Punished by Rewards: Reader Reviews & Ratings

Doris882026-10-10 21:54

Kohn proves rewards actually destroy the very creativity they try to encourage in us.

Cheryl772026-09-19 00:56

This book made me rethink every sticker and bonus I've ever used.

Donovan2026-09-08 22:03

Kohn proves that stickers and bonuses actually kill creativity and intrinsic motivation, turning kids into performers who only work for prizes instead of learning for real joy, which hurts us all in the long run.

Patti2026-09-08 19:56

Kohn proves that stickers and bonuses backfire badly. When we tie rewards to tasks like reading or math, people stop doing them for joy and start doing them only to get the prize. The research shows that kids given certificates for drawing lose interest later, while those without rewards keep playing. This applies to workplaces too, where sales reps game the system to hit targets instead of helping customers. Instead of building trust, bonuses turn coworkers into rivals who hide mistakes to protect their record. Even parenting suffers because children learn to share or clean only for cash, not out of kindness. We must stop using carrots and sticks to control behavior and instead focus on collaboration, meaningful content, and giving people real choices. Only then can we restore intrinsic motivation that drives lasting creativity and genuine connection in schools, offices, and homes.

Valentine2026-09-08 14:06

The research on how rewards damage intrinsic motivation and long-term learning is powerful.

Zoe2026-09-07 18:29

This book made me realize my sticker chart was ruining my kid's love for reading by turning stories into a chore just to get a prize.

Crystal232026-08-27 07:33

Rewards poison relationships.

Victoria012026-08-22 12:54

This book challenges the common belief that rewards are always good for behavior.

Philip2026-08-19 20:17

I never realized that giving my kid a reward for homework was actually teaching them to hate learning until I read this.

Issac32026-08-16 18:21

Kohn proves that stickers and bonuses actually kill creativity and turn kids into compliance machines instead of curious learners who enjoy the process.

Clayton012026-08-05 00:03

This book made me realize that stickers and bonuses actually hurt motivation instead of helping people do better work.

Palmer072026-08-03 02:44

Reading this made me realize my own praise often turns fun tasks into boring jobs just to get a prize.

Kian2026-07-27 04:38

This book makes me rethink all my parenting habits.

Otis2026-07-23 01:47

The argument that reward systems are dehumanizing and create dependency is deeply disturbing.

Dale2026-07-21 13:05

The idea that rewards turn fun activities into boring chores to earn a prize really changed how I see parenting.

Laurel272026-07-20 10:38

Short and sweet, this book makes a strong case against using rewards to motivate.

Elias772026-07-12 20:50

Kohn proves rewards kill creativity by showing how they narrow focus to just the task needed to earn the prize, ignoring the deeper joy of learning or solving problems in new ways that come from genuine curiosity and autonomy rather than external incentives that turn fun activities into chores people only do to get something in return.

Amy2026-07-08 17:15

Kohn proves rewards actually destroy motivation instead of helping people learn better.

Ace2026-07-05 01:31

The section on how rewards poison workplace relationships and trust is very convincing.

Edna2026-07-04 07:49

The book proves that rewards like stickers and bonuses actually kill creativity and intrinsic motivation.