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Civility Articles & Books

Civility has a complicated history. We, therefore, offer materials that invite you into conversation about civility’s meaning, what it communicates to diverse audiences, and how we can lean into the opportunity to collectively reimagine the word. Additionally, there are titles that support the ongoing work of developing language and capacity for building stronger communities through dialogue and restorative practice.

  • Bayer, L., & Masotti, C. (2021). Civility at work: How people treatment is a critical success driver for business. Business Expert Press.
  • Bejan, T. M. (2019). Mere civility: Disagreement and the limits of toleration. Harvard University Press.
  • Bolton, K. (2022). Restorative communities: From conflict to conversation. The Piper’s Press.
  • Boyes-Watson, C., & Pranis, K. (2020). Circle forward: Building a restorative school community. Living Justice Press.
  • Brown, B. (2019). Braving the wilderness: The quest for true belonging and the courage to stand alone. Random House.
  • Dutt-Ballerstadt, R., & Bhattacharya, K. (2021). Civility, free speech, and academic freedom in Higher Education: Faculty on the Margins. Routledge.
  • Edmondson, A. C. (2019). The Fearless Organization: Creating Psychological Safety in the workplace for learning, Innovation, and growth. Wiley.
  • Felten, P., & Lambert, L. M. (2020). Relationship-rich education how human connections drive success in college. Johns Hopkins University Press.
  • Grenny, J., Patterson, K., McMillan, R., Switzler, A., & Gregory, E. (2022). Crucial conversations: Tools for talking when stakes are high. McGraw Hill.
  • Gurbutt, D. J., & Cragg, R. M. (2023). Culture, change and community in Higher Education: Building, evolving, and re-building learning environments. Routledge.
  • Hicks, S. (2021). Introduction to intergroup dialogues. Cognella.
  • hooks, bell. (2019). Belonging: A culture of place. Routledge.
  • hooks, bell. (2021). Teaching community: A pedagogy of hope. DEV Publishers & Distributors.
  • Keith. (2020). Beyond civility. Penn State University Press.
  • Longo, N. V., & Shaffer, T. J. (2019). Creating space for democracy: A Primer on dialogue and deliberation in higher education. Published in with association with Association of American College and Universities.
  • Love, B. (2020). We want to do more than survive: Abolitionist teaching and the pursuit of educational freedom. Beacon.
  • Magolda, P. M., B., B. M. M., & Carducci, R. (2019). Contested issues in troubled times: Student affairs dialogues on equity, civility, and safety. Stylus Publishing, LLC.
  • Maxwell, K. E., Nagda, B. A., & Thompson, M. C. (2011). Facilitating intergroup dialogues: Bridging differences, catalyzing change. Stylus Pub.
  • Palfrey, J. (2017). Safe Spaces, Brave Spaces: Diversity and Free Expression in Education. In MIT Press (1st ed.). The MIT Press. https://doi.org/10.7551/mitpress/11245.001.0001
  • Porath, C. L. (2016). Mastering civility: A manifesto for the workplace. Grand Central Publishing.
  • Pranis, K. (2005). The little book of circle processes: A new/old approach to peacemaking. Good Books.
  • Rinker, J. A., & Jonason, C. (2014). Restorative justice as reflective practice and applied pedagogy on college campuses. Journal of Peace Education, 11(2), 162–180. https://doi.org/10.1080/17400201.2014.898628
  • Rundell, F. C. (2023). The Art of Narrative. Imagine That Enterprises.
  • Sarat, A. (2015). Civility, legality, and Justice in America. Cambridge University Press.
  • Schrage, J. M., Giacomini, N. G., McNair, T. B., Boyd, K. D., Moody-Shepherd, E., & McFadden, J. (2020). Reframing campus conflict: Student conduct practice through the lens of inclusive excellence. Stylus Publishing, LLC.
  • Sensoy, O., & DiAngelo, R. (2014). Respect differences? Challenging the common guidelines in social justice education. Democracy & Education, 22(2), 1-10.
  • Shaw Bonds, M. D., & Quaye, S. J. (2019). Using dialogue to navigate controversy, civility, and community. New Directions for Student Leadership, 2019(163), 87–100. https://doi.org/10.1002/yd.20349
  • Tibbitts, F., & Keet, A. (2024). Emancipatory human rights and the university: Promoting liberation and social justice in/through higher education. Routledge.
  • Valandra, E. C., & Yazzie, R. (2020). Colorizing restorative justice: Voicing our realities. Living Justice Press.
  • Wachtel, J., & Wachtel, T. (2012). Building Campus Community: Restorative practices in residential life. International Institute for Restorative Practices.
  • Waldron, J. (2014). The harm in hate speech. Harvard University Press.
  • Woodson, A. N. (2018, December 10). Defining and practicing deep civility on college campuses. Higher Education Today. https://www.higheredtoday.org/2018/12/10/defining-practicing-deep-civility-college-campuses/
  • Winn, M. T. (2018). Justice on both sides: Transforming education through restorative justice. Harvard Education Press.
  • Yeager, K. A., & Bauer-Wu, S. (2013). Cultural humility: Essential foundation for clinical researchers. Applied Nursing Research, 26(4), 251–256. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apnr.2013.06.008
  • Zamalin, A. (2021). Against civility the hidden racism in our obsession with civility. Beacon Press.
  • Zúñiga, X., Lopez, G. E., & Ford, K. A. (2015). Intergroup dialogue: Engaging difference, social identities, and social justice. Routledge.
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