Systems Librarian Susie Bille recommends Habits of a Peacemaker: 10 Habits to Change our Potentially Toxic Conversations by Steven T. Collis.
I make the effort to get outside every day. This fall has been glorious, and spending time in the forest helps me relax and find peace. Sometimes (if I’m lucky), that peace stays with me throughout the day.
Habits of a Peacemaker caught my eye as I was thinking about how crazy and rattled people seemed to me this summer. The idea of peacemaking is enticing. Almost like hostage negotiation—a difficult and perhaps unattainable goal.
The simplicity of this book is appealing; it outlines an easy way to interact in a positive way with others.
How do the experts talk about tough topics when people are dug into opposite opinions? The idea of the book is to learn a few simple strategies to help foster understanding and navigate conflict. Each chapter focuses on one specific habit such as intellectual humility or reframing a question.
Examples are given of both famous peacemakers and everyday people who have successfully navigated conflicts. The author is a professor who researches and teaches religious freedom along with other First Amendment topics, and he includes personal anecdotes of conversations on these volatile subjects with a variety of people.
Can your own personal habits create real-world change?
Probably not. We may never have the reach or impact of Gandhi or Mother Teresa, yet we do have the chance to practice handling conflicts daily. Collis speaks from personal experience and provides relatable examples of how peacemaking is a lifelong journey, attainable for anyone willing to put in the effort.
