Trust Your Mind: Embracing Nuance in a World of Self-Silencing – Escape Toxic Groupthink and Transform Fear into Empathy

by Jenara Nerenberg

An urgent examination of self-silencing culture and the toxic impact of groupthink, by the author of Divergent Mind and founder of The Neurodiversity Project. Nerenberg empowers readers with tools to understand the mind and navigate an increasingly polarized world, from campuses and workplaces, to the media and beyond.

Connected across geography and culture via the internet, the world is both a vast, limitless landscape and an ever-shrinking echo chamber. Communication, especially discourse over free speech, is becoming increasingly divisive; one person’s right to speak comes into conflict with another seeking to prevent harm. Our tolerance for differing opinions is also narrowing. A “wrong” remark or comment, no matter how seemingly innocent, can result in banishment, and contradictory ideas spark hysteria and backlash—what is referred to as “cancel culture.” This polarization affects everyone of us—among friends and families, workplaces and communities—and threatens the fabric of society.

In this timely book, Jenara Nerenberg analyzes this phenomenon of “self-silencing,” asking potent questions about how harmful groupthink has become accepted. Applying her expertise in journalism, psychology, and public health, she digs deep into urgent problems that are worsening under a culture of self-censorship, including loneliness, isolation, and polarization.

But there is hope. Nerenberg offers insights for how to identify and escape groupthink and transform fear into empathy, allowing space for authentic communication that reduces—rather than causes—harm to others.

Genres: Nonfiction, Psychology, Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Self Help, Ebooks

272 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2025

About the author

Jenara is a journalist, producer, speaker, and founder of The Neurodiversity Project, hosting bestselling authors in the arts and sciences who push for innovation in research and media. Based in San Francisco, Jenara is a SF native who returned to the area after 6 years of international reporting from Asia and interdisciplinary graduate training from the Harvard School of Public Health, Harvard Kennedy School of Government, MIT Sloan School of Management, and Harvard Business School. Her recent events include sold-out evenings with Gabor Mate, Pico Iyer, Dr. Joel Salinas of Harvard Neurology, author Maya Dusenbery, Angel Kyodo Williams, Lissa Rankin, NYTimes bestselling author Bill Hayes, designer Scott Belsky of 99U and numerous others. Jenara continues to write and curate author initiatives for the UC Berkeley Greater Good Science Center, Susan Cain's Quiet Revolution, Garrison Institute in NY, Elaine Aron's HSP site, and elsewhere. Jenara is known for her warm and personal style, not shying away from delivering fierce and vulnerable insights from not only scientific research but also lived experience. Her clients and previous speaking engagements include the Stanford Graduate School of Business, Tahirih Justice Center, Park Day School, OZY Media, the Aspen Ideas Festival, and others. She can be booked at the button below or reached directly at community@divergentlit.com.

Reviews

[Andrea Marquez · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is timely. Self-silencing culture is real and this book takes you through what it is, why it is, and what to do about it. Though this all truly only works if we work on it collectively. Sometimes I feel like the easiest way to be is away from social media because of how difficult it is to get to a fact. And critical thinking has become a lost art. This also reminds me of the book Think Again that argues that smarter people have more malleable opinions when presented with different points of view. But social media has made us too afraid to do that. I can’t say I haven’t fallen into that too. So at least for me this book has inspired me to do better and stop and think. Look through the nuance. Do the work. Know that you are allowed to change your mind.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an important but not an easy read. If the author or editor had made this more accessible...it's written at an advanced reading level...it would have a higher rating. And the word "nuance" is waaay overused in the book, requiring interpretation. The author explaining more directly her intended meaning would help her message. 4 stars for topic. 3 for communicating the message.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

This should be required reading for everyone online and in America. I’m more than a little proud to say a lot of it was confirmation of things I talk about on my channel: the importance of diversity, the courage to dissent and be authentic, and the necessity of maintaining the perspective that we are all just friggin humans, man.

And lightheartedness. This is how we do it.

[Candy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wake-up call to everyone obsessed with social media...

[Kseniya Kosmina · Rating 2 out of 5]

this wasn't my cup of tea, but there were some valuable points for anyone who feels like they need assistance with getting their voice heard