James Twyman, author of I Don’t Know, Maybe I Love You: How to Depolarize Your Family, Business, Country, and the World, shares his unique creative process and the urgent message behind his latest book.

“The real problem is the pandemic of being right,” James Twyman tells me as we discuss his newly released book. “I’m right, and if you don’t agree with me, that means you’re wrong. With the temperature so high today, that means I immediately have the right to push you out of my life.”

It’s a problem many of us recognize—families fractured, friendships ended, and communities divided over political and ideological differences. 

But Twyman’s approach doesn’t require anyone to abandon their values or beliefs. Instead, it offers a practical path toward connection.

“What would happen if, instead of saying ‘you’re a bad person,’ I said, ‘tell me more about that’?” he asks. “Something opens rather than closes.”

What makes this book remarkable isn’t just its timely message, but how quickly it came to life. When Twyman first mentioned the concept at dinner, I immediately recognized its potential. Four days later, he had written three exceptional chapters.

Twyman, who has authored 23 previous books including the New York Times bestseller The Moses Code, has a refreshing philosophy about creativity: “The next time you have a great inspiration, just start—chase it down. Do one thing that initiates that vision.”

He explains that most people get stuck in the planning stage. “Even if you do plan, it’s never going to go the way you plan. You’re still going to have to adjust. Creativity is all about momentum.”

Though Twyman is an Episcopal priest with a significant following in spiritual circles, I Don’t Know, Maybe I Love You transcends those boundaries. “This is primarily a secular book,” he emphasizes. “There’s nothing in this book that we didn’t learn when we were in kindergarten, first grade, and second grade. What happened to kindness? What happened to common courtesy?”

For Twyman, this book is just the beginning of a movement. “Imagine if we had thousands or even millions of people who said, ‘I am committed to helping people depolarize.’ The whole problem would just be solved.”

When I asked what advice he’d give to aspiring authors, his answer embodied the same openness he advocates in his book: “Start writing and see where it takes you. Let go of the idea of failure or success. If you can sell a few hundred books that change the trajectory of people’s lives and maybe even the entire world, that’s a great success.”

James Twyman’s book I Don’t Know, Maybe I Love You: How to Depolarize Your Family, Business, Country, and the World is available on Amazon and other platforms. To join the movement, visit de-polarize.com.