Parker’s idea that conflict is inherently a social good is intriguing and counterintuitive. But The Art of Fighting is not nearly as communitarian a book as its setup would suggest ... Parker is surprisingly blurry about the variety of incentives for confronting or ignoring tension that exist in one setting or another ... The book doesn’t do enough to acknowledge that different sorts of conflicts have different stakes ... What these stories add up to, ultimately, is a much less surprising take on conflict than the book tries to lay out.
Readable, intelligent and relatable ... Offers an intelligent framework for understanding conflict as a clarifying—though at times uncomfortable—pathway to enhanced community connection ... An exceptional guide for any group seeking ways to transform conflict into an occasion for positive growth.
An astute and humane guide to navigating disagreements in workplaces, friend groups, communities, and families ... Parker’s advice is friendly and candid, and her central insight—that fighting done right can help heal and reinvigorate relationships rather than end them—is persuasive. The result is a wise manual for clashing with care.
