The Opposite of Hate Book Summary

In 'The Opposite of Hate', Sally Kohn embarks on a transformative journey to explore the roots of hate and the potential for love and understanding in its place. Drawing on personal anecdotes and extensive research, she unveils how empathy can dismantle deep-seated prejudices. Kohn's poignant insights challenge readers to reconsider their own biases and the societal structures that perpetuate divisiveness. With a mix of humor and vulnerability, she illustrates that connection is possible, even in the most polarized environments. This thought-provoking read urges us to confront hate head-on and choose compassion as a powerful antidote.

By Sally Kohn

Published: 2019

"Hate is not the opposite of love; indifference is. To combat hate, we must engage with empathy and understanding."

Book Review of The Opposite of Hate

“Brilliantly illustrates the immense and disarming power of changing course and driving not toward division, but toward civility and mutual respect.” --Ms. magazine As a progressive commentator on Fox News and now CNN, Sally Kohn has made a career out of bridging intractable political differences. In this age of dangerous partisan resentment and rising bigotry, she decided to investigate hate itself--to better consider how we can stop it. With her trademark humor and humanity, Kohn introduces us to leading researchers and scientists who are exploring the evolutionary and cultural roots of hate. She travels to Rwanda, to the Middle East, and across the United States, talking with former terrorists and reformed white supremacists, and even sitting down with some of her own Twitter trolls. What she discovers is surprising: All of us harbor hate but the powerful acknowledgment that we are all in this together can lead us out of the wilderness. The opposite of hate is connection.

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Hate is not the opposite of love; indifference is. To combat hate, we must engage with empathy and understanding.

The Opposite of Hate

By Sally Kohn