Going to Extremes

How Like Minds Unite and Divide

Cass R. Sunstein

OUP USA

208 pages | 214x146mm

978-0-19-537801-6 | Hardback | 09 July 2009

Price: £12.99

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One of America's leading legal scholars and political commentators illuminates the social dynamics that lead to extremism
Selling point: Sunstein is one of the most famous public intellectuals in the country, and his most recent co-authored book, Nudge, has been a bestseller for Yale UP
Selling point: He is a friend and advisor to Barack Obama, and both are dedicated to decreasing the levels of polarization in America-a message with real resonance in contemporary America
Selling point: Sunstein's argument is driven by the latest advances in social psychology, which is an approach that has the potential for broad appeal in the general public (like behavioral economics)

Why do people become extremists? What makes people become so dismissive of opposing views? Why is political and cultural polarization so pervasive in America? Why do groups of teenagers, investors, and corporations take unnecessary risks? What leads groups to engage in such destructive acts as terrorism and ethic cleansing?
In Going to Extremes, renowned legal scholar and best-selling author Cass Sunstein offers startling insights into why and when people gravitate toward extremism. Sunstein marshals an abundance of evidence that shows that when like-minded people talk to one another, they tend to become more extreme in their views than they were before. This point applies to such diverse groups as religious organizations, corporate boards, investment clubs, and White House officials. Sunstein introduces original research to show that when liberals are brought together to debate climate change, they end up more alarmed about climate change, while conservatives brought together to discuss same-sex unions become skeptical about same-sex unions. In courtrooms, radio stations, and chatrooms, enclaves of like-minded people are breeding ground for extreme movements.
Sunstein shows that a good way to create an extremist group, or a cult of any kind, is to separate members from the rest of society, either physically or psychologically. This disturbing finding casts new light on the dangers that arise whenever people self-select into niche groups of the like-minded. Sunstein's findings help to explain such diverse phenomena as political outrage on the Internet, unanticipated "blockbusters" in the film and music industry, the success of the disability rights movement, ethnic conflict in Iraq and former Yugoslavia, and Islamic terrorism.
Providing a wealth of real-world examples—sometimes entertaining, sometimes alarming— Sunstein offers a fresh explanation of why partisanship has become so bitter and debate so rancorous in America and abroad—and of what concrete steps citizens and nations might take to halt the drift towards unjustified extremism.

Readership: This book will appeal to general readers, and those interested in current events, politics, and psychology

The specification in this catalogue, including without limitation price, format, extent, number of illustrations, and month of publication, was as accurate as possible at the time the catalogue was compiled. Occasionally, due to the nature of some contractual restrictions, we are unable to ship a specific product to a particular territory. Jacket images are provisional and liable to change before publication.

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Going to Extremes

How Like Minds Unite and Divide

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