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You're Not as Crazy as I Thought (But You're Still Wrong): Conversations between a Die-Hard Liberal and a Devoted Conservative Hardcover – April 1, 2012

by Phil Neisser (Author), Jacob Hess (Author)

3.5 12 ratings

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Americans have been divided along political lines for so long that they have nearly forgotten how to talk to one another, much less how to listen. This is not likely to improve as long as differences between them continue to be cast in overly simplistic terms, such as “ignorance” vs. “enlightened awareness” or “morality” vs. “reprobate immorality.” Such dichotomies ignore the fact that many citizens who disagree politically nonetheless share a desire to work for the larger good of society.

Phil Neisser, a self-described “left-wing atheist,” first met Jacob Hess, a social conservative, at the 2008 proceedings of the National Coalition for Dialogue and Deliberation. After discovering a shared commitment to cross-party dialogue, they embarked together on a yearlong attempt to practice what they preached. In this book they share the result by exploring the boundaries of core disagreements about morality, power, gender roles, sexuality, race, big government, big business, and big media.

Each chapter revolves around an issue explored in depth through back-and-forth, lively question and response. This nuanced, iterative process was transformative for both authors, and could likewise serve as a valuable resource for anyone―liberal or conservative―who feels disillusioned by today’s often shallow, demagogic public discourse.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This book is a wonderfully entertaining, provocative, and engaging read, as well as an antidote to the 24/7 news cycle of instant punditry and screaming headlines. The authors’ spirit of passionate, yet respectful, engagement brought forth nuances that were illuminating and surprising. By exploring their views on contentious issues and posing tough questions to flesh out each other’s perspectives, they have made a genuine contribution to American political life. More of us could benefit from leaving the ‘comfort zone’ and sticking our necks out to connect with people who have very different ideas from our own."—Dave Joseph, vice president, Public Conversations Project

"One of the toughest divides to bridge is that between liberals and conservatives. Yet Neisser and Hess pull it off, and without compromising their principles or forcing agreement when it’s just not there. Their journey together is engrossing and inspiring: they listen carefully to each other, ask plenty of questions, and have fun. In doing so, they offer a model of thoughtful deliberative practice, something sorely needed in these polarizing times."—Sandy Heierbacher, director, National Coalition for Dialogue and Deliberation

"I've been so disheartened with what I see going on in the political world these days that I found myself engaged in this book from the start. What I read gives me hope that if more people tried out what Neisser and Hess have done, this country could move away from political posturing and toward reasoned discussion of the many issues that divide us."—Dr. Joycelyn Landrum-Brown, program coordinator, Office of Inclusion and Intercultural Relations, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

About the Author

PHIL NEISSER chairs the Department of Politics at SUNY Potsdam and serves half-time as associate dean of arts and sciences. He is the author of United We Fall: Ending America's Love Affair with the Political Center (Praeger, 2008). He lives in Potsdam, New York.
JACOB HESS is the research director at Utah Youth Village, a nonprofit for abused children and families in crisis. In 2004 he helped to develop and co-facilitate a liberal-conservative dialogue course at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign--the first of its kind in the nation. He lives in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ POTOMAC BOOKS (April 1, 2012)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 230 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1612344615
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1612344614
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.08 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.31 x 1.06 x 9.28 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #3,332,681 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #2,057 in Non-US Legal Systems (Books)
- #2,225 in Comparative Politics
- #4,945 in Political Commentary & Opinion

