Aron C Viner

Aron C. Viner brings an unusual synthesis of anthropological Knowledge, international business expertise, and contemplative depth to the exploration of conflict and presence. As a social anthropologist, he conducted fieldwork in tribal villages in Sumatra. He lived in a fishing village on the East Coast of Malaysia, studying conflict between ethnic Malay and ethnic Chinese fishermen. His work focused on different types of interpersonal conflict that occurred in traditional societies.

For over two decades, Viner has taught thousands of students the art of conflict resolution and negotiation. His earlier books, "Inside Japanese Financial Markets" and "The Financial Samurai" were published by Dow Jones-Irwin/McGraw Hill and translated into Japanese and German. Years living and working in Japan, where his engagement with Zen began, combined with anthropological fieldwork in Southeast Asia, provided him with insight into how presence transcends cultural boundaries. His latest book, "Conflict and Zen: Stories of Presence in Heated Moments," blends vivid storytelling with Zen-inspired insight, offering readers a way to meet life's most challenging encounters with clarity and compassion.

This unique synthesis of village councils and corporate boardrooms, tribal wisdom and business ethics, Eastern contemplative practice and Western academic rigor, positions Viner to offer insights into conflict resolution. He writes with the authority of someone who has witnessed human nature across vastly different cultures and social transformations, discovering the approach that emerges when we meet conflict with full presence rather than strategic defense.