Linda Ellinor and Glenna Gerard dedicate much of their book to the applications of Dialogue. As consultants on
Dialogue theory, they begin with an actual transcript of a dialogue among
several experts on the subject, which they arranged not only to ground the
reader on the principles of Dialogue, but also to model how an actual dialogue
might unfold. The authors’ in-depth focus on the necessity of
appreciating silence and releasing certainty for a successful dialogue offers
revelatory potential to these ideas.
Those searching for
literary relationships to Dialogue need look no further than Dialogue:
Rediscover the Transforming Power of Conversation. Poetry is generously
scattered throughout the pages, and apt quotes abound from philosophers like
Buber, poets like Rilke, and painters like Matisse.
Most valuable are the authors’ strategies for
bringing value to Dialogue, complementing Daniel Yankelovich’s strategies
for successful Dialogue. Most enjoyable is the enthusiasm that the authors
infuse in their personal encounters with people in Dialogue. And most
appreciated is the timeless advice they provide for those stifled in their
attempts at Dialogue: "When you get stuck and
frustrated, there are three keys to learning and moving beyond: 1. the
willingness to stick around; 2. suspending judgment; and 3. refocusing
attention to engage at a different level."
