Emily
I don't remember why I thought I wanted to read this one. I remember seeing it around for a while and kept thinking “that one's on my to-read list.” And when I finally checked it out, I found it wasn't. Strange, I was sure I put it there. Going into the introduction chapter with an open mind, since I had been looking forward to this, I ended up with that same thought: “why exactly did I want to read this?” I could not remember why I thought I'd needed this book, and the author did nothing to convince me of that idea as I sat through and repeatedly brought my hand to my forehead.
You aren't convincing if your best arguments involve redefining 100+ year old metaphors to fit your conclusion. You aren't convincing if your “samples” include fetisizing impostor's syndrome, which causes real problems for the people who have it. You aren't convincing if your arguments stand on shaky legs to begin with, and then you pull a bait-and-switch with your sample: “A full grown man debated a small child and won! Even though the audience agreed with the child!” Wow, no shit? “Just kidding! The child was actually a robot!” What? That opens up SO many other factors that COULD be going on here. But you were so ready to fit it to your conclusion, you didn't rethink that.
If you've ever in your life had a thought and then reconsidered it, this book is useless. I don't remember anything about how to actually teach yourself to enjoy being wrong, which is probably what got me to think I wanted to read it; it was mostly just him talking about people who do feel that way and what their attitude about it is. That doesn't automatically make it my attitude.
Did not finish.
I don't remember why I thought I wanted to read this one. I remember seeing it around for a while and kept thinking “that one's on my to-read list.” And when I finally checked it out, I found it wasn't. Strange, I was sure I put it there. Going into the introduction chapter with an open mind, since I had been looking forward to this, I ended up with that same thought: “why exactly did I want to read this?” I could not remember why I thought I'd needed this book, and the author did nothing to convince me of that idea as I sat through and repeatedly brought my hand to my forehead.
You aren't convincing if your best arguments involve redefining 100+ year old metaphors to fit your conclusion. You aren't convincing if your “samples” include fetisizing impostor's syndrome, which causes real problems for the people who have it. You aren't convincing if your arguments stand on shaky legs to begin with, and then you pull a bait-and-switch with your sample: “A full grown man debated a small child and won! Even though the audience agreed with the child!” Wow, no shit? “Just kidding! The child was actually a robot!” What? That opens up SO many other factors that COULD be going on here. But you were so ready to fit it to your conclusion, you didn't rethink that.
If you've ever in your life had a thought and then reconsidered it, this book is useless. I don't remember anything about how to actually teach yourself to enjoy being wrong, which is probably what got me to think I wanted to read it; it was mostly just him talking about people who do feel that way and what their attitude about it is. That doesn't automatically make it my attitude.
Did not finish.