I invite you to join me in celebrating some good news—and pondering what it might start.

If you’ve explored the other parts of this site, you know I’ve been working on a book. It covers many of the themes we explore right here—particularly the ancient “work of the soul” that can make dialogue not just what we do, but who we are. You can read an excerpt here.

Soon you can read the whole thing.

This fall, SkyLight Paths Publishing will release Why Can’t We Talk? Dialogue as a Habit of the Heart. While the book is primarily directed at Christians (in the end, I found I could be most effective when writing to the tradition I know), I believe its lessons can apply across the spectrum of faith. It discusses strengths of character that most faith traditions uphold, suggestions for spiritual practices to cultivate those strengths, and a whole boatload of practical suggestions that anyone can use.

And I hope “anyone”—OK, everyone—will read Why Can’t We Talk? Why? Because it would greatly enrich what I see as one of the most exciting aspects of this development: the book not as an end in itself, but as a small starting point to much larger conversation. Yesterday a colleague of mine expressed a great deal of enthusiasm for the book. She’s a Hindu, and I am dying to hear her perspective, because I know it will add to the general stew of ideas. The more people who read the book, the more voices we can get in the room for this conversation. Who knows? We might be able to move the needle on dialogue where it matters: from interpersonal relationships to the halls of Congress.

I will keep you abreast of important developments as they arise. In the meantime, feel free to tell everyone you know, and post your thoughts here (or on my Facebook page or Twitter feed). There’s no time like the present to start the conversation.