Alfie Kohn

Alfie Kohn

Author, Lecturer

Alfie Kohn is an American author and lecturer who challenges conventional thinking on education, parenting, and motivation. His work draws on social science research to question the use of competition, rewards, and standardised testing.

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Books Written
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Books Recommended

Books by Alfie Kohn

Unconditional Parenting: Moving from Rewards and Punishments to Love and Reason by Alfie Kohn

Unconditional Parenting: Moving from Rewards and Punishments to Love and Reason

by Alfie Kohn

star4.16

Kohn challenges conventional discipline strategies built on rewards, punishments, and conditional approval, arguing instead for an approach grounded in unconditional love and respect for children's autonomy. He draws on developmental psychology research to show that controlling parenting methods undermine children's intrinsic motivation, moral development, and emotional well-being.

parentingpsychology

Most Recommended by Alfie

The books Alfie Kohn references, cites, and recommends most frequently.

Flow by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi

Flow

by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi

star4.1

Csikszentmihalyi identifies the state of total absorption where time vanishes and performance peaks. Flow is not random, it arises from clear goals, immediate feedback, and matched challenge.

psychology
Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman

Emotional Intelligence

by Daniel Goleman

star4

Goleman argues that EQ matters more than IQ for success. Self-awareness, empathy, and emotional regulation are skills that can be developed and that predict real-world outcomes.

psychologyself-help
Descartes' Error by Antonio Damasio

Descartes' Error

by Antonio Damasio

star4.1

Damasio overturns the idea that reason and emotion are separate. His neuroscience research shows that feelings are essential to rational decision-making, not obstacles to it.

psychologyscience

Influence Map

Who Alfie draws from, and who draws from Alfie — aggregated across every book in this collection. Counts show the number of citation links, not the depth of each one.

Alfie cites most often

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