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Overview
In this persuasive book, journalist Alina Tugend examines the delicate tension between what we’re told—we must make mistakes in order to learn—and the reality—we often get punished for them. She shows us that mistakes are everywhere, and when we acknowledge and identify them correctly, we can improve not only ourselves, but our families, our work, and the world around us as well. Bold and dynamic, insightful and provocative, Better by Mistake turns our cultural wisdom on its head to illustrate the downside of striving for perfection and the rewards of acknowledging and accepting mistakes and embracing the imperfection in all of us.
Product Details
ISBN-13: | 9781594485671 |
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Publisher: | Penguin Publishing Group |
Publication date: | 04/03/2012 |
Pages: | 304 |
Product dimensions: | 5.50(w) x 8.20(h) x 1.10(d) |
Age Range: | 18 Years |
About the Author
Table of Contents
Introduction 1
1 (mis)understanding and (Re)Defining Mistakes What is a mistake? 9
2 It Starts Early How our children learn from blunders 41
3 "Fail Often, Fast, and Cheap" Mistakes in the workplace 73
4 It's Not Brain Surgery ... But What If It Is? Learning from medicine 107
5 Lessons from the Cockpit Aviation's approach to errors 143
6 Blaming You, Blaming Me Men, women, and mistakes 159
7 You Say Mistake, I Say Lesson Different cultures, different approaches 189
8 I Want to Apologize Saying "I'm sorry" 215
Conclusion 247
Acknowledgments 253
Notes 255
Bibliography 273
Index 285
What People are Saying About This
“Fascinating, vivid, and spectacularly useful. Alina Tugend is a whip-smart guide to the secret landscape where our (so-called) errors are transformed into powerful opportunities. Make no mistake: this is a great book.”--(Daniel Coyle, author of The Talent Code)
"BETTER BY MISTAKE is a fascinating and wide-ranging exploration of the deeply human phenomenon of screwing up. With Alina Tugend as your wise (and wise-cracking) guide, you'll learn why perfection is a myth, why apologies pack power, and why effort is often more important than results. And once you've finished this book, you'll never look at mistakes -- or yourself -- the same way." --( Daniel H. Pink, author of DRIVE and A WHOLE NEW MIND)
“Oh what a jewel of a book this is! Read it, smile, learn, be surprised, then rejoice in your newly found power of imperfection. Glory in your foibles, rejoice in your mistakes, knowing that if you will but embrace what you may have wanted to deny or avoid, not only will you become more true, you will also grow both in strength and in joy.” --( Edward Hallowell, M.D., author of "CrazyBusy" and "Driven to Distraction")
"Better By Mistake is a fascinating and wide-ranging exploration of the deeply human phenomenon of screwing up. With Alina Tugend as your wise (and wise-cracking) guide, you'll learn why perfection is a myth, why apologies pack power, and why effort is often more important than results. And once you've finished this book, you'll never look at mistakes -- or yourself -- the same way."
-Daniel H. Pink, author of Drive and A Whole New Mind
"Oh what a jewel of a book this is! Read it, smile, learn, be surprised, then rejoice in your newly found power of imperfection. Glory in your foibles, rejoice in your mistakes, knowing that if you will but embrace what you may have wanted to deny or avoid, not only will you become more true, you will also grow both in strength and in joy."
-Edward Hallowell, M.D., author of CrazyBusy and Driven to Distraction
"The research presented in Better by Mistake is refreshingly clear and often surprising. Read it and find out why Japanese teachers allow students to spend twelve minutes or more explaining their wrong answer to a math problem, why posting grades for all to see is an example of a healthy understanding of the cyclical nature of time and why praise lowers ambition. This book is fascinating, practical and fun."
-Wendy Mogel, author of The Blessing of a Skinned Knee
"Alina Tugend is a terrific reporter, one who knows how to guide her readers through complex issues that matter."
-Daniel Coyle, author of The Talent Code
“The research presented in Better by Mistake is refreshingly clear and often surprising. Read it and find out why Japanese teachers allow students to spend twelve minutes or more explaining their wrong answer to a math problem, why posting grades for all to see is an example of a healthy understanding of the cyclical nature of time and why praise lowers ambition. This book is fascinating, practical and fun.”--(Wendy Mogel, author of The Blessing of a Skinned Knee )