Better By Mistake: The Unexpected Benefits of Being Wrong

Written by Alina Tugend

Narrated by Elizabeth London

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.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ascent Audio
• Release date: Mar 16, 2011
• ISBN: 9781596597808

Alina Tugend

Alina Tugend writes the the award-winning biweekly column “ShortCuts” for the New York Times, and a parenting column for Worth magazine. She was born and raised in Southern California and spent seven years in London before moving to Larchmont, New York, with her husband and two sons.

Reviews for Better By Mistake

[jen6e6moore · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Perfectly acceptable popular psychology - a little fluffy, with some useful advice and no really glaringly obvious falsehoods or misinterpretations.

[martinbodek · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Very light, but very educational and interesting, reading. Of particular fascination were the medicine and airline chapters, both concepts which I've read full books about. Very nice research was done, and loose ends tied up. Quite a solid book.

[skybalon · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

A well written book that suffers from the relatively common "too many chapters" syndrome. Her point is valid and important, mistakes are valuable potential learning experiences, and if we get into mistake denial mode we have lost that potential experience.

The author writes a great narrative that sometimes feels more like an autobiography than a study of mistakes. While it is valuable to know that someone profited from her research, it felt like it weakened the narrative overall.

Recommended but there may be better resources out there. (The other books referenced by the author for example.)

[George Njoroge · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Help make sense of mistakes and how we can use them to become better.