This is a self-help book that is an absolute must-read! I'm so excited to share about it today. Read my review below...
Habits of a Peacemaker:
10 Habits to Change Our Potentially Toxic Conversations into Healthy Dialogues
By Steven T. Collis
Nonfiction, Self-Help, Leadership & Motivation
Audiobook, Hardcover & eBook, 256 Pages
September 3, 2024 by Shadow Mountain
Summary
“In this time of sharp political divides and overwhelming feedback, Collis is a much-needed voice of reason and compromise.” –Booklist
Learn the practical skills that can help you build bridges, heal relationships, and engage in productive conversation about even the hardest topics.
Imagine turning what could be a contentious conversation with a family member, a friend, or a coworker into a fruitful exchange that enlightens everyone’s minds and inches both of you toward a solution. Steven T. Collis, one of the world’s leading experts on civil discourse, reveals ten practical habits that can help you navigate the potential minefields of hard topics and leave you and those you converse with feeling thoughtful and productive.
Most people have experienced the slippery slope of dialogue that descends into polarized argument. We yell at each other. We gaslight. We twist one another’s words and meanings. We embrace facts that support our conclusions and ignore those that don’t. Or we sit in silence, afraid to discuss anything of substance. If how you treat others matters to you, this book offers powerful new habits that can give you the confidence to engage in dialogue about hard topics while building and strengthening relationships.
Learn successful habits that will allow you to, among other things:
- Reframe conversations to make them more productive
- Engage in real learning by breaking free from technological manipulation
- Ask questions of others to understand their true motivations
- Recognize gaslighting and not allow it
- Know when and how to use humor
- Take time for long reflection
- Embrace the discomfort of non-closure
- Whether you’re motivated by a desire for more fruitful discussions about politics or simply bringing more peace to your home, Habits of a Peacemaker offers you the tools to engage in constructive and healthy dialogue.
HABITS OF A PEACEMAKER is an excellent book for those who want to become better at discussing hard topics and differences of opinion in a calm and healthy way. Full of historical examples, factual information and the author's own experiences that lend examples of the habits the author is conveying. Easily read in one or multiple segments, which are nicely separated into habits and then sections within each habit. Highly recommended to self-help readers and those who are looking to be better peacemakers and make a positive difference!
This book is extremely applicable to today with a culture that believes if you don't agree or think the same, then you're an enemy. If everyone would apply even some of the habits the author shares the world would be much improved place as individuals, friends, co-workers, and friends could sit down and have positive, healthy and productive discussions about important issues. We need more people who are peacemakers and can listen, understand others, and seek to resolve problems together.
I loved so much about this book! It's written by a law professor whose job is to teach about the first amendment with lots of experience working with others with different backgrounds and opinions. The advice is presented in a factual, relatable way without judgment or accusation. As I tend to be analytical, the writing style of this book was perfect for me. The author also doesn't point fingers and shares some of his own vulnerabilities. No specific opinions or religious teachings are pushed, so if you're wanting something to tell you how to think about any given subject, this book will not do that. It will, however, help you analyze and assess how you absorb information, and how you interact with others who may not think the same as you do or who may have more or less knowledge than you do. It will also naturally lead to some self-assessment and inspiration for being a better peacemaker.
The author provides various object lessons in pieces from history and stories to exemplify certain principles. This made the habits he was sharing relatable and kept me engaged. The object lessons also made it easy to share different segments with my teenagers to help them think more about how they learn and interact with others. It also makes this book a good fit for those who learn best from stories and examples. The audiobook version is also excellent for those who prefer listening to podcasts and such versus reading this type of book.
In the end, was it what I wished for? This book was so fantastic that I've been telling everyone about it! Definitely a book to read, apply and re-read to help us all in being peacemakers in our interactions with others.
Source: I received a complimentary copy from the publisher, which did not require a positive review. All opinions are my own.
STEVEN T. COLLIS is a storyteller at heart. He is also a law professor at the University of Texas School of Law and the faculty director of Texas’s Bech-Loughlin First Amendment Center and Law and Religion Clinic. Previously, he was the Olin-Darling Research Fellow at the Constitutional Law Center at Stanford Law School and chair of the Religious Institutions and First Amendment Practice Group at Holland & Hart LLP.
