shows the importance of learning about morality. Our morality comes from our nature and nurture (upbringing). However, there is another answer: rationalism. We grow into our rationality as caterpillars grow into butterflies. If the caterpillar eats enough leaves, it will (eventually) grow wings. And if the child gets enough experiences of turn-taking, sharing, and playground justice, it will (eventually) become a moral creature, able to use its rational capacities to solve even harder problems. Rationality is our nature, and good moral reasoning is the endpoint of development.

"The mind is divided into parts, like a rider (controlled processes) on an elephant (automatic processes)"
The elephant is in control, and it makes judgements based on emotions and impulses. The rider is the person steering the elephant. It is our rational mind. He justifies the actions of the elephant.
To win an argument, talk to the elephant first. If you argue with logical reasoning, they will almost always try to find counterpoints to fight back. Even if your point holds more weight, it will only make them angrier. Intuition comes first, logical reasoning second.

We are subconsciously groupish, the psychological term being "cognitive dissonance", we follow the herd. We are obsessively concerned about how people think of us. Our intuitions can be shaped by how the people around us react to some news/events. Groups are not bad, it leads to forming a moral sense and unites ideas, but the same group can prevent us from accepting other groups' moral values and ideas.

This book is really good to understand politics. The author Haidt says that our genetic composition affects the way we think."Before arguing with someone on politics, it is better to understand our moral grounds. It is better to talk through our differences for a better understanding." Although I didn't understand a lot on my first read, however, this book is really deep and a must-read if you're into politics.

 

[Primeperiwinkle]

Y’all.. I’m saying this with respect and kindness... if I’m gonna spend a month reading a book you recommend...

Will you please take the time to explain WHY I should read it? Why any of us should?

As business owners we all need to be working on our copywriting skills, our communication skills. These discussions give us that opportunity! What benefit does your book offer? To whom would it be the most helpful?

We need excellent literature that will push us forward no matter the stage of growth we’re in.

I respect the participants in these book discussions so much because we’re all trying to grow.

Please put some effort into this. You have an opportunity to affect a lot of people.. bring a lot of value to us.

On a deeply personal note... it is extremely encouraging as a single mom who has not had many great men in her life... to see so many brilliant, well-spoken, dedicated, learning gentlemen discuss books here.

I have bragged about you guys to several women. Specifically when they complain of how the men they know DON’T read.. I say “There are hardworking guys on the planet! I know!! A bunch of them are taking the time to tackle books and write out their thoughts WHILE ALSO providing for their families and accomplishing hella impressive goals!”

I’m not saying you need to write a dissertation.. but give us something to go on. Please.

Lastly...

@ChrisV if you want to read the massive novel by Rand so much why not start another thread discussing it? Make a schedule so ppl have a chance in hell of keeping up?

 

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[A_Random_Guy]

I’m not saying you need to write a dissertation.. but give us something to go on. Please.

I apologize. I should've added a summary. I wrote a short review and I promise to increase the quality of my posts from now.
Peace.

 

[Olimac21]

I nominate On the Shortness of Life-Seneca. Simple relatively easy read yet powerful.

 

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[From Mars]

I nominate:
Breakthrough advertising by Eugene Schwartz

 

[GPM]

I feel like we need a novel about a leader... like a biography.

I can nominate all kinds of cool books and I will but .. I dunno.. I’m in the mood for a bio of a magnate like Rockefeller. Anybody have any ideas like that??

I like this idea. I LOVE reading about these guys. Titan was fantastic. I am reading the Jack Ma book right now.

I nominate :
The Righteous Mind: Why Good People Are Divided by Politics and Religion by Jonathan Haidt

This sounds amazing! I am just undecided on if I should get it on audible or in print. It kind of sounds like a book that would be good in print vs. just audio. Any suggestion?

 

[GPM]

I say Audible since it's read by the author, and they're usually better able to convey emotion and subtleties. But maybe you want to check out samples of both versions on Amazon?

Btw, lmfao @ the sample.

That sample was too good! I have to get it on audio now. I'm going to be driving down the highway just laughing my a$$ off

 

[ChrisV]

I think everyone should read this. It's just one of those 'required reading' books.




