When I recently scanned through the subscriber email list, I couldn’t help but notice many *.edu email addresses. I also just finished reading The Coddling of the American Mind (good book, bad title). I’m curious—of the subscribers who work or study on college campuses, what’s the ideological climate like? Have things gotten even more extreme since last summer, or are campuses hitting a breaking point? Do you feel free to challenge “the orthodoxy,” as they call it?
Haidt is one of those authors for whom I've read a number of reviews (mostly mixed-to-negative) and never read his books. I've always had the impression that I'd agree with 80% of what he says, but that the 20% disagreement is important when it comes to figuring out what should be done.
That review was great. He certainly focused on the parts of the book I found to be the weakest, namely the attempt at a causal link between parental “safetyism,” student anxiety levels, and social justice overreach. Honestly i think the whole book and thesis would have been a lot stronger if it had just been something like “When good intentions backfire.” That is the common thread: many things, ideas, and approaches people take to help or protect themselves or people they care about will backfire and lead them to become miserable. The book was strongest when it explained how basic human psychology is being ignored in the push for social justice. The IHE piece has some excellent counterpoints about bigger systemic issues in America related to the cutthroat world of elite ladder climbing. All three authors seem to miss that the people most anxious about getting a rung or two higher than their parents are often already on the 90th rung out of 100, certainly from a global perspective.
Anyway if I’m going to recommend a Haidt book, it’s still Righteous Mind!!! (I remain a big Haidt fan.)
Your last point (about people on rung 90) reminds me of another book that I've seen referenced a lot, but haven't read -- Chris Hayes' Twilight of the Elites:
Great write up in Vox, I’ll have to add it to my very long list. Reminds me of Martin Guerri’s Revolt of the Public and Keith Payne’s The Broken Ladder (neither of which I’ve read!!). Sure seems like the pressures and inequities of the meritocracy are to blame for many of our woes.
I found it interesting to re-read the 2012 and 2016 reviews and see in them the shift in American politics during that time. Aaron Swartz talks about Enron and the financial crisis, as examples of the loss of trust in the establishment. In 2016 the concerns are very different . . .
Haidt is one of those authors for whom I've read a number of reviews (mostly mixed-to-negative) and never read his books. I've always had the impression that I'd agree with 80% of what he says, but that the 20% disagreement is important when it comes to figuring out what should be done.
Since you have read the book, I'd be curious what you make of this review (in which the author finds himself unexpectedly sympathetic to the book, but still wants to advocate a different set of priorities): https://www.insidehighered.com/blogs/just-visiting/million-thoughts-coddling-american-mind
That review was great. He certainly focused on the parts of the book I found to be the weakest, namely the attempt at a causal link between parental “safetyism,” student anxiety levels, and social justice overreach. Honestly i think the whole book and thesis would have been a lot stronger if it had just been something like “When good intentions backfire.” That is the common thread: many things, ideas, and approaches people take to help or protect themselves or people they care about will backfire and lead them to become miserable. The book was strongest when it explained how basic human psychology is being ignored in the push for social justice. The IHE piece has some excellent counterpoints about bigger systemic issues in America related to the cutthroat world of elite ladder climbing. All three authors seem to miss that the people most anxious about getting a rung or two higher than their parents are often already on the 90th rung out of 100, certainly from a global perspective.
Anyway if I’m going to recommend a Haidt book, it’s still Righteous Mind!!! (I remain a big Haidt fan.)
Your last point (about people on rung 90) reminds me of another book that I've seen referenced a lot, but haven't read -- Chris Hayes' Twilight of the Elites:
https://crookedtimber.org/2012/06/18/guest-review-by-aaron-swartz-chris-hayes-the-twilight-of-the-elites/
https://www.vox.com/the-big-idea/2016/10/13/13259860/twilight-elites-trump-meritocracy
Great write up in Vox, I’ll have to add it to my very long list. Reminds me of Martin Guerri’s Revolt of the Public and Keith Payne’s The Broken Ladder (neither of which I’ve read!!). Sure seems like the pressures and inequities of the meritocracy are to blame for many of our woes.
I found it interesting to re-read the 2012 and 2016 reviews and see in them the shift in American politics during that time. Aaron Swartz talks about Enron and the financial crisis, as examples of the loss of trust in the establishment. In 2016 the concerns are very different . . .
Indeed!
Also, I bet this book/idea is a piece of the puzzle too: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Paradox_of_Choice