SFCG Recommended Reading List

Getting to Yes
By Roger Fisher, William L. Ury
Click here to order
This classic text examines the nuances of negotiation in a down to earth and practical manner. The authors use anecdotes to illustrate the positive and the negative aspects of negotiation styles. Getting to Yes is a highly accessible introduction to negotiation and a must read for those interested in conflict resolution.

The Third Side
By William L. Ury
Click here to order
In The Third Side, Ury explores the idea that fighting is not an inevitable part of human nature. Drawing on his training as an anthropologist, he presents a bold new strategy for stopping fights. He describes ten practical rolesthat each of us can play every day to prevent destructive conflict. Taking “the third side” is a powerful alternative that can transform our daily battles into creative conflict and cooperation.

The Eight Essential Steps to Conflict Resolution: Preserving Relationships at Work, at Home, and in the Community
By Dudley Weeks
Click here to order
In easy to read prose, Weeks dispels shows the reader how to transform everyday conflicts into healthy, lasting relationships. Weeks’ ideas foster newfound ways of examining relationships with our loved ones, our co-workers, and our communities.

Watching the Wind: Conflict Resolution During South Africa's Transition to Democracy
By Susan Collin Marks
Click here to order
Search for Common Ground’s Senior Vice President, Susan Collin Marks, writes a compelling, account of peacemaking in action. Watching the Wind takes us to the front lines of South Africa's struggle to manage the tempestuous transition from apartheid to democracy. The international community had expected a bloodbath, but what it saw instead was a near-miraculous process of negotiation and accommodation.

The Peace Book: 108 Simple Ways to Create a More Peaceful World
By Louise Diamond
Click here to order
Diamond asks the reader to breathe, to relax, and to be fully present. Diamond guides the reader on a journey from inner peace, to peace with family, friends, and the world. Diamond inspires the reader with famous quotations as she shares simple ways to create a more peaceful world. Her practical and easy to understand book provides a holistic approach to wellness and to the many conflicts we face in our daily lives.

Building Peace: Sustainable Reconciliation in Divided Societies
By John Paul Lederarch
Click here to order
John Paul Lederach is a highly respected professor at Eastern Mennonite University and he has worked many years in the field practicing conflict resolution. His book, Building Peace: Sustainable Reconciliation in Divided Societies examines international conflict resolution techniques from many levels of society. He stresses the importance of long-term strategies for sustainable peace in conflict zones. Many examples of Lederach’s work in the field complement his theoretical overview of peace building techniques.