Major New York Times bestseller
Winner of the National Academy of Sciences Best Book Award in 2012
Selected by the New York Times Book Review as one of the ten best books of 2011
A Globe and Mail Best Books of the Year 2011 Title
One of The Economist's 2011 Books of the Year
One of The Wall Street Journal's Best Nonfiction Books of the Year 2011
2013 Presidential Medal of Freedom Recipient
Kahneman's work with Amos Tversky is the subject of Michael Lewis's The Undoing Project: A Friendship That Changed Our Minds

In the international bestseller, Thinking, Fast and Slow, Daniel Kahneman, the renowned psychologist and winner of the Nobel Prize in Economics, takes us on a groundbreaking tour of the mind and explains the two systems that drive the way we think. System 1 is fast, intuitive, and emotional; System 2 is slower, more deliberative, and more logical. The impact of overconfidence on corporate strategies, the difficulties of predicting what will make us happy in the future, the profound effect of cognitive biases on everything from playing the stock market to planning our next vacation—each of these can be understood only by knowing how the two systems shape our judgments and decisions.

Engaging the reader in a lively conversation about how we think, Kahneman reveals where we can and cannot trust our intuitions and how we can tap into the benefits of slow thinking. He offers practical and enlightening insights into how choices are made in both our business and our personal lives—and how we can use different techniques to guard against the mental glitches that often get us into trouble. Winner of the National Academy of Sciences Best Book Award and the Los Angeles Times Book Prize and selected by The New York Times Book Review as one of the ten best books of 2011, Thinking, Fast and Slow is destined to be a classic.

Amazon.com: Thinking, Fast and Slow eBook : Kahneman, Daniel: Kindle Store

Thinking, Fast and Slow - Kindle edition by Kahneman, Daniel. Download it once and read it on your Kindle device, PC, phones or tablets. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading Thinking, Fast and Slow.

www.amazon.com

 

[JamesQB8]

Is there an easy way to see which book was discussed for each of the previous months? A running list at the top of this thread would be super helpful.

+1 for this

 

[MJ DeMarco]

Is there an easy way to see which book was discussed for each of the previous months? A running list at the top of this thread would be super helpful.

Official Forum Book Reviews

The forum reviews books

www.thefastlaneforum.com

 

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[CEOMike]

The ONE Thing: The Surprisingly Simple Truth Behind Extraordinary Results by Gary Keller

Awesome book (and a quick read at only 133 pages) that helps you maximize results in different areas of your life like: wealth, health, work, etc. by figuring out the ONE key thing in each area to focus on.

I've read it a few times, and still learn from it!

 

[million$$$smile]

Start with Why



I love to inspire, and I have utmost respect for Simon Sinek

 

[Primeperiwinkle]

Ok I’ve dug deep into the reviews for every book but two, The Obstacle is the Way and the Go-Giver, because I’ve already read those.

I’m thoroughly unimpressed with the reviews for Untethered Soul and The Righteous Mind.

Did you all read these reviews?

Anyhoo... I went back and looked at both The Obstacle is The Way and The Go-Giver and.. they’re both phenomenal but The Go-Giver makes you humble.

What do I mean?

Out of all the books I’ve read on success it’s the only book that lays out an entirely different perspective on getting rich. By giving. The more I spend time with successful ppl the more I realize just how incredibly UNselfish they are.


It’s a ridiculously simple book. Almost stupid simple in its storytelling way and yet...

If Aesop can explain wisdom in fables and Solomon can explain wisdom in a four sentence proverb... hmm.

The Obstacle is The Way made me feel stronger and fired up but I don’t know if it really changed me. The Go-Giver did. Because by the end of it I wanted to help ppl and focus on my clients needs. It’s time I read it again.

 

[Primeperiwinkle]

It takes someone with really high intellect to understand them.

Maybe so... this is two of the reviews for The Righteous Mind.

Cave Man Ethics

I purchased this book because I am interested in the idea that morals may be inborn -- part of human nature -- and that each culture shares certain basic values. I started reading the book enthusiastically, but by the end I was skimming pages and dismayed that the author had so seriously failed to provide any solutions to our political problems.



Haidt starts by dividing the human mind into what he calls the elephant and the rider. The rider is the reasoning, rational mind, whereas the elephant is the irrational, impulsive and intuitive mind. He argues that human moral decisions are guided by the elephant, and that the rider just comes up with a rationalized, post-facto "reasonable" justification after the decisions have been made by the elephant. Of course, anyone who has been alive for more than a couple decades may have noticed this kind of "logic" in his fellow humans. It goes like this: "Here are my biases, now how do I make an argument to justify it."



