Harvard Professor Releases Book on Navigating Disagreement

Julia Minson's 'How to Disagree Better' offers evidence-based techniques to transform conflicts into opportunities for growth.

Published on Mar. 12, 2026

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Harvard Kennedy School professor Julia Minson is set to release her new book, "How to Disagree Better," on March 24, 2026. The book draws on Minson's research in behavioral science to reveal strategies for engaging constructively with differing opinions, values, and judgments, even in high-pressure situations. In a talk at Harvard, Minson will discuss how displaying receptiveness to opposing views can help bridge divides and leverage disagreement as an opportunity for personal and professional growth.

Why it matters

Disagreement is an inevitable part of life, from workplace decisions to public discourse on divisive topics. However, many people struggle to navigate disagreement productively. Minson's book aims to provide evidence-based techniques to transform conflicts into opportunities for growth, which could have significant implications for improving communication and decision-making in a wide range of personal and professional contexts.

The details

In "How to Disagree Better," Minson shares original research and real-world stories to show why traditional persuasion strategies are often less effective than displaying receptiveness to opposing views. The book will teach readers how to apply conversational receptivity techniques at home, at work, and even when engaging with sources and audiences who may initially be skeptical of their expertise or profession.

  • The book "How to Disagree Better" will be published on March 24, 2026.
  • The book talk at Harvard is scheduled for March 12, 2026.

The players

Julia Minson

A professor at the Harvard Kennedy School and a behavioral scientist with extensive research experience in conflict, communication, negotiations, and decision-making. Her primary line of research addresses the 'psychology of disagreement'—how people engage with opinions, judgments, and decisions that differ from their own.

Nancy Gibbs

The director of the Shorenstein Center at Harvard, where the book talk with Julia Minson will be held.

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What they’re saying

“Disagreement: it is both inevitable and essential for everything from high-pressure workplace decisions, to public communications on divisive topics, to governing democratic societies.”

— Julia Minson, Professor, Harvard Kennedy School (harvard.edu)

What’s next

The first chapter of "How to Disagree Better" is available for download, and attendees are encouraged to read Minson's 2024 paper "Can Conversational Receptiveness Build Trust in the Media?" before the book talk.

The takeaway

Minson's book offers a timely and valuable resource for navigating disagreement in a constructive manner, which could have significant implications for improving communication and decision-making in a wide range of personal and professional contexts.