I can understand the appeal of "I used to believe what you do now, but then I saw the light" arguments, but I'd rather not see this sort of thing replace a discussion of actual reasons for one's changes in belief. It reduces the exchange of useful information, and it signals an unhelpful level of condescension.
People want to tell everything instead of telling the best 15 words. They want to learn everything instead of the best 15 words. In this thread, instead post the best 15-words from a book you've read recently (or anything else). It has to stand on its own. It's not a summary, the whole value needs to be contained in those words.
I'll start in the comments below.
(Voted by the Schelling study group as the best exercise of the meeting.)