MACo’s “good government” Book Club will renew in August – with a provocative book called Think Again. Join us for the conference and this discussion, with a free advance copy of the book.

At the MACo Summer Conference, county officials and other guests can join a discussion on a book affecting public service and best practices as officials, employees, and colleagues. The selection for August is Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don’t Know by Adam M. Grant.

From the synopsis on the reader-driven website Good Reads:

Think Again is a book about the benefit of doubt, and about how we can get better at embracing the unknown and the joy of being wrong. Evidence has shown that creative geniuses are not attached to one identity, but constantly willing to rethink their stances and that leaders who admit they don’t know something and seek critical feedback lead more productive and innovative teams.

New evidence shows us that as a mindset and a skilllset, rethinking can be taught and Grant explains how to develop the necessary qualities to do it. Section 1 explores why we struggle to think again and how we can learn to do it as individuals, arguing that ‘grit’ alone can actually be counterproductive. Section 2 discusses how we can help others think again through learning about ‘argument literacy’. And the final section 3 looks at how schools, businesses and governments fall short in building cultures that encourage rethinking.

In the end, learning to rethink may be the secret skill to give you the edge in a world changing faster than ever.

Read more on Goodreads.

Best of all, if you are coming to the Summer Conference and would like to take part in this discussion – your copy of the book is free, if you are among the first 25 to respond!

MACo is grateful for the ongoing support and sponsorship from JP Morgan, which has made possible the delivery of free advance copies. Their support for, and contributions to, each renewal of the Book Club has greatly advanced this multi-year conference offering.

Not registered yet for the conference? Register now, and make your hotel plans soon!