Conflicted: Why Arguments Are Tearing Us Apart and How They Can Bring Us Together

Description

'Invaluable. The world will be a better place if everyone reads this book, and because it's so entertaining they probably will.' - Philippa Perry What is the secret of happy relationships? How do companies build collaborative cultures? What lies behind some of the greatest scientific and creative breakthroughs? The surprising answer is: conflict. Insight and empathy spring from the clash of different perspectives. In a world where it's easier than ever for people to share their opinions, we should be reaping the benefits of diverse views. Instead, we too often find ourselves mired in hostility or - worse - avoiding disagreement altogether. Ian Leslie argues that this is because most of us never learn how to air our differences in a way that leads to progress. Conflicted draws essential lessons on how to disagree well from world-class experts: interrogators, hostage negotiators, divorce mediators, diplomats and addiction counsellors. It tells inspiring stories of productive disagreements, from the invention of the aeroplane to the success of The Rolling Stones, and combines them with fascinating insights from the science of human communication. Whether it's at work, at home, or in public, confronting our differences is the only way to make the most of them. Conflicted is about how to do that successfully.

Ian Leslie is a journalist, writer and communications consultant who counsels business leaders on brand strategy, internal communications and thought leadership. He writes on ideas, culture and politics for a variety of outlets including the Guardian and Financial Times, and comments on current affairs and culture for the BBC, Sky and NPR. Along with Matthew Taylor, CEO of the RSA, he presents a regular podcast called Polarised, about the way we do politics today. He is the author of Born Liars and Curious, and lives in London with his family. @mrianleslie