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The Scout Mindset: Why Some People See Things Clearly and Others Don't Hardcover – April 13, 2021
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A better way to combat knee-jerk biases and make smarter decisions, from Julia Galef, the acclaimed expert on rational decision-making.
When it comes to what we believe, humans see what they want to see. In other words, we have what Julia Galef calls a "soldier" mindset. From tribalism and wishful thinking, to rationalizing in our personal lives and everything in between, we are driven to defend the ideas we most want to believe—and shoot down those we don't.
But if we want to get things right more often, argues Galef, we should train ourselves to have a "scout" mindset. Unlike the soldier, a scout's goal isn't to defend one side over the other. It's to go out, survey the territory, and come back with as accurate a map as possible. Regardless of what they hope to be the case, above all, the scout wants to know what's actually true.
In The Scout Mindset, Galef shows that what makes scouts better at getting things right isn't that they're smarter or more knowledgeable than everyone else. It's a handful of emotional skills, habits, and ways of looking at the world—which anyone can learn. With fascinating examples ranging from how to survive being stranded in the middle of the ocean, to how Jeff Bezos avoids overconfidence, to how superforecasters outperform CIA operatives, to Reddit threads and modern partisan politics, Galef explores why our brains deceive us and what we can do to change the way we think.
- Print length288 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherPortfolio
- Publication dateApril 13, 2021
- Dimensions6.26 x 0.94 x 9.28 inches
- ISBN-100735217556
- ISBN-13978-0735217553
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From the Publisher
Editorial Reviews
Review
"I’ve learned more about how to think and reason well from Julia Galef than from almost anyone."—Dylan Matthews, senior correspondent at Vox
“We know a lot about how flawed human reasoning is, but surprisingly little about how to repair it in our daily lives. Thankfully, Julia Galef is here to change that. With insights that are both sharp and actionable, her book picks up where Predictably Irrational left off. Reading it will teach you to think more clearly, see yourself more accurately, and be wrong a little less often.”—Adam Grant, author of Originals and Give and Take, host of WorkLife podcast
"Most books tell you what to think. This is something rarer, and more valuable: a book about how to think, and how to learn, without the fear or favor that so often holds us back from inching closer to the truth. The beauty of The Scout Mindset demonstration is it is, itself, an example of the ethos it teaches. The delight it takes in questioning its own premises, and understanding the alternative arguments, will make you want to be a scout, too."—Ezra Klein, cofounder of Vox, author of Why We’re Polarized, and host of The Ezra Klein Show podcast
“I find myself quoting Julia in my writing again and again, because no one explains thinking and rationality better than she does. The ideas in The Scout Mindset have been stuck in my head ever since I watched her TED Talk. The Scout Mindset is a lens, and once you're looking through it, the world makes a lot more sense.”—Tim Urban, cofounder of Wait But Why
“Julia Galef doesn't simply harangue us for not thinking clearly; she diagnoses why we do it, and suggests concrete ways to improve our rationality. This is a book that will make a real difference in how you think."—Sean Carroll, author of Something Deeply Hidden
“Julia Galef is an intellectual leader of the rationalist community, and in The Scout Mindset you will find an engaging, clearly written distillation of her very important accumulated wisdom on these topics."—Tyler Cowen, author of Big Business and The Great Stagnation
“Julia Galef is one of the smartest and most interesting thinkers in the world. If you read this superb book, you will think and see more clearly, and be a wiser human being.”—Johann Hari, author of Lost Connections
“The Scout Mindset is essential reading for understanding how the stories we tell ourselves sacrifice better decision-making in the long-term for a short-term boost to our egos…A must-read for anyone looking be more rational in their choices."—Annie Duke, author of Thinking in Bets
“Drawing on her extensive knowledge of the scientific literature and of popular culture, Julia Galef explores the remarkable human capacity for self-deception—and shows us how we can catch ourselves in the act of fooling ourselves.”—Philip Tetlock, author of Superforecasting
“The Scout Mindset offers an insightful, entertaining, and genuinely useful guide to thinking more clearly.”—Don Moore, author of Perfectly Confident
About the Author
Product details
- Publisher : Portfolio (April 13, 2021)
- Language : English
- Hardcover : 288 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0735217556
- ISBN-13 : 978-0735217553
- Item Weight : 1.05 pounds
- Dimensions : 6.26 x 0.94 x 9.28 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #85,697 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #128 in Business Decision Making
- #264 in Decision-Making & Problem Solving
- #304 in Cognitive Psychology (Books)
- Customer Reviews:
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Customers find the book insightful and well-researched. They describe it as an engaging and fun read with interesting ideas packed into each chapter. The storytelling is described as engaging and easygoing, with vivid examples and illustrations. Readers praise the visual style and presentation of the content, describing it as cleverly and meticulously crafted. Overall, they find the content useful and sustainable.
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Customers find the book insightful and well-researched. They appreciate the practical advice, strategies, and techniques provided. The book provides useful information on how to evaluate oneself and Galef's wisdom on having a scout mindset.
