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Date: 12/15/2022
EAST LONGMEADOW – Conflict resolution and negotiation are complicated topics, but Joshua N. Weiss, an East Longmeadow resident and co-founder of the Global Negotiation Initiative at Harvard University, wrote his new book, “Dr. McFiddle’s Brilliant Book of Creative Conflict Potions and Other Magical Things,” to teach children those concepts.
The book, illustrated by Olga Scherbakova, is designed to be fun and entertaining, as well as teach people tools for handling conflict and negotiation.
The two main characters in the book are Dr. McFiddle and her protégé, Jasmine. “Jasmine’s life is filled with conflict,” Weiss said. Dr. McFiddle uses potions and elixirs to teach Jasmine about empathy, assertiveness, creative problem solving and other conflict resolution and negotiation tools, couched in “science and magic,” Weiss said.
Weiss has written books for adults on conflict resolution and co-authored the Emo and Chickie storybook trilogy. While the Emo and Chickie books are aimed at kids between the ages of 6 and 10, this book is for slightly older youth, aged 8 to 12, Weiss said.
“Conflict and negotiation is something we do every day,” Weiss said. He said conflict is inherently neutral. “It’s a part of humans that we see the world differently,” he said. “What makes conflicts constructive or destructive is how it’s resolved.”
Weiss said that there has been a focus on helping young people with conflict in recent years, but noted, “if parents don’t model this behavior at home – if they’re yelling at each other – then, [children are] not getting a consistent message.” The book can also help adults learn how to negotiate and resolve conflict, Weiss said.
“A lot of people think [resolving conflicts] is too difficult, but if you learn these skills, you can do it.”
When asked if he always wanted to write, Weiss said, “Honestly, no. I was never a great writer, but I enjoy it. I write when I have something to say.”
“Dr. McFiddle’s Brilliant Book of Creative Conflict Potions and Other Magical Things” is available on amazon.com in e-book and paperback. For more information on Weiss and his books, visit https://www.joshuanweiss.com.