Mistakes Were Made (But Not by Me)

Mistakes Were Made (But Not by Me): Why We Justify Foolish Beliefs, Bad Decisions, and Hurtful Acts by Carol Tavris

On the library stacks: Adult Non-fiction
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Alright, so this book took me a long time to get through. But that's not totally the book's fault. I actually REALLY liked the book. It's not a page-turner, but it is one of those books that I've already annoyed plenty of people talking about and I wish I could get everyone to read.

This book is applicable to every aspect of our lives--as parents, spouses, family members, friends, teammates, employees and citizens. The authors explain why we go through a process of self-justification in order to live with ourselves after we make mistakes. But we also learn why fessing up and going easier on others when they make mistakes is in everyone's best interest. We learn how our memories can change according to the version of the past that best suits our present, how people with good intentions can turn out to make horrendous choices they might never have once dreamed of making, and how the bias of lawyers and law enforcement officers can lead to big mistakes in our justice system.

I started out this book feeling embarrassed and somewhat guilty because I KNOW I have fallen in to so many traps that the authors highlight. While I've always been interested in what makes other people tick, this book also illuminated how I tick sometimes, and hopefully I'll be a better person for having read it. Highly recommended.

Also reviewed by: The Book Nest
Source: Library