Poles Apart: Why People Turn Against Each Other, and How to Bring Them Together

(Paperback)

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A groundbreaking work on why people become so divided - and how they can brought back together. Why do people become divided What steps can we all take to reduce hostility and bring about understanding In Poles Apart, an expert on polarisation, a behavioural scientist and a professional communicator explain why we are so prone to be drawn into rival, often deeply antagonistic factions. They explore the shaping force of our genetic make-up on our fundamental views and the nature of the influences that family, friends and peers exert. They pinpoint the economic and political triggers that tip people from healthy disagreement to dangerous hostility, and the part played by social media in spreading entrenched opinions. And they help us to understand why outlooks that can seem so bizarre and extreme to us seem so eminently sensible to those who hold them. Above all, they show what practical and effective steps we can all take to narrow divisions, build respect for others, and create a greater degree of common understanding. ____________________________________________________ 'It's a fascinating read, which will help anyone who wants to step out of the polarisation cycle and become part of the solution.' Jonathan Haidt, author of The Righteous Mind and The Happiness Hypothesis

Reviews

It's a great book and the spirit of it is so much nicer than all those you are totally wrong books. -- Matt Chorley * The Times *

Author Bio

Alison Goldsworthy is political adviser and campaigner and in 2017 was a Sloan Fellow at Stanford, co-creating its first depolarisation course. Laura Osborne is a professional communicator, spokesperson and podcaster and is currently Corporate Affairs Director at London First. Alexandra Chesterfield is a behavioural scientist with a master's degree in Cognitive and Decision Science. She currently works in financial services.