The Coddling of the American MindThe Coddling of the American Mind
Score Modern
What it's about
Free-speech lawyer Greg Lukianoff and social psychologist Jonathan Haidt argue that rising anxiety and depression among students, and the shouting down of campus speakers, come from three bad ideas taught to a generation: that what doesn't kill you makes you weaker, that you should always trust your feelings, and that life is a battle between good people and evil people.
Why it's worth reading
It was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award and sparked a national debate about parenting, education and free speech. Its argument foreshadows Haidt's later The Anxious Generation.
You'll love it if you liked
The Anxious Generation
Thinking, Fast and Slow
Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized WorldGood to know
It's an argument that has both strong admirers and critics. It draws on cognitive behavioral therapy for its central ideas.
By the numbers
- Readers61 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics24 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller47 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz7 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #23 of the 44 politics books we rank
- #545 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #1048 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Practical, Thought-provoking
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Quick answers
Is The Coddling of the American Mind worth reading?
Yes. It was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award and sparked a national debate about parenting, education and free speech. It ranks #1,048 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 72.4 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The Coddling of the American Mind about?
Free-speech lawyer Greg Lukianoff and social psychologist Jonathan Haidt argue that rising anxiety and depression among students, and the shouting down of campus speakers, come from three bad ideas taught to a generation: that what doesn't kill you makes you weaker, that you should always trust your feelings, and that life is a battle between good people and evil people.
How long does it take to read The Coddling of the American Mind?
About 9 hours (352 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after The Coddling of the American Mind?
If you liked it, try The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt, Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman or Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World by David Epstein.