Publishers Weekly
★ 10/03/2022
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.)
From the Publisher
Impeccably timed, speaking to a moment when many people find themselves drawn into arguments but also fearful of saying something that will hurt someone or (and) get the person saying it into trouble...An entertaining primer on rhetorical techniques.”
—Jennifer Szalai, The New York Times
“I refused to write this blurb for Mehdi Hasan. He won that argument! Now I am doing it. That’s how good he is at arguing! I better start reading, quick.”
—Judd Apatow, Emmy Award-winning writer and director
“Mehdi Hasan’s book is a masterpiece of rhetorical argument and effective persuasion! From Demosthenes to Churchill, Cicero to Martin Luther King, Hasan lays bare the essential elements of how to delight, instruct, and move an audience. His erudition is as impressive as his wit. And his moral passion is as authentic as his love of words and life.”
—Cornel West, Dietrich Bonhoeffer Chair at Union Theological Seminary
“I've seen Mehdi win every argument he’s entered since we were at school. This is a masterclass from one of the most formidable debaters and interviewers of our time.”
—Riz Ahmed, Oscar-winning actor and musician
“Mehdi was one of the toughest interviews I did in the White House. In this book, he takes us on a journey through his own experience over years as a journalist and through compelling examples from history to capture the thrill of winning arguments. His book includes the kind of specific advice and applicable tactics that will make readers want to finish the book and immediately go find a sparring partner.”
—Jen Psaki, former White House Press Secretary
“Mehdi is a generationally talented interviewer. He has mastered his craft, and in this book, he generously spills his secrets.”
—Jonathan Swan, Emmy Award-winning reporter at The New York Times
“Win Every Argument is hugely entertaining, deeply knowledgeable, and filled with illuminating tips and stories from Mehdi Hasan’s life of debating, interviewing and advocating for his beliefs. Read this book to find your own voice while learning both the art and history of persuasion.”
—Ben Rhodes, author of After the Fall
“Inside our digital echo chambers, it is far too easy to forgo persuasion in favor of performance. Yet Hasan reminds us that we will never change the world unless we change people’s minds. An indispensable handbook for our high-stakes and polarized times.”
—Naomi Klein, author of The Shock Doctrine
Library Journal
10/01/2022
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
