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gwalt118's review against another edition
5.0
Disclaimer: I received an advance reader copy from the publisher.
This book isn't only about how to have political conversations. It's about how to communicate with other humans in a world where too many topics are considered taboo and inappropriate to discuss. It's a fact that we've been shying away from the hard topics for too long because it's just too difficult to figure out how to converse nicely, and we're far too afraid of offending someone (at least us Midwesterners are). Beth Silvers (from the right) and Sarah Stewart-Holland (from the left) host Pantsuit Politics, one of my favorite podcasts ever. They are friends who have meaningful conversations with each other and their guests about current issues and challenging topics (think climate change, abortion, tax law, female candidates). When they disagree, they aren't mean. The book reads the same way. There is a lot of gray area in this world, and Beth and Sarah show us how to live in that gray area without alienating people who don't agree with us.
Massive kudos to Beth and Sarah for putting this wonderful book out into the world. I am so excited to start implementing the strategies I learned from reading it. Do yourself a favor and pre-order a copy for yourself and another one for a friend who falls elsewhere on the political spectrum. Read it and talk about it with each other. If we all did that, we can help make our political (and a lot of our other) conversations much less divisive.
This book isn't only about how to have political conversations. It's about how to communicate with other humans in a world where too many topics are considered taboo and inappropriate to discuss. It's a fact that we've been shying away from the hard topics for too long because it's just too difficult to figure out how to converse nicely, and we're far too afraid of offending someone (at least us Midwesterners are). Beth Silvers (from the right) and Sarah Stewart-Holland (from the left) host Pantsuit Politics, one of my favorite podcasts ever. They are friends who have meaningful conversations with each other and their guests about current issues and challenging topics (think climate change, abortion, tax law, female candidates). When they disagree, they aren't mean. The book reads the same way. There is a lot of gray area in this world, and Beth and Sarah show us how to live in that gray area without alienating people who don't agree with us.
Massive kudos to Beth and Sarah for putting this wonderful book out into the world. I am so excited to start implementing the strategies I learned from reading it. Do yourself a favor and pre-order a copy for yourself and another one for a friend who falls elsewhere on the political spectrum. Read it and talk about it with each other. If we all did that, we can help make our political (and a lot of our other) conversations much less divisive.
heatherclark's review against another edition
5.0
High praise for I Think You're Wrong (But I'm Listening). Navigating political discourse under normal circumstances is difficult in the best of circumstances. Over the last decade (especially the last 5-6 years) it's take on a whole other level of difficultly. I've seen and unfortunately been a part of lumping all the people of one party into a group that shares all the same beliefs. I haven't allowed for the nuances of individuality. Just because you're a member of one party doesn't mean you line up 100% with all the party beliefs or support their leader 100%. This book helped me process my thoughts and feelings and reminded me of the need to show grace to those that I believed were on the opposite end of the spectrum than I am. My hope is that others will show me the same grace as well. If you're having trouble walking through political conversations with those around you, I recommend you spend some time in this book. I don't think you'll be disappointed.
amlane16's review against another edition
2.0
2.5 stars. I agree with their practice of integrating grace, curiosity, and integrity into political discussions. However, I felt that they took scripture out of context to fit their arguments. I also thought they could have spent more time on practical strategies for navigating political conversations well, instead of spending so much time trying to support the why of their personal politics.
3twirlygirls's review against another edition
5.0
The importance of giving grace, seeing nuance, recognizing the media’s false dichotomy of America along with great instructions for exiting the echo chamber. Amazing work, ladies.
rifelife's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
informative
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
These two remarkable and intelligent women signing off with their podcast catch-phrase “Keep it nuanced” is exactly what I needed to hear to cement my feelings and thoughts about this book. It was a challenging (i.e. me occasionally sassily talking at my Bluetooth speaker and then checking myself…) but extremely valuable and important book. I recommend this to all people, especially those who tend to exist in their cozy echo chamber as I usually do. The nuance piece is huge, and these women are great at pointing out the times when a particular situation is not partisan (I.e. condemning the events in Charlottesville 2017), which is where I was sometimes struggling in this post-January 6th era, but they also presented helpful strategies for how to engage in productive dialogue and what to do when it’s no longer productive.
jenniferstringer's review against another edition
3.0
Many good reminders as we approach election season: The importance of talking politics, but doing so civilly. Start by taking off your team's jersey - get to the reasons and whys - and not because it's your party's platform. Keep politics in perspective. Someone's position on nuclear proliferation does not define who they are. Leave room for grace - for yourself and whomever you're speaking with when things go beyond civil. Get curious about why others believe the way they do...again find the whys. Embrace the paradox of messy issues. Many of the country's problems are complicated. If they were easy, we would have solved them already. Be ok with being uncomfortable. As we discover something is not as we believed, it's going to make us uncomfortable. We don't have to immediately retreat to our comfort zones. Be willing to exit the echo chamber. Read/listen to other news sources, talk to people from all walks of life. Listen to them. And finally keep it nuanced. There are issues where everyone can agree - both parties should eschew racism, school shootings, etc. but nuanced in the how to proceed. Make way for the nuance before going for the easy knee-jerk party line dogma.
ctoler's review against another edition
4.0
Very thought provoking book.
This book makes you consider other points of view and realize most of us aren’t at ones and tens. We are much closer to the middle of the spectrum then media would like us to believe.
This book makes you consider other points of view and realize most of us aren’t at ones and tens. We are much closer to the middle of the spectrum then media would like us to believe.
matilynkay1's review against another edition
3.0
This book provides some thoughtful ideas on how to have more compassionate political conversations. The ideas presented are an important part of having conversations that actually address issues. A useful piece in a larger puzzle of working through gridlock and pursuing justice.
Edited to add: I enjoyed this more on the second listen.
Edited to add: I enjoyed this more on the second listen.
mnstucki's review against another edition
3.0
It was funny to me to browse some of the reviews on here... Lots of people disgusted with the authors for either not talking enough about their religion (or not basing their stances enough in their religion), or that they did it too much. Which is, essentially, the story of trying to acknowledge nuance and multiple viewpoints in any arena, but particularly politics, which is the topic of this book. Anytime you're not willing to take an extreme stance, most of the populace is going to be happy to destroy you for it, because as humans, we like things to be black and white, right and wrong, easily adjudicated. Given the criticisms, I think Sarah and Beth can pat themselves on the back for a job well done.