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Beliefism: How to stop hating the people we disagree with
'Brilliant, wise, humane, scientific, and kind. Beliefism is exactly what the doctor ordered - and it could change the world' Cass R. Sunstein, Robert Walmsley University Professor, Harvard University
"Repeated throughout is the fine principle that whatever position you wish to argue on an issue, you must be honest about what bad effects, as well as good, will follow." Steven Poole, The Times
Beliefism (noun): Discrimination against people who disagree with us
Do you avoid people who are strongly against immigration? Or strongly for trans rights? Against abortion? For drug legalisation? We might like to think that we're tolerant, but many of us struggle to engage with people whose opinions differ strongly from our own-even if they might have something useful to contribute to the debate. That means we're falling victim to what behavioural scientist Professor Paul Dolan defines as Beliefism: discrimination against those with different beliefs to us.
Drawing on the evidence from across the social sciences, Dolan shows how easy it is for us to divide ourselves into opposing camps - and how harmful that can be. Using the central metaphor of the duck-rabbit illusion-where the same image can be viewed as one animal or the other-the book shows that looking at an issue from only one perspective can lead to bad decisions and unnecessary conflict. The world would be a better place if there was less beliefism and Dolan shows how more tolerance is only possible "by design". We need to embed less beliefism into our organisations and lives and he provides a checklist called EMBRACE to help us do that.
Combining curiosity, irreverence and warmth, Beliefism is a definitive behavioural science take by a leader in his field. Whether it's among friends, at university or at work, being less beliefist will make you a better partner or parent, and a more effective buddy or boss.
"Repeated throughout is the fine principle that whatever position you wish to argue on an issue, you must be honest about what bad effects, as well as good, will follow." Steven Poole, The Times
Beliefism (noun): Discrimination against people who disagree with us
Do you avoid people who are strongly against immigration? Or strongly for trans rights? Against abortion? For drug legalisation? We might like to think that we're tolerant, but many of us struggle to engage with people whose opinions differ strongly from our own-even if they might have something useful to contribute to the debate. That means we're falling victim to what behavioural scientist Professor Paul Dolan defines as Beliefism: discrimination against those with different beliefs to us.
Drawing on the evidence from across the social sciences, Dolan shows how easy it is for us to divide ourselves into opposing camps - and how harmful that can be. Using the central metaphor of the duck-rabbit illusion-where the same image can be viewed as one animal or the other-the book shows that looking at an issue from only one perspective can lead to bad decisions and unnecessary conflict. The world would be a better place if there was less beliefism and Dolan shows how more tolerance is only possible "by design". We need to embed less beliefism into our organisations and lives and he provides a checklist called EMBRACE to help us do that.
Combining curiosity, irreverence and warmth, Beliefism is a definitive behavioural science take by a leader in his field. Whether it's among friends, at university or at work, being less beliefist will make you a better partner or parent, and a more effective buddy or boss.
240 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 8, 2025
6 people are currently reading
117 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
March 9, 2026
This is a book that encourages readers to reflect on just how “beliefist” they are regarding topics like abortion, religion, environmental issues, and more. Dolan dives into various perspectives on these issues, often taking positions quite different from my own. While I didn’t agree with him on everything—especially since he is openly critical of religious people—it was still valuable to see the thought processes behind other viewpoints. For example, his takes on abortion and drug use offered me insight into alternative ways of thinking, even if I ultimately stuck to my own opinions.
One downside for me was the frequent swearing throughout the book. Dolan warns readers about it upfront, but it still felt distracting and at times uncomfortable. Additionally, the style of the book is more teaching-oriented than engaging storytelling. If you’re looking for a narrative-driven non-fiction, this might feel dry; but if you enjoy thought-provoking, reflective reads, it can be worthwhile.
On the positive side, the book is short and easy to get through, whether reading or listening. It succeeds in its goal of challenging your assumptions and making you more aware of your own biases, even if it doesn’t convince you to change your beliefs entirely.
