Publishers Weekly
10/21/2024
“Competing perceptions of harm” drive much of today’s moral and political furor, according to this intriguing study by UNC-Chapel Hill neuroscience professor Gray (coauthor of The Mind Club). He argues that because humans spent most of history in constant fear of physical danger, the brain evolved a “harm-based” mindset that exercises a wide latitude when it comes to interpreting threats. For example, leftists might see systemic racism or wealth inequality as especially dangerous, while those on the right might feel most threatened by restrictions on firearms and perceived attacks on religious freedoms. According to the author, this means that both sides act in a manner that is self-protective rather than predatory, a notion that underlies his strategies for bridging social divides—for instance, by “learning about experiences of suffering” in a “psychologically safe” environment where people can share emotions without fear of attack. While the author spends more time discussing how humans developed the harm-based mindset than offering advice for overcoming its ill effects, he makes a solid case for rejecting the “easy idea that people who disagree with you are motivated to destroy.” It’s a well-supported study of the neuroscience behind one of today’s most pressing social issues. (Jan.)
From the Publisher
A riveting read on the roots of our bitterest conflicts—and the remedies for them. One of the leading lights in moral psychology overturns widespread assumptions about why we’re divided and reveals how we can come together.”
—Adam Grant, #1 New York Times best-selling author of Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don’t Know
“Moral outrage ruins friendships, families, democracies, and lives. Where does it come from, how much is too much, and what can be done about it? In this deeply and thoughtful and highly readable book, Kurt Gray offers provocative answers to these and other important questions about the endless seething to with Americans are becoming increasingly addicted.”
—Daniel Gilbert, New York Times best-selling author of Stumbling on Happiness
“Powerful insights that will change how you see the world (and hopefully make you a little less angry).”
—Jonah Berger, best-selling author of Contagious: Why Things Catch On
“Broad in scope and deep in insight, Outraged manages the rare feat of leading you to understand both yourself, and those you might be outraged by, better. Eye-opening, humanizing, and ultimately hopeful, Outraged gives you practical tools for living more peacefully in polarized times. Essential reading for anyone who feels outraged, or knows lots of people who do!”
—Nicholas Epley, author of Mindwise: How We Understand What Others Think, Believe, Feel, and Want
“Important, timely and evidence-based, OUTRAGED will give you hope. Gray adeptly explains what drives our outrage over politics and more, and he offers invaluable guidance on how we can better relate to one another and lower the temperature.”
—Katy Milkman, best-selling author of How to Change: The Science of Getting from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be
“A well-supported study of the neuroscience behind one of today’s most pressing social issues.”
—Publishers Weekly
“Outrage has become our culture’s poorly chosen wallpaper: it’s ugly, everywhere, and all we can do is get used to it. In this brilliant book, Kurt Gray challenges us to think differently. A leader in the science of morality, Gray convincingly paints a new picture of outrage, as a response to harm. This new lens can revolutionize our perception of conflict and what we can do about it. Human care has been contorted into anger and even hatred, but by applying more curiosity, we can rediscover common values.”
—Jamil Zaki, author of Hope for Cynics: The Surprising Science of Human Goodness
“We’re living in the age out outrage, but why? Kurt Gray helps us make sense of the rampant moral superiority seen at every turn and gives us hope that there’s a better way forward. I can’t remember the last time I had so many Aha moments reading a book!”
—Scott Barry Kaufman, author of Transcend: The New Science of Self-Actualization
“What an enlightening and enjoyable read! I learned so much from Outraged, especially about how to bridge differences between people with very different identities, ideologies and views about harm. In a diverse democracy, nothing is more important than that.”
—Eboo Patel, author of We Need To Build: Field Notes for Diverse Democracy
“Feeling outraged? Read this book. In this divided world, Outraged offers a much-needed, scientifically-grounded framework that can help defuse moral conflict by making sense of it, and putting us on the pathway we need towards better, more humanizing interactions.”
—Hahrie Han, author of Undivided: The Quest for Racial Solidarity in an American Church
“In this captivating book, social psychologist Kurt Gray draws on new insights from evolutionary biology, taking readers on a fascinating tour of ingenious experiments done by his lab and others that illuminate the factors that foster intense partisan conflicts. More importantly, his research identifies the counterintuitive path to bridging such divides. Outraged is a fascinating—and necessary—book for our troubled times.”
—Richard J. McNally, author of Remembering Trauma
“Outraged reveals a surprising twist: our political clashes aren’t about tearing each other down—they’re about protecting what we care about. Kurt Gray’s research-backed journey shows how understanding this can bridge divides and bring us closer together. Eye-opening and powerful!”
—Modupe Akinola, Barbara and David Zalaznick Professor of Business at Columbia, Host of the TED Business Podcast
“A compelling journey through history, science, and human experience reveals a powerful tool for bridging divides and hope for finding a way forward together.”
—Pearce Godwin, Founder and CEO of the Listen First Project and the #ListenFirst Coalition
“From road rage to political rallies, Outraged explains why we’re all just one disagreement away from blowing a fuse. In this exciting new book from Kurt Gray—one of the world’s leading experts on moral psychology—we see moral conflicts through a totally new lens. This is a must read for anyone trying to make sense of our social and political world.”
—Jay Van Bavel, coauthor of The Power of Us: Harnessing Our Shared Identities to Improve Performance, Increase Cooperation, and Promote Social Harmony
“If you want to know why people are divided over facts, evidence, and politics, Outraged is a must-read—mixing powerful stories with cutting-edge research. In this brilliant new book, Gray explains that our underlying moral worldviews are united by efforts to minimize harm and suffering. Gray masterfully dissects what moral outrage is, where it comes from, and how a better understanding of our own moral compass can help heal societal divides.”
—Sander van der Linden, author of Foolproof: Why Misinformation Infects our Minds and How to Build Immunity
