MINGLING WITH THE ENEMY

Our society is more divided than ever on issues relating to politics, religion, and even parenting. In a recent PBS poll, 47 percent of people experience stress when confronted with differing opinions

We are living in a new social era: The Powder Keg Era. These days almost every subject leads straight to politics, and then the conversation goes straight to hell. In a nation that is completely polarized, with most
of us continually pummeled by social media and the 24/7 news cycle, our social lives are taking a hit. We desperately need help navigating conversational minefields such as politics and religion—without getting blown up. Mingling with the Enemy is a vital guide for “surviving” contentious arguments, promoting civil discourse, and finding common ground in any social setting—from cocktail parties to PTA meetings. With this go-to guide, readers will learn how to successfully intermingle, listen, and diffuse heated arguments or disagreements while remaining respectful.

Jeanne Martinet is author of eight books, including The Art of Mingling, which has sold more than 150,000 copies in the US. She has been featured in The New York Times, Salon, The Boston Globe, The Chicago Tribune, The Washington Post, and more. Martinet resides in New York, NY.