Searching for Hope in a Divided America

Frustrated with an increasingly polarized social landscape, award-winning photographer John Noltner set out on a 40,000-mile road trip across the United States to rediscover the common humanity that connects us. He did so by asking people one simple question: "What does peace mean to you?" Through difficult conversations, gentle humor, and a keen eye for beauty, Noltner's Portraits of Peace captures a rich collage of who we are as a nation. Beautiful storytelling and captivating photography converge to offer a uniquely human and accessible examination of the social issues that most challenge us today, such as racial equality, immigration reform, LGBTQ rights, women's rights, freedom of religion, and tolerance. Through the real-world stories of ordinary citizens who choose, in the midst of difficult circumstances, to pursue healing, reconciliation, and community building, we discover a glimmer of hope that something better is possible. Portraits of Peace offers a promising road map to a peaceful future as a pluralistic society. Continue your conversation with the Portraits of Peace Discussion Guide--perfect for church groups, book clubs, and individual study. For additional portraits and audio from interviews featured in the book, visit the Portraits of Peace Book Illustrations Gallery.