When mediator Jimmy Carter talks, world leaders listen. When violence erupts in a public housing project, Linda Colburn mediates for peace. And when attorney William Hobgood intervenes to resolve a labor dispute, he saves workers and management the economic and emotional costs of litigation. When Talk Works goes behind the scenes with accomplished mediators to show how these professionals resolve conflicts in our families, businesses, communities, and between nations. In twelve personal, interview-based profiles in the style of The New Yorker, Deborah M. Kolb and her associates present an inside view of mediators at work: who they are and what techniques they use to achieve successful results in all areas of our society where conflicts arise - from business, law, and public policy to public education, the environment, and labor relations. Each of the mediators speaks candidly about his or her work - its challenges, rewards, and failures. Their compelling stories illustrate the many ways to "make talk work," offering insights to mediators currently working in the field, those seeking to enter the profession, and others who find that mediation skills are critical to success in their careers.