Better By Mistake, Alina Tugend
Better By Mistake, Alina Tugend
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Better By Mistake
The Unexpected Benefits of Being Wrong

Author: Alina Tugend

Narrator: Elizabeth London

Unabridged: 6 hr 59 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Gildan Audio

Published: 03/16/2011


Synopsis

A New York Times columnist delivers an eye-opening big idea: Embracing mistakes can make us smarter, healthier, and happier in every facet of our lives. In this persuasive audio 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 making mistakes, and therefore try to avoid them or cover them up. In Better by Mistake, Tugend shows that mistakes are everywhere, and suggests that when we acknowledge and identify them correctly, we can improve not only ourselves, but our families, our work, and the world around us. Through fascinating research, Tugend reveals how trying to avoid mistakes can affect us from the earliest stages in our lives and shape us into adults who steer clear of risks and challenges. She takes us behind the scenes into cutting-edge behavioral studies; invites us into the high-stakes world of health care and aviation, where mistakes can cost lives, and delves into the art and science behind learning how to craft a sincere apology and accepting responsibility for mistakes. 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 mistakes and embracing the imperfection in all of us.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Stewart on December 08, 2012

After enjoying the 2010 book "Being Wrong" by Kathryn Schulz this spring, I have subsequently read two other books on mistakes and error, "Why We Make Mistakes" (2009) by Joseph T. Hallinan and Alina Tugend's "Better By Mistake: The Unexpected Benefits of Being Wrong," published in 2011. Schulz's b......more

Goodreads review by Kater on September 15, 2011

Is it a good sign or a bad sign when the author references mostly books that I've already read? On one hand, it's bad because it indicates that maybe this sub-genre (popular science) is panned out for me. On the other hand, the fact that it still managed to get me to read to the end is a testament t......more

Goodreads review by John on September 19, 2013

So glad I found this book, as much of it addresses why we'd rather appear as though we make no mistakes, than as someone who learns from them. Aggregate research journalist, Alina Tugend's laid back, conversational approach to explaining studies, experiments, and academia, is friendly. Frankly, refe......more

Goodreads review by Amy on March 25, 2011

This book looked intriguing. I even sampled the first chapter on my kindle and was still interested. However, as the book progressed, it became pretty ho-hum. I had hoped for more.......more

Goodreads review by Denise on May 05, 2025

Better by Mistake is an interesting book about learning from our mistakes that consists of eight chapters. I learned from them all, but I enjoyed some more than others. Alina Tugend has published in the New York Times and this book tended to follow the style of a journalist with ample examples to su......more