The Coddling of the American Mind

The debate over free speech on college and university campuses has become a dominant issue facing higher education. Reports on the implementation of university speech codes and trigger warning policies, the establishment of free-speech zones and safe spaces, and protests over the views expressed by faculty or invited speakers have ignited fierce controversy from both the right and the left.

Unsurprisingly, both students and faculty report they fear speaking honestly or with those they disagree. How did we get here? Do these issues point to a larger societal problem? Greg Lukianoff, President and CEO of the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE), thinks so.

In his latest book, The Coddling of the American Mind, he and co-author Jonathan Haidt argue that the new problems on campus have their origins in three “terrible” ideas that have become increasingly woven into American childhood and education: What doesn’t kill you makes you weaker; always trust your feelings; and life is a battle between good people and evil people.

Join us in-person at the City Club as Lukianoff discusses how a culture of “safetyism” interferes with young people’s social, emotional, and intellectual development, and strains our country’s social fabric.

The livestream will be available beginning at 12:30p.m. Have questions? Tweet them at @TheCityClub or send a text to 330.541.5794.

After the forum, a book signing with Greg Lukianoff will be available. A Cultural Exchange, a nonprofit multicultural arts and literacy project, will be on site for book sales.

Effective October 1, 2021, the City Club will be requiring ticketholders to provide proof of Covid vaccination or a recent negative Covid test. Email info@cityclub.org with any questions.