BOOK OF THE WEEK: "Think Again" by Adam Grant

If we want to to be an effective society, we have to be constantly re-thinking. Re-thinking everything we do. Everything we say and everything we think. We may come to find out that those things we once believed and held on as truths for the longest are no longer valid. 

There was once a belief that the world was flat, but that theory was debunked over time - although if you hang out with Kyrie Irving he may lead you believe differently. Even in recent times, we've seen constant re-thinking that has lead to drastic discoveries. Early during the pandemic it was believed that COVID-19 could be transmitted via surfaces leading many to disinfect their groceries or wait three days before consuming. But over time that has been proven to be untrue. 

Constant re-thinking about how we see things, the world or even people can lead us to success. There's nothing wrong with changing your mind. If there was one thing that the COVID pandemic taught us was ways of re-thinking.

Nearly every business had to change and adapt due to the pandemic. Restaurants were forced to get creative with outdoor dining when restrictions threatened occupancy. With no fans in the stands, the sporting world had to figure out a way increase revenue stream (i.e. cardboard cutouts replacing fans). Education had to pivot into the online virtual world and figure out how to reach the underprivileged. Things were changing and had to be re-evaluated. Doing the things the way they were done before was no longer an option. 

Everything in 2020 was turn on its head. Questions are good and asking why something is being done is perfectly acceptable. Notice how in history class you probably never learned about Emmett Till or June 19th - unless you had a history class with Dr. Upton. When you think back the history books were written by white, anglo saxon men. You would be hard-pressed to find much about black history or women's history and if you did you would be from the white male perspective. We alway believed what we read in the history books to be the truths, but we never really thought if it was correct. Or who was writing that history. Re-thinking is paramount when it comes to looking at our history. 

Now, knowing what you know about re-thinking and the importance of questions, here's a question. If you're a die-hard Red Sox fan, could you root for the Yankees? And vice-versa, could a die-hard Yankee fan, flip and root for the Red Sox? 

Adam Grant comes to find that the two sides are not that far apart. What Red Sox fans dislike about Yankee fans is the same as what Yankee fans dislike about Red Sox fans.  We really do, as Jerry Seinfeld said, cheer for the laundry.