Lakshani Madurangika
Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don’t Know
Adam Grant’s Think Again is a timely exploration of why rethinking – questioning our own opinions, beliefs, and assumptions – is an essential skill in an increasingly complex world. A celebrated organizational psychologist, Grant blends research, storytelling, and practical strategies to show that intelligence is not just about what we know, but about how often we’re willing to change our minds.
First published in 2021, Think Again challenges the common idea that sticking to your guns is a sign of strength. Instead, Grant argues that flexibility, curiosity, and intellectual humility are what allow individuals and organizations to thrive.
The Core Message: Rethinking as a Superpower
The central thesis of Think Again is that we live in a world where knowledge changes rapidly and clinging stubbornly to outdated ideas can be dangerous. Grant proposes that we should treat our opinions like apps on a smartphone – regularly updated, debugged, and sometimes deleted altogether.
Rethinking isn’t about being indecisive; it’s about having the courage to admit when we’re wrong and the agility to adapt. Those who master the art of rethinking are better equipped to solve problems, make good decisions, and learn from their mistakes.
Mindsets That Block Rethinking
Grant describes three mental modes that often trap us:
- The Preacher – Defends sacred beliefs and moral convictions, seeking to convert others.
- The Prosecutor – Seeks to win arguments by proving others wrong.
- The Politician – Seeks approval and support, adjusting views to please an audience.
While these modes can be useful in certain contexts, they discourage genuine learning. Instead, Grant urges us to think like scientists – constantly testing hypotheses, being open to new evidence, and willing to revise conclusions.
Thinking Like a Scientist
The scientific mindset is a recurring theme throughout the book. Scientists don’t get attached to being right; they get attached to finding the truth. This requires:
- Intellectual humility – recognizing the limits of our knowledge.
- Curiosity – asking questions rather than defending assumptions.
- A willingness to experiment – trying new approaches and learning from failure.
Grant points out that adopting this mindset helps us separate our identities from our ideas, making it easier to change our minds without feeling personally attacked.
The Joy of Being Wrong
One of the most counterintuitive lessons in Think Again is that discovering you’re wrong can actually be a good thing. It means you’ve learned something new. Grant encourages embracing “confident humility” – confidence in your ability to learn and humility about what you currently know.
This attitude fosters resilience. Instead of seeing mistakes as failures, we see them as opportunities to grow.
Interpersonal Rethinking: Changing Other People’s Minds
Grant also addresses how to encourage rethinking in others. Pushing people to change rarely works; it often triggers defensiveness. Instead, effective persuaders:
- Ask open-ended questions that prompt reflection.
- Acknowledge the other person’s perspective.
- Offer new information gently, without confrontation.
- Create psychological safety so people feel comfortable admitting uncertainty.
Grant shares examples from negotiators, educators, and leaders who succeeded by listening first and persuading second.
Collective Rethinking: Teams and Organizations
In the workplace, cultures that encourage rethinking outperform those that prize certainty. Grant highlights the dangers of groupthink and overconfidence, and he shares strategies for creating “challenge networks” – groups of people who are encouraged to question and critique each other’s ideas constructively.
Key practices include:
- Celebrating rethinking as much as correct answers.
- Rewarding those who ask difficult questions.
- Making it safe for leaders to say, “I don’t know.”
Unlearning and Updating
Grant reminds us that learning is not just about acquiring new knowledge; it’s also about letting go of outdated beliefs. This process, called unlearning, is often harder because it requires admitting past mistakes. Yet without it, we risk making decisions based on faulty assumptions.
He uses examples from business, science, and everyday life where clinging to old models led to failure – and where timely rethinking led to breakthroughs.
The Dangers of Cognitive Overconfidence
One of the most intriguing insights in Think Again is the “armchair quarterback syndrome” – the tendency for people to overestimate their expertise in areas they know little about. This is closely related to the Dunning – Kruger effect, where the least competent people are often the most confident in their abilities.
Grant’s antidote: actively seek out people who disagree with you and be willing to reconsider your stance in light of new evidence.
Tools for Becoming a Better Rethinker
Grant offers practical strategies for cultivating the habit of rethinking:
- Think in ranges rather than absolutes – consider multiple possibilities and levels of confidence.
- Have a “challenge network” – people you trust to point out flaws in your thinking.
- Practice mental flexibility – try playing “devil’s advocate” with your own ideas.
- Update your beliefs regularly – like software updates for your mind.
These tools make rethinking less about occasional epiphanies and more about an ongoing process.
Why Think Again Resonates
The book’s appeal comes from its mix of:
- Relatable examples – from firefighters who rethink split-second decisions to entrepreneurs who pivot their business models.
- Accessible science – Grant distills complex psychological research into practical advice.
- Hopeful tone – It reassures readers that changing your mind is not a weakness, but a strength.
It’s also highly relevant to today’s polarized climate, where people often talk past each other instead of engaging in productive dialogue.
Criticism and Limitations
Some critics note that Think Again can feel like an extension of ideas already explored in Grant’s previous work and in other popular psychology books. While the advice is solid, it may seem familiar to avid readers of behavioral science. Additionally, cultivating the habit of rethinking requires sustained effort – something the book inspires but cannot enforce.
Still, the blend of compelling storytelling, research, and actionable insights makes it a valuable read for anyone looking to grow intellectually and emotionally.
Conclusion: The Courage to Change Your Mind
Think Again is more than a book about critical thinking; it’s a manifesto for lifelong learning. Grant makes a persuasive case that in a rapidly changing world, the ability to rethink and unlearn is just as important as the ability to learn.
The takeaway is clear:
- Be humble about what you know.
- Be curious about what you don’t.
- Be willing to update your thinking when the evidence changes.
By embracing rethinking, we don’t just improve our decisions – we open ourselves to a fuller, more adaptive, and more meaningful life.
