Universities and uni students are changing: Lukianoff and Haidt provide a compelling argument for some of the fundamental beliefs that are driving the changes in The Coddling of the American Mind

A picture of a brain nestled in wool: Haidt and Lukianoff suggest that over-protecting our thoughts and feelings is ultimately bad for our development and limits our flourishing

What doesn’t kill us makes us stronger. If you feel it, it must be true. People are either good or evil. In The Coddling of the American Mind Jonathan Haidt and Greg Lukianoff argue that belief in these three ‘Great Untruths’ is growing among iGen (people born after 1995), in American universities and in society at large. Unchallenged, these beliefs threaten open debate, rigorous thought and the well-being of those who believe them. Haidt and Lukianoff explore a bunch of trends they see feeding into the rise of these beliefs and some practical ideas on how we can grow wiser kids and universities. Their argument occasionally came across as overstated when some qualifications could have done with a little more air time. Nevertheless, I found it an incredibly helpful book, that identifies, critically analyses and challenges certain emerging trends in thinking, feeling, understanding and reacting that are increasingly impacting individuals, unis and public debate. Recommend it for anyone working with uni students, iGen new grads or raising kids.

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