Sarah Stewart Holland - Now What?: How to Move Forward When Were Divided (About Basically Everything)

Beth and Sarah wrote the book we want and need for right now. In this story-driven guide, they provide a road map to having hard conversations and tackling tough topics with grace and care. Their suggestions and examples will bolster your confidence to discuss fraught issues in a way that bridges the gap between you and your loved ones instead of shutting down communication. (If you were to jot down their conversational prompts on index cards to keep in your pocket for easy reference before your next family gathering, I wouldnt blame you a bit!) Even in these difficult times, this dependable author duo makes readers feel like we really might be able to all move forward, together.

Anne Bogel , host of What Should I Read Next podcast

Lively and accessible and smart, Now What? addresses the human condition and the complications that have made so many Americans feel divided and disheartened in their politics and their personal lives. With a fresh approach and some good faith, the cohosts of the podcast Pantsuit Politics argue, conflict can be used to strengthen connections, not sever them.

Susan Page , Washington bureau chief of USA Today and New York Times bestselling author of Madam Speaker

This book is a bighearted, clear-eyed look at the polarized world we find ourselves inwith real guidance on how to move forward.

Anne Helen Peterson , author of Cant Even

In Now What? Sarah and Beth challenge us to see the connections we share as human beingsfrom our closest friends to the fellow citizens we may never meet. Then, just as they have done for years on their podcast, they empower us through curiosity and grace to strengthen these connections that hold us up and hold us together. We need this book now more than ever.

Gretchen Carlson , acclaimed journalist, female empowerment advocate, and cofounder of Lift Our Voices

It is no secret that Beth and Sarah have long been my North Star for a nuanced approach to political discussion without all the bias. What a thrill to read their latest workthat our shared conflicts can actually create deeper connections with people? Ill have what they are having. Beth and Sarah are the living best at reclaiming common ground.

Jen Hatmaker , speaker, podcast host, and New York Times bestselling author of Fierce, Free , and Full of Fire

Sarah and Beth have somehow figured out a way to approach every discussion with grace, composure, and wisdom, and listening to them will make you a better person.

Clint Harp , TV/podcast host and author of Handcrafted

Sarah and Beth are two of my favorite grown-ups because they are honest about both the best and the worst of us. They never allow us to draw sweeping conclusions about anything, especially each other. If were going to learn how to move forward together, then we need trustworthy guides for the journey. This is the book to help us make amends, increase the good, and learn how to show up for each other even when we disagree.

Emily P. Freeman, Wall Street Journal bestselling author of The Next Right Thing

This isnt a book about politics; its a book about empathy. At a time when we just want to be better humans, Beth and Sarah show us the way.

Kendra Adachi, New York Times bestselling author of The Lazy Genius Way

Reflective, smart, a breath of fresh air that captures our humanity during a time of division and uncertainty. Overcoming polarization in our country begins with grace by reading Now What? and by listening to Sarah and Beth. A must-read for anyone who wishes to build connection, search for solutions, and promote healing for family, community, and nation.

Amy McGrath , retired Marine Corps fighter pilot, former candidate for US Senate, and author of Honor Bound

As the world begins to reemerge from the chaos of the last few years, we look to our friends Sarah and Beth to help us make sense of what now? In their comforting but honest way, these creators of community invite us to remain active in the work of our lives: committing to the hard and holy process of loving other people, even when what they believe is an affront to what we hold dear. Theres no better guide for how to actually connect, how to manage our own expectations, and how to genuinely love (not just tolerate) those we vehemently disagree with. Im so grateful we live in a world with Sarahs and Beths.

Erin Moon , resident Bible scholar on The Bible Binge podcast and author of O Heavy Lightness, Every Broken Thing , and Memento Mori

There is no magic elixir, as Sarah and Beth would say, to solve division in our world. But there is a magic mindset, and these two women have it. With personal stories and practical advice, they show us how to love our neighborswhich includes our familiesand make peace with discomfort. If you, like me, would occasionally prefer locking your door and holing up with a tub of cookie dough instead of dealing with other humans, you need this book.

Elizabeth Passarella , author of Good Apple

Now What? is an essential read for our toxic time. In an era of profound division and pain, Sarah and Beth help us see the power we have to heal the world. It rests in the relationships we already haveat home and across the globe. Read this book and discover a path forward paved with curiosity, grace, and connection.

Lisa Sharon Harper , president and founder of Freedom Road and author of The Very Good Gospel and Fortune

I look to Sarah and Beth for rational takes on the irrational state of politics. Their podcasts and first book helped me so much when I was changing political parties many years ago, and Now What? is the next stage of the conversation for those of us who have been floundering politically. Read this book if youre looking for political calm in all the noise.

Laura Tremaine , author of Share Your Stuff. Ill Go First.

Perhaps you found yourself sitting in the break room or in the church pew or at your own Thanksgiving table when you heard an opinion that startled you into disbelief. Maybe that disbelief quickly worked its way through your system until you were screaming at your boss, your small group leader, or your aunt Gladys. How do we remain connected to those we like and love who see the world so differently from us? In Now What? , Sarah and Beth are our captains, helping us chart a course in the rocky waters of relationships and politics. This book is a compass pointing us to where the calm seas meet our inclination to curse out Aunt Gladys.

Jamie B. Golden , cohost of The Popcast and The Bible Binge podcasts