Whistling Vivaldi

How Stereotypes Affect Us and What We Can Do

By: Claude M. Steele

Narrated by: DeMario Clarke

The acclaimed social psychologist offers an insider’s look at his research and groundbreaking findings on stereotypes and identity.

Claude M. Steele, who has been called “one of the few great social psychologists,” offers a vivid first-person account of the research that supports his groundbreaking conclusions on stereotypes and identity. He sheds new light on American social phenomena from racial and gender gaps in test scores to the belief in the superior athletic prowess of black men, and lays out a plan for mitigating these “stereotype threats” and reshaping American identities.

©2010 Claude M. Steele (P)2013 Audible, Inc.

Social Psychological Look at Stereotype Threat

This book is an excellent look at stereotype threat - the awareness (subconscious and conscious) that we may be judged by stereotypes. Steele does an excellent job of pointing out how stereotypes influence all groups, and the physical and psychological measurable impacts that these stereotypes have on our daily lives.

a better approach to race and education

The book offers a more humane, hopeful, and scientifically grounded approach than critical race theory to solving the racial education achievement gap in the USA. Caveat: The book is more than 10 years old, I have not looked into how well the research has held up in more recent studies.

Enlightening

The prospectives shared are ones that illuminated complicated issues for which I had little understanding about how they are manifested and have been studied. Very enlightening.

An excellent primer on an important body of resear

If you could sum up Whistling Vivaldi in three words, what would they be?

Illuminates racial relations

What other book might you compare Whistling Vivaldi to and why?

Whistling Vivaldi is similar to other excellent psychology books written for the lay audience, such as Dan Gilbert's Stumbling on Happiness or Roy Baumeister's Willpower, in that it conveys a complex and important program of research in way that is engaging and accessible to a lay audience.

What does DeMario Clarke bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

The reader does an excellent job, but in general I don't find that a reader can transform the experience of nonfiction in the same way as fiction.

What’s the most interesting tidbit you’ve picked up from this book?

Everyone's behavior is affected by stereotypes, both by those we ourselves hold about others and by the fear that others will see us through the lense of their own stereotypes.

Any additional comments?

Claude Steele's research on stereotype threat is groundbreaking, and I truly believe it's something everyone should be aware of. This book does an excellent job of explaining this body of work in a way that provides the reader with actionable information about their behavior.

Loved it!

I loved this book. I highly recommend this book to everyone, especially educators.