How to Disagree Better - by Julia Minson (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

In this "brilliant" (Arthur Brooks) and "both timely and timeless" (Adam Grant) book, pioneering Harvard Kennedy School professor and behavioral scientist Julia Minson reveals the counterintuitive secret to a life of less drama and more impact.

We are in a disagreement crisis. The average person would rather go to the dentist than have a twenty-minute conversation with someone that they strongly disagree with. Yet disagreement is both inevitable and essential for everything from navigating decisions at home to running innovative and agile companies to governing democratic societies.

In How to Disagree Better, Minson brings to bear her decades of research into understanding the psychology of disagreement and its relevance to negotiations, conflict resolution, and decision-making, revealing the hidden skill that all the best mediators and negotiators share: displaying receptiveness to opposing views.

The science shows that receptive individuals don't just fight less, they also get more done--they are better decision-makers, better peacemakers, and yes, better influencers than the rest of us. Through original research and case studies, How to Disagree Better will show you why traditional persuasion strategies don't work as well as you think they do, how you can bridge division and reach better outcomes simply by utilizing receptiveness strategies, and that disagreeing better is a skill all of us can learn to apply at home, at work, and with our neighbors.

Review Quotes

"This book will change your conversations, your negotiations, your relationships, and your life. Compelling, urgent, and deeply practical, this is the book we need in this moment."
--Katy Milkman, author of How to Change and host of the podcast Choiceology

"This brilliant book provides a roadmap for disagreeing without bitterness, leading to more happiness and less conflict. This is the book we all need today."
--Arthur C. Brooks, author of From Strength to Strength

"To reach the right decision, disagreement is often necessary--but it has its risks. In this wonderful book, Julia Minson shows us how to disagree in the best possible way."
--Carol Dweck, author of Mindset

"We don't need to disagree less--we need to argue more respectfully, and this book reveals how. Drawing on her extensive knowledge of the science and practice of constructive disagreement, Julia Minson offers lessons for fighting well that are both timely and timeless."
--Adam Grant, author of Think Again and host of the podcast Re: Thinking

"Julia Minson wants you to know that disagreement, done better, really does lead to better decisions. Weaving rigorous research and vivid storytelling, How to Disagree Better is a must read for anyone seeking to foster mutual understanding, constructive dialogue, and more effective outcomes at work and at home."
--Amy C. Edmondson, author of The Fearless Organization

"Finally! A book about how to disagree better, based on actual science! A must read for anyone who is avoiding a hard conversation in their life (which is to say, everyone)."
--Amanda Ripley, author of High Conflict

About the Author

Julia Minson is a professor at the Harvard Kennedy School. She is a behavioral scientist with extensive research experience in conflict, communication, negotiations, and decision-making. Her primary line of research addresses the "psychology of disagreement"--how people engage with opinions, judgments, and decisions that differ from their own. Her work has been published in top academic outlets and covered by CNN, TIME, The Atlantic, The Washington Post, and The New York Times.