Trust Your Mind : Embracing Nuance in a World of Self-Silencing

An urgent examination of self-silencing culture and the toxic impact of groupthink by the author of Divergent Mind and founder of The Neurodiversity Project. Nerenberg empowers readers with tools to understand the mind and navigate an increasingly polarized world from campuses and workplaces to the media and beyond. </p>Connected across geography and culture via the internet the world is both a vast limitless landscape and an ever-shrinking echo chamber. Communication especially discourse over free speech is becoming increasingly divisive; one person’s right to speak has come into conflict with those seeking to prevent harm. Our tolerance for differing opinions is also narrowing. A “wrong” remark or comment no matter how seemingly innocent can result in banishment and contradictory ideas spark hysteria and backlash—what is referred to as “cancel culture.” This polarization affects everyone of us—among friends and families workplaces and communities—and threatens the fabric of society itself. </p>In this timely book Jenara Nerenberg analyzes this phenomenon of “self-silencing” asking potent questions about how harmful groupthink has become accepted. Applying her expertise in journalism psychology and public health she digs deep into urgent problems that are worsening under a culture of self-censorship including loneliness isolation and polarization. </p>But there is hope. Nerenberg offers insights for how to identify and escape groupthink and transform fear into empathy allowing space for authentic communication that reduces—rather than causes—harm to others. </p>