"...certainty is simple, certainty is comfortable, and certainty makes us feel smart and competent and that we must resist that temptation and think in..." Read more
"...I loved the conclusions from the author on how to have a more "scout" mentality. Have softer eyes, have less opinions, find opposing viewpoints...." Read more
"...the most valuable gifts of the author: attaching words and concrete examples to concepts I've only known intuitively...." Read more
"...The issues with self deception are well laid out. Strategies for self reflection and addressing self deception are laid out...." Read more
Customers find the book easy to read and enlightening. They appreciate the clear writing style and vivid examples. The book provides practical advice with an interesting storyline.
"...Interesting and enlightening read." Read more
"...so many books like this one; lots of stories, lots of examples, some good stuff, but lo and behold, the books finishes super strong...." Read more
"...Pros: The author is an amazingly clear thinking individual. The issues with self deception are well laid out...." Read more
"...I will say, this is book is truly original compared to a lot of self-help genre of today ( the subtle art of not giving a.., eckhart tollie, etc)...." Read more
Customers find the book's storytelling engaging and interesting. They appreciate the easygoing prose and insightful ideas packed into each chapter. The book offers a genuine perspective and tugs at their reality with its points and counter-points.
"...Interesting and enlightening read." Read more
"There are so many books like this one; lots of stories, lots of examples, some good stuff, but lo and behold, the books finishes super strong...." Read more
"...section on testing the readers confidence levels was excellent and insightful...." Read more
"...The book's potential is squandered by its redundant content and off-putting delivery...." Read more
Customers appreciate the book's visual style and vivid examples. They find the storytelling engaging and the anecdotes helpful for practicing. The presentation is outstanding, with a beautiful metaphor for the problem. Readers describe the book as thoughtful and well-written, less abstract than most, and more practical than others.
"There are so many books like this one; lots of stories, lots of examples, some good stuff, but lo and behold, the books finishes super strong...." Read more
"...The Scout Mindset" is a beautiful metaphor for the problem (and just why is discussed in the book)...." Read more
"...that lays a foundation for the next in an accessible and entertaining fashion...." Read more
"...The author does a good job of pointing out examples of this natural human trait, often with humorous anecdotes...." Read more
Customers find the content insightful and useful. They appreciate the robust evidence presented and the discussion of its limitations. The material is familiar and presented outstandingly.
"...lots of examples, some good stuff, but lo and behold, the books finishes super strong...." Read more
"...Robust evidence is presented and the limitations of that evidence are discussed. "..." Read more
"...opened to a new way of looking at the world -- it's more of a robust look at a mindset you already know but have never quite articulated before...." Read more
"...it makes positive change (for most involved) more likely and sustainable. It's a powerful book with great storytelling and vivid examples...." Read more
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Top reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on September 25, 2022The book evolves around the concepts of two mindsets: scout mindset and soldier mindset, the former sees things as they are not as you would like them to be, while the soldier mindset means we see the things we want to see.
Another concept introduced by the author is that our judgment isn’t limited by knowledge nearly as much as it’s limited by attitude.
The author reviews the famous Dreyfus case as an example of the phenomenon in cognitive science and social psychology known as motivated reasoning in which emotional biases lead to justifications or decisions based on their desirability rather than an accurate reflection of the evidence.
And since we now live more and more in a scout’s world, Galef advice is to choose soldier mindset less often and scout mindset more often than our instincts tell us.
Another interesting author’s conclusion is that intelligence and knowledge are just tools and that we can use those tools to see the world clearly or to defend a particular viewpoint, depending on your motivation.
The good news, Galef says, is that there are tools -the double standard test, the outsider test, the conformity test, the selective skeptic test, and the status quo bias test- that helps us develop a scout mindset as instead of a soldier mindset.
The author says that (examining how confident you are) certainty is simple, certainty is comfortable, and certainty makes us feel smart and competent and that we must resist that temptation and think in shades of gray instead of black and white.
Regarding scout morale, Galef affirms that rather than being motivated by the promise of guaranteed success, scouts are motivated by the knowledge that they’re making a smart bet.
A beautiful concept of the author is that scouts don’t admit mistakes, instead they talk about updating, so mistakes don’t imply failure.
And when it comes to disagreements, the author said that knowing that you have common intellectual ground with someone makes you more receptive to their arguments early on.
Be careful with identities, warns the author, because we can get stuck in our ideas and that may lead us to errors, so the advice is to hold your identity lightly.
Finally, the author lists some ideas to develop a scout mindset
Interesting and enlightening read.
- Reviewed in the United States on December 12, 2021There are so many books like this one; lots of stories, lots of examples, some good stuff, but lo and behold, the books finishes super strong. I loved the conclusions from the author on how to have a more "scout" mentality. Have softer eyes, have less opinions, find opposing viewpoints. There are many great ideas towards the end. I would recommend this book to people that want to see the field and go with the flow rather than have too many opinions.
