| You're Not as Crazy as I Thought (But You're Still Wrong): Conversations between a Die-Hard Liberal and a Devoted Conservative Contributor(s): Neisser, Phil (Author), Hess, Jacob (Author) |
|
 |
ISBN: 1612344615 ISBN-13: 9781612344614 Publisher: Potomac Books OUR PRICE: $35.96 Product Type: Hardcover Published: April 2012 |
| Additional Information |
| BISAC Categories: - Political Science | Political Ideologies - Conservatism & Liberalism - Political Science | Commentary & Opinion - Political Science | Comparative Politics |
| Dewey: 320.509 |
| LCCN: 2012000669 |
| Physical Information: 1.06" H x 6.31" W x 9.28" (1.07 lbs) 230 pages |
| Descriptions, Reviews, Etc. |
| Publisher Description: Americans have been divided along political lines for so long that they have nearly forgotten how to talk to one another, much less how to listen. This is not likely to improve as long as differences between them continue to be cast in overly simplistic terms, such as "ignorance" vs. "enlightened awareness" or "morality" vs. "reprobate immorality." Such dichotomies ignore the fact that many citizens who disagree politically nonetheless share a desire to work for the larger good of society. Phil Neisser, a self-described "left-wing atheist," first met Jacob Hess, a social conservative, at the 2008 proceedings of the National Coalition for Dialogue and Deliberation. After discovering a shared commitment to cross-party dialogue, they embarked together on a yearlong attempt to practice what they preached. In this book they share the result by exploring the boundaries of core disagreements about morality, power, gender roles, sexuality, race, big government, big business, and big media. Each chapter revolves around an issue explored in depth through back-and-forth, lively question and response. This nuanced, iterative process was transformative for both authors, and could likewise serve as a valuable resource for anyone--liberal or conservative--who feels disillusioned by today's often shallow, demagogic public discourse. |
Contributor Bio(s): Neisser, Phil: - PHIL NEISSER chairs the Department of Politics at SUNY Potsdam and serves half-time as associate dean of arts and sciences. He is the author of United We Fall: Ending America's Love Affair with the Political Center (Praeger, 2008). He lives in Potsdam, New York. Hess, Jacob: - JACOB HESS is the research director at Utah Youth Village, a nonprofit for abused children and families in crisis. In 2004 he helped to develop and co-facilitate a liberal-conservative dialogue course at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign--the first of its kind in the nation. He lives in Salt Lake City, Utah. |