As a show of our sincere gratitude and appreciation for your support, we are excited to share this list of books, podcasts, poems, shows, and TV segments that both inform our work and bring our team closer together. We were pleasantly surprised that so much of what we consume in our daily lives is deeply connected to the work of Convergence. We hope you enjoy our picks!
1
Difficult Conversations, Douglas Stone, Bruce Patton, and Sheila Heen
A book for anyone looking to improve their relationships with family, colleagues, clients, and beyond. It is filled with tips and tricks for navigating uncomfortable, difficult conversations and moving from emotions to productive problem-solving. It’s a Convergence favorite that many staff have read!
2
How Do We Remain Bridgebuilders During Times of War? Eboo Patel and Amanda Ripley
Interfaith America CEO, Eboo Patel, and renowned author and journalist Amanda Ripley come together in a podcast on bridgebuilding during times of war.
3
POEM: a call to you who is me, Kevin Coval, Interfaith America
A deeply touching and spiritually educational poem as we grapple with the devastating conflict in Israel and Palestine.
4
Out of Many, One: Portraits of America’s Immigrants, President George W. Bush
We love this powerful collection of oil paintings and stories, where President George W. Bush spotlights the inspiring journeys of America’s immigrants and the contributions they make to the life and prosperity of our nation.
5
Demon Copperhead, Barbara Kingsolver
A brilliant novel with beautiful prose that takes the reader through the life of a young Appalachian boy as he reckons with his own invisibility in a popular culture where even the superheroes have abandoned rural people. The story illuminates many layers of humanity and cultural stereotypes.
6
Ted Lasso,TV Series
Ted Lasso is quality education on the kind of collaborative leadership that Convergence uses in our problem-solving processes and teaches in our Learning Lab. Ted models vulnerability, optimism, humility, and never takes things personally. He also relentlessly treats others with unconditional positive regard.
7
How to Know a Person, David Brooks
A practical, heartfelt guide to the art of truly knowing another person in order to foster deeper connections at home, at work, and throughout our lives. Read an excerpt turned into an Op-Ed here.
8
Field Trip, Lillian Cunningham
Take a pause for this podcast and journey through the messy past and uncertain future of America’s most awe-inspiring and treasured places: our national parks.
9
It’s always energizing to see a major network air a segment on bridging across divides, however silly the delivery is. We give extra points to this one for referencing data from the poll we conducted with our partner, Starts with Us, ahead of launching Citizen Solutions!
10
Parks and Recreation, TV Series
With a strong theme of collaborating across the political aisle, the show makes for a thoughtful, inspiring, and engaging watch. Leslie Knope, the Deputy Director of the Parks and Rec department, is full of passion and love for her city, and this passion fuels her dream of building her own park a reality, bringing people together in the process.
BONUS
The Atlas of Conflict Reduction: A Montana Field-Guide to Sharing Ranching Landscapes with Wildlife, Hannah Ollenburger, Convergence Advancement Manager
This book outlines Hannah’s journey through western Montana’s ranching landscapes and showcases stories of ranchers and affiliated groups who are pioneering collaborative strategies for reducing conflicts with wildlife, while also stewarding the landscape. It is a must-read for anyone interested in conservation, conflict resolution, and sustainable land use practices.
