We're reading this for February 2026 book club. Join us to get weekly discussion on the book.
In an age of polarization, Carol Off, takes a look at how some key words in our language have been weaponized to create divisions in society. It's impossible to have good conversations when you can't agree on the meaning of words.
Off walks through 6 words:
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freedom
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democracy
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truth
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woke
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choice
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taxes
These are the words she feels have the most politically polarized views. There are solid undertones of things like freedom meaning freedom for white people, while excluding black and indigenous voices. Democracy being dismantled by the Koch brothers as they support Far Right activist groups so that only those with gilded privilege get to decide how governments are run. Truth is at odds with science in a vibes based feeling world.
Reading the book is good, and also depressing. I think one of the key ideas I've seen lately is that we don't allow people to hold two ideas that seem contradictory at once. You can't detest what Hamas did in Israel and agree that Israel is now committing genocide. You must pick a side and deviation from your side is met with vitrol from both the radical left and the radical right.
We covered some of these ideas as well in: