Win Every Argument
The Art of Debating, Persuading, and Public Speaking
-
-
5.0 • 1 Rating
-
-
- $17.99
Publisher Description
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
Audie Award Finalist
An Amazon best business and leadership book of 2023
Win Every Argument shows how anyone can communicate with confidence, rise above the tit for tats on social media, and triumph in a successful and productive debate in the real world.
MSNBC’s Mehdi Hasan isn’t one to avoid arguments. He relishes them as the lifeblood of democracy and the only surefire way to establish the truth. Arguments help us solve problems, uncover new ideas we might not have considered, and nudge our disagreements toward mutual understanding. A good argument, made in good faith, has intrinsic value—and can also simply be fun.
Arguments are everywhere—and especially given the fierce debates we’re all embroiled in today, everyone wants to win. In this riveting guide to the art of argument and rhetoric, Hasan shows you how. As a journalist, anchor, and interviewer who has clashed with politicians, generals, spy chiefs, and celebrities from across the world, Hasan reveals his tricks of the trade for the first time.
Whether you are making a presentation at work or debating current political issues with a friend, Mehdi Hasan will teach you how to sharpen your speaking skills to make the winning case.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
MSNBC host Hasan (Summer of Unrest) breaks down methods of persuading others in this sharp manual. Studying the rhetorical styles and strategies of such figures as Diodotus, Christopher Hitchens, and Barack Obama, Hasan outlines techniques for speaking well, capturing an audience's attention, and winning debates. He challenges Aristotle's assertion that ethos, logos, and pathos are equally important to persuasion, countering that "pathos beats logos every time." Citing a study that found stories focused on an individual garner more charitable donations than stories about groups, Hasan suggests that one should use "good anecdotes and gripping narratives" to get audiences invested in one's argument. He posits that sprinkling in humor can build rapport, defuse tension, and undermine opponents, recounting when he put an "Islam-basher" and Labor Party parliamentary candidate on the defensive by joking that she would better fit in with far right parties. "Do your homework," he urges, but he suggests that jokes are more effective when they're spontaneous. Bolstered by Hasan's incisive analysis of his interviews and debates with high-ranking political officials from the U.K., U.S., and China, this collects illuminating insights on persuasion. Readers will be won over by this perceptive guide.
Customer Reviews
Not A Bad Argument
in this book!