Smith authors book on 'Friendly Politics'

Dr. Glen Smith, a University of North Georgia (UNG) professor of political science, has published a book aimed at helping people navigate relationships in the midst of political differences.

Smith said "Friendly Politics" offers a different route than the status quo.

"The fictional narrative that Americans are divided up into red and blue has led to mistrust and disgust even though we have a lot more in common than we think," Smith said. "This misguided narrative has already torn apart far too many initiatives, friendships and even families. It's time for us to reconnect with our true values, with each other and with our political system."

Smith has researched how partisan media outlets impact viewer opinions and has published numerous articles in peer-reviewed journals. He was interviewed by WABE, WDUN, WSB-TV, Fox 5 Atlanta, the AJC, and E&E News during the presidential election of 2020.

"In my book, I offer a step-by-step guide for people to cure partisanship in their friends, family, community, and country," Smith said. "This is the first book to use proven techniques from therapy, psychology, communication, and political science to help people deal with political disagreement in a more constructive manner."