On Thinking for Yourself: Instinct, Education, Dissension

by Caitlin Flanagan

Seven essays that make the compelling case for coming to your own informed conclusions in an age of extremes. An Atlantic Edition, featuring long-form journalism by Atlantic writers, drawn from contemporary articles or classic storytelling from the magazine’s 165-year archive.

Caitlin Flanagan’s two decades of celebrated reporting and commentary at The Atlantic span an array of subjects―from cancer to fraternities, abortion to scammers―but always return to one central What happens when we suppress our critical instincts and shut our ears to opposing opinions and competing facts? With poise, humor, and an analytical acumen unlike any other working journalist, this collection of deep reporting and cultural commentary encourages readers to dismantle their echo chambers―whether they be social media feeds or lecture halls―and embrace disagreement.

Genres: Nonfiction, Essays

160 pages, Paperback

Published October 10, 2023

About the author

Caitlin Flanagan is a four-time finalist for the National Magazine Award. Her essays have appeared in Best American Essays 2003, and Best American Magazine Writing 2002, 2003, and 2004. She has made numerous national media appearances. She has been the subject of profiles and critiques in the New York Observer, Ms., The New Republic and various other publications. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and children.

Reviews

[Laney · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5*

Somehow, incredibly interesting and woefully disappointing at the same time. There’s the beginning of some thing, incredibly powerful in here, but not the ending of it.

I grew up in an environment that was very adamant about controlling the way that I think, and it has taken me many years of deconstruction and questioning and doubt and reflection to reach what I feel is a good place of independent thought. So, naturally, when I saw the title of this collection of essays, it appealed to me greatly.

It was a bonus that the first essay was on Caroline Calloway as I have a background in social media and I discussed her in an academic paper I wrote last year. And yet I think that was also this books downfall because the flaws in the first essay which were glaringly obvious to me really made it impossible for me to buy into later essays.

I was expecting essays on thinking for yourself, shucking off the yoke predetermination, overcoming some pressure to conform, a psychological reflection on a phenomenon. Not what the author meant. Clearly the author put together a collection of essays which she believes to be EXAMPLES of her thinking for herself. Which is totally fine if one actually follows through and relates those examples back to the premise, but this author doesn’t.

None of these essays were written with the idea of independent thought in mind. Most of them are face-value commentary on pop culture moments happening at the time the essay was written (between 2014-2022, making the essays varying degrees of dated and out of touch), and yet if the author had gone the extra step of providing context on her thought process, writing addendums to the work reflecting on how perception of each event has changed with new information, updating or lengthening the essays themselves to make them more cohesive with her theme and to generally flesh out broader points that were largely left unexplored... This could’ve been great and powerful and meaningful. And instead it was just moderately entertaining and fun.

[Gijs Limonard · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was hoping for a theoretical treatise on the process of critical thinking but found a collection of essays on contemporary issues; not bad, but not as advertised.

[Jacob Lafarga · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and The Atlantic for the advanced copy. A great collection of essays by one of the Atlantic’s frequent cover story writers. I’m not so sure each essay fits with the titular theme of thinking for yourself, but they are nonetheless among the best and often funniest pieces of nonfiction prose I have read. Two standouts are Flanagan’s investigative piece on fraternities and the Meghan Markle essay. I do wish this collection included her expose on private schools. I recommend to anyone who is a fan of nonfiction that lets the writer’s personality shine through.

[Iz · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5- I liked the article about cancer and the one about the covington boys. The frat house and abortion ones didn’t seem to tie in with the theme of thinking for yourself. They were more of realities I already knew about and didn’t need a recap of. I also don’t care for pop culture.

[Steven Leonard · Rating 3 out of 5]

A generally good book that started strong and finished slow. The first couple of essays in this book are terrific and deliver as promised. From there, the book loses steam and kind of limps over the finish line.

[Colin Barber · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hell yeah, now I can think for myself. Thanks Caitlin!

[Matthew · Rating 2 out of 5]

The title of the book is misleading, as it suggests a focus on independent thought, which the content does not deliver. Instead, it features a variety of pop culture stories. A significant chapter addresses the issue of fraternity violence and the lack of support for victims. Other stories include a piece on a social media influencer and an article about Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.

[Addie · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I picked up this book I stupidly thought it was written by Rebecca Solnit, so I was buckling up for modern philosophy and then was jarred awake by it instead being a collection of reprinted essays from The Atlantic written by one of America's foremost reporters, Caitlin Flanagan. A different experience, especially since I'd read most of the essays already, but still a good one. Flanagan's longform reporting somehow makes the most complex of issues understandable and framed within a large sociopolitical and human context without diminishing any of the complexity, which is a feat of writing that continues to impress me. Her lengthy article on the legalities of the fraternity system in America was a particular stand out, maybe because it was old enough that I hadn't yet read it.

Notable for me was the final essay regarding her shocking cancer diagnosis (spoiler...it was nearly 15 years ago, and she's still alive, so we know how this ends). This article was originally published in August 2021, where I read it mere days before I had my own cancer experience...Flanagan notes a particular moment during her routine and thoughtless mammogram as the last moment she was consciously the person she was BEFORE she became a sick person. This language resonated with me and was at the forefront of my mind a few days later when my sister popped up on Caller ID on my phone, late on a weeknight, after 11 PM in her time zone, and I knew instantaneously before I answered the phone that this was my last conscious moment before my sister conveyed whatever information she was going to convey to me that was going to alter my existence forever. Because there was only one reason my sister would be calling me that late on a school night: someone we loved was dead or would be soon.

