How to Win an Argument: An Ancient Guide to the Art of Persuasion [Hardcover]

All of us are faced countless times with the challenge of persuading others, whether we're trying to win a trivial argument with a friend or convince our coworkers about an important decision. Instead of relying on untrained instinctand often floundering or failing as a resultwed win more arguments if we learned the timeless art of verbal persuasion, rhetoric.How to Win an Argumentgathers the rhetorical wisdom of Cicero, ancient Romes greatest orator, from across his works and combines it with passages from his legal and political speeches to show his powerful techniques in action. The result is an enlightening and entertaining practical introduction to the secrets of persuasive speaking and writingincluding strategies that are just as effective in todays offices, schools, courts, and political debates as they were in the Roman forum.

How to Win an Argumentaddresses proof based on rational argumentation, character, and emotion; the parts of a speech; the plain, middle, and grand styles; how to persuade no matter what audience or circumstances you face; and more. Ciceros words are presented in lively translations, with illuminating introductions; the book also features a brief biography of Cicero, a glossary, suggestions for further reading, and an appendix of the original Latin texts.

Astonishingly relevant, this unique anthology of Ciceros rhetorical and oratorical wisdom will be enjoyed by anyone who ever needs to win arguments and influence peoplein other words, all of us.

James M. Mayis professor of classics, the Kenneth O. Bjork Distinguished Professor, and former provost and dean at St. Olaf College. An award-winning teacher, he is a widely recognized expert on Cicero and classical rhetoric and has written and edited many books on these topics. He lives in Northfield, Minnesota. Drawing on his extensive experience as a scholar and teacher of classical rhetoric, May (classics, St. Olaf College) brings together exclSk