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The Certainty Trap: Why We Need to Question Ourselves More―and How We Can Judge Others Less
When we’re in the Certainty Trap, we tend to view people who disagree with us as hateful, ignorant, or just plain stupid. When it comes to heated social and political issues in particular, many of us know this feeling well—a consuming state of righteous indignation and moral outrage. And this response makes sense because our very certainty tells us that there are simple and obvious causes and solutions to the hot-button issues we care about most.
But the things we care about the most are—far more often than not—morally and ethically complex. If the problems that divide us are inherently complicated, then a sense that the answers are obvious—and that anyone who disagrees must be deficient in some way—is misplaced. It's an oversimplification that both leads to and reflects faulty thinking. When we’re certain, we not only fail to recognize the possibility that we’re wrong but also fail to be clear about the principles and values that drive our disagreement in the first place.
By committing to challenging and clarifying our thinking—by avoiding the trap certainty sets for us—we can increase social trust, reduce political polarization, and better address the world’s pressing challenges.
But the things we care about the most are—far more often than not—morally and ethically complex. If the problems that divide us are inherently complicated, then a sense that the answers are obvious—and that anyone who disagrees must be deficient in some way—is misplaced. It's an oversimplification that both leads to and reflects faulty thinking. When we’re certain, we not only fail to recognize the possibility that we’re wrong but also fail to be clear about the principles and values that drive our disagreement in the first place.
By committing to challenging and clarifying our thinking—by avoiding the trap certainty sets for us—we can increase social trust, reduce political polarization, and better address the world’s pressing challenges.
248 pages, Hardcover
Published September 2, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
December 19, 2024
This book points to the ways that too much certainty in one’s own beliefs can foster polarization—and what readers can do about it.
As a journalist by profession, I loved this book’s central message to think more critically about facts that get taken for granted. The author’s arguments were largely supported by academic research and illustrative examples from the news and her own teaching career. There were moments when this book absolutely shone, like when it pointed to the fact that science is an iterative process and experiments can have design flaws, so “trusting the science” can be more complex than it sounds.
I do feel like this book’s core weakness was that, in the examples the author chose, there seemed to be more of a focus on getting those on the political left to understand those on the right than vice versa. This might be a function of the author teaching on a liberal college campus, but it felt like one side of the political spectrum was being asked to do all the work of understanding and peacemaking. It also felt like there was a weirdly large number of examples of someone doing something racist where readers were asked to think about why that person might not actually be racism.
With that caveat, I recommend this book, but I think it should be read with a slightly critical eye. And since the author advises us to question everything, I think she’d agree with that!
As a journalist by profession, I loved this book’s central message to think more critically about facts that get taken for granted. The author’s arguments were largely supported by academic research and illustrative examples from the news and her own teaching career. There were moments when this book absolutely shone, like when it pointed to the fact that science is an iterative process and experiments can have design flaws, so “trusting the science” can be more complex than it sounds.
I do feel like this book’s core weakness was that, in the examples the author chose, there seemed to be more of a focus on getting those on the political left to understand those on the right than vice versa. This might be a function of the author teaching on a liberal college campus, but it felt like one side of the political spectrum was being asked to do all the work of understanding and peacemaking. It also felt like there was a weirdly large number of examples of someone doing something racist where readers were asked to think about why that person might not actually be racism.
With that caveat, I recommend this book, but I think it should be read with a slightly critical eye. And since the author advises us to question everything, I think she’d agree with that!
October 29, 2024
Read this on recommendation from a friend who knows the author. The friend got a lot of insight from it, but he felt like I might not learn many new lessons. He was right. Most of the deconstruction of certainty and the reinforcement of humility in this book can be cultivated in a high school literature class, which is what happened for me. Even in the middle of rural, conservative Indiana, people really are learning to stop and just consider other folks’ motivations and reevaluating how certainly we can assess the intent of an interlocutor. I have a hard time believing that this book will transform too many people. The people who are open to the idea of climbing out of certainty (while remaining confident) are probably not the ones who need to read this.
