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through_my_eyes81's review against another edition
5.0
A great essay on the essential qualities our media and many of our leaders are lacking. The capacity to question, challenge and use evidence to justify the truth, instead of producing “fake news” via opinion. Worth a read! Proves why Sales is one of Australia’s greatest Journalists.
punkinmuffin's review against another edition
4.0
[a:Leigh Sales|1249719|Leigh Sales|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/f_50x66-6a03a5c12233c941481992b82eea8d23.png]' [b:On Doubt|36299318|On Doubt|Leigh Sales|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1506311286s/36299318.jpg|12351462] is a thought-provoking meditation on the value of constant questioning and testing of accepted truths. Originally published in 2009, this edition was re-released in September 2017 with a postscript from Sales in which she describes 2009 as a "golden era" compared with today. It should be required reading for the "post-truth" world.
nina_reads_books's review against another edition
3.0
This short essay by Australian journalist Leigh Sales (one half of one of my favourite podcasts Chat 10 Looks 3) was originally written in 2009 but republished in 2017 with a new postscript added.
The ‘On’ series are “little books on big ideas” where prominent Australian writers write about some big issues. I recently enjoyed On Money by Rick Morton.
In 2009, Leigh Sales wrote about the issues surrounding blind faith without any doubting of actions. Using examples from her childhood and other observations she poses questions around the importance of holding doubt in your beliefs, suggesting that doubt allows different ideas to percolate and ultimately ensuring that decisions are acted upon with a breadth of information. She also considers how there was a growing use of doubt as a character flaw – if you doubt you are second guessing your own abilities therefore you couldn’t possibly be an effective leader.
I didn’t find the original essay quite as compelling as On Money however the postscript written in 2017 was an excellent addition. Sales’ original essay foreshadows the fake news era that descended upon us particularly in the aftermath of the Trump election of 2016. The postscript really reinforces her thinking. Everything she wrote about initially is now much worse in a post-Trump world!
Overall this was an interesting and insightful read. I’m going to seek out more of the ‘On’ series to get little tasters of the talents of some of Australia’s best writers.
The ‘On’ series are “little books on big ideas” where prominent Australian writers write about some big issues. I recently enjoyed On Money by Rick Morton.
In 2009, Leigh Sales wrote about the issues surrounding blind faith without any doubting of actions. Using examples from her childhood and other observations she poses questions around the importance of holding doubt in your beliefs, suggesting that doubt allows different ideas to percolate and ultimately ensuring that decisions are acted upon with a breadth of information. She also considers how there was a growing use of doubt as a character flaw – if you doubt you are second guessing your own abilities therefore you couldn’t possibly be an effective leader.
I didn’t find the original essay quite as compelling as On Money however the postscript written in 2017 was an excellent addition. Sales’ original essay foreshadows the fake news era that descended upon us particularly in the aftermath of the Trump election of 2016. The postscript really reinforces her thinking. Everything she wrote about initially is now much worse in a post-Trump world!
Overall this was an interesting and insightful read. I’m going to seek out more of the ‘On’ series to get little tasters of the talents of some of Australia’s best writers.
zasobel's review against another edition
4.0
Sales is hyper-intelligent and a great writer, so I loved most of this. However, I really grated on the section praising climate change skepticism. Yes, this essay was written in 2009, and the 2017 epilogue makes it clear that Sales now believes that climate change isn't an issue with 'two equal sides', which is great. But the science behind climate change was as definitive in 2009 as it is today, if more distant. We'll never get back the 10+ years that we've lost because of influential centrists like Leigh Sales encouraging 'healthy climate change skepticism'. As a 2019 reader, I found it very disappointing.
desterman's review against another edition
5.0
An easily accessible, highly engaging essay about the importance of doubt in our world and how we are losing our appreciation for it. Sales outlines the benefits of doubt in everything from journalism and politics to everyday life, ultimately arguing that doubt is one of the best qualities we can hold.
swagkermit's review against another edition
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
A thoughtful perspective on doubt, certainty and the rising prevalence of opinion vs fact, this essay from 2009 predates most of today's social media (which are now integral to discussing these issues). I found it interesting to see a snapshot into 2009 and the key politicians and movements compared to today.
The addendum from 2017 added a great re-evaluation of how the information channels, media and political landscape had changed over less than a decade, causing those issues Sales identified to escalate at an alarming rate.
An insightful, quick read (or listen)!
The addendum from 2017 added a great re-evaluation of how the information channels, media and political landscape had changed over less than a decade, causing those issues Sales identified to escalate at an alarming rate.
An insightful, quick read (or listen)!
corrinda's review
4.0
Embracing uncertainty is how we learn, create space for new perspectives and eradicate poisonous dogmatism
allymarell's review
4.0
interesting commentary on how doubt and certainty are perceived. And inside the mind of Leigh a bit, I think I would get along well with her.
kimswhims's review against another edition
4.0
Leigh Sales puts into words much of how I try to deal with information and opinion to try to determine facts. An excellent essay that is still relevant almost 10 years after she originally wrote it.