Factfulness

Considering where you live along Rosling’s income levels, do the ideas presented in Factfulness make sense? How does your lifestyle influence your interpretation of the book as a whole? What lessons did you learn about understanding both your environment and different living situations across the world?

In Chapter 3, Rosling describes how definitive, rational action stopped the spread of Ebola. Compare and contrast this fact-based approach to the handling of the Covid-19 pandemic. What factors contributed to allowing Covid-19 to spread so rapidly? Do you think more definitive action could have stopped Covid-19’s spread sooner? Why or why not? Is your argument influenced by any of the dramatic instincts? If so, which ones and how?

In Chapter 4, Rosling shows how fear can be used for both good and ill. Choose three dramatic instincts and discuss how you use each toward both positive and negative outcomes. Looking at your examples, what did you learn about how instincts are tools and how you can make them work for you?

Throughout Factfulness, Rosling suggests people living on Level 4 must work harder to understand fact-based thinking and control their dramatic instincts. Do you agree with this idea? Why or why not?

Rosling argues both for and against data in Factfulness, citing the benefits of accurate numbers and the destructive power of depending on statistics to understand the world. Think about how you react to seeing a single number or percentage. How much power does that number have over you? Do you believe numbers immediately, or do you do additional research to understand that number? Has your approach led you to be misinformed or make poor decisions? If so, in what way? How might changing your reaction to numbers and data help you make better decisions?

In Chapter 9, Rosling shows how consumers are responsible for dramatic news stories because journalists produce what consumers want (drama). Do you agree or disagree with the idea that consumers influence what products are available? Why or why not? Have you ever withheld your opinion because you thought it didn’t matter? Similarly, have you ever offered your opinion with the goal of inciting change? What was the outcome in either or both situations?

Rosling identifies three mega misconceptions in Factfulness (the divided world, the worsening of conditions across the globe, and population growth). What was your belief about each of these mega misconceptions before you read the book? Has your belief changed after finishing Factfulness? Why or why not? If your opinion has changed, how, and what factors caused the change?

In the Introduction, Rosling claims that because all people experience illusions, we don’t need to be embarrassed. Rather, we can be curious. Think of a time you were embarrassed and a time you were curious. How does your experience of these emotions differ? What are your thoughts like when experiencing each emotion? Does curiosity leave you more open to learning than embarrassment as Rosling claims?