The Scout Mindset

A better way to combat knee-jerk biases and make smarter decisions—from acclaimed rationalist and host of the Rationally Speaking podcast, Julia Galef.

Why do we cling to our beliefs in the face of contradictory evidence? In this groundbreaking book, Galef argues that we are all prone to a natural “soldier” mindset—driven to defend our ideas like a soldier defending a fort. But to see the world more clearly and get things right more often, we need to adopt a “scout” mindset: the motivation to see things as they are, not as you wish they were.

The Scout Mindset is a practical guide to developing this powerful way of thinking. Galef reveals that great decision-makers aren’t necessarily smarter or more knowledgeable than the rest of us. Instead, they rely on a handful of learnable emotional skills and mental habits. She teaches you how to notice your own rationalizations, separate your identity from your beliefs, change your mind gracefully, and make more accurate predictions about the future.

With fascinating stories and clear takeaways, this book will show you how to survive being stranded at sea, how top CEOs avoid overconfidence, and how you can learn to escape your own echo chamber.

If you want to stop fooling yourself and start seeing reality—this is your guide.

“With insights that are both sharp and actionable, The Scout Mindset picks up where Predictably Irrational left off.” — Adam Grant