Win every argument : the art of debating, persuading, and public speaking /

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

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.

Table of contents provided by Syndetics

• Introduction: The Art of the Argument (ix)
• Part 1 The Fundamentals (1)
• 1 Winning Over an Audience (3)
• 2 Feelings, Not (Just) Facts (18)
• 3 Show Your Receipts (38)
• 4 Play the Ball … and the Man (56)
• 5 Listen, Don't (Just) Speak (75)
• 6 Make Them Laugh (92)
• Part 2 Tricks of the Trade (109)
• 7 The Rule of Three (111)
• 8 Judo Moves (122)
• 9 The Art of the Zinger (133)
• 10 Setting Booby Traps (147)
• 11 Beware of the Gish Galloper (160)
• Part 3 Behind the Scenes (181)
• 12 Confidence Is Everything (183)
• 13 Keep Calm and Carry On (201)
• 14 Practice Makes Perfect (212)
• 15 Do Your Homework (229)
• Part 4 In Conclusion (249)
• 16 The Grand Finale (251)
• Notes (267)
• Acknowledgments (301)
• Index (305)

Reviews provided by Syndetics

Library Journal Review

Journalist Hasan (The Mehdi Hasan Show) created a book that will likely make readers feel they are having a conversation with him about public speaking, instead of reading about it. This how-to book explains step-by-step what readers should do to win arguments, including knowing their audience, evoking emotions, and using humor and facts to persuade and engage listeners. He also stresses that readers should be good listeners as well, and preparation is essential for the best presentations. This book is a great resource for everyone from professionals who make presentations regularly to high school students joining the debate team for the first time. It offers simple recommendations that are easy to follow. Hasan's personal anecdotes, well-publicized interviews, and historical moments illustrate how to apply his recommendations, which makes it easier to grasp these abstract concepts that some might typically struggle with. VERDICT This work contains a uniquely presented set of biographical records with quotes from the books cited, which could entice the curious to read those as well. This book is a great addition to public library collections.--Noelia Martinez

Publishers Weekly Review

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. (Nov.)

Author notes provided by Syndetics

Mehdi Hasan is an award-winning British-American journalist, anchor, and author. He is the host of The Mehdi Hasan Show on MSNBC and NBC's streaming channel Peacock. Hasan is a former columnist and podcaster at The Intercept , and his op-eds have also appeared in the New York Times and the Washington Post .