Ironing It Out

I have read this book from cover-to-cover twice and I've thumbed through it and used it as a reference guide several times. Each time I read it, I am struck by the author's positive attitude and his belief that disagreement can be the catalyst that brings people and groups together--perhaps in an even closer relationship than they ever experienced before.The author, Charles P. Lickson, is a practicing mediator and trainer, who has something to say to each of us. The book is written in a conversational tone and is filled with nuggets of wisdom and wit. He seems to invite our varied perspectives. It's almost as though he hopes that as we turn the page, we will often have reason to say, "I never quite saw it this way before." The book is good reading for anyone--but especially those among us who value individual differences and want to work through the tough spots in our family relationships as well as our interactions with friends, neighbors, merchants, etc. It's also a great book for teachers, guidance counselors and others who want to help stem the tide of violence in our schools. There are excellent forms, exercises, and checklists which make the ideas in the book a gold mine of ready-to-go, easy-to-adapt lesson plans and training materials. For those among us who want to work out a problem with someone we care about, there is a sample form which can help us word our invitation to invite them "to the table" to talk about our problem.Mr. Lickson has succeeded in writing a book that is practical and philsophical, informative and inspiring. What more can we ask of a book?