- Reviewed in the United States on April 18, 2021I've been a Superfan of the author for several months now, so don't call me unbiased. How Superfan? I had the author read me her book while I drove cross-country, and I LIVE-TWEETED my real-time reactions. (Amazon won't let me link to the thread, but you can find it if you're clever.)
I have always considered myself a "Scout", but I didn't have a word for it. That's one of the most valuable gifts of the author: attaching words and concrete examples to concepts I've only known intuitively. Since I consider myself "there" already, I wouldn't say this book changed my thinking or behavior, but it gave me lots of new tools for my toolbox.
The most powerful tool is the title. The term "soldier mindset" predates the author, but Scout Mindset is the author's own creation. It describes a role in life: that of a military scout who goes out into the world to discover how it actually is. A soldier believes what they need to believe to defend themselves and their tribe, but the Scout is concerned with objective truth. How many troops does the enemy have? Where are the bridges and barriers? For the ultimate benefit of themselves and their tribe, the Scout needs to know what's actually out there, even if it is injurious to their ego and personal investments in the short term.
In my live-stream, I have plenty of minor criticisms, but they are presented in the spirit of the Scout. I think the author should have steered clear of Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos as examples, as the jury is still out on their legacy. Including them with the likes of Darwin, Chesterton and Picquart risks turning an otherwise timeless work into a perishable one. There is also a FACTUAL ERROR concerning chickens, which I'll leave to other readers to discern. Knowing the author, she will be not doubt be mortified by the gaff, but learning to be wrong is what this book is all about.
In the penultimate chapter, we learn that the author is betrothed. My gut reaction is the crushing sorrow of the 1960s schoolgirl learning that Paul and Ringo already have girlfriends, but the Scout in me sees other problems. How does the author square a "forever" commitment with the preservation of a Scout's objectivity? When you take a vow before family and friends, aren't you explicitly declaring your soldier mindset? "Worked just fine for the past 10 years" is worlds away from "I'm sure it will work forever."
This makes me realize the most serious omission in the book: There is almost no discussion of relationships. Surely, there is no greater pressure for soldier mindset than in defense of ones family and romantic partner. Marriage alone deserves a chapter—or maybe five. The author describes people caught in cult-like business ventures, but what about cult-like relationships? Isn't EVERY romantic relationship cult-like? How do you retain a Scout's perspective on it?
This book seems complete in describing the Scout/Soldier dilemma external to the household but hardly touches on conflicts within it. How can a parent NOT be a soldier when defending their child, regardless of what they have done? How can they not defend their spouse? It's hard enough to manage the pressures of your own ego, let along the ego of someone you are tethered to, over whom you have only a modicum of control.
Rather than dwell on the absences in this book, I prefer to see it as "Volume 1". Volume 2 should start with that declaration of marriage, difficult to revoke now that it has been set in print. This is part of a bigger topic that the author only touches on in this volume: How do to design your future life so that you can continue to afford a Scout's perspective? Surrounding yourself with open-minded people is a good start. We can call it ones "congregation". Joining a warm congregation is gratifying enough. The dilemmas only come later. How far will you go to defend your congregation when your core beliefs begin to diverge?
Most humans don't have any such conflicts—because they're soldiers. The functional benefit of soldier mindset is to paper over any hypocrisies and inconsistencies in ones life, while Scouts are forced to face them head-on.
Top reviews from other countries
- ZebesReviewed in Canada on April 22, 2021
5.0 out of 5 stars Wise Words in this Book
Such a good book with a neat concept. You learn about how to better view reality (scout mindset) by acting like a scout vs. acting like a solider who just defends their position no matter what. Anyways this book really helped define a lot of things I think I knew but didn’t know how to express... if that makes sense?
I now want to think like a scout rather than a solider! It’s smarter and I believe leads you to a better life since you have a larger grasp on reality and don’t tend to self deceive as much as the solider mindset does. I could go on and on but really do check it out. Well written and a topic that really means a lot to us these days!
- Michael CahoonReviewed in Italy on September 4, 2022
5.0 out of 5 stars Insightful
I already knew most of the ideas in this book, but the framing brings them to life.
Very good book
- TobiReviewed in Germany on February 21, 2022
5.0 out of 5 stars Very well writen and eye opening book
Well and engaging written book, which brings strategies of critical thinking and cleared my view of the world. I can recommend this book. It is fun, smart and eye-opening.
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AlonsoReviewed in Spain on December 11, 2021
5.0 out of 5 stars Mentalidad
Muy bueno sobre como adquirir una mentalidad de scout. Me ha gustado mucho, por lo que si te interesa este tema, es un buen libro! :)
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Client KindleReviewed in France on November 16, 2021
4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting
Intéressant. Cependant, il s'agit d'une succession d'exemples pour illustrer un propos qui est très personnel. Je m'attendais à davantage de résultats solides basés sur les sciences sociales.