I Disagree: Winning Arguments Without Losing Friends

The outspoken liberal voice on the Fox News show The Five shows us how to stay true to our values, find common ground, and communicate with confidence when engaging across political and social divides.

“A helpful guide to engaging with those who think differently from you—and doing it in a thoughtful and civil way.”—Katie Couric

Imagine you’re sitting down to Thanksgiving dinner, knowing it’s going to get heated. One uncle is ready to argue about politics, another relative has very different views, and you usually try to stay out of it, even though you have strong opinions yourself. Conversations like these have split some families up. Now imagine that dinner table debate broadcast daily to millions.

Welcome to the world of Jessica Tarlov, an unflappable liberal voice on Fox News Channel’s The Five. When you’re outnumbered four to one on a daily basis, you better know your stuff. When you’re outnumbered four to one on the highest-rated show on cable news, you better have your beliefs on lockdown.

In the conservative fishbowl of The Five, Tarlov is no stranger to navigating thorny, often contentious debates with poise, authenticity, and conviction. In this riveting guide, Jessica Tarlov shows us how she does it. Because at some point or other, we all face disagreements—whether with colleagues, family, or friends—and want to walk away with both our values and our relationships intact.

Tarlov models an important and accessible route to building bravery for these conversations. She demonstrates that navigating contentious situations is a skill that requires radical honesty, knowing how to engage with numbers and statistics, understanding when to listen and when to talk, and articulating the common threads that unite us all. Tarlov has honed these skills with practice, and here, she reveals her tools of the trade for the first time. She also explores the future of coalition building, the policies that will animate voters, and a politics we can all feel better about.

Whether you find yourself at a charged debate with the in-laws, or in a tricky conversation with your boss, Jessica Tarlov will prepare you to stand up for what you believe in, even if it means standing alone—and why standing alone doesn’t mean standing apart.

Jessica Tarlov is a liberal co-host of The Five on FOX News, the most watched show in cable news. In addition to co-hosting The Five, Jessica plays an integral role in special coverage for the network and is a fixture on election nights and for breaking news. She also co-hosts the podcast Raging Moderates with NYU Professor Scott Galloway and previously worked as a Democratic pollster and researcher specializing in GenZ and Millennial trends. She holds a PhD in political science from the London School of Economics.

“I’ve watched Jessica Tarlov go to work every night in a room designed to make her lose, and she never does. This book is the manual: how to show up with conviction, engage with the data, and find common ground with someone who thinks you’re wrong about everything. In a world driven by outrage and clicks, the most useful skill almost nobody teaches is how to disagree well—and nobody does it better than Jessica Tarlov. Do yourself a favor and read this book.”—Scott Galloway, #1 New York Times bestselling author

“No one is better at defending their positions with facts and data than Jessica Tarlov. I Disagree is a helpful guide to engaging with those who think differently from you—and doing it in a thoughtful and civil way.”—Katie Couric, award-winning journalist

“Jessica Tarlov’s book is a timely reminder that disagreement doesn’t have to mean anger, and that listening may be the most valuable skill anyone can bring to a table—especially ours at The Five.”—Dana Perino, #1 New York Times bestselling author and co-host on The Five

“For every woman who has been told she is too much, not enough, too sharp, too soft, too emotional, or too hard to hear, I Disagree delivers a clear message: Your voice is not the problem. Drawing from her seat as the liberal voice at one of the most watched conservative tables in America, Jessica Tarlov offers a sharp, funny, practical guide to arguing with confidence, absorbing criticism, using data well, and holding your ground without losing yourself.” —Sharon McMahon, #1 New York Times bestselling author and creator of Sharon Says So

“A conversational guide to constructive debate . . . [Tarlov] draws on her real-life experience to offer plenty of useful tools. Those looking to better handle conflicts will get plenty out of this.”—Publishers Weekly