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 Robert Collier Letter Book
The Reluctant Mr. Darwin
Calculus Made Easy
Consciousness
Traction
The Lizard King
Priceless
Globalizing Capital
Feeding the Dragon
The American Challenge
How Companies Win
How to Get Lucky
The Crisis of Global Capitalism
Leadership and Self-Deception
Super Pumped
Markings
The New One Minute Manager
Over the Edge of the World
The Rise and Fall of the Great Powers
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
Trillion Dollar Coach
How To Avoid a Climate Disaster
Layered Money
The Fault in Our Stars
Notes From an Apocalypse
Hackers and Painters
Fallen Leaves
If The Universe Is Teeming With Aliens...Where Is Everybody?
The World is Flat
The 4 Hour Work Week
Stories of Your Life and Others
The Great War of Our Time
Impromptu
The Sovereign Individual
Cloud Atlas
The Upside of Stress
Working in Public
The Plus, Self-Help for People Who Hate Self-Help
The Rape of Nanking
Great Short Poems
Principles
COAN
More Human
A Great Leap Forward?
Nonviolent Communication
Asset Management
Rainbows End
The Capitalist Manifesto
Personal Memoirs of U.S. Grant
Exhalation
On Wings of Eagles
The Gene
Devouring Freedom
Liberating Learning
Dataclysm
Upheaval
Call of the Reed Warbler
The Art of Computer Programming
Pre-Suasion
Good To Great
The Emperor of All Maladies
Our Final Invention
Bad For You
Plants of the Gods
101 Things I Learned in Engineering School
The Gutsy Girl
1000 Ways to Make $1,000
Foundation
Jack
Lincoln
Storm of Steel
Clear Thinking
The Great Transformation
Success
The Etymologicon
Be Here Now
The Compleat Strategyst
Hug Your Haters
Bet With the Best
When The Heavens Went on Sale
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
Chapterhouse: Dune
Seeking Wisdom
The Idealist
A Mind at Home with Itself
Hail Mary
Lonesome Dove
Founding Sales
Simple & Direct
Evicted
The Machine Stops
Maverick
The Goal
The Warrior Ethos
Live Your Truth
Siddhartha
21 Lessons for the 21st Century
Thinking Physics
American Lion
Dear Leader