The Persuaders

At the Front Lines of the Fight for Hearts, Minds, and Democracy

By: Anand Giridharadas

Narrated by: Anand Giridharadas

Length: 12 hrs and 21 mins

Publisher's summary

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • An insider account of activists, politicians, educators, and everyday citizens working to change minds, bridge divisions, and fight for democracy—from disinformation fighters to a leader of Black Lives Matter to Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and more—by the best-selling author of Winners Take All and award-winning former New York Times columnist

“Anand Giridharadas shows the way we get real progressive change in America—by refusing to write others off, building more welcoming movements, and rededicating ourselves to the work of changing minds.”—Robert B. Reich, best-selling author of The System

The lifeblood of any free society is persuasion: changing other people’s minds in order to change things. But America is suffering a crisis of faith in persuasion that is putting its democracy and the planet itself at risk. Americans increasingly write one another off instead of seeking to win one another over. Debates are framed in moralistic terms, with enemies battling the righteous. Movements for justice build barriers to entry, instead of on-ramps. Political parties focus on mobilizing the faithful rather than wooing the skeptical. And leaders who seek to forge coalitions are labeled sellouts.

In The Persuaders, Anand Giridharadas takes us inside these movements and battles, seeking out the dissenters who continue to champion persuasion in an age of polarization. We meet a leader of Black Lives Matter; a trailblazer in the feminist resistance to Trumpism; white parents at a seminar on raising adopted children of color; Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez; a team of door knockers with an uncanny formula for changing minds on immigration; an ex-cult member turned QAnon deprogrammer; and, hovering menacingly offstage, Russian operatives clandestinely stoking Americans’ fatalism about one another.

As the book’s subjects grapple with how to call out threats and injustices while calling in those who don’t agree with them but just might one day, they point a way to healing, and changing, a fracturing country.

©2022 Anand Giridharadas (P)2022 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

Los Angeles Times Book Prize Finalist

“While the world seems to counsel despair, The Persuaders is animated by a sense of possibility.”—Jennifer Szalai, The New York Times

“Illuminating . . . Efforts to persuade opponents instead of writing them off are probed in this searching study. . . . This is an incisive guide to the art of persuasion.”—Publishers Weekly

“Persuasion, Giridharadas effectively points out, is necessary for democracy to thrive. He offers strong stories and evidence that polarization and rigid ideology are not the brick walls they’re made out to be. While Giridharadas wrestles with contemporary issues, his inquiry has timeless qualities that transcend the news of the day in the hope of helping strengthen democracy for all time.”—James Pekoll, Booklist (starred review)

Fantastic!

A great and worthwhile listen that offers hope for bridging a world of extremes. Clear narration and compelling stories.

Thought Provoking

I enjoyed this, found it to be thought provoking and insightful. Also always appreciate solution focus versus screaming into the void!

Solid techniques and examples

I appreciated the techniques and various real-world examples. Very well thought-out and delivered as a whole.

I had to pause several times to absorb ideas and the affect they could haveI would have appreciated a quick recap of those key techniques at the end so this could more easily be used as a guide or training assistant. There were a lot of profound things in this book, but the lessons are delivered in close proximity, making it dense and tougher to recall. I would have appreciated a quick recap of those key techniques at the end so this could more easily be used as a guide or training assistant.

If anyone is looking for impartial examples, it should be noted that the examples used are predominately from left-leaning politics or progressive movements.

Enlightening and timely.

Thanks to the author for his keen eyes and ears in bringing these persuaders to our attention. Much needed understanding and hope in our difficult times.

This book is good 👍

loved this book. couldn't stop listening to a very informative concept of changing hearts

Thoughtful and hopeful

I found this book thoughtful and hopeful. Now I just need to put it into practice myself.

An Important Thought-Provoking Work.

One reviewer said that this book taught that Persuasion was “not just an Art but also a Skill”. This gets to the heart of what Giridharadas is telling us. He not only introduces us to the Persuaders in various scenarios, but he lets us see their joys and frustrations in discovering what Persuasion is.

“People can change.” Really?! Let’s hope so. Maybe some of the techniques his protagonists have developed will change the World but they’ve got a steep hill to climb. This Reader is rooting for them.

Very instructive and enjoyable read. Fine narration. Four Stars. ****

Great read for activists, campaigners, persuaders

Loved this book! Anand expertly profiles some of our iconic social justice movement leaders. Engrossing and informative.

Wonderfully persuasive

The Persuaders makes it argument thorough stories, anecdotes that are wonderfully convincing and inspiring. I will return to its wealth of information.

Educational and ground breaking

Well written with great ideas to help those who are facing issues with family and friends.