Getting Laptops Out of Classrooms and Talking People Out of Hate
My favorite fall articles and podcasts.
A mark of emotional maturity is hearing disagreement without taking offense.
Good-faith debate is not an attack—it’s an opportunity to sharpen your thinking.
With that in mind, my favorite articles of the fall:
1. The Screen That Ate Your Child’s Education (Jean Twenge, NYT)
It’s time to remove laptops from classrooms. 24 experiments: Students learn more and get better grades after taking notes by hand than typing. It’s not just because they’re less distracted—writing enables deeper processing and more images. The pen is mightier than the keyboard.
2. The Case That AI Is Thinking (James Somers, New Yorker)
Probably the most thought-provoking article I’ve read this year on AI.
3. How Chimps Process Conflicting Evidence (Jacek Krywko, Ars Technica)
Rethinking is not a uniquely human skill—in some circumstances, chimps are better than us at changing their minds.
4. I’m the Woman Who Ruined the Workplace (Ariel Dumas, New Yorker)
LOL: “Argue all you want, but men are simply stronger and more assertive. Women are sensitive, empathetic, and good at filling your car with bees.”
From my desk
New podcasts:
Brené Brown on courageous leadership: Apple | Spotify | Transcript
What we’re getting wrong about mental health with therapist RaQuel Hopkins: Apple | Spotify | Transcript
The truth about the attention crisis with historian Daniel Immerwahr: Apple | Spotify | Transcript
Talking people out of hate with Daryl Davis and former neo-Nazi Jeff Schoep. Apple | Spotify | Transcript
In solidarity,
Adam
@AdamGrant do you have any resources on hearing disagreement without taking offense? I want to be better at it and am working on it but my first instinct tends to be defensiveness unfortunately.
Great list, Adam. As a parent and educator, I especially agree with the point about screens in the classroom. I see the same pattern every day: less tech often leads to more focus, better recall, and healthier minds.
I run a small nonprofit where I share short tips on building healthier screen habits. Anyone interested can follow here:
https://safescreensinitiative.substack.com