Recommended Books on Mediation and ADR

General mediation and conflict resolution

These books provide a comprehensive understanding of mediation, catering to both new and experienced mediators looking to enhance their mediation skills.

• Mediating Dangerously, by Ken Cloke
• Resolving Disputes, Theory, Practice & Law, by Jay Folberg, Dwight Golann, Thomas J. Stipanowich, Lisa A. Kloppenberg
• Mixed Method Mediation: A hybrid Approach to Conflict Resolution, by Douglas Spoors & Ken Cloke
• The Mediation Process, Christopher Moore, 4^th edition.
• The Mediators Handbook, by Jennifer Beer and Caroline Packard
• Mastering Mediation, by Lynn Duryee and Matt White
• Making Money Talk: How to Mediate Insured Claims and other Monetary Disputes, by Anderson Little
• The Conflict Paradox: Seven Dilemmas at the Core of Disputes, by Bernard S. Mayer
• Stories Mediator’s Tell, by Eric Galton and Lela Love
• Self Determination in Mediation, by Dan Simon & Tara West

Communication

Effective communication is crucial for conflict management, and these books offer valuable insights and strategies for improving your communication skills in various contexts.

• You Just don’t Understand by Deborah Tannen 
• Talking from 9-5, also by Deborah Tannen  
• Reclaiming Conversation, by Sherry Turkle
• Non-violent Communication: A Language of Life (Nonviolent Communication Guides), by Marshall B. Rosenberg
• Difficult conversations, by Douglas Stone, Bruce Patton, and Sheila Heen
• Words Can Change Your Brain: 12 Conversation Strategies to Build Trust, Resolve Conflict, and Increase Intimacy, By Andrew Newberg, Mark Robert Waldman
• Talking with Strangers, by Malcomb Gladwell

Ethics 

Ethical behavior lies at the core of our profession. Ellen’s book provides a deeper understanding of ethical issues and how to respond appropriately to ensure the highest level of practice.

• Mediation Ethics, by Ellen Walden

Negotiation

These books offer practical strategies for negotiating and resolving disputes effectively, making them essential reads for anyone involved in conflict resolution.

• Negotiation Genius, by Deepak Malhotra and Max H. Bazerman
• Negotiating the Impossible: How to Break Deadlocks and Resolve Ugly Conflicts (Without Money or Muscle), by Deepak Malhotra
• Getting to Yes, Negotiating Agreement Without Giving In, by Roger Fisher and William Ury
• Getting Past No:  Negotiating in Difficult Situations, by William Ury
• Getting to Yes with Yourself (and Other Worthy Opponents), by William Ury
• Beyond Reason: Using Emotions as You Negotiate, by Roger Fisher and Daniel Shapiro
• Negotiating the Nonnegotiable: How to Resolve Your Most Emotionally Charged Conflicts, by Daniel Shapiro.
• Entrepreneurial Negotiation: Understanding and Managing the Relationships that Determine Your Entrepreneurial Success, by Samuel Dinnar & Lawrence Susskind
• Ask for it: How Women Can Use the Power of Negotiation to Get What They Really Want, by Linda Babcock and Sara Laschever
• Negotiator:  A Memoir, by George Mitchell
• Self Determination in Mediation, by Dan Simon and Tara West

Emotions, Psychology & Mindfulness

Emotional awareness and aptitude are requirements for individuals seeking to distinguish themselves as advanced ADR professionals. The following books are recommended to transcend traditional mediation training by helping you better understand your emotional competency while assisting those in the mediation room.

• Managing Conflict Mindfully:  Don’t Believe Everything You Think, by Leonard Riskin
• Psychology for Lawyers: Understanding the Human Factors in Negotiation, Litigation and Decision Making, by Jennifer K. Robbennolt, Jean R. Sternlight , latest edition
• Mind, A Journey to the Heart of Being Human, by Dan Siegel
• The Emotional Life of Your Brain: How Its Unique Patterns Affect the Way You Think, Feel, and Live–and How You Can Change Them, by Richard J. Davidson and Sharon Begley
• Inside Out: How Conflict Professionals Can Use Self-Reflection to Help Their Clients, by Gary Friedman
• Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ, by Daniel Goleman
• Embodied Conflict: The Neural Basis of Conflict and Communication, by Tim Hicks
• Bringing Peace Into the Room: How the Personal Qualities of the Mediator Impact the Process of Conflict Resolution, by Daniel Bowling and David Hoffman
• Memory and Emotion, by Daniel Reisberg and Paula Hertel
• Mindfulness & the Brain, by Jack Kornfield
• On Grief and Grieving: Finding the Meaning of Grief Through the Five Stages of Loss, by Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, David Kessler
• Beyond Smart:  Lawyering with Emotional Intelligence, by Ronda Muir
• On Apology, by Aaron Lazere

Culture & Bias

Cultural roots and differences shape who we are and often lie at the core of our differences. These books assist us in understanding and navigating our differences in more productive ways.

• Cultures and Organizations: Software of the Mind, by Geert Hofstede, Gert Jan Hofstede, Michael Minkov
• When Cultures Collide, 3rd Edition: Leading Across Cultures, by Richard D. Lewis
• Outliers, by Malcomb Gladwell
• The Next IQ: The Next Level of Intelligence for 21st Century Leaders, by Arin N. Reeves
• Kiss, Bow or Shake Hands, by Terri Morrison and Wayne Conaway
• The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down, by Anne Fadiman
• Blindspot:  Hidden Biases of Good People by Mahzarin Banajai and Anthony Greenwald

Lawyers/Mediation Advocates

This book offers an important framework for representing clients in mediation.

• Mediation Representation:  Advocating in a Problem-Solving Process, by Harold Abramson

Miscellaneous but highly recommended nonetheless

While the books below may not fit easily in any of the above categories, they are enthusiastically endorsed!  Some are narrow-focused (for example, dispute resolution system design or appellate mediation); others are broader and speak to applying mediation and dispute resolution skills to address today’s broader issues facing us all.

• From Conflict to Convergence: Coming Together to Solve Tough Problems by Robert Fersh and Mariah Levison
• Possible: How We Survive and Thrive in an Age of Conflict by William Ury
• Thinking, Fast and Slow, by Daniel Kahneman
• Dispute System Design: Preventing, Managing, and Resolving Conflict, by Lisa Blomgren Amsler,  Janet K. Martinez and Stephanie E. Smith
• The Anatomy of Peace, Fourth Edition: Resolving the Heart of Conflict, latest edition, by the Arbinger Institute
• Appellate Mediation, by Brendon Ishikawa and Dana Curtis
• The Business Plan for Peace: Building a World Without War, by Scilla Elworthy
• Brain Rules for Work, by John Medina
• Understanding Conflict and Conflict Analysis, by Ho-Won Jeong
• Anything in the series, Star Trek:  The Next Generation.  Explores the issues & perspectives of each party & helps find mutually acceptable solutions. (Thank you to Philip Allan for making me locate and re-read these books from my childrens’ bookshelves!)