A total banger. The first two chapters are a bit basic but then she starts spitting hard facts.
Democracy is dying because we are clinging to a dangerous and outdated myth: talking about politics can change people's minds. It doesn't.
This provocative debut from a bold new voice combines a fascinating range of research to show us the psychological and sociological factors that really shape our politics.
Drawing from ancient philosophy to modern neuroscience and social science, Dr Sarah Stein Lubrano reveals the surprising truth about how people think and behave politically. From friendship to community organizing and social infrastructure, she explores the actions that actually do change minds.
In a world where politics keeps getting more irrational, dishonest, violent and chaotic, it's getting much harder to reach people with words alone. So people who really care about democracy must ask: how can we stop arguing and do the deep work to build stronger foundations for political life, and a better world for us all?
the book is saying exactly that the public discourse is irrelevant and doesn't lead to better policies. It doesn't even influence politics at all. I'm not sure how you understood the blurb because the book, as the title implies, is very against public discourse as a political tool.
It seems like, from the blurb, she is advocating for how to converse wity others better. Without that context, it seems defanged, but it's nice to hear that that isn't the case.