Instead, the people who would profit a lot from this book probably wouldn’t take a recommendation to read a book of this one’s nature. Kind of a catch-22. You can tell that’s who Redstone is writing to because one in three pages includes some kind of COA, some defense of an abstraction because there are people who will miss the abstract point and zero in on the irl example.
Instead, the people who would profit a lot from this book probably wouldn’t take a recommendation to read a book of this one’s nature. Kind of a catch-22. You can tell that’s who Redstone is writing to because one in three pages includes some kind of COA, some defense of an abstraction because there are people who will miss the abstract point and zero in on the irl example.
April 28, 2025
Lots of verbiage but basically the key messages are "question your assumptions" and "keep an open mind."
December 9, 2024
I love the idea of this book, although the execution left something to be desired.
Redstone is a sociology professor who has written a book that made me think all the way through, which I am grateful for. I love her encouragement to question my own certainty and opt instead for confidence based on deep questioning.
The book is not terribly long, but even still it gets repetitive as Redstone advises the reader repeatedly to see various hot-button issues as a matter of degree of confidence, with the focus always on asking more questions of both one's own thinking and the thinking of others.
I personally often tend to assume the worst motivations on the part of right-wingers, and I will try much harder not to do that in the future.
My primary criticism of Redstone's argument is that she makes a number of assumptions herself, even though she goes to great lengths to avoid doing so (it seems like every page she tells the reader what he is NOT saying). Redstone includes one curious passage criticizing journalists for failing to meet her standard of "objectivity," for example, without stopping to think whether that standard is even relevant anymore (I believe that fairness has always been the goal of journalists).
Ultimately I am deeply grateful that Redstone published this book when she did, because I appreciate the call for deeper questioning (especially of our own ideas, values, beliefs) as we prepare for another Trump term. I read Redstone as challenging me to approach the MAGA people I know seeking to understand before I reflexively condemn.
The book also really could have used a copy editor. Maybe that's a sign of the times for a small press?
Redstone is a sociology professor who has written a book that made me think all the way through, which I am grateful for. I love her encouragement to question my own certainty and opt instead for confidence based on deep questioning.
The book is not terribly long, but even still it gets repetitive as Redstone advises the reader repeatedly to see various hot-button issues as a matter of degree of confidence, with the focus always on asking more questions of both one's own thinking and the thinking of others.
I personally often tend to assume the worst motivations on the part of right-wingers, and I will try much harder not to do that in the future.
My primary criticism of Redstone's argument is that she makes a number of assumptions herself, even though she goes to great lengths to avoid doing so (it seems like every page she tells the reader what he is NOT saying). Redstone includes one curious passage criticizing journalists for failing to meet her standard of "objectivity," for example, without stopping to think whether that standard is even relevant anymore (I believe that fairness has always been the goal of journalists).
Ultimately I am deeply grateful that Redstone published this book when she did, because I appreciate the call for deeper questioning (especially of our own ideas, values, beliefs) as we prepare for another Trump term. I read Redstone as challenging me to approach the MAGA people I know seeking to understand before I reflexively condemn.
The book also really could have used a copy editor. Maybe that's a sign of the times for a small press?
January 20, 2025
Full review and summary.
The main points of The Certainty Trap are:
1. The Dangers of Certainty: Our need to always be right has divided us, increasing political polarization, distrust, and moral outrage. Redstone argues that blind certainty traps us in narrow thinking and self-righteousness. This mindset divides us and stifles curiosity, making us less open to new ideas.
2. The Power of Intellectual Humility: Redstone encourages us to embrace intellectual humility and recognize that our beliefs could be wrong. He explains that even scientific knowledge isn't absolute; it’s always evolving. By questioning our own certainty, we can build trust, improve our interactions, and gain a deeper understanding of one another.
While these are the book's main ideas, they feel scattered and repetitive. Redstone often revisits similar points across different chapters, making the content feel less focused. Although examples like racism and cultural appropriation are compelling, they lose impact due to the repetition of the same ideas introduced early on.
