Outraged - by Kurt Gray (Hardcover)

About the Book

"In this ... tour of the moral mind, Gray provides a groundbreaking new framework for our moral foundations that rewrites our understanding of where moral judgments come from, and how we can overcome the feelings of outrage that so often divide us"--

Book Synopsis

A NEXT BIG IDEA CLUB MUST-READ BOOK - A groundbreaking new perspective on the moral mind that rewrites our understanding of where moral judgments come from, and how we can overcome the feelings of outrage that so often divide us

"A riveting read. . . . Overturns widespread assumptions about why we're divided and reveals how we can come together."--Adam Grant, #1 New York Times best-selling author

It's easy to assume that liberals and conservatives have radically different moral foundations. In Outraged, Kurt Gray showcases the latest science to demonstrate that we all have the same moral mind--that everyone's moral judgments stem from feeling threatened or vulnerable to harm.

We all care about protecting ourselves and the vulnerable. Conflict arises, however, when we have different perceptions of harm. We get outraged when we disagree about who the "real" victim is, whether we're talking about political issues, fights with our in-laws, or arguments on the playground.

In this fascinating and insightful tour of our moral minds, Gray tackles popular myths that prevent us from understanding ourselves and those around us. While it is commonly believed that our ancestors were apex predators, Gray argues that for the majority of our evolutionary history, humans were more hunted than hunter. This explains why our minds are hard-wired to perceive threats, and provides surprising insights on the scientific origins of our values and beliefs. Though we might think ourselves driven by objective reasoning, Gray unveils new research that finds our moral judgments are based on gut feelings rather than rational thought, and presents a compelling reminder that we are more alike than we might think.

Drawing on groundbreaking research, Gray provides a captivating new explanation for our moral outrage, and unpacks how to best bridge divides. If you want to understand the morals of the "other side," ask yourself a simple question--what harms do they see?

Review Quotes

"A riveting read on the roots of our bitterest conflicts--and the remedies for them. One of the leading lights in moral psychology overturns widespread assumptions about why we're divided and reveals how we can come together."
--Adam Grant, #1 New York Times best-selling author of Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don't Know

"Moral outrage ruins friendships, families, democracies, and lives. Where does it come from, how much is too much, and what can be done about it? In this deeply thoughtful and highly readable book, Kurt Gray offers provocative answers to these and other important questions about the endless seething to with Americans are becoming increasingly addicted."
--Daniel Gilbert, New York Times best-selling author of Stumbling on Happiness

"Persuasive. . . . Essential . . . Compelling. . . . [Outraged's] tantalizing promise . . . is that it will help us 'find common ground.'"
--The New Yorker

"Timely."
--The Washington Post

"A great 'idea book'. . . . Gray's multidisciplinary expertise and erudition create an elevated reading experience. . . . Gray hopes to show that even very divided people share common ground. Those on the other side aren't crazy or evil, they just interpret harm differently. And if we realize we're all operating on the same continuum of harm, we can respect each other even if we'll never see eye-to-eye. . . . Gray's goal is to tamp down the hostile rhetoric, not to solve disagreements or win arguments."
--The Washington Independent Review of Books

"Clear and insightful. . . . Gray's data-driven approach and exploration of religion, social media and moral psychology enrich the narrative. . . . [Outraged] offers not just a path towards reconciliation, but also an important reminder of our shared humanity.
--New Scientist

"Timely. . . . Bold. . . . Ironically, the science of morality assembles then dismantles itself. Therein lies the book's most outrageous tension: that it is not science that wins the day, but persuasive narratives and stories."
--Nature

"Powerful insights that will change how you see the world (and hopefully make you a little less angry)."
--Jonah Berger, best-selling author of Contagious: Why Things Catch On

"Broad in scope and deep in insight, Outraged manages the rare feat of leading you to understand both yourself, and those you might be outraged by, better. Eye-opening, humanizing, and ultimately hopeful, Outraged gives you practical tools for living more peacefully in polarized times. Essential reading for anyone who feels outraged, or knows lots of people who do!"
--Nicholas Epley, author of Mindwise: How We Understand What Others Think, Believe, Feel, and Want

"Important, timely and evidence-based, OUTRAGED will give you hope. Gray adeptly explains what drives our outrage over politics and more, and he offers invaluable guidance on how we can better relate to one another and lower the temperature."
--Katy Milkman, best-selling author of How to Change: The Science of Getting from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be

"Phenomenal. . . . Outraged tells the story of how humans perceive harm and how we overlay moral judgment on top of our perceptions of threat. . . . Insightful and cross-disciplinary."
--Permission to Change

