The Canceling of the American Mind

Greg Lukianoff and Rikki Schlott examine how cancel culture has spread from American university campuses to various workplaces and cultural spaces, leading to a decline in free speech. Drawing on original research and data, the book provides numerous examples from sectors such as publishing, psychotherapy, comedy, science, and medicine. It discusses how both the left and right use different strategies to silence opponents, resulting in people losing jobs, livelihoods, and even lives. The book argues that cancel culture is a dysfunctional power struggle that impedes productive debate, listening, and civility. It offers concrete steps for reclaiming a culture of free speech and encourages the development of intellectual humility to foster resilience and open-mindedness.