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This author does a pretty good job of examining the process of re-evaluating and changing your mind. Interestingly, it is a bit of a restatement of this blog of mine from July, where I encourage you to do the same thing. There was not much new here for me, but if you’ve never thought about these things before, this would be a good place to start.

Getting yourself to “think again” is one thing, but getting someone else to do so can be quite another thing. This book councils that “prosecuting, politicking, and/or preaching” will never change someone’s mind. Listening and finding common ground is much more effective. This is painfully obvious if you just think how you want to be treated. This is the biggest thing to take note of.

I loved the story that was related about how a secure and non-confrontational black man changed the minds and stereotypes of white supremacists, with the result that they left the KKK, and one even made him a godfather to his son. We all know people we’d like to help “re-think” their position, stereotypes, or how they do something.  This black guy’s model is a great one to emulate for that to be effective.

Here are some bits:

• “While humility is a permeable filter that absorbs life experience and converts it into knowledge and wisdom, arrogance is a rubber shield that life experience simply bounces off.”
• “The absence of conflict is not harmony, it’s apathy.”
• “We are living in space-age times, yet there are still so many of us thinking with stone age minds.”
• “Tradition: peer pressure from dead people.”

Toward the end, there is some discussion of how to get groups (think workplace or church culture) to change. This was more interesting, but gave less actual advice. It’s complicated, but is as important to re-examine collectively as it is to do personally.

I give this book only four stars, because after reading it, I’m not sure much will be different. I was ready for that exciting eureka of understanding that is the exponential catalyst of monumental change, and it didn’t come. You, however, if you haven’t already thought about this stuff a lot, might love Think Again.

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