Powerful ideas from top nonfiction
Try Blinkist to get the key ideas from 7,500+ bestselling nonfiction titles and podcasts. Listen or read in just 15 minutes.
Get started
Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
Listen to the Intro
How to Have Impossible Conversations summary
Peter Boghossian
James A. Lindsay
A Very Practical Guide
26 mins
Brief summary
How to Have Impossible Conversations by Peter Boghossian and James A. Lindsay offers practical advice on how to approach difficult conversations in a constructive way, with the goal of understanding each other better and arriving at a mutually agreeable solution.
Table of Contents
How to Have Impossible Conversations
Summary of 8 key ideas
Audio & text in the Blinkist app
Key idea 1 of 8
“Impossible” conversations can be productive when they become collaborative.
Beliefs matter. No matter how trivial or weighty, they change the way we behave. If it’s cold, you’ll wear a jacket. Why? Because you believe that it’ll make you warmer. Other beliefs have more serious consequences. Voters who have been convinced that immigrants are murdering their fellow citizens, for example, might elect a strongman promising to do whatever it takes to keep them safe.
The higher the stakes, the more likely you are to clash with people who hold opposing views. And when both of you are convinced you’re in the right, conversations become impossible. But there is a way to have productive discussions about difficult subjects.
The key message here is: “Impossible” conversations can be productive when they become collaborative.
What is an “impossible” conversation? Well, it’s the kind of conversation that feels futile – a conversation in which the divide between ideas, beliefs, and worldviews appears unbridgeable.
A crucial element that’s often missing in these exchanges is give-and-take. Rather than speaking with one another, you take turns speaking at one another. Neither side listens. Instead, you simply pour your ideas onto your opponent, or worse, engage in verbal combat.
The good news is that if someone is willing to talk, there’s a chance you can have a productive conversation. Beliefs can – and do – change, but there are good and bad ways of changing them.
Coercion is a bad way to change somebody’s mind. And it’s not just because it’s unethical. There’s also a simple pragmatic reason to reject coercion: it doesn’t work. No one has ever truly reevaluated their beliefs after being punched in the head. They may say they have, but often that’s just pretense.
However, lots of people have changed their minds after engaging in conversation.
This is because conversations are collaborative. If you come to see things differently, it’s in part because you yourself generated the ideas that helped change your mind. As we’ll see later on, this is one of the reasons conversations can lead people to reassess their beliefs.
When you work together with somebody, you achieve better results than when you simply tell them that they’re wrong and, quite possibly, also stupid.
If this sounds positively utopian in our divided and polarized era, don’t worry – in the following blinks, you’ll be learning concrete techniques to help you have these kinds of conversations!
Want to see all full key ideas from How to Have Impossible Conversations ?
Key ideas in How to Have Impossible Conversations
More knowledge in less time
Read or listen
Get the key ideas from nonfiction bestsellers in minutes, not hours.
Find your next read
Get book lists curated by experts and personalized recommendations.
Shortcasts New
We’ve teamed up with podcast creators to bring you key insights from podcasts.
What is How to Have Impossible Conversations about?
How to Have Impossible Conversations (2019) is a guide to having frank conversations that don’t end in tears. Philosopher Peter Boghossian and scientist James Lindsay argue that however prickly the topic, we all profit when we air our disagreements – provided we’re out to learn something, not just shout our opponents down. These blinks will explore techniques that facilitate respectful dialogue, from rules of building rapport to the art of convincing your sparring partner to reexamine her assumptions.
How to Have Impossible Conversations Review
How to Have Impossible Conversations (2019) is a thought-provoking book that provides valuable insights on navigating challenging dialogues in today's polarized world. Here's why this book is worth reading:
- It offers practical strategies for engaging in constructive conversations, allowing readers to effectively communicate with people who hold opposing views.
- By utilizing real-life examples and concrete techniques, the book empowers individuals to address difficult topics without getting defensive or causing conflicts.
- Its accessible approach and clear explanations make it engaging and enlightening, ensuring that readers won't find the subject matter tedious or dry.
Best quote from How to Have Impossible Conversations
Conversation is inherently collaborative, and it creates an opportunity for people to reconsider what they believe and thus potentially change how they act.
—Peter Boghossian and James A. Lindsay
Who should read How to Have Impossible Conversations ?
- Critical thinkers who love a good argument
- Skeptics intent on dismantling irrational dogmas
- Quiet rationalists fed up with all the shouting
Categories with How to Have Impossible Conversations
Book summaries like How to Have Impossible Conversations
People ❤️ Blinkist
Sven O.
It's highly addictive to get core insights on personally relevant topics without repetition or triviality. Added to that the apps ability to suggest kindred interests opens up a foundation of knowledge.
Thi Viet Quynh N.
Great app. Good selection of book summaries you can read or listen to while commuting. Instead of scrolling through your social media news feed, this is a much better way to spend your spare time in my opinion.
Jonathan A.
Life changing. The concept of being able to grasp a book's main point in such a short time truly opens multiple opportunities to grow every area of your life at a faster rate.
Renee D.
Great app. Addicting. Perfect for wait times, morning coffee, evening before bed. Extremely well written, thorough, easy to use.
People also liked these summaries
4.7 Stars
Average ratings on iOS and Google Play
36 Million
Downloads on all platforms
10+ years
Experience igniting personal growth
How to Have Impossible Conversations FAQs
What is the main message of How to Have Impossible Conversations?
The main message of How to Have Impossible Conversations is to provide tools and strategies for having productive and respectful discussions even on difficult topics.
How long does it take to read How to Have Impossible Conversations?
The reading time for How to Have Impossible Conversations varies depending on the reader's speed, but it typically takes several hours. However, the Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.
Is How to Have Impossible Conversations a good book? Is it worth reading?
How to Have Impossible Conversations is a valuable read for anyone interested in improving their communication skills. It offers practical guidance on navigating challenging conversations with empathy and open-mindedness.
Who is the author of How to Have Impossible Conversations?
The authors of How to Have Impossible Conversations are Peter Boghossian and James A. Lindsay.
What to read after How to Have Impossible Conversations ?
If you're wondering what to read next after How to Have Impossible Conversations , here are some recommendations we suggest:
- The Discomfort Zone by Marcia Reynolds
- Words Can Change Your Brain by Andrew Newberg and Mark Robert Waldman
- Negotiating the Nonnegotiable by Daniel Shapiro
- Persuasive Copywriting by Andy Maslen
- Liminal Thinking by Dave Gray
- How Should We Live? by Roman Krznaric
- Non-Obvious Thinking by Rohit Bhargava
- How to Talk to Anyone by Leil Lowndes
- Bigger Than You by Kelly Roach
- Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman