Take A Book, Leave a Book, Thoughts & Reviews

Blind Spot: Hidden Biases of Good People (Brief Book Review) 📖

I volunteered to read this book for work, to better myself and to learn more about biases and how humans think (often erroneously) and why. I found the book very illuminating and a helpful tool to become more aware of my thoughts and mindbugs–a term used frequently in the book. There are also several IATs (Implicit Association Tests) you can take in the book, or online.

I included a presentation from one of the authors and researchers below (Dr. Mahzarin Banaji; the other is Dr. Anthony (Tony) Greenwald.) Stick it out until the end; she ends on a hopeful note. And there’s some witty humor throughout.

Do not become rootbound in your life; do not conform to one pot and cease growing. This is a very sad waste of human potential and a paved road for bigotry. Those with power (of whatever kinds and varieties) use this to control people and persuade through manipulation. It’s a tale as old as time. And I am heartily weary of it, in my country and worldwide.

Dr. Banaji’s work will help break your pot and put you into a slightly bigger one where you can continue to learn and grow. This is my continued life goal, and has been. Like the researcher says at the end, there is great hope to change our biases, to truly allow people to flourish and live freely.

Take care and happy writing. ✏️

*If you do take the online test (s), please DO NOT share your results below. These are for your own use and should be taken in context of the book and larger body of research. I will be monitoring comments closely as well.


Ponderings

Baby Showers: An INTJ Female Writer’s Perspective

I hate baby showers. More specifically, I detest being around large groups of women. They smack their lips, gossip, compliment each other on their blouses, their charm bracelets and delicately ask about family affairs while devouring every dripping detail. Surgery stories are swapped, pill brands and doctor’s advice exchanged and everyone secretly ranks themselves against each other.  The news gathered up is stored away in their overstuffed purses giving them neck aches and back problems, stalwart, steadfast symbols of their socioeconomic status and success. In the car, they ask their sisters and nieces what they thought of the awful food, the cute decorations and just what the hostess was thinking. I do not exaggerate. Women are subtly, and artfully, vicious. Cue harpies, banshees and the like.

Parties are grand acts and I am the jester, acting the innocent fool and observing it all quietly, hitting up the buffet line for thirds. No wonder Jesus made more wine at the wedding. Maybe it helped him get through it, too.

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