I Never Thought of It That Way, Monica Guzman
I Never Thought of It That Way, Monica Guzman
List: $26.95 | Sale: $18.86
Club: $13.47

I Never Thought of It That Way
How to Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided Times

Author: Mónica Guzmán

Narrator: Mónica Guzmán

Unabridged: 8 hr 47 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: BenBella Books

Published: 03/08/2022


Synopsis

We think we have the answers, but we need to be asking a lot more questions.

Journalist Mónica Guzmán is the loving liberal daughter of Mexican immigrants who voted—twice—for Donald Trump. When the country could no longer see straight across the political divide, Mónica set out to find what was blinding us and discovered the most eye-opening tool we’re not using: our own built-in curiosity. 
 
Partisanship is up, trust is down, and our social media feeds make us sure we’re right and everyone else is ignorant (or worse). But avoiding one another is hurting our relationships and our society.
 
In this timely, personal guide, Mónica, the chief storyteller for the national cross-partisan depolarization organization Braver Angels, takes you to the real front lines of a crisis that threatens to grind America to a halt—broken conversations among confounded people. She shows you how to overcome the fear and certainty that surround us to finally do what only seems impossible: understand and even learn from people in your life whose whole worldview is different from or even opposed to yours. 
 
Drawing from cross-partisan conversations she’s had, organized, or witnessed everywhere from the echo chambers on social media to the wheat fields in Oregon to raw, unfiltered fights with her own family on election night, Mónica shows how you can put your natural sense of wonder to work for you immediately, finding the answers you need by talking with people—rather than about them—and asking the questions you want, curiously. 
 
In these pages, you’ll learn: 
  •  How to ask what you really want to know (even if you’re afraid to)
  •  How to grow smarter from even the most tense interactions, online or off
  •  How to cross boundaries and find common ground—with anyone
 
Whether you’re left, right, center, or not a fan of labels: If you’re ready to fight back against the confusion, heartbreak, and madness of our dangerously divided times—in your own life, at least—Mónica’s got the tools and fresh, surprising insights to prove that seeing where people are coming from isn’t just possible. It’s easier than you think.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Laura on September 03, 2024

A relentlessly cheerful attempt to get people who disagree with each other to talk to each other. She had some concrete suggestions that I appreciated. For example, she suggested when determining when and whether to have a serious conversation, consider (1) whether you have the time; (2) whether you......more

Goodreads review by Hannah on September 22, 2024

I lean very far left on the political and social spectrums, and I wasn’t sure I’d want to read this, but tired of all the bad news from the right, I needed to read it. I’ve gotten reluctant to discourse with people on the other side because it’s been feeling so useless - we end up shouting, angry, a......more

Goodreads review by Deb (Readerbuzz) on February 24, 2025

I like to be right. And if I can't be right, then I can at least be loud. And long-winded. This can be toxic in our world today. Many people who disagree with my views carry guns. I need this book. I learned tons of things from this book. I need to write down notes from this book and try them out. (P......more

Goodreads review by Nathan on November 30, 2021

On a bedrock level, it's essential reading in that it's incredibly helpful in teaching a reader how to begin, sustain, and benefit from conversation; in today's age, it's a must-have that will help to preserve the decorum, pleasantry, and enlightenment that we all *truly* seek when we engage in talk......more

Goodreads review by Lindsay on January 12, 2023

Not quite sure what to say on this one. The older I get, the more interested I am in hearing opposing viewpoints and seeing the goodness in all people. That said, there can be serious consequences in voting, and I’m struggling to understand how one person getting a bigger bonus in a new tax structur......more