Hatcher publishes book on improving thinking ability

Inspired by encouragement from two of his former students, Emeritus Professor of Psychology and Licensed Psychologist Joe Hatcher, Ph.D., recently published a book on improving your thinking ability through a variety of scenarios and examples.

The book, “Why Didn’t Anyone Teach Me This Before?: Gentle Lessons in Teaching from a Long-Time Professor of Psychology,” addresses numerous aspects of life, guiding readers to become better thinkers and to view situations from different perspectives.

“Good thinking has to be taught,” Hatcher said. “We’re not naturally good thinkers. After something is taught, it has to be repeated and it has to be internalized.”

With 37 years of teaching experience, Hatcher includes numerous real-life examples in his book, discussing why studying harder doesn’t always lead to better test scores, how genuine change is possible if one is committed and how other people’s ideas about the world often seem so strange, among other insights.

“If you can find a book like this and read and get a couple of things out of it, you become a better thinker,” Hatcher said. “I’ve found ways to talk about concepts that just make sense, are useful and would improve your thinking ability over time.”

Former students Danielle Behm ’17 and Tessa Michelon ’17 encouraged Hatcher to compile the valuable lessons he taught into a book, as they believe these concepts apply to daily life.

“Hatcher was one of those professors who didn’t just teach but challenged me to think differently,” Behm said. “Working with him on the book was a privilege. I encouraged him to write it (or polite hassling as he may put it) because I believed his voice and ideas could make a real difference and his teaching is still something I use in my everyday life.”

Michelon said she feels fortunate to have learned from Hatcher, who can break down complicated topics into something relatable, often through storytelling.

“I’m so happy that his lessons will continue to live on,” Michelon said. “Even after college, Professor Hatcher has continued to be an important influence in my life. We keep in touch from time to time, from providing updates to asking him for advice. He even attended my wedding last year. I’m incredibly grateful for his friendship and mentorship.”

Dante A. C. Houston ’01, now a Ripon College Trustee, said his interactions with Hatcher extend well beyond the academic setting and his engaging instruction in the classroom provided life lessons that continue to resonate with him to this day.

“His genuine interest in the personal and intellectual growth of each student distinguished him as an exceptional educator,” Houston said. “Dr. Hatcher approached the discipline of psychology not merely as a subject to be taught, but as a practical framework for understanding and improving everyday human interactions. I remain deeply grateful for his mentorship during my undergraduate years and value the enduring friendship that has followed.”

In the forward, Behm and Michelon describe the book as a delightful nod to their phrase, “What would Hatcher do?” and it includes memorable “Hatcherisms.” They said Hatcher has continued to provide valuable advice every time they meet up.

“We never want the conversation to end,” Behm and Michelon said in the book’s forward. “That is exactly what reading this book will feel like: an insightful conversation with an endearing friend.”