Third Episode of The Dispatch Book Club Out Now

Dear members,  As August and the dog days of summer come to a close, it’s ...

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Dear members, 

As August and the dog days of summer come to a close, it’s time for another episode of The Dispatch Book Club. You can listen on your (private) podcast feed now. 

This month, I talked to Harvest Prude, a Dispatch reporter, for a conversation about Adam Grant’s book Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don’t Know. Grant examines the skill set necessary to question our own opinions. Did Think Again cause Harvest or me to rethink anything?

Instructions below for how to add the private podcast to your feed are below.

September marks an exciting new theme for The Dispatch Book Club. Now through November we’ll focus on what it means to be human. The first book is I Contain Multitudes: The Microbes Within Us and a Grander View of Life by Ed Yong, and that discussion page can be found here. 

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  1. Hanclair

    Sarah mentioned her father’s second career as a lawyer beginning when she was 10. My dad started the evening law school program at the University of Maryland when I was a 2L at UVA so we went to law school for two years at the same time. My brother, then fiancé (now husband), and I, all practicing attorneys at the time, as well as my mom, got to watch my dad graduate and get sworn in.

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    CP

    I really think you all would like “The Consolation of Philosophy.” It’s a great book, and it really speaks to where so-called “Rhinos” (and to a lesser extent moderate Democrats) are right now. Absolutely great to read if you are discouraged while trying to stand for principles that other people don’t care about.

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    Merrijane

    Done. Here are me thoughts:

    1. This book could be titled “How to continually second guess yourself for the rest of your life.” I agree with Sarah that it should be applied in moderation.

    2. I didn’t find it patronizing, but I listened to the audiobook so maybe that makes a difference. Also, I missed out on the illustrations.

    3. I liked the distinction between being a scientist and doing science. Though I still think it is very easy for people “doing science” to get wrapped up in trying to prove rather than disprove their original thesis.

    4. My favorite part was the final chapter and his insight into the positives and negatives of grit. This reminds me of something my dad told me after he suffered a major business failure. The thing that most bothered him about it was that he couldn’t finish the goal he set for himself. He hated seeing himself as a quitter. My dad had grit that brought a lot of success into his life, but which also motivated him to persist down a failing path. (He went on to live a happy life because he was just a happy person.)

    Final thought: It’s good to be open to rethinking things. It helps develop the humility necessary to avoid major catastrophe, and also to just enjoy your life better as you learn cool new things.

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      George.Rozes

      Number 3 above resonates. When you have a goal in mind, science becomes a tool to get you there. As this nation is heavily religious, most people already accumulate certain beliefs that, if challenged, destroy the foundations of their faith. This they cannot or will never do. Nearly half the population believes in an earth created in 7 days. You are LDS. Have you ever challenged the (sorry) bizarre ideas that support your faith?

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        Merrijane

        I apologize if I offended you. I wasn’t criticizing scientists or the scientific method, both of which I think are extremely positive goods in our society. I intended a general comment about human nature—we all sometimes succumb to preacher mindset. I think this is the case often where science and politics intersect, but of course this isn’t the only example.

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    Merrijane

    Finally in the epilogue--having some squidgy feelings about the idea that FDR was *humble* or that bold “scientific” experimentation is a good way to govern the country. I am conservative by nature after all. Maybe I need to rethink it, though?

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      George.Rozes

      This book's conclusion sounds like utilitarianism or scientific socialism. Those two things without virtue or ethical boundaries lead down some very bad roads.

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    Merrijane

    I’m still finishing up the book so I’ll have to listen to this in a few days. It’s really engaging. I wanted to say about the mention of status quo bias in chapter 9-- maybe people wouldn’t want to “unplug” from their supposed virtual life even to be a millionaire artist because of the relationships they have now. Life isn’t mostly about things--it’s about relationships. Maybe they would be more likely to choose to unplug if they could take their loved ones with them.

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    CP

    How about Gogol's "The Overcoat"? A book of poetry? A novel?

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  7. Jim Carper

    I suggest the club consider Stephen Meyer's The Return of the God Hypothesis. A biologist friend tells me that it is much more generalist friendly than his Signature in the Cell.

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    W James Anderson

    I’m a little disappointed in myself. I had every intention in finishing the book in August. Being mostly a ‘bathroom reader’ doesn’t cut it. I need to repent😉 I do plan on finishing the book though💀’s and🌈’s

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