Trevor Noah, comedian and author of "Born a Crime," shares insights on the critical importance of context in communication. He discusses how misunderstandings can escalate due to a lack of clarity, especially in today's digital age. Trevor and Adam explore American culture's friendliness versus its tendency toward binary thinking, and they suggest innovative ways to engage in political discourse through games. The conversation is peppered with humor, touching on authenticity, happiness, and the complexities of human behavior.
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volunteer_activism ADVICE
Provide Context in Texts
Add context to your texts to avoid misunderstandings.
Include names to ensure the recipient knows the message is for them.
insights INSIGHT
Digital Communication's Impact on Relationships
Digital communication, especially texting, can harm romantic relationships due to lost context.
We interpret texts based on our current feelings, not the sender's intent.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Mom's Voice
Trevor Noah's mom used his name differently depending on the situation.
These variations conveyed different meanings that text would miss.
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Born a Crime is an autobiographical comedy book that recounts Trevor Noah's experiences growing up in South Africa during the apartheid era. The book explores themes of race, culture, and identity as Noah navigates his mixed heritage in a society where interracial relationships were illegal. It also delves into his family life, including his mother's resilience and his stepfather's abuse, providing a powerful narrative about resilience and identity.
Obliquity
John Kay
Jeff Kanipe
Trying not to try
The Ancient Art of Effortlessness and the Surprising Power of Spontaneity
Edward Slingerland
Think Again
Adam Grant
In 'Think Again', Adam Grant argues that the ability to rethink at personal, interpersonal, and collective levels is crucial in today's polarized world. He uses scientific research, personal anecdotes, and engaging stories to illustrate how people can find joy in being wrong, leverage the benefits of impostor syndrome, and cultivate environments of lifelong learning. Grant emphasizes the need to challenge our convictions, adopt a scientific mindset, and foster curiosity and humility. He provides examples of individuals who have successfully rethought their approaches, from firefighters to business leaders, and offers practical exercises for improving rethinking skills[2][4][5].
Trevor Noah is widely admired for his quick wit. He's hosted The Daily Show and the Grammy Awards, sold out huge arenas around the world, had numerous hit comedy specials on Netflix, and published a bestselling memoir, Born a Crime. One of the keys to his success is his ability to read people and communicate clearly. In a lively discussion with Adam, Trevor dives into the importance of context in everything from personal relationships to global politics. The two also debate the best way to improve American politics — and Trevor does a few impromptu impressions, including one of Adam. Trevor's new podcast, What Now?, is available on all platforms.
Transcripts for ReThinking are available at go.ted.com/RWAGscripts
ReThinking 
