Ian Leslie Knihy

Drawing on insights from leading experts in conflict and communication, Ian Leslie, a columnist for the New Statesman, explores how to transform conflict and disagreement into opportunities for insight, creativity, and connection. Most people instinctively respond to conflict with a fight or flight reaction, but productive disagreement is a crucial skill that society has yet to equip us with. This skill is essential for navigating our increasingly polarized world, as it enhances intelligence, creativity, and fosters closer relationships. The success of any shared endeavor—whether in marriage, business, or democracy—depends on our ability to engage in constructive disagreement. In this enlightening work, Leslie highlights lessons from professionals adept at managing high-stakes conversations, including interrogators, mediators, and psychologists. These experts excel at extracting valuable insights from the most challenging discussions, transforming the intensity of conflict into constructive dialogue. Leslie delves into the psychological effects of arguing, explaining why disagreements often lead to stress and anger. He emphasizes the urgent need to rethink our approach to conflict and outlines clear principles for making difficult conversations more productive. By learning from these experts, we can improve our dialogue and contribute to a more harmonious society.

A fascinating multi-disciplinary analysis of why curiosity makes the world go round. 'A lovely, erudite exploration of what it is that makes us human' - Independent on Sunday 'I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious' Albert Einstein. Everyone is born curious. But only some retain the habits of exploring, learning and discovering as they grow older. Which side of the 'curiosity divide' are you on? In Curious Ian Leslie makes a passionate case for the cultivation of our desire to know. Curious people tend to be smarter, more creative and more successful. But at the very moment when the rewards of curiosity have never been higher, it is misunderstood and undervalued, and increasingly practised only by a cognitive elite. Drawing on fascinating research from psychology, sociology and business, Curious looks at what feeds curiosity and what starves it, and uncovers surprising answers. Curiosity isn't a quality you can rely on to last a lifetime, but a mental muscle that atrophies without regular exercise. It's not a gift, but a habit that parents, schools, workplaces and individuals need to nurture if it is to thrive. Filled with inspiring stories, case studies and practical advice, Curious will change the way you think about your own mental life, and that of those around you.

Whether it's at work, at home or in public, confronting our differences is the only way to make the most out of them. How to Disagree is about how to do that successfully. Drawing on essential lessons from world-class experts on how to disagree well and combining them with inspiring stories of productive disagreements from science, technology and the arts, Ian Leslie reveals how we can reap the benefits of diverse viewpoints in an era that feels more divided than ever

"Today it seems we have the world at our fingertips. Thanks to smartphones and tools such as Google and Wikipedia, we're able to feed any aspect of our curiosity instantly. But does this mean we are actually becoming more curious? Absolutely not. In Curious, Ian Leslie argues that true curiosity-the sustained quest for understanding that begets insight and innovation-is becoming increasingly difficult to harness in our wired world. We confuse ease of access to information with curiosity, and risk losing our ability to ask questions that extend our knowledge gap rather than merely filling it. Worst of all, this decline in curiosity has led to a decline in empathy and our ability to care about those around us. Combining the latest science with an urgent call to cultivate curious minds, Curious draws on psychology, social history, and popular culture to show that being deeply curious is our only hope when it comes to solving current crises-as well as an essential part of being human."--Publisher information