Friendly Politics: How We the People Can Stop Hating Each Other, Have Productive Conversations, and Actually Get Things Done

Description

How can We the People stop hating each other, have productive conversations, and actually get things done?

The fictional narrative that Americans are divided up into red and blue has led to mistrust and disgust, even though we have a lot more in common than we think. This misguided narrative has already torn apart far too many initiatives, friendships, and even families. It’s time for us to reconnect with our true values, with each other, and with our political system.

In Friendly Politics, political researcher and recovering partisan Glen Smith shares practical, science-based, action steps and insights from psychology, philosophy, and behavior therapy. These action steps and insights will help you

• identify the ways irrational partisanship has been harming you—including your finances, mental health, and even your love life!
• focus on the values you actually share with opposing partisans instead of your perceived differences, so you can have more productive conversations and build meaningful connections
• learn to appreciate different perspectives and become a better listener, so you can understand where others are coming from and pick up valuable insights and perspectives you might normally have missed
• be part of the change by contacting your representatives and support them in taking meaningful action to reform our polarizing two-party system