Beyond Contempt - by Erica Etelson (Paperback)

About the Book

Liberal contempt for Trump supporters is exacerbating the political and cultural rift tearing America apart. Beyond Contempt shows progressives how to communicate respectfully and effectively across the great political divide, defusing hostility, building trust, and, just maybe, discovering common ground.

Book Synopsis

Practical tools for finding common ground and healing a politically divided America

Liberal and progressive frustration, grief, and alarm over Trump's destructive political agenda and behavior have prompted mounting disdain for Trump supporters and other conservatives. This reaction is contributing to political polarization and unwittingly serving to strengthen Trump's hand as he sows divisiveness and hatred. In Beyond Contempt, Erica Etelson shows us how to communicate respectfully, passionately, and effectively across the political divide without soft-pedaling our beliefs. Using Powerful Non-Defensive Communication skill sets, we can express ourselves in ways that inspire open-minded consideration instead of triggering defensive reaction. Providing detailed instruction and dozens of examples of how to discuss hot button topics, Beyond Contempt is a must-have guide to productive dialogue that can defuse hostility, build trust, and open hearts and minds in unexpected ways.

About the Author
Erica Etelson is a writer, community activist, and certified Powerful Non-Defensive Communication facilitator. A former human rights attorney, she has advocated in support of welfare recipients, prisoners, indigenous peoples, immigrants, and environmental activists. She has also organized for clean, community-owned energy as part of a just transition to a local, low-carbon economy. Following the 2016 election, Etelson became active in the resistance movement and in left-right dialogue initiatives. Her articles have appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle, San Jose Mercury News, Progressive Populist, Truthout and Alternet. She lives with her husband and son in Berkeley, California.

From the Back Cover

Whether you're debating a talk show host, co-worker, or Fox addicted Uncle Ralph at Thanksgiving, this book will teach you how to reach people's minds and hearts.... Brilliant!!
-- Thom Hartmann, NY Times bestselling author and America's #1 progressive talk show host

[An] insightful exploration of how to connect with people, bridge divides, and communicate effectively across differences.
-- Matt Morrison, executive director, Working America, AFL-CIO

LIBERAL AND PROGRESSIVE frustration, grief, and alarm over Trump's destructive political agenda and behavior have prompted mounting disdain for Trump supporters and other conservatives. This reaction is contributing to political polarization and unwittingly serving to strengthen Trump's hand as he sows divisiveness and hatred.

In Beyond Contempt, Erica Etelson shows us how to communicate respectfully, passionately, and effectively across the political divide without soft-pedaling our beliefs.

Providing detailed instruction and dozens of examples of how to discuss hot button topics, Beyond Contempt is a must-have guide to productive dialogue that can defuse hostility, build trust, and open hearts and minds in unexpected ways.

Read this book!
-- Joan Blades, co-founder, Living Room Conversations, MomsRising, and MoveOn

An excellent resource for any liberal who wants to heal our divided nation.
-- David Campt, principal, The White Ally Toolkit, an initiative of The Dialogue Company

ERICA ETELSON is a writer, community activist, and certified Powerful Non-Defensive Communication(TM) facilitator. A former human rights attorney, her articles have appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle, Progressive Populist, San Jose Mercury News, Truthout, and Alternet. She lives with her husband and son in Berkeley, California.

About the Author

Erica Etelson is a writer, community activist, and certified Powerful Non-Defensive Communication(TM) facilitator. A former human rights attorney, she has advocated in support of welfare recipients, prisoners, indigenous peoples, immigrants, and environmental activists. She has also organized for clean, community-owned energy as a solution to the climate crisis. Following the 2016 election, Etelson became active in the resistance movement and in red-blue dialogue initiatives. Her articles have appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle, Christian Science Monitor, San Jose Mercury News, Truthout and Alternet. She lives with her husband and son in Berkeley, California.