A THE TIMES BOOK OF THE YEAR

Bringing valuable lessons from the cutting edge of communication science, Conflicted does for our verbal communication what Thinking Fast and Slow did for our inner decision-making.

'One of my favourite writers . . . Beautifully argued, desperately needed.'
MALCOLM GLADWELL

'Invaluable. The world will be a better place if everyone reads this book, and because it's so entertaining they probably will.'
PHILPPA PERRY

'Essential.' THE TIMES
'Fascinating.' FINANCIAL TIMES

What is the secret of happy relationships?

How do companies build collaborative cultures?

What lies behind some of the greatest scientific and creative breakthroughs?

The surprising answer is: conflict.

Insight and empathy spring from the clash of different perspectives. In a world where it's easier than ever for people to share their opinions, we should be reaping the benefits of diverse views. Instead, we too often find ourselves mired in hostility or - worse - avoiding disagreement altogether. Ian Leslie argues that this is because most of us never learn how to air our differences in a way that leads to progress.

Conflicted draws essential lessons on how to disagree well from world-class experts: interrogators, hostage negotiators, divorce mediators, diplomats and addiction counsellors. It tells inspiring stories of productive disagreements, from the invention of the aeroplane to the success of The Rolling Stones, and combines them with fascinating insights from the science of human communication.

Whether it's at work, at home, or in public, confronting our differences is the only way to make the most of them. Conflicted is about how to do that successfully.

'A cool bath of sanity in a world of frenzied hot takes.'
HELEN LEWIS

'Perspective-shifting in important ways.'
OLIVER BURKEMAN

Ian Leslie's acclaimed new book reveals the secrets of how to disagree without fighting, and shows how mastering the techniques of productive disagreement can transform every aspect of our lives.

About the Author
Ian Leslie is a journalist and author of two acclaimed books on human behaviour, Born Liars, and Curious. His first career was in advertising, where he worked as a strategist for some of the world's biggest brands at ad agencies in London and New York. He now counsels business leaders on communication and writes about psychology, technology, politics and business for the New Statesman, Economist, Guardian and the Financial Times. He is the co-host of a podcast series called Polarised, on the way we do politics today. Ian is a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. He lives in London with his wife and two young children. @mrianleslie


Book Information
ISBN 9780571346943
Author Ian Leslie
Format Paperback
Page Count 304
Imprint Faber & Faber
Publisher Faber & Faber
Weight(grams) 625g
Dimensions(mm) 215mm * 135mm * 20mm