The Anatomy of Peace

 Book by The Arbinger Institute.

Rather than a typical nonfiction self-help book, this book teaches its principles through a fictional story where the characters then apply those principles to various situations in their lives. It made the book quite a fast read, and I absolutely felt the truth of what was being taught. Its basic premise is that more important than behavior is the motive or desire or “way of being” behind it. (Two people could do the same outward actions, but for very different reasons.) In any given moment we are seeing others either as people or as objects. And that way of seeing others affects how we view and react to everything else. There are countless applications for the principles in this book: marriage, parenting, community, business, politics, leadership, etc. As divisive and contemptuous as our current society is, these principles are sorely needed. This would be a good companion book to Arthur Brooks’ Love Your Enemies.