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Society

What should we do about societal divisions that run deeper than ever?

Kurt Gray's new book Outraged is a clear and insightful look at our society's deep divides, with valuable tips on building bridges

By Chen Ly

22 January 2025

Paul Jutte (L) and Alexa Johnson (R) of Cincinnati, Ohio, counter a counter-protest of a Women's March rally against the National Rifle Association by conservative gun rights activists on Pennsylvania Avenue outside the Department of Justice in Washington, U.S., July 15, 2017. REUTERS/James Lawler Duggan

Two sides of the US gun control debate meet at a protest in Cincinnati, Ohio

Reuters/James Lawler Duggan

Outraged
Kurt Gray (Pantheon)

It is hard to ignore just how bitterly divided the world feels right now. Over the past year, elections in more than 100 countries have exposed the widening gulf between opposing views. Online, debates spiral into hostility within seconds. In person, contentious topics are often avoided altogether.

Like many, I have struggled to understand “the other side”, let alone imagine bridging the divide. But in Outraged: Why we fight about morality and politics and how to find common…

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