He is an engaging and sought-after speaker nationwide on religion and law. Steven received his MFA in creative writing from Virginia Commonwealth University and his Juris Doctor from the University of Michigan Law School.
He is the author of Deep Conviction: True Stories of Ordinary Americans Fighting for the Freedom to Live Their Beliefs. He and his wife have five children and reside in Texas.
Imagine turning what could be a contentious conversation with a family member, a friend, or a coworker into a fruitful exchange that enlightens everyone’s minds and inches both of you toward a solution. Steven T. Collis, one of the world’s leading experts on civil discourse, reveals ten practical habits that can help you navigate the potential minefields of hard topics and leave you and those you converse with feeling thoughtful and productive.
Most people have experienced the slippery slope of dialogue that descends into polarized argument. We yell at each other. We gaslight. We twist one another’s words and meanings. We embrace facts that support our conclusions and ignore those that don’t. Or we sit in silence, afraid to discuss anything of substance. If how you treat others matters to you, this book offers powerful new habits that can give you the confidence to engage in dialogue about hard topics while building and strengthening relationships.
Learn successful habits that will allow you to, among other things:
- Reframe conversations to make them more productive
- Engage in real learning by breaking free from technological manipulation
- Ask questions of others to understand their true motivations
- Recognize gaslighting and not allow it
- Know when and how to use humor
- Take time for long reflection
- Embrace the discomfort of non-closure
- Whether you’re motivated by a desire for more fruitful discussions about politics or simply bringing more peace to your home, Habits of a Peacemaker offers you the tools to engage in constructive and healthy dialogue.
(Affiliate links included.)
My Review
HABITS OF A PEACEMAKER is an excellent book for those who want to become better at discussing hard topics and differences of opinion in a calm and healthy way. Full of historical examples, factual information and the author's own experiences that lend examples of the habits the author is conveying. Easily read in one or multiple segments, which are nicely separated into habits and then sections within each habit. Highly recommended to self-help readers and those who are looking to be better peacemakers and make a positive difference!
This book is extremely applicable to today with a culture that believes if you don't agree or think the same, then you're an enemy. If everyone would apply even some of the habits the author shares the world would be much improved place as individuals, friends, co-workers, and friends could sit down and have positive, healthy and productive discussions about important issues. We need more people who are peacemakers and can listen, understand others, and seek to resolve problems together.
I loved so much about this book! It's written by a law professor whose job is to teach about the first amendment with lots of experience working with others with different backgrounds and opinions. The advice is presented in a factual, relatable way without judgment or accusation. As I tend to be analytical, the writing style of this book was perfect for me. The author also doesn't point fingers and shares some of his own vulnerabilities. No specific opinions or religious teachings are pushed, so if you're wanting something to tell you how to think about any given subject, this book will not do that. It will, however, help you analyze and assess how you absorb information, and how you interact with others who may not think the same as you do or who may have more or less knowledge than you do. It will also naturally lead to some self-assessment and inspiration for being a better peacemaker.
The author provides various object lessons in pieces from history and stories to exemplify certain principles. This made the habits he was sharing relatable and kept me engaged. The object lessons also made it easy to share different segments with my teenagers to help them think more about how they learn and interact with others. It also makes this book a good fit for those who learn best from stories and examples. The audiobook version is also excellent for those who prefer listening to podcasts and such versus reading this type of book.
In the end, was it what I wished for? This book was so fantastic that I've been telling everyone about it! Definitely a book to read, apply and re-read to help us all in being peacemakers in our interactions with others.
Source: I received a complimentary copy from the publisher, which did not require a positive review. All opinions are my own.
About the Author
He is an engaging and sought-after speaker nationwide on religion and law. Steven received his MFA in creative writing from Virginia Commonwealth University and his Juris Doctor from the University of Michigan Law School.
He is the author of Deep Conviction: True Stories of Ordinary Americans Fighting for the Freedom to Live Their Beliefs. He and his wife have five children and reside in Texas.
You can find the author here.
Do you find yourself more and more pushed to the extreme on opinions or wanting to bridge the gap with others who think differently on issues than you do?
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