Books
Curated books for believers and questioners
How to Know a Person:
The Art of Seeing Others Deeply and Being Deeply Seen
– David Brooks
A beautiful meditation on empathy, attention, and the moral act of truly seeing another human being.
The Righteous Mind:
Why Good People Are Divided by Politics and Religion
– Jonathan Haidt
Illuminates why people of good will can disagree so profoundly, through the lens of moral psychology.
Nonviolent Communication:
A Language of Life
– Marshall B. Rosenberg
A transformative guide to empathetic listening and honest self-expression without judgment or aggression.
Mistakes Were Made:
But Not by Me
– Carol Tavris & Elliot Aronson
Shows how cognitive dissonance makes us defend our errors – and how awareness can open space for humility and dialogue.
How Minds Change:
The Surprising Science of Belief, Opinion, and Persuasion
– David McRaney
Reveals the science of persuasion and empathy – how respectful, curious conversations can truly shift minds.
Crucial Conversations:
Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High
– Kerry Patterson, Joseph Grenny, Ron McMillan & Al Switzler
Offers practical skills to stay calm, clear, and compassionate when conversations become difficult.
Dialogue:
The Art of Thinking Together
– William Isaacs
Explores how dialogue differs from debate, and how shared inquiry can generate new understanding.
Deep Listening:
Transform Your Relationships with Family, Friends, and Foes – Transformational Communication, Listening, and Empathy Through an 8-Step Method
– Emily Kasriel
A gentle and practical guide to truly hearing others – and yourself – with presence and empathy.
Fierce Conversations:
Achieving Success at Work and in Life One Conversation at a Time
– Susan Scott
Encourages honesty, courage, and depth in every exchange – a masterclass in speaking truth with care.
Supercommunicators:
How to Unlock the Secret Language of Connection
– Charles Duhigg
Investigates what makes some people naturally connect – and how we can all become better at meaningful conversation.
Thinking, Fast and Slow
– Daniel Kahneman
Two systems drive the way we think and make choices – the fast, intuitive, emotional mind versus the slow, deliberate, logical one – and how this shapes our beliefs and biases.
The Next Conversation:
Argue Less, Talk More
– Jefferson Fisher
Focuses on how to move past impasse and open the next stage of understanding – essential for continued dialogue.