Civil Unity: The Radical Path to Transform Our Discourse, Our Lives, and Our World

In order to transform our world, we must unite behind a new kind of civility.

In a world that is more divided than ever, it will take a radical act to transform our discourse, our lives, and our world. International civility consultant and keynote speaker Shola Richards believes that unifying our world around the power of civility is that radical act, and it's not for the faint of heart.

Do we want a safer world to live in? Do we want less toxicity in our politics? Do we want a world free of hate and discrimination? Do we want to work in organizations that allow us to do our best work? Do we want our children to learn in schools that are kind and supportive? Do we want to live in a world that prioritizes our mental health and overall wellness? If your answers are "yes," then we must steel ourselves for the reality that uniting around civility is the only path that will get us there.

This deeply personal-and deeply practical-book will not shy away from addressing the challenging questions, such as: How can civil discourse be maintained during disagreements about topics that are profoundly polarizing, like abortion, gun control, or politics?

How can I be expected to be civil toward someone who has deeply wounded me-the drunk driver who killed my child, the relative who sexually assaulted me, the spouse who left me for my best friend, or the narcissistic parent who abused me?

How can I be civil when confronted with the hatefulness of intolerances such as racism, misogyny, antisemitism, homophobia, or Islamophobia?

How can I have a civil conversation with someone who isn't tethered to reality and believes in baseless dark web conspiracy theories? It sounds like civility means that we just need to be agreeable, not rock the boat, avoid having opinions or keeping them to ourselves, and refuse to take a firm stand against the policies and people who are trying to harm me and my loved ones. What in the world is positive about any of that foolishness?

These questions-and more-deserve to be answered. To be clear, Civil Unity is not another book about turning the other cheek when faced with harmful or hateful behavior. This book is about providing the practical tactics to disagree more effectively, bridge ideological divisions, actively prioritize our mental health, and fiercely create a more civil world that will sustain over time.

If you are ready to transform our discourse, our lives, and our world, let's get to work.

Author: Shola Richards
Publisher: Forbes Books
Published: 09/24/2024
Pages: 288
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 1.25lbs
Size: 9.10h x 6.00w x 1.10d
ISBN: 9798887504896


Review Citation(s):
Foreword 06/19/2024
Kirkus Reviews 08/15/2024

About the Author
SHOLA RICHARDS is the CEO and founder of Go Together Global(R) and the author of Making Work Work and Go Together, and he is leading a worldwide movement to change the world based on how we treat one another at work, home, and every place in between. Shola's work has been featured on The TODAY Show, CBS This Morning, Forbes, Black Enterprise, Complete Wellbeing India, and Business Insider Australia, and his tireless efforts to make the world a kinder place have earned him the well-deserved nickname, "Brother Teresa."

As a keynote speaker, Shola has shared his transformative message with Fortune 50 companies, top universities, leading healthcare organizations, Silicon Valley, the motion picture industry, on the TEDx stage, and on three different continents, and in his greatest honor to date, in September 2021, he was invited to testify in front of the House of Representatives on Capitol Hill to share his expert recommendations on how to bring more civility to Congress.

Last, but certainly not least, Shola is a father, husband, identical twin, and a self-professed "kindness extremist" who will not rest until bullying and incivility are extinct from the American workplace. He currently lives in Los Angeles, California, with his wife, two daughters, and his dog, Ace.