Thank You for Arguing

THANK YOU FOR ARGUING: What Aristotle, Lincoln, and Homer Simpson Can Teach Us About the Art of Persuasion

by  Jay Heinrichs

Every day, we try to get others to agree with us, yet the harder we push, the more they resist. In this book, Jay Heinrichs shows how you can win people over and get them to act by making them want what you propose. He teaches the classical art of persuasion (rhetoric), adapting over 100 tools from ancient thinkers like Aristotle and Cicero for everyday use.

In this summary, you’ll learn:

• How to prepare your case by setting a realistic goal, using the right tense for the issue, and picking the best time and channel to make your ask.
• How to combine 3 sources of appeal (character, logic, emotion) to earn trust, build on what people already believe, and shift their mood toward action.
• How to defend yourself against persuasion by spotting bad logic, testing whom to trust with the 3Cs (cause, craft, caring), and handling bullies.
• How to put the tools to work to recover from mistakes, sell yourself and your ideas, give talks that unite a group, write persuasive essays, and argue well in politics.

Who should read this:

• Anyone who wants to win people over and spot when others try to manipulate them.
• Leaders, salespeople, and presenters who want their ideas to win support and drive action.
• Coaches, trainers, and teachers who help others argue and persuade more effectively.