No contest - BookWyrm

324 pages

English language

Published Oct. 9, 1992 by Houghton Mifflin.

ISBN:: 978-0-395-63125-6
OCLC Number:: 26255272

(1 review)

No Contest, which has been stirring up controversy since its publication in 1986, stands as the definitive critique of competition. Drawing from hundreds of studies, Alfie Kohn eloquently argues that our struggle to defeat each other — at work, at school, at play, and at home — turns all of us into losers.

Contrary to the myths with which we have been raised, Kohn shows that competition is not an inevitable part of “human nature.” It does not motivate us to do our best (in fact, the reason our workplaces and schools are in trouble is that they value competitiveness instead of excellence.) Rather than building character, competition sabotages self-esteem and ruins relationships. It even warps recreation by turning the playing field into a battlefield.

No Contest makes a powerful case that “healthy competition” is a contradiction in terms. Because any win/lose arrangement is undesirable, we will have to restructure …

No Contest, which has been stirring up controversy since its publication in 1986, stands as the definitive critique of competition. Drawing from hundreds of studies, Alfie Kohn eloquently argues that our struggle to defeat each other — at work, at school, at play, and at home — turns all of us into losers.

Contrary to the myths with which we have been raised, Kohn shows that competition is not an inevitable part of “human nature.” It does not motivate us to do our best (in fact, the reason our workplaces and schools are in trouble is that they value competitiveness instead of excellence.) Rather than building character, competition sabotages self-esteem and ruins relationships. It even warps recreation by turning the playing field into a battlefield.

No Contest makes a powerful case that “healthy competition” is a contradiction in terms. Because any win/lose arrangement is undesirable, we will have to restructure our institutions for the benefit of ourselves, our children, and our society. For this [1992] revised edition, Kohn adds a comprehensive account of how students can learn more effectively by working cooperatively in the classroom instead of struggling to be Number One. He also offers a pointed and personal afterword, assessing shifts in American thinking on competition and describing reactions to his provocative message.

3 editions

Endless reviewed No contest by Alfie Kohn

Review of 'No contest' on 'GoodReads'

4 stars

I'm giving it four stars not for the quality of writing -- I found the one-sided rhetoric tiresome by half way through -- but for the importance of the ideas it has. Despite taking an extreme stance in this book, Kohn gives a solid argument with intelligent research backing it.

The fundamental idea is that competition is destructive in all its forms, and is built into our society to the detriment of all: it is in our education, our economy, or legal system, and our recreation. He systematically approaches each claim for the validity, giving fair voice to their justifications for competition: that it is natural, that it is character-building, that it produces excellence, and that it is naturally desirable to us.

His case against competition is somewhat strong and worth digesting. The suggested alternatives, however, were somewhat lacking. It is in conceiving of solutions that we should use this …

I'm giving it four stars not for the quality of writing -- I found the one-sided rhetoric tiresome by half way through -- but for the importance of the ideas it has. Despite taking an extreme stance in this book, Kohn gives a solid argument with intelligent research backing it.

The fundamental idea is that competition is destructive in all its forms, and is built into our society to the detriment of all: it is in our education, our economy, or legal system, and our recreation. He systematically approaches each claim for the validity, giving fair voice to their justifications for competition: that it is natural, that it is character-building, that it produces excellence, and that it is naturally desirable to us.

His case against competition is somewhat strong and worth digesting. The suggested alternatives, however, were somewhat lacking. It is in conceiving of solutions that we should use this book as fuel, giving us some ideas of how to convert our environments into non-competitive solutions that will bring the added self-confidence, creativity, and motivation that come from true cooperation. But more I could use more of a picture on a wide-spread vision of cooperation other than his slightly communistic musings and conclusive "competition is evil" voice.

Again, a worthy read with some important ideas to consider, even if it is more of a starting point than any kind of ending.

Subjects

Competition (Psychology)
Cooperativeness.
Aggressiveness.
Social interaction -- United States.

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