You probably remember how it went when you were a kid: If your family was typical, your mother said, “Don’t fight,” but your father said, “Don’t lose.” And that was the end of it. With all due respect to Mom and Dad, this advice is little help in a hypercomplex world that’s teetering on the edge of social and ecological collapse. Conflict is now inevitable, but rarely do we teach it in any intentional way. 

A sense of martial artistry is essential to our survival. Gripped by confusion, fear, and outrage, we feel the need to act, but we don’t even know the fundamentals: what to fight, who to fight, when to fight, how to fight, or why to fight. Awkward and impulsive, we’re ineffective and a threat to ourselves and others. This is a book about radical realism and adaptability. It’s about understanding the world, thinking clearly, navigating complexity, and exercising skill in the face of escalating stress and ambiguity. If you’re an aspiring activist with an interest in making a difference, this book, The Enemy is Never Wrong: Martial Art, Activism, and the Fight for a Functional Futureis for you.