Nuanced discussion of the psychological effects that a twisted and obfuscated cultural history has on the present. The author notes that grieving the loss of the reality we thought we lived in is an important psychological step to accepting and being willing to shift the narrative for future justice. The author notes that she is not a historian, providing the basics of historical misrepresentation, and then shines in the explication of the psychological principles underlying the way that we are taught a prevailing, positive narrative of the United States, and how to process the grief and shift perspective to acknowledge, accept, and change a more nuanced and accurate narrative.

Similar to Dr. Dolly Chugh's first book (The Person You Mean to Be), A More Just Future provides readers with a foundational background to navigating inequality and inequity while simultaneously supporting readers in building and utilizing a set of psychological tools to help them be more successful in sustainably changing their mindset and increasing their horizons.

What stood out to me the most in the book was the discussing of embracing paradox - Dr. Chugh shared how much of what we confront related to complex issues and (un)learning requires the "both/and" mindset. As years have gone on, I have personally become increasingly disappointed in the United States and being an American (particularly as my (un)learning journey has picked up speed). Dr. Chugh's ability to hold space for the criticism which is warranted as well as the praise which deserves the spotlight, has encouraged me to reconsider a more balanced approach.

By being able to highlight the importance of embracing the both/and of our world, I think that this book will be able to appeal to a broad range of readers with varying political backgrounds, making this content and tools accessible and approachable to some folks who in the past may have been unable or unwilling to engage in this form of dialogue.

[disclaimer: I had the opportunity to be a student of Dr. Chugh in 2021].

This is a remarkable book and a very timely one. Through engaging stories and personal reflections, Chugh draws from her deep knowledge of social psychology to provide us with a set of tools that can prepare us both emotionally and intellectually for being part of a more just future by acknowledging, learning from, and confronting the full spectrum of our nation’s history. The book is forthright that we have to unlearn much of what we thought we knew about slavery, colonialism, exploitation, the extermination of indigenous people, and the ongoing inequality and segregation that brings the past to the present. But unlike so many others who have tried to write about these issues, Chugh helps us understand that we can affirm our values and our patriotism, love our country, and still call ourselves and our country to account for the injustices that are part of both our past and our present. Doing so requires unlearning as well as learning, accepting paradox and contradiction, overcoming hindsight and home team biases, preparing ourselves emotionally for threats to our sense of self and our collective pride, seeing the broader connections to which we have often been blind, both recognizing and rejecting racial fables, taking responsibility, and building grit. The book is beautifully written and easy to follow despite dealing with such consequential issues and difficult challenges about how we can be a better people living together in ways that make us authentically proud.

Dolly’s bold and fearless new book, A More Just Future, Psychological Tools for Reckoning with our Past and Driving Social Change, is a game changer for anyone who wants to take an honest look at America’s whitewashed history and feel empowered to transform how we BE in the world. Dolly delivers a powerful message with actionable tools to face systemic racism from a human-centered perspective. She inspires the reader to reflect on personal responsibility as well as systemic ideologies. As an antiracist leader, organizational consultant, coach and Black woman, I have shared this long-awaited guide, and Dolly’s premiere book, The Person You Mean To Be, with many people in my network as essential reading. This book is a must read for you, your staff, your team, your board, your constituents, your colleagues, your mentees, your friends & your family.

Mary Pender Greene, LCSW-R, CGP
President & CEO of MPG Consulting, a company Committed to Eliminating Bias and Structural Racism in the Workspace™

Another excellent read and resource for anyone on their journey towards facing systemic racism and working towards a more just society! I would suggest any wanting to read this book to have read The Person You Mean to Be: How Good People Fight Bias first. It is not a prerequisite and this is not a sequel. Instead, I felt the information and guidance in this book was not as obviously accessible to the reader as perhaps it was in Person. But, having read Person first, the reader would have a foundation for how Ms. Chugh presents her information and thereby help understand her points and be prepared for the mental and emotional situations this book will place the reader. No white people (myself included) can be left comfortable with our version of history but we also need to not be knee-jerk reactive to the ugliness of our history. This book can help with starting that journey within ourselves.

Dolly Chugh is very readable and relatable. She tackles equity issues with stories of individuals coming to terms with their blind spots and endeavoring to make the United States a better place for all its citizens. She discusses Both/And paradoxes that we all face, and helps the reader deal with complex feelings. To be both proud of one's heritage and acknowledge that all has not been well is a balancing act and she names that shame does not have to be a handicapping response where one avoids dissonance. Full of gems and ideas I will continue to reflect on. I found the Good People newsletter after reading The Person You Mean To Be: How Good People Fight Bias, and I feel like I am continuing a motivating conversation with somebody wise and dear.

I just finished reading an advance copy of Dolly Chugh's new book, “A More Just Future: Psychological Tools for Reckoning with our Past and Driving Social Change.” I had high expectations after reading her first book “The Person You Mean to Be” and I was not disappointed! Dolly manages to break down complex issues into manageable, actionable pieces. I appreciate Dolly’s “meet you where you are” approach to grappling with our (both personal and collective) complicated relationship with the history we were taught and the history we were not taught. This book weaves personal anecdotes, scientific studies and thought-provoking questions into a page-turning work that lays the groundwork for relearning our past so that we can move forward, toward a more equitable future for all. Not only did Dolly write the book she needed to read, she wrote the book we ALL need to read.

What I appreciated most about this book, A More Just Future, by Dolly Chugh, was its ability to deliver an important community message to the nation packaged in sweet, bite-sized sections that snapped together to form an overall handbook for discerning our collective stories of the past, present and future. Chugh offers simple yet powerful tools for celebrating truths while acknowledging the crucial flaws surviving under so many cultural narratives. This book exuded a kind of intelligent warmth that is missing from so many of our nonfiction titles. I enjoyed picking it up and flipping to each chapter that resonated with me, which inevitably led to the next chapter. I'm so happy this crossed my path!