An antidote to division: a book that arms you with the ability to build good arguments and find a path through conflict and confusion. Political progressives like to think they have the advantage of reason over their right-wing counterparts, who often don’t seem to know what the hell they are talking about. Ask someone on the radical right to define wokeness or critical race theory or white privilege, or democracy for that matter, and all you are likely to get is a steaming pile of verbal mush dumped on social justice issues one would have thought long settled. It’s as though they think that line in the Pledge of Allegiance about “liberty and justice for all” was written by a socialist. (Well, in fact it was written by a socialist.) But progressives, too, can be mealy-mouthed when it comes to articulating the concepts held dear to their cause; they are no less prone to fumbling the reasons that make their cause the right cause for everyone and the only cause for democracy. Polarization is prolific and its consequences increasingly clear. Now, more than ever, we need more sophisticated, high resolution ways to pursue truthfulness, extract the essential value lying at the heart of different experiences and points of view, and synergize distributed wisdom to make smarter decisions together. We need each other. We cannot navigate this complexity effectively, alone.

Arianne wrestles with topics like is it sexist to say that “men are trash”?, can white people be victims of racism? and do we bear any individual responsibility for climate change?Many people give kneejerk answers that roughly align with their broader belief system, but flounder when asked for their reasoning, leading to a conversational stalemate—especially when faced with a political, generational, or cultural divide. Divide and conquer so the old adage goes. An effective strategy but only in world with people willing to concede to interpreting life through a low resolution, binary lens.Often entertaining and funny; always concise, exacting, logical, readable, authoritative and un-put-downable. An everyday manual on how oppression came about, how it works, why it persists, and how to defeat it -- Danny Dorling, author of Injustice: Why Social Inequality Still Persists and A Better Politics

Arguing for a Better World cuts right to the heart of these tensions, with the aim of demonstrating the importance of rigorous definitions and distinctions, revealing the arguments that break the stalemates, and equipping listeners with the tools to identify and defend their positions. Drawing on Shahvisi’s work as a philosopher, and using live controversies, well-known case studies, and personal anecdotes, this audiobook reveals and analyses the power relations that shape our social world, and offers powerful ways to challenge them. Though conservative readers may part ways with the author, even they may be interested in the cogent analysis she provides. Brings cooling clarity to the heat of today’s culture wars’ Priyamvada Gopal, author of Insurgent Empire Allows us to not only interrogate our own views, but to persuade others using reason and optimism. A must read’ Aaron Bastani, author of Fully Automated Luxury Communism Gives progressives everything they need to defend their views in an increasingly polarized public sphere . . . Arguing for a Better World belongs on nightstands and in book clubs everywhere -- Carol Hay, author of Think Like a Feminist: The Philosophy Behind the RevolutionAllows us to not only interrogate our own views, but to persuade others using reason and optimism. A must read -- Aaron Bastani, author of Fully Automated Luxury Communism: A Manifesto

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I suppose it’s natural for a career academic to become transfixed on anecdotal information to support a preconceived mindset versus challenging assumptions, considering different perspectives, and removing any and all nuance, but it makes her arguments general and weak kneed. Allows us to not only interrogate our own views, but to persuade others using reason and optimism. A must read -- Aaron Bastani, author of Fully Automated Luxury Communism: A Manifesto Toggling between despair and hope, Shahvisi offers a practical and forgiving path into the tough discussions we have with each other—and our own consciences.”— SALON The circular logic of the argument is the key to plausible deniability inserted in every chapter of the book. The card “oh, this is a reverse racism, not racism”. Because there are always a lot of stereotypical groups above in the hierarchy of suffering. Allows us to not only interrogate our own views, but to persuade others using reason and optimism. A must read' Aaron Bastani, author of Fully Automated Luxury Communism

Gives progressives everything they need to defend their views in an increasingly polarized public sphere . . . Arguing for a Better World belongs on nightstands and in book clubs everywhere -- Carol Hay, author of Think Like a Feminist: The Philosophy Behind the Revolution A philosophy professor attempts a cooler approach to divisive political questions.In chapters with intriguing titles like 'Can You Be Racist to a White Person?' 'Is It Sexist To Say Men Are Trash?' and 'Has Political Correctness Gone Too Far?' Shahvisi attempts not 'to be "objective" or "apolitical,"if such a thing were even possible,' but to 'make my reasoning clear enough that those who disagree with me will at least see where we part ways.'"— Kirkus Review From the Publisher Political and generational divides often dictate how questions such as these are answered, and when asked most people give automatic answers that roughly align with the broader position they believe is right – though many flounder when asked to detail their reasoning. This creates cultural and political tribes, makes people nervous about engaging at all, or leads to the issues to be trivialised or attributed to the excessive sensitivity of ‘snowflakes’ to ‘identity politics’. An insider’s account of the rampant misconduct within the Trump administration, including the tumult surrounding the insurrection of Jan. 6, 2021.Arianne Shahvisi's book cuts through the noise with an eminently sensible discussion of key contemporary 'culture war' issues. -- ALISON PHIPPS, author of Me, Not You: The Trouble with Mainstream Feminism