THE CODDLING OF THE AMERICAN MIND

[queenofknives]

We are going to read Jonathan Haidt's book The Coddling of the American Mind and the discussion will start here on 17 October 2020. Everyone welcome!

Further books suggested for discussion are:

Cynical Theories, by James Lindsay and Helen Joyce
The Intellectual Life of the British Working Classes, by Jonathan Rose
On Liberty, by JS Mill
Why You Should Read the Classics, by Italo Calvino
The Madness of Crowds, by Douglas Murray

Further suggestions are also welcome. Looking forward to the chat!

I like the idea of discussing by chapter perhaps when we start on October 17th?

It has 14 chapters and 4 parts. Maybe reading by parts?

Sorry I was a bit over enthusiastic. It is a good idea to discuss it a section at a time because there are so many ideas in the book that it is good to do a bit at a time.

Great- let's do part 1 starting on the 17th - sounds like a good plan!

Thanks so much for doing this!

Just a recommendation, there is a great Coleman Hughes interview of James Lindsay and Peter Boghossian which might be of interest to those of us reading The Coddling of the American mind. It is about the origins of identity politics.

Thanks for the thread 😃!

Having now started reading, I feel I have to apologise for Greg Lukianoff for literally erasing his existence every time I mentioned this book! He is the co-author I didn't know existed.

Thanks for the podcast rec. Someone on the reading suggestions thread said it might be good to have some podcasts to talk about too.

Thanks Bovary. I am listening to the podcast now. It is really useful, and I am looking forward to reading Cynical Theories. I think I will enjoy it more than Coddling as I am not a great fan of CBT.

This podcast is brilliant. Tempted to start a bookclub thread on this if anyone's interested? Am about halfway through.

I would love a podcast club!!

@queenofknives

This podcast is brilliant. Tempted to start a bookclub thread on this if anyone's interested? Am about halfway through.

The Coleman/James/Peter one? Yes, it's excellent. Would be happy to discuss in a thread.

I have now finished the podcast and would be happy with a thread on it.

I couldn't see a thread so I just opened one here: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/feminist_book_club/4040502-PODCLUB-The-Intellectual-Roots-of-Wokeness?watched=1

Thank you queen for the link!

I have now finished part one of the book. On audiobook part one has 4 chapters. It announces when it is moving on to part two.

Yes, I think part one is an introduction and then what it calls chapters 1-3 which deal with each of the three great ‘untruths’ in turn.

I'm finding it a fast read so am just going ahead and reading it all before our discussion. But we can stagger the different parts across a couple of weeks if people find it easier. I think it's quite helpful to look at the different themes in turn.

I have finished the book. I will still discuss it part by part.

Have slowed down a bit but should still be finished this week. Thought it might be good to start by looking at the questions posted above and then just see where the discussion goes? Just a suggestion.

queen
Which specific questions are you referring to?

@Siablue

So far I have read the first 3 chapters. They discuss intersectionality and how a bizarre interpretation of it has been used to justify violence against people who for the flimsiest of reasons can be seen as oppressors. They are positive about intersectionality as an idea but critical of the points scoring version of it where people map their oppression in comparison to others.

How can we be aware of the differences between us? Take account of them in a fair way that doesn’t other people and still retain a focus on our common humanity. I think it is hard but we don’t want to throw the baby out with the bath water. We are feminists and we want to keep feminism (which is seen by some as a form of identity politics). We understand the need for groups like Southall Black Sisters.

There is a massive leap between recognising inequalities in society and setting up something to support people who are disadvantaged and going round beating people up who you think are oppressions. Perhaps there needs to be a focus on universal rights as well.

Anyway that is just my thoughts so far?

These ones Bovary. We can start anywhere people like but Sia commented a while back so I thought it would be a good starting point.

Okay queen thanks for clarifying.

This is a really interesting interview with JH where he expands on much of the themes of the book. JR refers to this interview several times in his recent episodes with Debra Soh and Abigail Shrier where he discusses the alarming rise in adolescent girls reporting mental health issues.

Thanks for posting this. It sounds like people are finding it useful if it is being mentioned in other interviews.