In today’s society, The Certainty Trap is a valuable read for those concerned about our direction and willing to re-examine their beliefs. Redstone's insights encourage a shift from rigid thinking to a more open-minded approach, which can help us address complex social issues with empathy and curiosity. I'd give it 5 stars if it were more concise and structured.
The main points of The Certainty Trap are:
1. The Dangers of Certainty: Our need to always be right has divided us, increasing political polarization, distrust, and moral outrage. Redstone argues that blind certainty traps us in narrow thinking and self-righteousness. This mindset divides us and stifles curiosity, making us less open to new ideas.
2. The Power of Intellectual Humility: Redstone encourages us to embrace intellectual humility and recognize that our beliefs could be wrong. He explains that even scientific knowledge isn't absolute; it’s always evolving. By questioning our own certainty, we can build trust, improve our interactions, and gain a deeper understanding of one another.
While these are the book's main ideas, they feel scattered and repetitive. Redstone often revisits similar points across different chapters, making the content feel less focused. Although examples like racism and cultural appropriation are compelling, they lose impact due to the repetition of the same ideas introduced early on.
In today’s society, The Certainty Trap is a valuable read for those concerned about our direction and willing to re-examine their beliefs. Redstone's insights encourage a shift from rigid thinking to a more open-minded approach, which can help us address complex social issues with empathy and curiosity. I'd give it 5 stars if it were more concise and structured.
January 7, 2026
A little repetitive, but good points.
February 28, 2025
Redstone makes the case for re-evaluating our positions, in politics, in business and our relationships. Many of our opinions are held without thought or examination, welded to our belief that we are "right". The current polarization of our American political realm is the evidence of the dilemma. Redstone takes us through examples from her college classes.
August 25, 2025
Overall, this is a good book objectively. The author makes some valid points about the dangers of not questioning ourselves more. It is hard to disagree with the core argument, but with that said, the book is overly repetitive with long-winded explanations. The book could easily be half its size without compromising the quality of it's message.
October 15, 2024
The main points of The Certainty Trap are:
1. The Dangers of Certainty: Our need to always be right has divided us, increasing political polarization, distrust, and moral outrage. Redstone argues that blind certainty traps us in narrow thinking and self-righteousness. This mindset divides us and stifles curiosity, making us less open to new ideas.
2. The Power of Intellectual Humility: Redstone encourages us to embrace intellectual humility and recognize that our beliefs could be wrong. He explains that even scientific knowledge isn't absolute; it’s always evolving. By questioning our own certainty, we can build trust, improve our interactions, and gain a deeper understanding of one another.
While these are the book's main ideas, they feel scattered and repetitive. Redstone often revisits similar points across different chapters, making the content feel less focused. Although examples like racism and cultural appropriation are compelling, they lose impact due to the repetition of the same ideas introduced early on.
In today’s society, The Certainty Trap is a valuable read for those concerned about our direction and willing to re-examine their beliefs. Redstone's insights encourage a shift from rigid thinking to a more open-minded approach, which can help us address complex social issues with empathy and curiosity. I'd give it 5 stars if it were more concise and structured.
1. The Dangers of Certainty: Our need to always be right has divided us, increasing political polarization, distrust, and moral outrage. Redstone argues that blind certainty traps us in narrow thinking and self-righteousness. This mindset divides us and stifles curiosity, making us less open to new ideas.
2. The Power of Intellectual Humility: Redstone encourages us to embrace intellectual humility and recognize that our beliefs could be wrong. He explains that even scientific knowledge isn't absolute; it’s always evolving. By questioning our own certainty, we can build trust, improve our interactions, and gain a deeper understanding of one another.
While these are the book's main ideas, they feel scattered and repetitive. Redstone often revisits similar points across different chapters, making the content feel less focused. Although examples like racism and cultural appropriation are compelling, they lose impact due to the repetition of the same ideas introduced early on.
In today’s society, The Certainty Trap is a valuable read for those concerned about our direction and willing to re-examine their beliefs. Redstone's insights encourage a shift from rigid thinking to a more open-minded approach, which can help us address complex social issues with empathy and curiosity. I'd give it 5 stars if it were more concise and structured.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews