The Canceling of the American Mind

Cancel Culture Undermines Trust and Threatens Us All―But There Is a Solution

Greg Lukianoff & Rikki Schlott

Recommended By

Book Synopsis

"The Canceling of the American Mind" by Greg Lukianoff and Rikki Schlott exposes the alarming rise of cancel culture and its impact on intellectual discourse and freedom of thought in America. Through a meticulously researched and thought-provoking analysis, the authors delve into the origins, consequences, and potential solutions to this harmful trend.

Lukianoff and Schlott provide an insightful exploration of cancel culture's roots, tracing it back to the well-intentioned desire for social justice and protection of marginalized voices. However, they argue that cancel culture has mutated into a pervasive force that stifles open debate, promotes conformity, and suppresses dissenting views.

The book reveals numerous case studies, from academic institutions to the corporate world, where cancel culture has led to the de-platforming and silencing of individuals who deviate from prevailing ideological norms. Drawing from their own personal experiences, the authors emphasize the psychological toll on those targeted by cancel culture, as well as the chilling effect it has on free expression and the pursuit of knowledge.

Lukianoff and Schlott propose practical ways to combat cancel culture, advocating for empathy, open dialogue, and a return to intellectual resilience. They urge readers to foster an environment where diverse perspectives can coexist, recognizing the value of intellectual disagreement and the importance of protecting intellectual liberty.

"The Canceling of the American Mind" is an essential read for anyone concerned about the erosion of civil discourse and the future of democracy. Lukianoff and Schlott's analysis not only shines a light on the dangers of cancel culture but also offers a hopeful path forward, emphasizing the power of empathy, rational thinking, and the preservation of intellectual independence.

Explore More Books

See All
Failure Is Not An Option
On Writing Well
Essays and Aphorisms
Lone Survivor
Free Women, Free Men
The Evolving Self
Not The End of the World
Eating The Big Fish
The Elephant in the Brain
Energy Transitions
Mohandas K. Ghandi
Zen Mind, Beginners Mind
The Idea Factory
XKCD
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
Explaining Social Behavior
The Precariat
Lagom
Getting Real
Peak
The Most Important Thing Illuminated
The Plant Paradox
Tender Is The Night
Orwell's Revenge
Harry Potter
Who Says Elephants Can’t Dance?
Sexual Personae
A Spy Among Friends
Valuation
Gang Leader for a Day
A Technique for Producing Ideas
The Magic Of Reality
Brave New Medicine
The Airbnb Story
Golden Gates
Not Zero
My Family and Other Animals
Sleep in Art
The Holy Grail of Investing
Perilous Interventions
The Messy Middle
The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire
The Lean Startup
Cosmos
The Charisma Myth
Becoming
The Gray Lady Winked
Class Warfare
The Battle of Alcazar
The Artist's Way
The Storm of Steel
Peter Pan
Generations
The Golden Compass
Kill It With Fire
The Martian
The Diversity Myth
Musashi
Warren Buffett
Adapt
How Not To Be Wrong
Platform Revolution
There Must Be A Pony In Here Somewhere
What You Do Is Who You Are
Powers of Two
Deep Value
Presidents of War
Three Scientists and Their Gods
Plato and a Platypus Walk Into a Bar
Catch-22
Becoming Steve Jobs
Replay
Making The Modern World
The Story of Civilization: Rousseau and Revolution
The Wager
Slow Sex
Lying
Timelines of World History
Essays In Persuasion
Home Work
Believe In People
A Short History of Myth
Should We Eat Meat?
Learned Optimism
The Paris Architect
Way of the Warrior Kid
The Making of an American Thinking Class
The Time Machine
Lenin
The Rise of the Rest
Americana
Maybe You Should Talk To Someone
Sustainable Energy Without the Hot Air
Idea Makers
When Prophecy Fails
The Ethics of Money Production
Why America Is Not a New Rome
A Sense of Where You Are
The Sixth Extinction
The Middleman