The Righteous Mind: Why Good People Are Divided By Politics And Religion

Description

As America descends deeper into polarization and paralysis, social psychologist Jonathan Haidt""has done the seemingly impossible--challenged conventional thinking about morality, politics, and religion in a way that speaks to everyone on the political spectrum. Drawing on his twenty five years of groundbreaking research on moral psychology, he shows how moral judgments arise not from reason but from gut feelings. He shows why liberals, conservatives, and libertarians have such different intuitions about right and wrong, and he shows why each side is actually right about many of its central concerns. In this subtle yet accessible book, Haidt gives you the key to understanding the miracle of human cooperation, as well as the curse of our eternal divisions and conflicts. If you're ready to trade in anger for understanding, read "The Righteous Mind."

Reviews

Praise for Jonathan Haidt's "The Righteous Mind
"
"A landmark contribution to humanity's understanding of itself. . . . Haidt is looking for more than victory. He's looking for wisdom. That's what makes "The Righteous Mind" well worth reading."
--"The New York Times Book Review"
"An eye-opening and deceptively ambitious best seller . . . undoubtedly one of the most talked-about books of the year."
--"The Wall Street Journal"
"Splendidly written, sophisticated and stimulating. It may well change how you think and talk about politics, religion and human nature."
--"NPR"
"Ingenious prose. . . . Beautifully written, Haidt's book shines a new and creative light on moral psychology and presents a provocative message."
--"Science"
"A remarkable and original synthesis of social psychology, political analysis, and moral reasoning."
--Edward O. Wilson, University Research Professor Emeritus, Harvard University
"Highly readable, highly insightful. . . . The principal posture in which one envisions him is that of a scrappy, voluble, discerning patriot standing between the warring factions in American politics urging each to see the other's viewpoint, to stop demonizing, bashing, clobbering. . . . Haidt's real contribution, in my judgment, is inviting us all to sit at the table."
--"Washington Times"
"Excellent. . . . An impressive book that should be read by anyone who has the slightest interest in how political opinions are reached."
--"The Daily Beast"
"Haidt's work feels particularly relevant now. . . . Haidt's perspective can help us better understand our own political and religious leanings."
"--San Francisco Chronicle"
"Jonathan Haidt is one of smartest and most creative psychologists alive, and his newest book, "The Righteous Mind" is a tour de force--a brave, brilliant and eloquent exploration of the most important issues of our time. It will challenge the way you think a

Author description

Jonathan Haidt is the Thomas Cooley Professor of Ethical Leadership at New York University's Stern School of Business. He obtained his Ph.D. in social psychology from the University of Pennsylvania in 1992, and then taught at the University of Virginia for 16 years. He is the author of "The Happiness Hypothesis: Finding Modern Truth in Ancient Wisdom, " and the co-editor of "Flourishing: Positive Psychology and the Life Well-Lived." He lives in New York City.