By Margaret J. Wheatley

Berrett-Koehler Publishers

ISBN: 978-1-57675-764-2

"Turning to One Another: Simple conversations to restore hope to the future" is a book that uplifts and empowers readers to play their part in bringing about positive change around them simply by starting a conversation.

Margaret J. Wheatley shares the power of simple conversations to change the world. She opines that despite the challenges around us in the form of aggression, poverty, pandemics, wars, natural disasters and violence, people want to live together in peace. To create a better future, we need to start having conversations and listening to each other: conversations where “we each have a chance to speak, we each feel heard, and we each listen well.”

Wheatley’s message is to listen to the people we agree with, but also to the ones with whom we don’t always agree. Most of the time people just want to be heard without interruptions – it heals them. We all have stories we want to share. The most powerful and beautiful part is that these conversations can bring positive changes in our personal lives and in the community at large.

The book is a very easy read, divided into three sections. The first focuses on the power of conversations and supportive conditions. The second is dedicated to personal reflections with images and quotes such as “It’s not the differences that divide us. It’s our judgments about each other that do.” The third highlights 12 Conversation Starters, outlined as brief essays. Each starts with a question and contains real stories, quotes and poems, along with the author’s comments. I found it helpful that the questions – such as “What am I willing to notice in my world?” – were geared toward the reader, as they benefitted my own reflections.

"Turning to One Another" is a useful read to help readers focus on the power of the simple conversations we have with our neighbours and colleagues. When you converse with others, this book will aid you in being mindful of listening for what is different and what surprises you, a process that will help you learn something new and reflect on your current beliefs.

Conversations remind us that “we are part of a greater whole and allow us to find our collective wisdom.” I think readers will feel empowered by this book. Once you start reading, it’s hard to put it down. There are many valuable lessons and skills to learn about the art of simple, effective conversations that will benefit our personal and professional lives.

By having conversations with and turning to one another, we can help change our neighbourhoods, communities, countries and the world, with a goal of allowing everyone to live in peace and without fear – a muchneeded goal in today’s world. I found this book an insightful read and would highly recommend it for every organization, educator and household.

Gurmeet Gill is a principal at Fernforest Public School within the Peel DSB. Twitter: @gillgurmeet01 Email: gurmeet.gill@peelsb.com