Mindstuck

Well, this was another solid four-star read.

I’ve read a lot of books like this before (and have a few that I haven’t read), so this was a happy little jaunt into familiar territory.

The main strong point of this book is that it actually improves upon the books about this stuff that I was reading ten years ago, with updated context and sources. Back in 2014, when the term “sigma male” hadn’t been coined yet and people were still trying to be Sherlock Holmes because Benedict Cumberbatch, the sorts of books I read on this topic still tried to suggest that Donald Trump was somebody we should look up to in business strategy. Meanwhile, this book mentions a lot of current topics that will hit home with people, such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2016/2020 US elections, so I think that readers will almost always have a good idea of what the author is talking about.

The book also features a lot of scientific studies, including a great deal of newer ones (i.e. from the past ten years), plus some classics. There are a lot of big names cited in here including Asch, Festinger, Gazzaniga, Cialdini, Zak, and other familiar psychologists. McQueen has also read around his own genre here, because he cites Jay Heinrichs, Kevin Hogan, and other authors who have written similar things. As a result, not everything in this book is terribly original, but it’s packaged and formatted for the modern era and McQueen cites his sources and influences very well. It’s a whole lot more compelling than a book written by someone who claims to have discovered something nobody else has ever written about, which usually implies that they are either making something up out of whole cloth or haven’t even done the most basic searching to see what has already been written about their topic. (See: the endless number of authors claiming to have written the definitive book on why people are unhappy, how to be happy, what makes us human, or how to become a CEO) This book also does away with some of the outdated stuff in older books that has been disproven, like the idea that you can always depend on body language to figure out what other people are thinking, which research now suggests isn’t true. (Which I can attest to—if I have a blank look on my face, it’s not because I’m “uncertain” or “unhappy”, it’s because I’m lost in my mind thinking about how much I enjoyed “Escape from New York” (1981) or the computer-generated imagery in The Second Law by Stephen Wolfram.)

My only complaint is that, at times, McQueen suggests things that really only make sense in certain circumstances. For instance, while I do think you need to understand other perspectives, there are many cases in which you really shouldn’t genuinely open yourself up to those perspectives, because many are quite simply based on information that isn’t true. As in, I guess I could be a sympathetic ear to someone who believed that aliens were putting chips in our heads, but suggesting that something so clearly untrue could actually be a valid standpoint would likely make things worse—while you need more than evidence to inspire someone to change their mind, you do need to show that evidence at some point.

I also think there are also plenty of cases in which you shouldn’t try to persuade someone, or are under no obligation to try to persuade them. For example, whenever I am in a completely avoidable conversation with someone who clearly doesn’t really see me as a human person in the same way that they are, I tend to extricate myself and go home (so to speak). Not because these people are incapable of ever being persuaded, but because you do need to have some higher degree of good faith from both sides in order to have a constructive, persuasive conversation, and when the other person doesn’t even see you as someone who might matter, there is not equal good-faith participation. No matter how “nice” I try to be about it. Really, I’d be better off trying to convince Person X who is already predisposed to have basic respect for me that someone they might not have basic respect for, Person Y, could be deserving of respect, simply because I already have some rapport with Person X to a degree that X and Y don’t have with each other. At some point I think you need to realize that you are limited in your ability to shape everyone’s opinions and spend your energy accordingly.

Other than that, I generally recommend this book, particularly to people who don’t want to sift through every book on this topic in the library like I did when I was 14.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC.

"Mindstuck: Mastering the Art of Changing Minds" by Michael McQueen is a compelling exploration into the art of persuasion in an era where changing minds seems more challenging than ever. McQueen, with his extensive experience in helping Fortune 500 companies and leaders adapt to change, delves into the intricacies of human psychology and the barriers that prevent us from influencing others.

The book is structured in a way that each chapter builds upon the last, creating a comprehensive guide on the subject. McQueen's use of anecdotes and case studies from his professional life adds a personal touch that makes the content relatable and engaging. His writing style is both efficient and lively, ensuring that the reader is not just informed but also entertained.

One of the book's strengths is its practicality. McQueen doesn't just theorize about the difficulties of persuasion; he offers actionable advice and techniques that readers can apply in various aspects of their lives, whether they are leaders trying to inspire their teams, businesspeople seeking to convince partners, or parents attempting to communicate with their children.

Drawing from disciplines such as neuroscience and behavioral economics, McQueen argues that traditional methods of persuasion are outdated for our modern minds. He suggests that we need an upgrade in our approach to truly influence others in the 21st century. The book ends each chapter with persuasion tips, serving as valuable takeaways for the reader.

Critics and readers alike have praised "Mindstuck" for its insights and practical advice. Notable figures like Mel Robbins and Daniel H. Pink have endorsed the book, highlighting its significance in today's polarized society where open-mindedness is often overshadowed by obstinance.

In conclusion, "Mindstuck: Mastering the Art of Changing Minds" is a must-read for anyone looking to navigate the complex landscape of human interaction and persuasion. It's a timely guide that restores the lost art of civil discourse and equips readers with the tools to make a greater impact in their personal and professional lives.