Overall, Beliefism is a quick, reflective read that will push you to examine your assumptions, but its blunt tone and teaching style may not be for everyone.
One downside for me was the frequent swearing throughout the book. Dolan warns readers about it upfront, but it still felt distracting and at times uncomfortable. Additionally, the style of the book is more teaching-oriented than engaging storytelling. If you’re looking for a narrative-driven non-fiction, this might feel dry; but if you enjoy thought-provoking, reflective reads, it can be worthwhile.
On the positive side, the book is short and easy to get through, whether reading or listening. It succeeds in its goal of challenging your assumptions and making you more aware of your own biases, even if it doesn’t convince you to change your beliefs entirely.
Overall, Beliefism is a quick, reflective read that will push you to examine your assumptions, but its blunt tone and teaching style may not be for everyone.
November 18, 2025
I believe in the message of the book, but it was an undeniably flat read. It read more like a University dissertation than an engaging non-fiction book. This may have been intentional, and I am sure it was to some extent, but the dryness of the book hindered it in some ways. I think a more astute narrative voice could have given the ramifications of beliefism some real-world gravitas.
Paul mentions early on in the book that he flat-out does not read fiction, and I think this distinction shows. Paul seems to be a very rational and logical man - good qualities in a project manager or administrator, which he does stress. But he doesn't have the best knack for storytelling or creating a vibrant world where the effects of beliefism are running rampant. In essence, this meant that I could not fully appreciate how big a problem beliefism is, even though I know logically that it is one. Paul references Daniel Kahneman a lot, who sells a lot of his ideas around behavioural economics and psychology by humanising abstract concepts and presenting tantalising fallacies. Not every Psychology book can be as good as 'Thinking Fast and Slow', but as he is a repeatedly named influence, I think the comparison is fair - Paul could level up his writing through an exploration of the individual human and social consequences of the topics he discusses.
Paul mentions early on in the book that he flat-out does not read fiction, and I think this distinction shows. Paul seems to be a very rational and logical man - good qualities in a project manager or administrator, which he does stress. But he doesn't have the best knack for storytelling or creating a vibrant world where the effects of beliefism are running rampant. In essence, this meant that I could not fully appreciate how big a problem beliefism is, even though I know logically that it is one. Paul references Daniel Kahneman a lot, who sells a lot of his ideas around behavioural economics and psychology by humanising abstract concepts and presenting tantalising fallacies. Not every Psychology book can be as good as 'Thinking Fast and Slow', but as he is a repeatedly named influence, I think the comparison is fair - Paul could level up his writing through an exploration of the individual human and social consequences of the topics he discusses.
March 16, 2026
I did not agree with all of Paul Dolan’s conclusions, and his outlook is more liberal than mine in several places, but the book still makes an important and timely contribution. Drawing on behavioural science, Dolan argues that many of us too quickly dismiss or dislike people who hold different beliefs, and that this deepens the polarisation already shaping public life.
What I appreciated most was his central point: if we want less hostility and less division, we need more real contact with people who think differently from us, not less. That does not mean agreeing with everything, but it does mean listening better and resisting the temptation to turn every disagreement into contempt. Even where I thought the book leaned too much in one ideological direction, it still challenged me in a good way. It is thoughtful, relevant, and worth reading for anyone concerned about the state of public debate today.
What I appreciated most was his central point: if we want less hostility and less division, we need more real contact with people who think differently from us, not less. That does not mean agreeing with everything, but it does mean listening better and resisting the temptation to turn every disagreement into contempt. Even where I thought the book leaned too much in one ideological direction, it still challenged me in a good way. It is thoughtful, relevant, and worth reading for anyone concerned about the state of public debate today.
August 2, 2025
The world would be a better place if there was less beliefism and more tolerance of different perspectives and the people that hold them. There would be less conflict and more economic and social progress.
August 14, 2025
Interesting and amusing, well worth reading or buying the audiobook read by the author. I would also recommend listening to the duck rabbit podcast and am looking forward to reading other books by Paul Dolan. Also I am guilty of liking some Coldplay songs in my youth…
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews