The kid's guide to speaking your mind without losing your cool by Matt Agnew

“The reason I’ve written this book…is because we are meeting people with very different views to our own much more often than at any other time in human history …due to technology…our encounters are hugely inflated by access to the internet and social media…an ‘us’ vs ‘them’ mentality is more strongly pushed by technology that didn’t exist a couple of decades ago..”  p5

The Kid's Guide to Speaking Your Mind Without Losing Your Cool is an important book to read. Written by Dr Matt Agnew, a popular author and commentator on TV and radio including appearances on The Morning Show, ABC News Breakfast and ABC Melbourne, this book is one which upper primary and secondary schools may want to purchase for staff, students, and libraries.

From the very beginning of the book, the detailed discussion is carefully curated with humour, accessible language, and blocks of ‘Brain Breaks’ to separate the text, in order to provide appeal to a range of preteen to teen age groups.

After the introductory pages which answers the question, Do you want to win an argument?, the book then expands on the response. Starting with Part 1 Setting the scene which has two important chapters: Nature vs nurture and What about the social media algorithm? These chapters delve deeply into how we end up being the person we are with the beliefs we have, and the growing influence of social media.

Part 2 discusses Having an argument in comprehensive detail with chapter headings:

·       How do you know what’s true and what’s false?

·       What if you’re right and your friend is wrong?

·       How can you argue without getting into a fight?

·       Do you have to agree with your friends?

·       Can you change your mind?

Part 3 Caring for yourself and others looks at regulating your emotions and supporting someone who disappears ‘down a rabbit hole.’

My brief review does not do this book justice. It is full of valuable, current, and relevant insights not only for children and teachers but parents/carers would benefit from exploring the content. Matt Agnew has a remarkable talent for sharing his knowledge in a way that feels fresh, engaging, and easy to understand. An essential read.

Themes: Arguments, Understanding, Compromise, Friends, Problem solving, Critical Thinking Skills, Debate, Public Speaking.

Kathryn Beilby