The Art of Fighting - by Priya N Parker (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

A paradigm-shattering exploration of how we disagree and how we can do it more effectively, from the author of The Art of Gathering

Every day, everywhere, people fight. They disagree -- at home, at work, in school. They argue -- face to face and online. Whether it's a billion-dollar lawsuit or your book club, conflicts within groups are disputes that question the identity, the purpose, and the future of a group.

In The Art of Fighting, author and facilitator Priya Parker delves into the complex and deeply human dynamics of groups and how they handle conflict. She explains how groups grow, change, and evolve; what happens to them when disagreements arise; and how best to bring about a resolution. She explains that far from being permanent, groups can have a life span, and when a conflict challenges a group, its members need to understand what's at stake and whether the group should stay the same, change, or disband.

As she did in the now-classic The Art of Gathering, Parker draws on her far-reaching experience in the area of conflict resolution as well as her own detailed research and down-to-earth examples to lay out the ways that people in groups can identify a disagreement, determine how to address it, and what to do if the challenge is insurmountable. From the boardroom to the playground and beyond, conflict is increasingly common, and the skills we need to address it effectively are more important to have than ever. The Art of Fighting is a vital primer to help all of us understand how to do that.

About the Author

PRIYA PARKER is a facilitator, strategic advisor, and acclaimed author of The Art of Gathering: How We Meet and Why it Matters. Trained in the field of conflict resolution, Parker has worked on race relations on American college campuses and on peace processes in the Arab world, southern Africa, and India. She studied organizational design at M.I.T., public policy at the Harvard Kennedy School, and political and social thought at the University of Virginia. She lives with her family in Brooklyn, N.Y.