The Righteous Mind

Love the book, it has certainly expanded my mental model. I can now see things with new perspective. There is more to morality than care/Harm.

I bought this book because I went through some lectures of Jonathan Haidt, thanks to youtube algorithm and I was really interested to read a book written by him. The title immediately caught my attention. This book changed the way I think. If you frequently find yourself disagreeing with people around you on the need for the having a religion given the chaos in the world or that which side of the political view is morally correct, I would highly recommend this book.. Needless to say the author gives wonderful examples, goes into detailed understanding of psychology and data to confirm his years of research. It questions so many of our innate biases. He will take you to journey of mankind from stone ages to present day to help you understand the context and how our mind functions mostly not as rational as we think it to be. This book will always stay with me. At times, I was so engrossed in the book that I stayed up all night to finish the chapter.

I liked the idea of trying to understand why people disagree about politics and religion. He succeeded, by and large. I disliked it for the fact that the book is sometimes too dense that one loses focus and the thread. To his credit, he tried to sum up every chapter and even provided a good overall summary in the end. I guess, in the end, listening and reflecting before reacting and constantly reminding oneself of that rule and practising it unceasingly will be rewarding eventually, in enhancing understanding and even in enabling co-operation by finding common ground. Alas, the modern society is set up to elicit and to demand instant reaction rather than allow deliberate reflection. Humans - as the book says - have certain pre-dispositions even if they are not pre-destinations. Modern technological developments seem to pander to and encourage some of our worst pre-dispositions. In the end, regardless of how heartless or unfair some of the conservative positions might seem, there is no innate contradiction in their overall framework. Whereas there is something deeply illiberal about the absolutes and certitudes of the so-called liberals. If one were not open-minded enough to explore, examine alternative viewpoints, accept the cognitive limitations of humans in general and be humble about them, how can one even claim to be liberal? That is disappointing, troubling and unfathomable. Anyway, the book is recommended reading for all those who admit to their own follies and to their limitations in understanding the world around them and are prepared to and intellectually open enough to want to improve upon it.

This book uses the latest scientific research in psychology to explain how we formulate our moral code and values. As a result of our evolutionary compulsions the human brain acts first, based on intuition, and thinks later. Fortunately we do reassess our views, but sadly not often or early enough. Then too we fall into behavioural traps and the 'rational' mind, instead of guiding our actions before the event usually tries to justify our actions post hoc, in a manner similar to a politician who can rarely admit that they are wrong. At a time when political an religious views are so entrenched this book is essential reading for those interested in a more objective view and for those interested in helping change their views and those of others so that the divide may be bridged.

A great read on how masses are driven by religion and politics. How it all started with morales for common good and how it still impacts the society today. How educated and uneducated people have the same drive underlying their argument and thinking. Its a great read to under human/social psychology and behavior.

The book gives an insight into the political spectrum of left, right and religious notions.

An important book in the process of understanding the past, the current, and the future of human moral perceptions and divisions we created. Yes, I'm a big fan of Natual Selection and Darwinism things (no, nothing connected with my beliefs, it just bores me), yet, the author has well sewed it all into place invoking a good understanding to the reader and by producing a great piece of literature to the field.

Gives good insight into human mind and thinking process