The Coddling of the American Mind

How Good Intentions and Bad Ideas Are Setting Up a Generation for Failure

Greg Lukianoff & Jonathan Haidt

Book Synopsis

"The Coddling of the American Mind" by Greg Lukianoff is a thought-provoking exploration of the rising trends of fragility and intolerance on college campuses. Lukianoff, along with co-author Jonathan Haidt, offers a comprehensive analysis of the psychological and societal factors contributing to this phenomenon.

Drawing on psychological research and personal anecdotes, Lukianoff delves into the three great untruths currently plaguing American universities. These untruths, which include the idea of fragility, emotional reasoning, and the belief in moral rightness, have led to an environment where students are shielded from discomfort or differing viewpoints.

Through thorough investigation, Lukianoff highlights the negative consequences of this coddling culture, such as increased anxiety and depression rates among young adults, decreased resilience, and an erosion of free speech. He argues that the desire to protect students from potential harm is hindering their growth and ability to engage in constructive debate.

Additionally, Lukianoff proposes practical solutions to combat this problem, emphasizing the importance of intellectual resilience, cognitive behavioral therapy techniques, and creating a campus culture that encourages open dialogue. He also explores the role of parents, schools, and society as a whole in fostering healthy development.

"The Coddling of the American Mind" serves as a wake-up call, challenging readers to reevaluate their beliefs about safety, discomfort, and intellectual growth. Lukianoff's accessible writing style and grounded research make this book a must-read for anyone concerned about the future of higher education and the intellectual development of the next generation.

Explore More Books

See All
The Craft
Be Here Now
The Immateriality of the Material
The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt
#AskGaryVee
Read Write Own
American Nations
The Professor in the Cage
Epic Measures
What You Want
Rich Dad, Poor Dad
Gulag Archipelago
Thinking In Systems
Successful Investing is a Process
Win Your Inner Battles
The Statistical Mechanics of Financial Markets
Remote: Office Not Required
The 15 Commitments of Conscious Leadership
The Big Test
The Coddling of the American Mind
Sell with a Story
Tragedy and Hope
Mr. Putin
The World Until Yesterday
The Coming Wave
Idea Makers
Against The World
Mathematician's Delight
Exhalation
The Lessons of History
I Think, Therefore I Laugh
The Big Picture
Thinking and Deciding
A Life Decoded
A Life
Cold Calling Techniques
Lights Out
The Idealist
The Politics Industry
Triggered
The Moment of Lift
Malabar Farm
Things Never To Tell Children
The Amateur
Turtles All The Way Down
Motherless Brooklyn
Powering the Future
The MAGA Doctrine
Spiritual Enlightenment, the Damnedest Thing
Illusions
Adapt
A Few Lessons from Sherlock Holmes
The Making of the President 1960
One Billion Hungry
Tomorrow's Table
Whole Earth Discipline
The Paris Architect
Boom
The Power of Now
Essays In Persuasion
Natural
Diaspora
All I Want to Know is Where I'm Going To Die So I'll Never Go There
Fast Food Nation
The Last Days of Night
Spiritual Warfare
War and Chance
Talking To Humans
Eating to Extinction
An Agricultural Testament
The Warrior Ethos
The Jungle Grows Back
The Hustler
Striking Thoughts
The Biggest Con
Where The Wild Things Are
Life 3.0
Tlon, Uqbar, Orbis Tertius
A Wrinkle in Time
Son of the Morning Star
Innovation and Entrepreneurship
The Little Book of Investing Like the Pros
The Formula
At Play in the Fields of the Lord
The Elements of Statistical Learning
The Art of Spirited Away
I Will Teach You To Be Rich
Predictably Irrational
Business Adventures
How To Win Friends and Influence People
Meditations
Ringworld
Dear Founder
Plato and a Platypus Walk Into a Bar
One Simple Idea
Mindfulness
Cradle to Cradle
Hiroshima
We Were Soldiers Once... And Young
Undaunted Courage