Political pundits like Glenn Beck have made careers out of refusing to listen or compromise–scoring big audiences and big book deals in the process.
Today’s guest on the Morning Media Menu was Mark Goulston, M.D., an author, consultant, and a FBI/police hostage negotiation trainer. During the show, Dr. Goulston discussed his new book, “Just Listen: Discover the Secret to Getting Through to Absolutely Anyone.” The doctor explained why focusing on anger and negativity generates bestsellers, offering more constructive alternative models for writers.
Here’s an excerpt: “When you focus [the negative] vehemently and enthusiastically, like Glenn Beck will do, you rally all the people with a real gap–between the have’s and the have-not’s…If you try and focus on the positive that’s being done, that doesn’t play to the deficits in people. Deficits create hunger and aches … When you fan those flames you can’t have constructive discourse. All you have is zero-sum dialogues in which nobody wins.”