Being Wrong

Adventures in the Margin of Error

By: Kathryn Schulz

Narrated by: Mia Barron

Length: 14 hrs and 17 mins

Publisher's summary

To err is human. Yet most of us go through life assuming (and sometimes insisting) that we are right about nearly everything, from the origins of the universe to how to load the dishwasher. If being wrong is so natural, why are we all so bad at imagining that our beliefs could be mistaken, and why do we react to our errors with surprise, denial, defensiveness, and shame?

In Being Wrong, journalist Kathryn Schulz explores why we find it so gratifying to be right and so maddening to be mistaken, and how this attitude toward error corrodes relationships—whether between family members, colleagues, neighbors, or nations. Along the way, she takes us on a fascinating tour of human fallibility, from wrongful convictions to no-fault divorce; medical mistakes to misadventures at sea; failed prophecies to false memories; "I told you so!" to "Mistakes were made."

Drawing on thinkers as varied as Augustine, Darwin, Freud, Gertrude Stein, Alan Greenspan, and Groucho Marx, she proposes a new way of looking at wrongness. In this view, error is both a given and a gift—one that can transform our worldviews, our relationships, and, most profoundly, ourselves.

In the end, Being Wrong is not just an account of human error but a tribute to human creativity—the way we generate and revise our beliefs about ourselves and the world. At a moment when economic, political, and religious dogmatism increasingly divide us, Schulz explores with uncommon humor and eloquence the seduction of certainty and the crises occasioned by error. A brilliant debut from a new voice in nonfiction, this book calls on us to ask one of life's most challenging questions: what if I'm wrong?

Download the accompanying reference guide.

©2010 Kathryn Schulz (P)2010 HarperCollins Publishers

Critic reviews

“Engrossing.... In the spirit of Blink and Predictably Irrational (but with a large helping of erudition)... Schulz writes with such lucidity and wit that her philosophical enquiry becomes a page-turner.” ( Publishers Weekly)

Fun, Thorough, Insightful, Great Narration

What an incredible combination of content and narration! As a psychologist who is heavily involved in this subject I never found the author diluting the material or 'talking down' to the reader. Even though she is a non-scientist, Ms. Schulz knows her stuff as well or better than any 'expert' I have read or listened to. I love the humor integrated with the depth of this book. The narration was a pleasure to listen to. This is a book for anyone, lay person or professional who would like to spend a number of hours being entertained, challenged and enlightened about a crucial subject that impacts us on both personal and societal levels.

A Book Everyone Should Read

Especially today, when there is so much vitriol and ridicule for not only being wrong , but simply for having a different opinion.

An elegant and interesting read!

I love being wrong.

What made the experience of listening to Being Wrong the most enjoyable?

I've wanted to read this book for a couple years...ever since I saw Kathryn Schulz TED talk on the same subject. The book did not disappoint. It's a book I feel like everyone would be better off for reading. She combines research with anecdotes and personal stories to explain how valuable being wrong really is.

Did the narration match the pace of the story?

Yes. I wasn't fond of the delivery. I thought the narrator was a bit 'wooden'. But the content more than makes up for it.

Amazing.

Just amazing. Read it. Give it to others to read. Ponder it. Talk about it. Amazing.

Anyone who doesn't like this book is, well...wrong

I'd argue that people who downgrade this book just don't really want or need to know that much about the subject. I usually do fiction because I usually find this kind of thing boring but I had just told someone about Moonwalking with Einstein and he said I'd like this. He was right. It is thorough and well read and is very good at being what it is. I only do 5 stars for books I want to hear again right away.

Excellent read

Should be mandatory reading in all college programs. Covers many angles of being wrong and our handling of it -- very useful in the road to self knowledge

A timely read during a time of turbulence

very much enjoyed this book and I have otdered the hard copy so I can reread it again.

One of the most meaningful books I’ve ever “read”

Such a brilliant book. Full of complex principles and ideas explained in an engaging and easy to understand way. A must listen!

And the narrator is brilliant!

Required reading for the human race

One of the greatest books I have ever read. If everyone read this book and learned a thing or two about themselves the world would be a far better place.

Interesting but too long and too abstract

The book is an interesting treatment of a subject that doesn't get enough attention. Schulz's research skills and erudition are formidable -- a quotable nugget can be found on almost every page. But the book drags in places, and the last couple of chapters were tough going. Schulz is best when she's telling stories, such as the incredible tale of the Millerite doomsday cult in 19th century America.

Another problem with the book is that it's too abstract and philosophical to be of much practical use. (To be fair, Schulz admits up front that she did not set out to write a self-help book on how to avoid error). Overall, I would recommend two other books over "Being Wrong". Check out, "Wrong: Why Experts Keep Failing Us--and How to Know When not to Trust Them", by David Friedman; and "Mistakes Were Made (But Not by Me): Why We Justify Foolish Beliefs, Bad Decisions, and Hurtful Acts" by Carol Tavris and Elliot Aronson. Either of these (or both!) would be a better choice over Schulz's book.