I have greatly enjoyed Alan Jacobs’ How to Think: A Survival Guide for a World at Odds. But at the time of writing, the e-book is $1.99 at last check so I’d encourage you to check it out if you haven’t already. I saw the cover and thought it might be a book focused on critical thinking, which it is. But I only bought it and read it when I saw that it was focused on the connection between thinking and conflict and dialogue.
There are a lot of books out there that help people explore the impact of emotions and feelings on conflict, dialogue across differences, and negotiation. I think there are less books that help unpack the role of the brain and how thinking impacts emotions. Ultimately, this is an integrated discussion about how mind and heart impact how we behave. But it’s really helpful to look at different elements of each and consider how it may unpack our understanding of the positions we take in life as well as our capacity for conversation that is civil, honest, and constructive towards something better.
The Amazon and audible stars are about 4/5 and that’s about right – because I just really like reading content on heuristics (basically strategies made to simplify decision making and knowing) and behavior, but it’s a bit short for a 5/5 rating. It’s fascinating and if you want to read a bit more on what is maybe one of the most important books on this, Thinking Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman, follow the link. Jacobs draws on his research as well as several others researching similar processes and behaviors. You can get a great primer into this world of social psychology and human behavior. It’s long and in-depth, but endlessly fascinating and it raises all sorts of questions.
So if you want an introduction to how narratives (metaphors and myths in his language), biases, cognitive processes, and social taxonomy all contribute to ethical behavior and either positive or negative conversations across difference – this is a good start. It’s published in 2017 so there’s a lot in there on social media and technology too that some previous books don’t go into much depth with.
We all need to learn how to think better when it comes to navigating this diverse world with its abundant complexities. Too many are relying on lazy substitutions than on their minds, because as Jacob says – “Thinking is hard!” But it’s worth it and it makes the world a better place when it’s done honestly and humbly.