It was painful to reread this essay three years later, and I skipped ahead to read it rather than have it be the last essay I read so that it wouldn't stick with me, but I was reminded immediately of the resonance in her personal experience, the universality of the cancer experience, and was reminded again of what I got from it the first time -- every well day is a miracle not to be missed.

[CB_Read · Rating 3 out of 5]

Flanagan is an excellent writer with a real command of language. Her ability to gracefully present opposing sides of complicated issues is something to savor, maybe even envy.

But I was disappointed in these essays. Were they lifted straight out of the Atlantic's backlog? If so, they feel unrevised and incomplete. I'm certain that it's difficult for a writer to dust off old material and expand on research they've already conducted years earlier just to contextualize and modernize it. But the thing is, I've seen writers successfully expand on previously-published material and make a 250+ page book from it. It could be this is just a quirk of the Atlantic Editions series, but I felt that this collection, brief as it is, was a letdown. It made me want more in a way that was not satisfying.

Also, the subtitle has nothing to do with the essays of the collection, except in the brief introductory pages outlining what's to come. Felt baited by the strong title--reminded me of John Dewey's work--but confused as to why the essays included in the collection belonged under this title.

[Megan]

Flanagan is an excellent writer: delivering sharp insight and humour in prose so fluid yet full of character. Quality varied by essays and my interest did wane by the end. The Dishonesty of the Abortion Debate, however, is one of the most concise, nuanced, touching essays I have read in recent memory. It’s one of the most masterful uses of anecdotal hook and link-back in the conclusion, and left me in tears by the end. Phrases like “the Weimar Republic of college pricing” had me stop, think, then burst out laughing. I aspire to be half the writer she is.

[Elie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Awesome book from an even more awesome writer.
One question that often left her stumped was when she would present an argument about any given topic to her father, he would ask her, "now what would the other side say?" This was one way she learned to think, and as she went on through life as a writer, commentator, and journalist, she learned not only how to think for herself, but the immense values in doing so.

[John Crippen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book's seven articles reprinted from The Atlantic are not about thinking for yourself. But they are fascinating and, in some cases, disturbing. Flanagan's intro to the articles explains why thinking for yourself is important to her. Foreign Service Officers might enjoy a passing comment in "Meghan Markle Didn't Do the Work" and parents of children attending colleges with social fraternities should buckle up before reading "The Dark Power of Fraternities."

[Miriam T · Rating 2 out of 5]

Has high hopes for this little essay collection bc “thinking for yourself” is such a good, important topic but the essays were truly so random (including a highkey potentially anti-abortion one that felt slightly dangerous?? Even tho I presume it was included to show the gray area but still…) the essays on Greek Frats was by far the most interesting essay in the book to me but still think they were loosey goosey with connecting all of these essays together

[eris · Rating 3 out of 5]

a decently intriguing collection of essays, most of which i wish would have been expanded into longer works, or at least accompanied by notes divulging some form of context they were published in. the essay on fraternities was by far my favorite, mostly because it felt finished and well-researched (and I actually discovered something new).

[Courtney Sark · Rating 2 out of 5]

As others have stated, very misleading title.

I just didn’t vibe with the authors writing at all, and was extremely bored. Was also not a fan of the use of “fancy words” throughout. Like if I have a masters degree and have to google a word, why is this in an essay. I’m probably being dramatic bc I just didn’t enjoy this at all lol

[Stephanie Shin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great collection of essays, all that I found really interesting and easy to digest. My standouts were “Caroline Calloway Isn’t a Scammer”, “Meghan Markel Didn’t Do the Work”, and “The Dark Power of Fraternities”.

[Liz Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Flanagan is my queen! She ate this up. Ordering her other books rn. Also I love the Atlantic and will now be ordering their other collections of essays. Read this if you want a clean take on a range of topics!

[Monica Monica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Engaging read

[Greta Schacht · Rating 3 out of 5]

Engaging and interesting series of essays but … misleading title

[AJ · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just a compilation of her articles for The Atlantic. Most were okay but the one on lawsuits against fraternity houses bored me to tears.

[Katie McClellan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Flanagan basically says hey you don’t know the real story let me tell you and it’s great. Frat chapter was a little long, but confirmed my aversion lol.

[Emily · Rating 2 out of 5]

This collection of essays was fine but not thematically accurate to the promised title.

[Chaim Potok · Rating 4 out of 5]

Awesome book from an even more awesome writer.

One question that often left her stumped was when she would present an argument about any given topic to her father, he would ask her, “now what would the other side say?” This was one way she learned to think, and as she went on through life as a writer, commentator, and journalist, she learned not only how to think for herself, but the immense values in doing so.

[Patty H · Rating 5 out of 5]

Caitlin Flanagan reminds me of my Irish aunts in her sensibilities. She's smart, funny, and at her best when she's pointing out what we all think but don't say. Her point of view is always present in her writing - love it or hate it, you can't miss it.

The Meghan/Harry piece is wickedly funny. On Harry: "Once, he led men into battle, as his forebears had done for generations. Now he is a Californian with a Spotify deal, charged with thinking up some podcasts, which could be a heavy lift. For Harry, the situation is evolving."

In her essay about the boy accused of making fun of a Native American on the National Mall, Flanagan examines the story from every angle, eventually unpacking the complicated truth. No one is evil in this story. But no one is innocent either.