A brave, witty and surprising intervention in the culture wars, by the bestselling author of The Guilty Feminist

Are you ready to talk?

Why have disagreements become so flammable?
Why are progressive people calling for censorship in comedy?
How has the so-called 'transgender debate' become so toxic and what can we do to help?
How is our empathy being manipulated by the internet?
How does AI operate like a psychopath?
How do we achieve progress in today's, y'know, screaming hellscape?

We are understandably scared to have difficult conversations right now. But comedian and bestselling writer Deborah Frances-White is even more scared of not having them.

Having grown up in a cult which shut down any dissent, Deborah sees the same tactics being used in our rapidly changing society. She knows the value of freedom of speech, critical thinking and the ability to argue well. And as the host of hit podcast The Guilty Feminist, she has been having difficult conversations in public for almost a decade.

In her new, urgent page-turner Deborah examines how the world has come to this and what we can actually do about it. Most importantly, she explores how to change minds, including our own. Deborah invites us to boldly meet this moment in history with hope, clarity and courage. She has written, as Desiree Burch says, 'a book to leave you transformed.'

Review

Tackles thorny, volatile issues with wit and insight ― Independent, Books of the Month

Delving into everything from censorship to the so-called "trans debate", its message is one of empathy over anger ― iNews

A thought-provoking and witty exploration of the difficult, often uncomfortable conversations that many of us avoid but desperately need to have ― Marie Claire

A truly excellent primer about how we might talk about the thorniest of current issues, encouraging us to ask difficult questions, and properly listen to the answers ― The Bookseller, Non-Fiction Book of the Month

An essential guide for fostering nuanced and intricate conversations in today's polarized society ― Gillian Anderson

Deborah Frances-White writes with the clear sightedness that we need right now. She gives us hope that some of the most intractable dilemmas of today might just might be manageable if we can all connect with each other. In this book Deborah's insight and clarity gives us all something to aspire to ― David Tennant

Nothing feels worse than not being able to talk, to ask questions, to engage, to disagree, to agree, to enjoy one another's often divergent views and to accept one another in the spirit of human oddness. If you have ever felt shut down, this book is a godsend. The greatest thing about it is it invites you to disagree just as much as it invites you to re-consider. Writing it was an act of profound philosophical compassion ― Emma Thompson

Finally! A book to succinctly express the complexity of our age. Fiercely intellectual, thought provoking and inspiring. The world would be a better place if we all had a conversation with Deborah Frances-White. I love a chat but this is a conversation actually worth having! ― Tom Allen

Incisive and hilarious. A bold and timely manifesto for dialogue over division in an increasingly polarised world ― Jemima Khan

A must read that will leave you agreeing in part, disagreeing in part and still thinking, which is exactly the point. In a world full of noise and confusion, but lacking in hope, this book illuminates a pathway to real debate, enriched by deep thinking and calm reasoning ― Julia Gillard

I can't believe that the best conversation I've ever had about some of the most heated topics of today, was with this book ― Dan Schreiber

Deborah has written the exact book the world needs to read right now. Compassionate, rigorous, electric! ― Travis Alabanza

About the Author

Deborah Frances-White is a comedian, screenwriter, author and host of the hit podcast The Guilty Feminist. Virago published Deborah's book The Guilty Feminist in 2018, which hit the Sunday Times bestseller charts and confirmed Deborah's reputation as one of the most thought-provoking and accessible writers today. She is an Amnesty International Ambassador.