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“Explor[es] the underlying history and psychology of public discourse . . . should be required reading for politicians and public advocates.” —Real Change
The most pressing problem we face today is not climate change. It is pollution in the public square, where a toxic smog of adversarial rhetoric, propaganda, and polarization stifles discussion and debate, creating resistance to change and thwarting our ability to solve our collective problems.
In this second edition of I’m Right and You’re an Idiot, James Hoggan grapples with this critical issue, through interviews with outstanding thinkers and drawing on wisdom from highly regarded public figures. Featuring a new, radically revised prologue, afterword, and a new chapter addressing the changes in the public discourse since the 2016 US election, his comprehensive analysis explores:
- How political will is manipulated
- How tribalism shuts down open-minded thinking, undermines trust, and helps misinformation thrive
- Why facts alone fail and how language is manipulated and dissent silenced
- The importance of dialogue, empathy, and pluralistic narrative reframing arguments to create compelling narratives and spur action.
Our species’ greatest survival strategy has always been foresight and the ability to leverage intelligence to overcome adversity. For too long now this capacity has been threatened by the sorry state of public discourse. Focusing on proven techniques to foster more powerful and effective communication, I’m Right and You’re an Idiot will appeal to readers looking for deep insights and practical advice in these troubling times.
“This is a must-read for anyone tired of the bullying, the propagandizing, the screaming, and the bullsh*t.” —Dr. Samantha Nutt, author of Damned Nations: Greed, Guns, Armies and Aid
James Hoggan is a highly-respected and award-winning public relations expert who, for more than 30 years, has been involved in a wide range of both complex and controversial conversations. Jim is president of the Vancouver PR firm Hoggan & Associates, past chair of the David Suzuki Foundation board, and founder of the influential website DeSmogBlog, which exposes misinformation campaigns polluting the public debate around climate change and the environment. Jim has been called to assist a wide range of organizations such as Shell Global's External Review Committee, Al Gore's Climate Project Canada, Canadian Pacific Railways, the Dalai Lama Center, the BC Law Society, the Government of Ontario, and the B.C. Treaty Commission. Heis author of two previous books on the topic of integrity in public communication, Climate Cover-up and Do the Right Thing. He lives on Salt Spring Island, Canada.
Acknowledgments
Prologue: A Beginner's Mind
Part I: The Polluted Public Square
Section A: Smashing Heads Doesn't Open Minds
1. Like Ships in the Night with Daniel Yankelovichand Steve Rosell
2. The Advocacy Trap with Roger Conner
3. Mistakes Were Made (But Not by Me)with Carol Tavris
4. Morality Binds and Blinds with Jonathan Haidt
5. Why We Want to Be Misled with Dan Kahan
Section B: A Failure to Communicate
6. Facts Are Not Enough with George Lakoff
7. Matters of Concern with Bruno Latour
Section C: Duped and How
8. The Self-regulating Psychopath with Joel Bakan and Noam Chomsky
9. Steve Bannon's Full-service Propaganda Machine with research by Carole Cadwalladr
10. Foreign-funded Radicals
11. Assault on Democracy with Alex Himelfarb
12. Silencing the Voices of Others with Jason Stanley
13. Gaslighting Blurs Our Reality with Bryant Welch
14. Summary: The Polluted Public Square
Part II: Speak the Truth, But Not to Punish
Section D: Leaning into the Future
15. Power and Love with Adam Kahane
16. No Fish? No Fish Sticks with Peter Senge
17. Listen Deeply with Otto Scharmer
Section E: The Mighty Tool of Public Narrative
18. What Are They Thinking? with Anthony Leiserowitz and Ed Maibach
19. The Myth of Apathy with Renee Lertzman
20. Psychic Numbing with Paul Slovic
21. Sometimes David Wins with Marshall Ganz
Section F: From the Heart
22. The Golden Rule with Karen Armstrong
23. Tending Our Inner Ecology with Joan Halifax
24. Speak the Truth, But Not to Punish with Thich Nhat Hanh
25. We Need Warmheartedness with the 14th Dalai Lama
Epilogue: Hope, Compassion, and Courage
Notes
Index
About the Author
About New Society Publishers