"A well-supported study of the neuroscience behind one of today's most pressing social issues."
--Publishers Weekly

"Relying on his own lab studies, [Gray] does a solid job of demonstrating that people who want to find areas of potential agreement with political adversaries shouldn't rely solely on objective truths. . . . 'Facts are essential to every aspect of life, ' he hastens to note, but his research indicates that 'harm-based stories' are more effective at lowering the temperature. . . . A hopeful, helpful prescription for overcoming polarization."
--Kirkus Reviews

"Outrage has become our culture's poorly chosen wallpaper: it's ugly, everywhere, and all we can do is get used to it. In this brilliant book, Kurt Gray challenges us to think differently. A leader in the science of morality, Gray convincingly paints a new picture of outrage, as a response to harm. This new lens can revolutionize our perception of conflict and what we can do about it. Human care has been contorted into anger and even hatred, but by applying more curiosity, we can rediscover common values."
--Jamil Zaki, author of Hope for Cynics: The Surprising Science of Human Goodness

"We're living in the age out outrage, but why? Kurt Gray helps us make sense of the rampant moral superiority seen at every turn and gives us hope that there's a better way forward. I can't remember the last time I had so many Aha moments reading a book!"
--Scott Barry Kaufman, author of Transcend: The New Science of Self-Actualization

"What an enlightening and enjoyable read! I learned so much from Outraged, especially about how to bridge differences between people with very different identities, ideologies and views about harm. In a diverse democracy, nothing is more important than that."
--Eboo Patel, author of We Need To Build: Field Notes for Diverse Democracy

"Feeling outraged? Read this book. In this divided world, Outraged offers a much-needed, scientifically-grounded framework that can help defuse moral conflict by making sense of it, and putting us on the pathway we need towards better, more humanizing interactions."
--Hahrie Han, author of Undivided: The Quest for Racial Solidarity in an American Church

"In this captivating book, social psychologist Kurt Gray draws on new insights from evolutionary biology, taking readers on a fascinating tour of ingenious experiments done by his lab and others that illuminate the factors that foster intense partisan conflicts. More importantly, his research identifies the counterintuitive path to bridging such divides. Outraged is a fascinating--and necessary--book for our troubled times."
--Richard J. McNally, author of Remembering Trauma

"Outraged reveals a surprising twist: our political clashes aren't about tearing each other down--they're about protecting what we care about. Kurt Gray's research-backed journey shows how understanding this can bridge divides and bring us closer together. Eye-opening and powerful!"
--Modupe Akinola, Barbara and David Zalaznick Professor of Business at Columbia, Host of the TED Business Podcast

"A compelling journey through history, science, and human experience reveals a powerful tool for bridging divides and hope for finding a way forward together."
--Pearce Godwin, Founder and CEO of the Listen First Project and the #ListenFirst Coalition

"From road rage to political rallies, Outraged explains why we're all just one disagreement away from blowing a fuse. In this exciting new book from Kurt Gray--one of the world's leading experts on moral psychology--we see moral conflicts through a totally new lens. This is a must read for anyone trying to make sense of our social and political world."
--Jay Van Bavel, coauthor of The Power of Us: Harnessing Our Shared Identities to Improve Performance, Increase Cooperation, and Promote Social Harmony

"If you want to know why people are divided over facts, evidence, and politics, Outraged is a must-read--mixing powerful stories with cutting-edge research. In this brilliant new book, Gray explains that our underlying moral worldviews are united by efforts to minimize harm and suffering. Gray masterfully dissects what moral outrage is, where it comes from, and how a better understanding of our own moral compass can help heal societal divides."
--Sander van der Linden, author of Foolproof: Why Misinformation Infects our Minds and How to Build Immunity

About the Author

KURT GRAY is a Professor in Psychology and Neuroscience at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he directs the Deepest Beliefs Lab and the Center for the Science of Moral Understanding. He received a PhD in Social Psychology from Harvard University.

With over 120 published scientific papers, he explores the psychology of morality, politics, religion and AI. Gray is the recipient of numerous early-career and best paper awards, and his findings has been featured in New York Times, the Economist, Scientific American, Wired, and Hidden Brain. He is a regular guest on podcasts and has spoken at multiple TEDx events.

Gray is the co-author of the book The Mind Club: Who Thinks, What Feels and Why it Matters (Viking). He was almost a geophysicist, but a night trapped in the Canadian wilderness convinced him otherwise.