Customer Reviews:
3.5 12 ratings

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Jacob Hess
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After graduating from Brigham Young University, Jacob studied in the clinical-community psychology doctoral program at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. His dissertation research examined competing narratives of medical treatment for depression. After finishing his PhD, Jacob accepted a position as research director at Utah Youth Village, a nonprofit for abused children and families in crisis. In recent years, his focus has been long-term treatment outcome studies and developing in-home, public health interventions for depression. With mindfulness teacher, Tom McConkie, Jacob recently started a new non-profit, All of Life (www.alloflife.org)--with an aim of developing online, risk-factor oriented classes for depression, anxiety and ADHD.
Jacob has published 12 peer-reviewed articles and one book, in collaboration with Dr. Phil Neisser (State University of New York, Potsdam) entitled, "You're Not as Crazy as I Thought (But You’re Still Wrong) Conversations between a Devoted Conservative and a Die-Hard Liberal." His upcoming second book is a discourse analysis of the conversation about romance in the United States: "Once upon a time...they weren't feeling it anymore: Fleeting affection, passing attraction and the elusive happy ending." Jacob is married to Monique Moore, with one 18 month-old boy who makes sure his daddy smiles at least 9 times a day.
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Philip T. Neisser
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Phil Neisser is the co-author of You’re not as Crazy as I Thought (But You’re Still Wrong): Conversations between a Die-Hard Liberal and a Devoted Conservative (Potomac Books, 2012) and the author of United We Fall: Ending America's Love Affair with the Political Center (Praeger, 2008). He is also the associate dean of arts and sciences at SUNY Potsdam, the chair of the department of politics at the same place, the drummer in Ten Speed Taxi, and an avid cyclist. He earned his Master’s at Georgetown University (1981) and his Ph.D at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst (1989).
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Brigid B.
Everyone should read this book!
Reviewed in the United States on November 26, 2012
Verified Purchase
Now that the most horrible election cycle ever has concluded, it's time for people to learn how to get along a bit better, in the political sphere, than a bunch of spoiled children in a crowded sandbox. This book should be mandatory reading for the voting population. It should be mandatory reading for all the extremist pundits out there who make a living out of sowing negativity and malcontent. Respectful debate seems to be a lost art, but one which has been reclaimed by these two gentlemen, who possess widely divergent ideologies. I have read this book through twice so far, and pull it out when I need a reminder that it is possible to converse in a respectful and rational manner with others who do not share your views. In fact, it's invaluable to do so! You never know what you can learn from another person until you actually listen to what they have to say. Great lesson for anyone to learn! Great book!

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6 people found this helpful

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Ozten
Yawnfest 2013
Reviewed in the United States on April 23, 2013
Verified Purchase
I heard about this book on NPR and was quite excited about it.

The concept of tackling the problem of division in our country is a great one. How can we overcome polarization between red and blue states?

Once I started reading this book, I was very disappointed. Most of the content is a dialog between two people. It's a series of opinions on "hot button" topics such as morals, gun control, sex, and race.

The basic problem is that I don't care what either Phil or Jacob think about these topics. Wading through their prose is tedious. There are some great passages in terms of studying how they respectfully disagree... But you'll have to find them.

What this book *could have been* would be an analysis of these techniques. Instead of printing their bloated dialog, choice snippets and then an abstraction of communication techniques could have been presented.

I'd recommend reading a sample of this book before committing.

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14 people found this helpful

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Warren Shaw
A Plea For Understanding Amid A Storm Of Static And Noise
Reviewed in the United States on November 26, 2012
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Professor Neisser continues his quest to build bridges of understanding in our polarized age. In this, his second book, he has teamed up with a self-described political opposite, Jacob Hess, and the two have crafted a book-length "conversation," i.e., a series of brief essays that take a point/counterpoint look at various topics of political philosophy and morality, including hot-button topics like the proper role of government, sexual orientation, and the like.

It's an ambitious undertaking, and it succeeds brilliantly. Although my views and sympathies are all on Professor Neisser's side, both authors state their cases with refreshing calm and lucidity.

But this book is much much more than a moderate-temperature version of Fox News versus MSNBC. The reader will find page after page filled with discussions of complex ideas that are so clear yet so concise that they almost reach the level of poetry. An astonishing achievement!

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7 people found this helpful

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Ayal
Why do I care what they do?
Reviewed in the United States on October 25, 2022
There was no compelling reason to listen to these two. I wish I hadn't.

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Rowrich
You're Not As Crazy
Reviewed in the United States on January 13, 2013
Verified Purchase
I like the sharing of ideas in this book. It's not a fast read, but I wish all our politicians would talk to each other and quit using name-calling and accusing each other of trying to ruin our country. The authors discover more likenesses than differences and use their ideas like a think tank.

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One person found this helpful

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Putzorro
Humanity Forcefully Injected into Politics
Reviewed in the United States on October 25, 2016
Verified Purchase
This series of conversations is a fantastic example of the mechanics of being civil, and being interested in the other person enough to stretch for understanding. It's like an extended lesson in all the things that are pertinent besides the surface shell of who's right and who's wrong, which gets emphasized waay too much. This is a great offset or counterpoint to a lot of the more theoretical work out there that covers the same ground less practically, like Jon Haidt's Righteous Mind or Alford/Smith/Hibbing Predisposed. A couple of polite, frank people covering a big part of the topical matter of the day. Human connection shines through as paramount, over and over; I like that, a lot.

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One person found this helpful

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Betsy West
just as expected
Reviewed in the United States on January 6, 2013
Verified Purchase
my daughters boyfriend loved it! it was a gift and he really loved the idea
and is currently reading it

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C. L. Smith
It's not bad, but the conservative is making too much of ...
Reviewed in the United States on October 26, 2016
Verified Purchase
It's not bad, but the conservative is making too much of an attempt at reconciliation instead of defending his position. Often there is no common ground in discussing liberal and conservative positions on an issue. Truth comes from the tension between the positions, provided both are well presented, not from the attempt to find common ground.

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