The Certainty Trap

Cheery Friday Greetings from Barb Oakley!

I have thrilling news to share! Terry’s and my book  Learning How to Learn: How to Succeed in School Without Spending All Your Time Studying has been selected for a special BookBub eBook promotion for September 6-11. The eBook version of  Learning How to Learn is on sale everywhere for just $2.99 from September 6-11.

For those who may not know,  Learning How to Learn is the book companion to our Coursera MOOC  Learning How to Learn for Youth unger learners. The book distills key insights about effective learning techniques, based on neuroscience and cognitive psychology, into an accessible guide for students of all ages. It helps readers understand how their brains process information and provides practical strategies to enhance learning efficiency and retention.

BookBub, for those unfamiliar, is a hugely influential platform in the publishing world. It’s a free service that helps millions of readers discover great deals on acclaimed ebooks. Being featured on BookBub is a big deal – they’re extremely selective about which books they promote, choosing only a small fraction of submitted titles.

This selection by BookBub is a testament to the enduring value and popularity of our book. It’s an extraordinary opportunity for “Learning How to Learn” to reach an even wider audience of eager learners.

We encourage you to spread the word about this special promotion to friends, family, or anyone you think could benefit from improving their learning skills! 

 The Certainty Trap: Why We Need to Question Ourselves More–and How We Can Judge Others Less, by Ilana Redstone.

If you’ve ever found yourself shaking your head at the latest political controversy or unfriending someone on Facebook over a heated argument, Ilana Redstone’s  The Certainty Trap is the book you need to read. With a sociologist’s keen eye and a world traveler’s open mind, Redstone unravels the tangled threads of our fraying social fabric and offers a way to knit them back together. 

At the heart of our problem, Redstone argues, is our tendency to cling to certainty. When we’re dead sure we’re right, it’s all too easy to see those who disagree as stupid or even evil. But what if we questioned our own assumptions? What if we approached disagreements with curiosity instead of condemnation? Through page-turning stories and no-nonsense analysis, Redstone shows how our thinking traps—like the Settled Question Fallacy and the Fallacy of Known Intent—keep us locked in echo chambers of our own making. But she doesn’t just diagnose the problem; she offers a prescription for change.

 Redstone’s remedy is as simple as it is challenging: embrace uncertainty. By trading the false comfort of being “right” for the freedom to explore, we can rediscover the lost art of conversation. We can build bridges instead of walls. We can find common ground in our shared humanity. Drawing on her experiences teaching, traveling, and navigating tough conversations, Redstone is the wise and relatable guide we need for these polarized times. Her writing is warm, funny, and full of “aha” moments that will stick with you long after you’ve turned the last page. 

In a world that often feels like it’s spinning out of control,  The Certainty Trap  is a steadying hand on the wheel. It’s a book that will challenge you, change you, and give you hope for the future. If you’re ready to break free from the certainty trap and see the world in a new light, this book is the perfect place to start.

Barb speaking in Brussels as well as in Tbilisi and Kutaisi, Georgia

• On Thursday 3rd October from 1pm-2pm, I will be speaking at the “ AI in Education: From Policy to Practice” EU Policy Camp of the EVBB (European Association of Institutes for Vocational Training). 
• On Saturday October 5th, I’ll be in Kutaisi, Georgia, and October 6th in Tbilisi, Georgia, speaking for State School English Teachers.  
• On Monday 7th October in Tbilisi, Georgia, I will be giving  the plenary at the HR Professionals’ Association Conference.  

When Helping Hurts: The Paradox of Pathological Altruism

In the thought-provoking podcast episode “Pathological Altruism and Personal Growth with Dr. Barbara Oakley,” host Denise G. Lee delves into a paradoxical concept with me. They explore the intriguing idea of pathological altruism—where acts of kindness can inadvertently lead to harm.

We discuss how best intentions can sometimes yield negative outcomes, particularly when fueled by an inability to establish healthy boundaries or an overwhelming desire to be perceived as virtuous. The conversation weaves through topics of personal development and resilience, emphasizing the crucial role of critical thinking in discerning truly beneficial actions from those that might have unforeseen negative consequences.

This discussion challenges you to think deeply about their approach to helping others and encourages a more nuanced understanding of altruism. For an in-depth exploration of this fascinating topic,  tune in to the full episode.  

That’s all for now. Have a happy week in learning!

Barb Oakley

• Uncommon Sense Teaching—the book and Coursera Specialization!
• Mindshift—the book and MOOC
• Learn Like a Pro—the book and MOOC
• The LHTL recommended text, A Mind for Numbers
• For kids and parents: Learning How to Learn—the book and MOOC. Pro tip—watch the videos and read the book together with your child. Learning how to learn at an early age will change their life!