Later in the book, he goes into more detail and lists the specific intuitions that may bias people towards certain moral conclusions: care/harm, liberty/oppression, fairness/cheating, loyalty/betrayal, authority/subversion, sanctity/degradation.



However, he doesn't call them biases (that's my own terminology). He describes them as something like the taste buds of morality, whereupon one may develop certain "tastes" over a lifetime that cause one to be liberal (progressive) or conservative. Just like we may have a preference for sweet food, we might also have partially inborn and partially acquired intuition for, to make an example, loyalty, which may lead one to make statements like "My country, right or wrong" in the face of unethical behavior by one's government.



Haidt rejects rational thinking entirely. Indeed, he goes so far as to label those who engage in systematic rational thinking as "autistic" (pg 136). He labels modern, civilized countries as WEIRD (an insulting acronym he made up). He also has no interest in individual rights, such as America's Bill of Rights. Rather, he finds solace in the ignorance of impoverished villagers in northeast Brazil and primitive people of India who wipe their butts with their hands (really! see pg 122). He praises studies which show that ignorant people prefer collectivism and use their intuitions (prejudices/biases) when making moral decisions. Critical thinking? Rights? To Haidt, they're irrelevant. He's openly hostile to critical thinking. He disparages psychological studies of advanced ("WEIRD") countries as "statistical outliers" (pg 112).



Essentially, his ethics can be summarized as "cultural relativism", except that Western cultures are always wrong and those on the upper half of the bell curve (advanced, civilized societies) are WEIRD. Since humans are incapable of reason (according to Haidt), we can only navigate ethical and political decisions by intuitions. Whose intuitions should we follow, you ask? Well, that's unclear, although he does provide some helpful graphs of the intuitions of different political views towards the end of the book. I guess whoever shouts the loudest gets to make the rules.



I don't actually disagree with any of Haidt's psychological studies. I just come to entirely different conclusion. When Haidt finds ignorance and prejudice, he wants to build a code of ethics out of it. Where I find ignorance and prejudice, I want to educate people and help them to understand the points of views of others. How can this come about? Well, first one must accept that there is a real, physical reality out there, and that certain actions make sense in the real world and others don't. If you compare today's political discussion with that of previous generations, you can see how far we've fallen. For example, read "The Federalist Papers" and compare that to any modern day politician's anti-intellectualism, and you can realize how much America has lost since our founding in terms of critical thinking and honest debate.



The Enlightenment-style system of individual rights has advanced society enormously. Unfortunately, there are still pseudo-intellectuals like Haidt who want to drag us back into the stone age, or worse, towards fascism, religious fundamentalism, or communism. I find this book disturbing and could go on and on about problems I have with it, however I think I've said enough to get my point across.



Pseudo-Intellectual Snow Job or Narcissistic Jerk-Off?

Either way, I continued to plow through this mish mosh of mixed (and poorly conceived) metaphors on the strength of its title until Haidt quoted James Hare on psychopathy being wholly genetic without any reference whatsoever to the concept of sociopathy and environmental conditioning. Then it went in the trash.



To a reader of more than 600 books on human behavior (95% written by Ph.D.-level researchers and/or licensed mental health professionals) with over 30 years' experience on the MHP front line, the title looked to be useful with respect to the interpersonal and political manifestations of narcissistic personality disorder. I was already well into the largely unconscious, perception-blinding beliefs of the far left and far right, and supposed that Haidt might fill in some remaining voids. What I ran into was page after page of ill-founded or already disproven assertions (e.g.: Hare's).



People will get out of this whatever they want, given what they bring to the book store. But it will include neither insight nor clarity: This mess reads like the work of an ambitious undergrad on speed with a case of verbal diarrhea trying to tackle a relatively simple subject (say for Aaron Beck, Vincent Ruggiero, Albert Ellis or Wayne Dyer) that's way over his head and over-populated with the very rationalizations he ostensibly seeks to illuminate.

 

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[struka]

Why we sleep because it will motivate me to read it.

 

[100k]

I recommend this one:

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4aBFDhWpP8


Here's an abridged summary of what its about;

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rStL7niR7gs

 

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