In 'The Coddling of the American Mind,' authors Greg Lukianoff and Jonathan Haidt explore the troubling trends of emotional fragility and avoidance of discomfort among today's youth. They argue that overprotection and the decline of critical thinking in education are eroding resilience and fostering divisions. The book delves into the psychological and cultural shifts that have led to this phenomenon, revealing how it impacts free speech and democracy. With compelling anecdotes and rigorous research, the authors challenge readers to reconsider the implications of their parenting and educational choices. A thought-provoking read that raises questions about the future of society and the importance of mental toughness.
By Jonathan Haidt, Greg Lukianoff
Published: 2018
"The resilience of young minds hinges on their ability to confront challenges, and in shielding them from discomfort, we risk crippling their capacity for growth and understanding."
New York Times Bestseller • Finalist for the 2018 National Book Critics Circle Award in Nonfiction • A New York Times Notable Book • Bloomberg Best Book of 2018 “Their distinctive contribution to the higher-education debate is to meet safetyism on its own, psychological turf . . . Lukianoff and Haidt tell us that safetyism undermines the freedom of inquiry and speech that are indispensable to universities.” —Jonathan Marks, Commentary “The remedies the book outlines should be considered on college campuses, among parents of current and future students, and by anyone longing for a more sane society.” —Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Something has been going wrong on many college campuses in the last few years. Speakers are shouted down. Students and professors say they are walking on eggshells and are afraid to speak honestly. Rates of anxiety, depression, and suicide are rising—on campus as well as nationally. How did this happen? First Amendment expert Greg Lukianoff and social psychologist Jonathan Haidt show how the new problems on campus have their origins in three terrible ideas that have become increasingly woven into American childhood and education: What doesn’t kill you makes you weaker; always trust your feelings; and life is a battle between good people and evil people. These three Great Untruths contradict basic psychological principles about well-being and ancient wisdom from many cultures. Embracing these untruths—and the resulting culture of safetyism—interferes with young people’s social, emotional, and intellectual development. It makes it harder for them to become autonomous adults who are able to navigate the bumpy road of life. Lukianoff and Haidt investigate the many social trends that have intersected to promote the spread of these untruths. They explore changes in childhood such as the rise of fearful parenting, the decline of unsupervised, child-directed play, and the new world of social media that has engulfed teenagers in the last decade. They examine changes on campus, including the corporatization of universities and the emergence of new ideas about identity and justice. They situate the conflicts on campus within the context of America’s rapidly rising political polarization and dysfunction. This is a book for anyone who is confused by what is happening on college campuses today, or has children, or is concerned about the growing inability of Americans to live, work, and cooperate across party lines.
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“The resilience of young minds hinges on their ability to confront challenges, and in shielding them from discomfort, we risk crippling their capacity for growth and understanding.”
The Coddling of the American Mind
By Jonathan Haidt, Greg Lukianoff
Discover a world of knowledge through our extensive collection of book summaries.
Jonathan Haidt is an American social psychologist, author, and professor known for his research on the psychology of morality and the interplay between culture, morality, and politics. He is the author of several influential books, including 'The Happiness Hypothesis', 'The Righteous Mind: Why Good People Are Divided by Politics and Religion', and 'The Coddling of the American Mind', co-authored with Greg Lukianoff. Haidt's writing style is characterized by its clarity, engaging narrative, and an emphasis on empirical research, making complex ideas accessible to a broad audience. Through his work, he seeks to foster understanding between differing viewpoints and address the divisions in contemporary society.
Greg Lukianoff is an American author, attorney, and civil liberties advocate, best known for his exploration of free speech and its implications in contemporary society. He is the president of the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) and has written extensively on issues related to free expression and censorship. His notable works include 'Unlearning Liberty: Campus Censorship and the End of American Debate' and 'The Coddling of the American Mind,' co-authored with Jonathan Haidt, in which they analyze the impact of cultural shifts on the resilience of young people. Lukianoff's writing style is characterized by a blend of rigorous research and accessible prose, making complex legal and societal issues comprehensible to a broad audience.
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