Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don’t Know (Adam Grant) – Book Review

By Paulo Nassar

Paulo is a Thinking in English listener and follower in Brazil who has kindly shared his thoughts on a book he recently read! If you’d like to practice writing and make a book review for the blog (and I’ll check the grammar/vocabulary) reach out to me through the contact page!

Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don’t Know (Adam Grant)

What is the book about?

The experience of logging into a social network such as Twitter sometimes seems to be like a battlefield: only replace arms with words. There are plenty of people insulting each other with arguments based on immutable certainties. “Lockdowns have killed millions”, “Lockdowns have saved millions” are among the current arguments.

In his new book, the psychologist and writer Adam Grant aims to help us step back, think again and embrace uncertainty. “Think Again” show us how it is important to be open to new ideas and, most important of all, to be able to see others’ points of view.

We tend to see someone expressing different opinions as if they were challenging our intelligence. It is of utmost importance to acknowledge that you and your opponent always have common ground. 

In one of the chapters, Grant tells the story of a Canadian doctor who convinces hesitant parents to vaccine their children. The doctor had the ability to ask and listen more than to push “scientifically strong statements” to convince the parents. Obviously, both sides wish the best for the children.

Perhaps intelligence in this age of information overload is “to know that we don’t know.” As a famous 1980s Brazilian hit by Raul Seixas says “I’d rather be this walking metamorphosis than have the old formed opinion about everything”.

Who should read this book?

I think the book is appropriate for upper-intermediate English learners. There is not scientific jargons or specific vocabulary. All verbal tenses, modals and passive forms and present in the book. If you are comfortable with these grammar issues, the book is definitely for you.

Are you going to read the book? What books do you recommend for English learners? Let us know in the comments!

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