Cliff Stromberg
“This is an amazing book.
It is a broad-ranging and deeply insightful discussion of morals and values. In these morally confusing times, I can think of no better resource on how to think morally—and how to argue about these matters with civility.”
—Nathan O. Hatch, President Emeritus, Wake Forest University
Issues of morality and values
are among the most important questions we face—and the answers we give are central to our identity. They can also determine whether personal relationships flourish or fracture, whether teams at work cohere or collapse, and how we are perceived by our community. But moral- and value-laden questions often confound us, causing needless confusion or acrimony.
In How Do You Know What’s Right?, Cliff Stromberg offers thoughtful, practical advice about how to think about and discuss moral issues with those who matter in your life. Rather than simple, cookbook rules for being moral, this book provides powerful tools for exploring, thinking, problem-solving, and persuading.
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Stromberg draws widely from the insights of leading philosophers, psychologists, and experts on decision-making, creating a vivid picture of the moral frameworks we instinctively choose from, and the good and not-so-good results they can produce. He highlights the psychological features of morals and values that can lead us astray from our goals. And he explores the dynamics that can make it hard for political liberals and conservatives to discuss their differences constructively.
Whether you confront moral and value issues in your work, family, friendships, or as an engaged citizen of our democracy, How Do You Know What’s Right? will help you think more clearly about such challenges. It can help you create thoughtful dialogue rather than friction, and increase your chances of finding common ground with others.
“Upbeat and uncynical, How Do You Know What’s Right demystifies [how] we arrive at moral conclusions and lays out practical advice about the ‘skillful reasoning and sensible problem solving’ it takes . . . Stromberg’s sweep is ambitious, [but he writes] with wit and a sure command over what will matter to lay readers.”​
—Publishers Weekly BookLife
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“At a time when our ability to communicate constructively feels strained, Stromberg’s accessible survey of the moral frameworks underlying our deepest disagreements offers an important foundation for purposeful engagement.”
—Joan Gabel, Chancellor, University of Pittsburgh
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“Thanks to the comprehensiveness of this work, readers will find illumination in virtually every chapter . . . An impressively thoughtful and detailed analysis of the ways in which moral structures originate and evolve.”
—Kirkus Reviews
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“This is a great book—a book for our times—a book for all thinking men and women who struggle to do the right thing and be a good person in these troubled times of extreme polarization. Kudos to the author, who has synthesized moral theory, human psychology, and practical thought to help us make everyday moral decisions.”
—Joseph Beck, former Managing Director, Raymond James
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