How Not To Be Wrong
The Art of Changing Your Mind
Published on 22. October 2020
Book
Hardback
240 pages
978-0-7535-5770-9 (ISBN)
Description
'Simply Brilliant' THE SECRET BARRISTER
'Passionate and brilliantly argued' DAVID OLUSOGA
'An admirably personal guide' MARINA HYDE
'Smart, analytical, self-aware and important' ALASTAIR CAMPBELL
THE INTIMATE, REVEALING NEW BOOK FROM THE AUTHOR OF THE BESTSELLING, PRIZE-WINNING HOW TO BE RIGHT
There's no point having a mind if you're not willing to change it
James O'Brien has built well over a million loyal listeners to his radio show by dissecting the opinions of callers live on air, every day. But winning the argument doesn't necessarily mean you're right.
In this deeply personal book, James turns the mirror on himself to reveal what he has changed his mind about and why, and explores how examining and changing our own views is our new civic duty in a world of outrage, disagreement and echo chambers. He writes candidly about the stiff upper lip attitudes and toxic masculinity that coloured his childhood, and the therapy and personal growth that have led him question his assumptions and explore new perspectives. Laying open his personal views on everything from racial prejudice to emotional vulnerability, from fat-shaming to tattoos, he then delves into the real reasons -- often irrational or unconscious -- he holds them.
Unflinchingly honest, revealing and funny, How Not to Be Wrong is a tonic for a world more divided than ever and a personal manifesto for a better way of thinking and living.
Because after all, if we can't change our own minds we'll never really be able to change anyone else's.
'Passionate and brilliantly argued' DAVID OLUSOGA
'An admirably personal guide' MARINA HYDE
'Smart, analytical, self-aware and important' ALASTAIR CAMPBELL
THE INTIMATE, REVEALING NEW BOOK FROM THE AUTHOR OF THE BESTSELLING, PRIZE-WINNING HOW TO BE RIGHT
There's no point having a mind if you're not willing to change it
James O'Brien has built well over a million loyal listeners to his radio show by dissecting the opinions of callers live on air, every day. But winning the argument doesn't necessarily mean you're right.
In this deeply personal book, James turns the mirror on himself to reveal what he has changed his mind about and why, and explores how examining and changing our own views is our new civic duty in a world of outrage, disagreement and echo chambers. He writes candidly about the stiff upper lip attitudes and toxic masculinity that coloured his childhood, and the therapy and personal growth that have led him question his assumptions and explore new perspectives. Laying open his personal views on everything from racial prejudice to emotional vulnerability, from fat-shaming to tattoos, he then delves into the real reasons -- often irrational or unconscious -- he holds them.
Unflinchingly honest, revealing and funny, How Not to Be Wrong is a tonic for a world more divided than ever and a personal manifesto for a better way of thinking and living.
Because after all, if we can't change our own minds we'll never really be able to change anyone else's.
Reviews / Votes
A model of lucidity, humour and humanity - we should be thankful that we have him * Times Literary Supplement * Simply brilliant ... Its calm but brutal honesty makes for compelling reading. This book is needed now more than ever -- The Secret Barrister James is more right than ever -- particularly in our entrenched, binary thinking culture -- about the importance of being able to admit to being wrong -- David Baddiel An admirably personal guide to the lost art of changing your mind. James showed me how often a change of mind is really a change of heart -- Marina Hyde The conscience of liberal Britain * New Statesman * Highly personal and confessional, yet also a passionate and brilliantly argued appeal against the dangerous tribalism of our times -- David Olusoga Classic James O'Brien - smart, analytical, self-aware and important to public debate at a time the toffs in power are taking it into the sewer -- Alastair Campbell I know few broadcasters as consistently, forensically, brilliant as James O'Brien -- Emily Maitlis Blending profound self-reflection with genuine warmth... the perfect book for a loud world that seems more divided than ever -- John Amaechi OBE Such verbal ability seems like a superpower * The Times * An exceptional broadcaster with a peerless ability to calmly point out the absurdity of certain viewpoints * Guardian * Disarmingly honest about where he has been wrong, this book is a refreshing reminder of our ability to change our minds -- Susanna Reid Far and away the best thing he has ever written -- indeed, a kind of deconstruction of everything he has written and said, or at least propounded. A series of reflections on various topical themes that doubles as a memoir, almost a mea culpa, about the psychological origin of his opinions, and of the force and certitude with which he used to wield them. * New Statesman Book of the Year * Far and away the best thing he has ever written -- Leo Robson * New Statesman *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Ebury Publishing
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
Dimensions
Height: 222 mm
Width: 144 mm
Thickness: 25 mm
Weight
361 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-7535-5770-9 (9780753557709)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
10/2020
1st Edition
Virgin Digital
€10.99
Available for download
Person
James O'Brien is an award-winning writer and broadcaster whose journalism has appeared everywhere from the TLS to the Daily Mirror. Best known for his daily current affairs programme on the radio station LBC, with over 1.2 million weekly listeners, he has also presented and appeared on a variety of TV shows including Newsnight and Have I Got News For You? His first book, How To Be Right, was a Sunday Times bestseller and won a Parliamentary Book Award after selling over 200,000 copies across all formats. He is often to be found on twitter discussing the burning issues of the day.