Turning to One Another: Simple Conversations to Restore Hope to the Future, 2nd Edition

Margaret Wheatley proposes that people band together with their colleagues and friends to create the solutions for real social change, both locally and globally, that are so badly needed. Such change will not come from governments or corporations, she argues, but from the ageless process of thinking together in conversation.

By the author of Leadership and the New Science (over 250,000 copies sold)

Shows how the simple but long neglected act of conversation-of thoughtfully talking and listening to one another-has the power to change lives

Offers insightful advice on how to conduct conversations that will help us to genuinely connect with each other and restore hope to our individual lives

Provides ten "conversation starters" to provoke rich and meaningful exchanges


"I believe we can change the world if we start talking to one another again." 

With this simple declaration, Margaret Wheatley proposes that people band together with their colleagues and friends to create the solutions for real social change -- both locally and globally -- that are so badly needed. Such change will not come from governments or corporations, she argues, but from the ageless process of thinking together in conversation. 

Turning to One Another encourages this process. Part I explores the power of conversation and the conditions-simplicity, personal courage, real listening, and diversity-that support it. Part II contains quotes and images to encourage the reader to pause and reflect, and to prepare for the work ahead-convening truly meaningful conversations. Part III provides ten "conversation starters"-questions that in Wheatley's experience have led people to share their deepest beliefs, fears, and hopes.

About The Author:

Margaret Wheatley writes, teaches, and speaks about radically new practices and ideas for organizing in chaotic times. She works to create organizations of all types where people are known as the blessing, not the problem. She is president of The Berkana Institute, a charitable global foundation serving life-affirming leaders around the world, and has been an organizational consultant for many years, as well as a professor of management in two graduate programs. Her latest book, Turning to One Another: Simple Conversations to Restore Hope to the Future proposes that real social change comes from the ageless process of people thinking together in conversation. Wheatley’s work also appears in two award-winning books, Leadership and the New Scienceand A Simpler Way (with Myron Kellner-Rogers) plus several videos and articles. She draws many of her ideas from new science and life’s ability to organize in self-organizing, systemic, and cooperative modes. And, increasingly her models for new organizations are drawn from her understanding of many different cultures and spiritual traditions.