20 Best Books On Debate (2023 Update)

In the second edition of this witty and infectious book, madsen pirie builds upon his guide to using – and indeed abusing – logic in order to win arguments. by including new chapters on how to win arguments in writing, in the pub, with a friend, on facebook and in 140 characters (on twitter), pirie provides the complete guide to triumphing in altercations ranging from the everyday to the downright serious. he identifies with devastating examples all the most common fallacies popularly used in argument. the author shows you how to simultaneously strengthen your own thinking and identify the weaknesses in other people arguments. and, more mischievously, pirie also shows how to be deliberately illogical – and get away with it. this book will make you maddeningly smart: your family, friends and opponents will all wish that you had never read it.publisher's warning: in the wrong hands this book is dangerous. only buy this book as a gift if you are sure that you can trust the recipient.

Briscoe introduces educators, coaches, and students at the high school and college levels to the concepts at the foundation of policy debate, also known as cross-examination debate, and uses conceptual analysis and real-world examples to help students engage in competitive debates and deploy winning strategies. briscoe addresses all aspects of policy debate, including stock issues, judging paradigms and effective engagement with judges, the responsibilities of both affirmative and negative teams, and the evaluation of policy proposals through the use of disadvantages, counterplans, and critical argumentation. in addition, briscoe helps debaters better establish their credibility, improve their cross-examination skills, and understand the specialized notetaking method called flowing. the book models for readers how to effectively cross-examine an opposing team, features a transcript of a mock debate designed to help clarify the lessons taught in previous chapters, and includes a glossary of key terms. briscoe also considers contemporary trends in the debate community, exploring the evolution of policy debate and the rise of performance-based approaches, while providing insight into how best to engage with performance teams. offering a unique approach presented by a seasoned debate coach, policy debate: a guide for high school and college debaters goes beyond the basics to explore how policy is an ever-evolving form of debate. this attention to the progression of policy styles will make readers better at adapting to opponents during a debate and will make them more adept at arguing against a wider range of cases.

The second edition of the great psychotherapy debate has been updated and revised to expand the presentation of the contextual model, which is derived from a scientific understanding of how humans heal in a social context and explains findings from a vast array of psychotherapies studies. this model provides a compelling alternative to traditional research on psychotherapy, which tends to focus on identifying the most effective treatment for particular disorders through emphasizing the specific ingredients of treatment. the new edition also includes a history of healing practices, medicine, and psychotherapy, an examination of therapist effects, and a thorough review of the research on common factors such as the alliance, expectations, and empathy.

“the rare book that has the potential to make you smarter—and everyone around you wiser.” —adam grant two-time world champion debater and former coach of the harvard debate team, bo seo tells the inspiring story of his life in competitive debating and reveals the timeless secrets of effective communication and persuasionwhen bo seo was 8 years old, he and his family migrated from korea to australia. at the time, he did not speak english, and, unsurprisingly, struggled at school. but, then, in fifth grade, something happened to change his life: he discovered competitive debate. immediately, he was hooked. it turned out, perhaps counterintuitively, that debating was the perfect activity for someone shy and unsure of himself. it became a way for bo not only to find his voice, but to excel socially and academically. and he’s not the only one. far from it: presidents, supreme court justices, and ceos are all disproportionally debaters. this is hardly a coincidence. by tracing his own journey from immigrant kid to world champion, seo shows how the skills of debating—information gathering, truth finding, lucidity, organization, and persuasion—are often the cornerstone of successful careers and happy lives.drawing insights from its strategies, structure, and history, seo teaches readers the skills of competitive debate, and in doing so shows how they can improve their communication with friends, family, and colleagues alike. he takes readers on a thrilling intellectual adventure into the eccentric and brilliant subculture of competitive debate, touching on everything from the radical politics of malcom x to artificial intelligence. seo proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that, far from being a source of conflict, good-faith debate can enrich our daily lives. indeed, these good arguments are essential to a flourishing democracy, and are more important than ever at time when bad faith is all around, and our democracy seems so imperiled.

In 1539 cardinal jacopo sadoleto, bishop of carpentras, france, sent a letter to the magistrates and citizens of geneva asking them to return to the catholic faith. a few months later, john calvin replied to sadoleto, defending the protestant reforms. both letters are lucid and eloquent statements of their espective positions. their dialog is polemical, but their tone is elevated and their arguments substantial. the letters of calvin and sadoleto comprise one of the most interesting exchanges of catholic-protestant views of the reformation era. together, they form an excellent introduction to the great religious controversy of the sixteenth century.

