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 instinct—and often floundering or failing as a result—classicist James M. May suggests we'd win more arguments if we learned the timeless art of verbal persuasion, rhetoric.
His book How to Win an Argument (Princeton University Press) gathers the rhetorical wisdom of Cicero, ancient Rome's greatest orator, from across his works and combines it with passages from his legal and political speeches to show his powerful techniques in action. In an enlightening and entertaining program, May offers a practical introduction to the secrets of persuasive speaking and writing—including strategies that are just as effective in today's offices, schools, courts, and political debates as they were in the Roman forum. He addresses proof based on rational argumentation, character, and emotion; the parts of a speech; the plain, middle, and grand styles; and how to persuade no matter what audience or circumstances you face. Learn why Cicero's rhetorical and oratorical wisdom can be effectively applied by anyone who ever needs to win arguments and influence people—which is just about everyone.
May is a professor of classics and Kenneth O. Bjork distinguished professor at St. Olaf College.
