Talking Across the Divide, Justin Lee
Talking Across the Divide, Justin Lee
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Talking Across the Divide
How to Communicate with People You Disagree with and Maybe Even Change the World

Author: Justin Lee

Narrator: Justin Lee

Unabridged: 6 hr 3 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Penguin Audio

Published: 08/14/2018


Synopsis

A guide to learning how to communicate with people who have diametrically opposed opinions from you, how to empathize with them, and how to (possibly) change their minds

America is more polarized than ever. Whether the issue is Donald Trump, healthcare, abortion, gun control, breastfeeding, or even DC vs Marvel, it feels like you can't voice an opinion without ruffling someone's feathers. In today's digital age, it's easier than ever to build walls around yourself. You fill up your Twitter feed with voices that are angry about the same issues and believe as you believe. Before long, you're isolated in your own personalized echo chamber. And if you ever encounter someone outside of your bubble, you don't understand how the arguments that resonate so well with your peers can't get through to anyone else. In a time when every conversation quickly becomes a battlefield, it's up to us to learn how to talk to each other again.

In Talking Across the Divide, social justice activist Justin Lee explains how to break through the five key barriers that make people resist differing opinions. With a combination of psychological research, pop-culture references, and anecdotes from Justin's many years of experience mediating contentious conversations, this book will help you understand people on the other side of the argument and give you the tools you need to change their minds--even if they've fallen for "fake news."

About The Author

Justin Lee has spent more than twenty years building bridges between conservatives and progressives on matters of faith and public policy. He is the founder of the world’s largest LGBT Christian advocacy organization and the author of Torn: Rescuing the Gospel from the Gays-vs.-Christians Debate. Learn more at geekyjustin.com.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Abigail on March 08, 2024

There’s nothing awful about this book, it’s just that I thought it would be specifically about the political divide in the U.S. and instead it was a much more generic self-help book, and I always find self-help books to be basically pabulum. This is nice, well-meaning, and well-written pabulum, but......more

Goodreads review by Julianna on January 14, 2019

Reviewed for THC Reviews When my church offered a six week, in-depth discussion and study of Talking Across the Divide, I decided to join in. I thought the book sounded interesting, especially in light of how polarized our society is right now. I think the only way we’re going to solve this problem i......more

Goodreads review by Kendall on August 17, 2021

Lee is brilliant when it comes to interpersonal rhetoric. This is such a great introduction to so many ideas that I've had to work out a lot on my own. I deeply respect Lee's ability to bring groups of people together who disagree strongly and actually listen to each other. This is a rare but much n......more

Goodreads review by Andy on January 18, 2024

A valiant mission. Strategic dialogue is a good idea. I don’t disagree with what the author is saying, I just don’t find that this is a convincing argument for a scalable solution. His proof of success is mainly anecdotal and relies on his particular niche circumstances, which are not generalizable.......more

Goodreads review by Diana on August 09, 2018

While I typically refrain from reviewing or rating books I’m assigned for work, this one really knocked it out of the park for me. I’ve more or less given up on trying to communicate with “the other side”—both in real life and online. I haven’t found an effective way to do it nor do I find I can do......more