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High Conflict

Why We Get Trapped and How We Get Out

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High Conflict

By: Amanda Ripley
Narrated by: Amanda Ripley
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When we are baffled by the insanity of the “other side”—in our politics, at work, or at home—it’s because we aren’t seeing how the conflict itself has taken over.

That’s what “high conflict” does. It’s the invisible hand of our time. And it’s different from the useful friction of healthy conflict. That’s good conflict, and it’s a necessary force that pushes us to be better people.

High conflict is what happens when discord distills into a good-versus-evil kind of feud, the kind with an us and a them. In this state, the brain behaves differently. We feel increasingly certain of our own superiority, and everything we do to try to end the conflict, usually makes it worse. Eventually, we can start to mimic the behavior of our adversaries, harming what we hold most dear.

In this “compulsively readable” (Evan Osnos, National Book Award-winning author) book, New York Times bestselling author and award-winning journalist Amanda Ripley investigates how good people get captured by high conflict—and how they break free.

Our journey begins in California, where a world-renowned conflict expert struggles to extract himself from a political feud. Then we meet a Chicago gang leader who dedicates his life to a vendetta—only to realize, years later, that the story he’d told himself about the conflict was not quite true. Next, we travel to Colombia, to find out whether thousands of people can be nudged out of high conflict at scale. Finally, we return to America to see what happens when a group of liberal Manhattan Jews and conservative Michigan corrections officers choose to stay in each other’s homes in order to understand one another better, even as they continue to disagree.

All these people, in dramatically different situations, were drawn into high conflict by similar forces, including conflict entrepreneurs, humiliation, and false binaries. But ultimately, all of them found ways to transform high conflict into good conflict, the kind that made them better people. They rehumanized and recatego­rized their opponents, and they revived curiosity and wonder, even as they continued to fight for what they knew was right.

People do escape high conflict. Individuals—even entire communities—can short-circuit the feedback loops of outrage and blame, if they want to. This is an “insightful and enthralling” (The New York Times Book Review) book—and a mind-opening new way to think about conflict that will transform how we move through the world.

Featuring audio highlights from actual interviews, town hall meetings, and podcasts. Conflict Resolution Social Sciences Decision-Making & Problem Solving Relationships Inspiring Psychology Psychology & Mental Health Violence in Society Career Success Social Conflict
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Thought-provoking Insights • Valuable Conflict Tools • Engaging Narration • Well-researched Content • Pleasant Voice

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It's well written, compelling, and believable. highly recommended for anyone wondering if there's a way out of polarized times.

well written, compelling diagnosis & prescription

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I loved this book! It was packed with interesting stories and examples that made me understand the work I need to do to begin to have better conversations. It isn’t easy to have conflict but through this book there are examples of why some conflict helps us grow and how high conflict limits us. It definitely makes me want to learn more about the topic and stretch beyond my comfort level. The author does a great job narrating too. I highly recommend this book!

Vital information for everyone

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We are all trapped in High Conflict and Amanda Ripley provides real stories of hope and suggestions for how we can listen deeply, reframe, and shift away from this dangerous mindset.

A must read for every American

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The author did a good job reading her book
There were many items to learn and were well presented. Her bias showed with her attack on Glenn Beck without bringing up firestarting examples on the liberal side… Don Lemon anyone?

Excellent book

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This book describes the ways people get sucked into conflicts, and remain engaged often beyond their best interests. It offers ideas about how to extricate yourself from conflicts, how to understand others more, and live a more curious life. Very enlightening material and a unique view on conflict as a human activity.

Relevant topic with novel insights

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