Read Any Good Books Lately? (Part 3)

Since the first two books of our summer reading were war stories, perhaps it's now appropriate to share some peace.  The Anatomy of Peace: Resolving the Heart of Conflict by the Arbinger Institute is our current recommendation.  From the back cover:  "What if conflicts at home, conflicts at work, and conflicts in the world stem from the same root cause?  What if we systematically misunderstand that cause?  And what if, as a result, we systematically perpetuate the very problems we think we are trying to solve?  Every day." 

The book description from amazon.com reads: "Through an intriguing story of parents struggling with their troubled children and with their own personal problems, "The Anatomy of Peace" shows how to get past the preconceived ideas and self-justifying reactions that keep us from seeing the world clearly and dealing with it effectively. Yusuf al-Falah, an Arab, and Avi Rozen, a Jew, each lost his father at the hands of the other's ethnic cousins. As the story unfolds, we discover how they came together, how they help warring parents and children to come together, and how we too can find our way out of the struggles that weigh us down. The choice between peace and war lies within us. As one of the characters says, 'A solution to the inner war solves the outer war as well.'  This book offers more than hope -- it shows how we can prevent the conflicts that cause so much pain in our lives and in the world."

We cannot make peaceful choices from a heart at war (when we see others as objects); we can only make peaceful choices from a heart at peace (when we see others as persons).  It's a quick read and well worth the time.  Your heart will thank you!