Why Intolerance and Extremism Happen

To bridge our deepest divides, we must first understand them. In Why Intolerance and Extremism Happen, Kanefield shows that today’s conflicts are not new, but rooted in deep human tendencies.



Drawing on insights from multiple disciplines, including political psychology, neuroscience, the history of journalism, U.S. constitutional history, and more, Kanefield uncovers the forces that pull people toward rigid thinking and authoritarian movements.

“This is a book for any common-sense person who has looked around at the political division and outrage-fueled information environment and said, ‘What the hell is going on?’ or ‘How did we get here?’” 
 
—Dannagal Young, Professor of Communication and Political Science at the University of Delaware


“Kanefield synthesizes insights from prominent scholars across different academic fields to give us a deeper understanding of how we got here. A brilliant book that everyone should read.” 
 
—Peter Arenella, UCLA Law Professor Emeritus



“Kanefield brings her extraordinary intellect and insight to bear on the question of how humans might live in peace with one another. Combining this with her superpower of conveying, clearly and simply, very complex ideas, Kanefield has produced a concise but masterful guide to why things have gone awry in this era of polarization—and how we might find our way back. I could not recommend it more highly.”
  
—Karen Stenner, political and behavioral scientist and author of The Authoritarian Dynamic