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Why Can't We Get Along? A Book Review

Robert Heinlein

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Published in Why Can T We Get Along?: Healing Adult Sibling Relationships

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In his book, Why Can't We Get Along?, author Dr. Robert W. Fuller explores the complexities of human nature and the challenges of living in a pluralistic society. Drawing on research from psychology, sociology, and anthropology, Fuller argues that our inability to get along stems from a number of factors, including our innate tendency to categorize and stereotype others, our fear of the unknown, and our desire for power and control.

Why Can't We Get Along?: Healing Adult Sibling Relationships

by Peter Goldenthal

4 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	2999 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	237 pages
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Fuller begins by discussing the role of categorization in human cognition. He argues that we all have a natural tendency to categorize people into groups based on their race, gender, religion, or other visible characteristics. This tendency, he says, is driven by our need to make sense of the world around us and to feel safe and secure. However, categorization can also lead to prejudice and discrimination when we start to see people in terms of their group membership rather than as individuals.

Another obstacle to getting along, Fuller argues, is our fear of the unknown. We are all naturally afraid of things that we don't understand or that we don't have control over. This fear can lead us to avoid people who are different from us or who hold different beliefs. It can also lead us to make assumptions about people based on our own limited experience.

Finally, Fuller discusses the role of power and control in our relationships with others. He argues that we all have a desire for power and control, and that this desire can lead us to conflict with others. When we feel threatened by someone else's power, we may try to control them or to avoid them altogether.

Fuller concludes his book by arguing that if we want to create a more just and peaceful world, we need to learn to overcome these obstacles to getting along. We need to learn to see each other as individuals, to respect our differences, and to work together to build a better future.

Why Can't We Get Along? is a thought-provoking and timely book that offers valuable insights into the challenges of living in a pluralistic society. Fuller's research is thorough and his arguments are persuasive. This book is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand the complexities of human nature and the challenges of living in a pluralistic society.

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