Sunday, July 03, 2016

BOOK BRIEF: "Dialogue: Rediscover the Transforming Power of Conversation" by Linda Ellinor and Glenna Gerard

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."