The Ancient Art Of Thinking For Yourself: The Power Of Rhetoric In Polarized Times,Used

How rhetoricthe art of persuasioncan help us navigate an age of misinformation, conspiracy theories, and political acrimonyThe discipline of rhetoric was the keystone of Western education for over two thousand years. Only recently has its perceived importance faded.In this book, renowned rhetorical scholar Robin Reames argues that, in todays polarized political climate, we should all care deeply about learning rhetoric. Drawing on examples ranging from the destructive ancient Greek demagogue Alcibiades to modernday conspiracists like Alex Jones, Reames breaks down the major techniques of rhetoric, pulling back the curtain on how politicians, journalists, and journalists convince us to believe what we believeand to talk, vote, and act accordingly. Understanding these techniques helps us avoid being manipulated by authority figures who dont have our best interests at heart. It also grants us rare insight into the values that shape our own beliefs. Learning rhetoric, Reames argues, doesnt teach us what to think but how to thinkallowing us to understand our own and others ideological commitments in a completely new way.Thoughtful, nuanced, and leavened with dry humor, The Ancient Art of Thinking for Yourself offers an antidote to our polarized, posttruth world.