No Contest: The Case Against Competition
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Alfie Kohn explains why business, education, and life suffer when we compete
What if competition isn't implicit to the human experience? And what if it actually tears down character, rather than building it up? Is it possible that the United States is indoctrinating our children into a culture of competition simply to sustain itself? Or that it and other competitive societies are holding back business and economic progress by embracing competition as the preferred model?
These are the questions Alfie Kohn addresses in No Contest: The Case Against Competition. If the reader feels the hackles on the back of his or her neck already beginning to rise, Kohn addresses that, too: competition, he says, is stridently defended by the people who practice it, whether or not there is a rational basis for doing so. It is the author's stated purpose to explore the question of competition rationally, and by drawing upon research that has been done on the subject over many decades.
It is not clear how many people Kohn has swayed to his way of thinking with this book, but it's likely that he is not keeping score.
Main lens photo by Richard Giles.
Review of No Contest
Kohn's biggest challenge in writing this book is that he is challenging fundamental assumptions about competition; namely, that it's hard-wired into our genes, makes us more productive, and prevents us from falling into the Pit of Eternal Sloth. These assumptions are so ingrained into any competitive culture that it makes refuting those points about as easy as debating the existence of a god.Kohn takes on these questions separately, beginning with, "Is competition inevitable?" He then asks if competition is more productive, more enjoyable, and whether or not it builds character. In each part, the author reviews the literature and research, carefully sifting out the evidence in support of the beneficial and detrimental effects of competition. Much of the existing literature is focused on schoolchildren, but Kohn is able to make reasonable inferences based on that limited sampling.
In section after section, Kohn skillfully dissects the foundations upon which competition is built, and shows that they are but sand. He similarly shores up the arguments in support of cooperation, giving clear examples of ways that cooperative work can advance learning and productivity alike.
No Contest: The Case Against Competition
Amazon Price: $7.92 (as of 06/03/2012)
The surprising truth is that slothfulness is not prevented by competition . . . in fact, it may reduce productivity rather than enhance it, as is commonly believed. "Competing not only distracts you from a task at a given moment; it also makes you less interested in that task over the long run, and this results in poorer performance," Kohn writes on page 60. Many people tire of "the game" and sit out a few innings; those who are most successful probably have it worst of all, since they are constantly being challenged for their position and status.
The culture of competition is rooted in years of tradition, but that doesn't mean there aren't alternatives. No Contest presents an excellent view of what a world without unnecessary competition might look like, and why we should want to live there.
“Competition undermines our ability to do our best, a premise which Kohn painstakingly proves.”
An economic alternative
- Participatory economics - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- Participatory economics, often abbreviated parecon, is an economic system proposed primarily by activist and political theorist Michael Albert and radical economist Robin Hahnel, among others. It uses participatory decision making as an economic mechanism to guide the production, consumption and allocation of resources in a given society. Proposed as an alternative to contemporary capitalist market economies and also an alternative to centrally planned socialism, it is described as "an anarchistic economic vision",[1] and is a form of socialism, since in a parecon the means of production are owned in common.
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The best line ever:
The real alternative to being Number One . . . is not being Number Two; it is dispensing with ranking altogether.
What's the buzz about competition?
- Startups help users find their social connections via search, real-time mapping
- One geo-social app Silva does speak highly of is Sonar, which lets you know more about the people with whom you're sharing a particular store or restaurant and ranks them based on how many friends you have in common. Other competitors include Glomper, ...
- Social Media Business Solutions Company in Search of Australia's #1 Spader
- The package includes a collection of Spader winter clothing and their very own Facebook contest to promote their chosen school, business or charity using social media platforms. Small daily prizes are also up for grabs. John Ruman, Director of Spader ...
- Social media helps local business
- Social media sites serve different purposes for each user. But for 19-year-old Julian Navarette, one helped launch his photography business. Navarette is owner of Julian N. Photography. He said last May he quit his part-time job, launched his Facebook ...
- Tragedy Turned to Opportunity to Benefit Wounded Warriors
- The Lakeland chapter received an honorable mention in the Earl Marlin publicity contest, which included a streamer for the chapter flag of this Lakeland based club. They also received a check for $25. Past chapter President Richard E. Hagerman was ...
Competitive grants for education
Competition is not only within education; competition is for access to education
The trend as the United States moves into the teens is for education funding itself to be distributed competitively. President Obama's Race to the Top initiative is leading the way with competitive funding. This has raised concerns about educational equality and the need to focus resources on the competition required to obtain the resources.
The fate of education
otherlleft predicts:
Education funding via competition will create a massive gulf in the educational experience, one that we will impact us for another twenty years. It will probably take 20 more to get this country back on track.
Funding education
Other views on competition
There's a lot of other really smart writing about competition and cooperation out there. Recommend or suggest the ones you like.
The Evolution of Cooperation: Revised Edition by Robert Axelrod
Updated for the first time, the classic book on why more...0 points
The Complexity of Cooperation: Agent-Based Models of Competition and Collaboration by Robert Axelrod
Robert Axelrod is widely known for his groundbreaking more...0 points
1938 photo Bankers offer President cooperation on banking problems. Washington, D.C., Dec. 20. Presi
1938 photo Bankers offer President cooperation on more...0 points
Competition: The Birth of a New Science by James Case
What do chess-playing computer programs, biological more...0 points
New Educational Insights Quiz Bowl Classroom System Real-Time Academic Competitions
Real-time academic competitions!Test prep on the f more...0 points
Because We Can Change the World: A Practical Guide to Building Cooperative, Inclusive Classroom Communities by Honorable Mara E. Sapon-Shevin
This new edition of a highly acclaimed book blends more...0 points
Ethics and Excellence: Cooperation and Integrity in Business (The Ruffin Series in Business Ethics) by Robert C. Solomon
The Greek philosopher Aristotle, writing over two more...0 points
Your Brain and Business: The Neuroscience of Great Leaders by Srinivasan S. Pillay
In Your Brain and Business, Harvard psychiatrist Srinivasan more...0 points
Alfie Kohn's official site
don't miss it!
- http://www.alfiekohn.org/index.php
- Alfie Kohn's official site
More books by Alfie Kohn
Vote for your favorites, or add any I missed.
Unconditional Parenting: Moving from Rewards and Punishments to Love and Reason by Alfie Kohn
Most parenting guides begin with the question &quo more...0 points
Punished by Rewards: The Trouble with Gold Stars, Incentive Plans, A's, Praise, and Other Bribes by Alfie Kohn
The basic strategy we use for raising children, te more...0 points
Feel-Bad Education: And Other Contrarian Essays on Children and Schooling by Alfie Kohn
<b>Mind-opening writing on what kids need fr more...0 points
The Case Against Standardized Testing: Raising the Scores, Ruining the Schools by Alfie Kohn
Our students are tested to an extent that is unpre more...0 points
The Homework Myth: Why Our Kids Get Too Much of a Bad Thing by Alfie Kohn
So why do we continue to administer this modern co more...0 points
Postscript of utmost importance
If you buy any of the books recommended above, this page automatically makes a donation to the incredible nonprofit, Donors Choose, which helps provide classrooms and students in need with resources that our public schools often lack. My wife's classroom got the first smart board in her school thanks to Donors Choose. by otherlleft
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