To say that a person feels listened to means a lot more than just their ideas get heard. It's a sign of respect. It makes people feel valued.

The biggest mistake is believing there is one right way to listen, to talk, to have a conversation - or a relationship.

Critiquing relieves you of the responsibility of doing integrative thinking.

Some days you just want to get dressed and go about your business. But if you're a woman, you can't, because there is no unmarked woman.

[T]he seeds of [the Argument Culture] can be found our classrooms, where a teacher will introduce an article or an idea . . . setting up debates where people learn not to listen to each other because they're so busy trying to win the debate.

Public discourse requires making an argument for a point of view, not having an argument - as in having a fight.

Life is a matter of dealing with other people, in little matters and cataclysmic ones, and that means a series of conversations.