March Book of the Month: “Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don’t Know” by Adam Grant
March Book of the Month feature is “Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don’t Know” by Adam Grant sets up the importance of “unlearning” and the tremendous value of putting aside our own assumptions.
“If knowledge is power, knowing what we don’t know is wisdom.”
Begin with a beginner’s mind. This best captures what I took out from the book. We are hardly ever taught to question our own assumptions, to reconsider our thinking - and I personally find that as I know more, accumulate more knowledge and information, the easier it is for me jump to conclusions. It becomes harder and harder to be more curious - especially when it comes to a different way of looking at things. It takes so much of ourselves to be willing and open to challenge. We have been set up so early in life to stick with those who agree with what we think, or defend our beliefs when someone challenges our thinking. It does take a great amount of self-awareness and effort to be willing to have our opinions, thoughts and ideas challenged. It’s not easy. To unlearn. To be curious again.
We become lazy and complacent and stuck in our ways.
But what this book challenges us is to exactly that… to “think again”. Acknowledging that we don’t know everything and being curious about what we don’t know.