Anand Giridharadas (he/him) is the internationally bestselling author of multiple books, and one of our foremost voices on democracy, overcoming division, and how humans make and resist and grapple with change. In his work—as an author, a journalist, and a regular political analyst for MSNBC—he points us toward real, meaningful change, wider human solidarity, and hope. Whether you’re wrestling with how to improve your society or build a more cohesive team, Anand’s message has never been more crucial.

His newest book, The Persuaders, is a New York Times bestseller that explores how people and movements are changing minds by practicing a new art of persuasion for an age of extremes and refusing to write off those who don’t agree. The lessons Anand took from that research are useful not only in political debates but also in the contexts of our workplaces, campuses, and communities. He shows us how to stand bravely for what you believe in while staying open to other viewpoints; how to distinguish those you can and need to win over from those you can’t and don’t; how to draw out and make use of the complexity of those who disagree with you; how to persuade by trying to displace rather than replace others’ ideas; how to use language more effectively to win others over; how variously to grab attention, provoke, assuage, attract, and pick fights in service of your goal. He draws on the work of activists, organizers, scientists, and others to offer us a new “persuaders playbook”: proven strategies for coming together and making change.