Greg Lukainoff and Jonathan Haidt
What is it?
This complex book subtitled “How Good Intentions and Bad Ideas are setting up a Generation for Failure” is an interesting analysis by an attorney who specializes in First Amendment cases and a social psychologist who focus on cultural morality writing on the current reality of the culture in America. It is a few years old now and has been referenced with regularity by other writers because of its great insights and lessons for us all.
Who’s it for?
This book is an expansion of the thoughts expressed in their article originally published in the Atlantic in 2015. The book goes much deeper in looking at how we got to this place, what some of the serious implications are (such as the dramatic increase in mental health struggles in youth) and what to do about it. It would be helpful for parents who may better wish to understand what is being taught in schools and mainstream society. Other adults would find it interesting to read about the cultural shift that has taken place and perhaps benefit from examining where they may have been influenced. It is not a Christian book. It is necessary to read with a gospel lens in how these ideas apply to the life of a follower of Jesus.
How’d it go?
“I found the book to be very interesting. While the authors are self-professed atheists, they are gifted intellectuals, working to promote freedom of speech and thought in our society, particularly in academia. The book goes much deeper than the article with some tools that I have found helpful in parenting, such as recognizing cognitive dissonance and empowering my girls to speak truth to themselves. The truth of the gospel overcomes all lies but it is helpful to see the danger of the current messaging of the day we live in.”
– Emily Tink