Why Do We Judge the Book by Its Cover?

As I prepare for a leadership session designed to inspire, I want to share some thoughts that shape the approach behind this activity. My goal is to create an experience that sparks reflection, engagement, and motivation—one that leaves a lasting impact.

“Why Do We Judge the Book by Its Cover?”

We’ve all heard the saying, “Don’t judge a book by its cover.” Yet, we do it all the time. We make snap decisions based on appearances, first impressions, and surface-level details. But why?

Is it instinct? A learned behavior? A shortcut for making sense of the world? So I have an upcoming presentation where I will take an hour to focus on this very subject with a leadership team.

Think about the times when your assumptions were proven wrong—when the quietest person in the room turned out to be very insightful, or when an unpolished résumé belonged to the most brilliant candidate.

So, if we know the cover doesn’t always tell the full story, what would happen if we paused before making judgments? If we chose curiosity over assumption?

Let’s challenge ourselves to go beyond the cover—to turn the pages, ask the questions, and discover the depth within every person and every situation. Because true understanding doesn’t come from a glance—it comes from taking the time to read the story.

Take a look at this activity I created which I’ve used in settings.

“Shape Your Wisdom”

1. Give each participant a pipe cleaner and ask them to reflect on a piece of advice, encouragement, or wisdom they received as a young person that helped shape them into who they are today.

2. Ask them to physically shape the pipe cleaner into something that represents that advice—this could be a word, a symbol, or an abstract shape.

3. Have them share:

What they shaped. The advice they would pass on to a young person today based on their own experience. How that piece of advice helped them.

Highlights:

• A Bridge. “Obstacles are just bridges to growth. I always remind young people that challenges are meant to be crossed, not avoided.”

• Heart. “I learned that kindness always wins. I remind young people that how you treat people matters more than how successful you become.”

• Spiral. “Life is not always a straight path. I tell young people that unexpected turns can lead to great opportunities.”

The goal is to encourage creativity, storytelling, and reflection, while also reinforcing the idea that leaders help shape the next generation!

Hope you enjoyed it!

Thank you Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Broward County for having me!