Radical Unlearning: The Art and Science of Creating Change from Within

"An intimate text on how we really change, deep underneath it all. Give this book to everyone you love who is stuck in a heartbreaking worldview." —adrienne maree brown, author of Loving Corrections and Emergent Strategy What if the beliefs shaping your life aren’t fixed—and you can change them? In Radical Unlearning, journalist and activist Lewis Raven Wallace shows how even our most deeply ingrained biases and habits can be rewired. Drawing on neuroscience and reporting, Wallace explains how neuroplasticity, the brain’s ability to form new pathways, allows us to break old patterns and build new ways of thinking. Like well-worn footpaths, our habits of mind take shape over time, but with intention, we can create different routes. Designed for readers ready to examine and challenge their assumptions, this book combines compelling storytelling with practical tools you can use right away, guided exercises and reflection prompts that help you actively engage in the process of change. Through unforgettable real-world examples, Wallace reveals what transformation looks like in practice, including: A former white nationalist who becomes a transgender anti-racist organizer An ex-Israeli soldier who reexamines his beliefs and becomes an outspoken activist Wallace’s own grandmother, who confronts a lifetime of racism and transphobia in her 80s At a time of deep division, Radical Unlearning offers a clear, actionable path forward. It’s a book for readers who want to think more critically, engage more thoughtfully, and contribute to meaningful change—starting with themselves.