Book Review: Scout Mindset by Julia Galef

The Scout Mindset by Julia Galef: A must-read for coaches… and everyone else

The Scout Mindset is a highly engaging and readable book many people on courses I’ve led, or conferences where I’ve been a keynote speaker, have heard me recommend ever since it was released in 2021. If I’m being honest, as someone who was born into a military family, part of the initial attraction (of the cover) when I first picked up the book was the military link!

Straightforward metaphors

Unlike some ‘smart thinking’ books, Scout Mindset is rooted in practical, daily life, and the metaphor used by Julia Galef is applicable to key features of the human condition, regardless of what role we take in society. Galef argues that soldiers defend and attack; scouts aim to employ genuine curiosity to find out what is accurate and true. It’s a great way to describe mindsets that we can often adopt. Anyone with an experience of coaching will be aware of the power that the an effective question can have to encourage curiosity and engage wider perspectives.

The book starts by providing a rationale for viewing mindsets through the metaphor of the soldier/scout lens. Galef states that ‘Life is made up of judgement calls, and the more you can avoid distorting your perception of reality, the better your judgement will be.’ It’s clear from the arguments in the book that sound judgements rely upon an accurate understanding of reality, even if gaining this reality is challenging and, sometimes, painful.

The need for courage

Galef suggests us that we’re generally a blend of both scout and soldier mindsets and can fluctuate between them in quite short time periods as contexts change. The willingness and courage to adopt a scout mindset and welcome the truth is what allows others to be honest with you.

One of the elements within the book I was surprised to note was the focus upon the lengths we go to, often unconsciously, to protect our own self-esteem, morale and sense of belonging by avoiding unpleasant truths. Self-deception, to support short-term emotional and social rewards, undermines our ability to access hard truths. Ironically, it’s these very truths that allow us to apply our judgement to situations and actually solve problems, notice opportunities and decide how we really do want to live our lives.

Experienced coaches will be well aware of how these messages link to the concept of psychological safety and the importance of establishing this as a bedrock for effective coaching relationships.

Practical approaches

Although the book grounds itself in theory, it provides practical strategies to support personal reflection and the further development of a scout mindset. One of the areas that resonated most with me was around the ability to be comfortable with ‘being wrong’ and the courage this takes when working with others. As someone who has held leadership positions in the past, where you’re required to make swift decisions, hindsight often illuminates alternatives and this can be challenging. A scout mindset would enable us to be more open to honest reflection, allowing for learning to inform more effective decision-making. Experienced coaches will have no doubt worked with clients facing such situations and the associated mindsets that may be uncovered.

Perhaps another area in the book that would resonate with everyone, regardless of their role, is the extent to which ‘echo chambers’ can undermine the path to accuracy and truth. In an ever more polarised world, this book might be worth recommending to those we are close to in all walks of life.

Galef calls upon engaging stories, research, models and a host of examples to back up her arguments. For those of us who are genuinely interested in self-improvement, there are clear, reassuring links to a wide range of accepted research and findings.

An inspiration for change

For me, the book would get an excellent rating due to the personal reflection it promotes and the subsequent impact this can have upon thinking and future behaviour. Such behaviour change will only happen if we have the courage to seek hard truths, accept that none of us are perfect, but that we can develop as better human beings. These are all aspects of the human condition that coaches will be familiar with.

The last words should rightfully go to Galef: ‘We can find ways to cope with fear and insecurity. We can take bold risks and persevere in the face of setbacks. We can influence, persuade, and inspire. We can fight for social change. And we can do all of this by understanding and working with what’s real, not shutting our eyes to it.‘

Scout Mindset provides inspiration for those who have the courage to be open to new ideas. It’s also a practical guide for those willing to venture on such a journey and live their lives in a richer way.

Calum Campbell, Faculty Member
January 2026