The great debate provides students a premier resource for learning the art of debate and developing the skills they need to succeed in the debate round, in the classroom, and in the real world. written in a conversational style with the debate student in mind, this book begins by discussing general debate principles and then offers specific insights into the numerous facets of both public forum debate and policy debate. from basics to more advanced topics, the great debate is an invaluable resource for debaters of all experience levels. the great debate introduces public forum debate, a recent addition to the competitive debate landscape. unlike many other debate styles, public forum debate does not require special debate vocabulary or knowledge of detailed theory from either participants or judges. public forum debate focuses on developing debaters who can persuade any audience to support a particular position through a series of short back and forth speeches which mimic the real world debates on television between pundits and politicians. the great debate equips students to begin competing in this highly relevant debate format. the great debate also provides a foundation for students in policy debate. policy debate requires debaters to extensively research and analyze a particular topic of public policy. debaters generally propose that the government take a particular course of action or change a law. students develop significant knowledgeable of a particular public policy topic and gain strong research skills. policy debaters are comfortable prioritizing arguments to present in a short speech and learn to use cost-benefit-analysis to evaluate public policy options. the great debate gives students the tools to begin competing in competitive policy debate. the great debate was written by a debater for fellow competitors. it covers the basics of debate with special care to explain everything to those with no prior debate experience or knowledge. it next advances to intermediate theory and strategy debaters can use as they develop their skills. this book is perfect for your club, a beginning debate class, or as a reference resource for debaters of all experience levels. for those interested in argumentation, the great debate offers an introduction to the basics of logic, fallacies, argument structure, techniques for replying to specific arguments, note-taking techniques, and research. these skills serve any student outside of the competitive debate context: in the classroom and in the real world. equip yourself with the tools to make and respond to arguments, with the great debate.

Classroom debate is used as the platform for critical thinking and writing in this helpful teacher's resource every student can become a great debater. the key concepts of argumentation, critical thinking, and meeting academic standards align in a single, engaging format in this book. packed with practical, hands-on activities, this collection teaches students to argue effectively, research information, think critically, and write persuasively. also included is in-depth discussion on online research and emphasizes the timely skill of evaluating the validity of various internet sources. this revised edition provides specific connections between book content and the common core state standards, as well as a new section on debate skills.

How well are you keeping up with the hottest topics in our world today? are the kardashians good or bad for feminism? is happiness a choice? is federer the best tennis player of all time? are vaccines safe for kids? is there life after death? what the hell are they thinking features 100 hotly debated topics that govern your life and covers politics and government, economics, popular culture, sports, health, religion, and more! constructed using a unique psychological writing methodology designed to open minds by reducing media biases, echo chambers, and filter bubbles, what the hell are they thinking offers a uniquely approachable and user-friendly way for busy, yet open-minded individuals to get a more complete understanding of what's being discussed in our world today.what the hell are they thinking is the first book from multi-award-winning website the perspective and is a collection of site's most popular, most engaged with "big debates" — with 30 new ones added exclusively for the book's release. the perspective has won several accolades including: editors and publishers eppy award for best innovation projecthighly commended finalist of the drum award for best editorial innovationwebaward: news categorystop relying on other people or media outlets for your information, and instead educate yourself on both sides of every argument with what the hell are they thinking.

Speak out is a primer for beginning and intermediate students participating in class and contest debates. it offers students clear, concise information on public speaking and debating. combining the practical and theoretical, the text teaches students about verbal and nonverbal communication, how to research and present an argument, how to answer arguments, how to develop debate strategies and how to conduct a formal debate.

Win every argument shows how anyone can communicate with confidence, rise above the tit for tats on social media, and triumph in a successful and productive debate in the real world.msnbc’s mehdi hasan isn’t one to avoid arguments. he relishes them as the lifeblood of democracy and the only surefire way to establish the truth. a good argument, made in good faith, has intrinsic value—and can also simply be fun. in this riveting guide to the art of argument and rhetoric, hasan shows you how. as a journalist, anchor, and interviewer who has clashed with politicians, generals, spy chiefs, and celebrities from across the world, hasan reveals his tricks of the trade for the first time. whether you are making a presentation at work or debating current political issues with a friend, mehdi hasan will teach you how to sharpen your speaking skills to make the winning case.

If you want to impress your colleagues, friends, and family with remarkable argumentation skills and logical thinking, then keep reading… have you ever lost an argument? have you ever been accused of being irrational or confusing? have you ever gotten into a debate, only to find that you have contradicted yourself twice and don't even know what you think anymore? don't be discouraged if you answered yes to all three questions. the truth is that most people do. – you see, most debaters make the same mistakes – with both their argument structure and their responses. – you may even make deadly logical sins… without even realizing. – but now, you can stay informed with insider tips, usually only known to top debaters, which will maximize your chances of winning debates and receiving praise for your new remarkable skills. – with examples from classical literature and advice compiled from many different sources, this book will ground you in methods that have been developed over centuries of rhetorical exercise. – by reading argument structure: secrets of the world's best debaters – master the structure of arguments, you will: learn how to lay down powerful premises that will keep your argument from contradicting itself discover how to never get stuck in a logical fallacy again see examples of all kinds of logical fallacies so you can laugh (inside) as your opponent gets stuck in them learn how to turn logical fallacies back on your opponent master the art of analogy organize your arguments like a pro identify the difference between good and bad sources figure out the difference between deductive and inductive reasoning learn what to do when logic is not enough to convince your audience discover tips and tricks for presenting yourself in a way that will help people believe you, from voice to posture get advice on how to present yourself in a courtroom get an entire chapter on writing argumentative essays guaranteed to boost your grades and your credibility and much, much more so if you want to learn more about how to master the structure of arguments and never get stuck stammering again, click "add to cart"

This comprehensive forensics textbook includes everything for the beginning to intermediate 7th-12th grade debater and forensics competitor. teachers across the us and japan have used the art of debate textbooks to teach high-school and middle-school debate. anyone who is looking for a textbook to help novices to intermediate competitive debaters should look no further. this book also is useful for anyone who seeks to be a more persuasive and eloquent public speaker. the book teaches basic debate skills, public forum debate, lincoln-douglas debate, policy/cross-examination debate, congressional debate, and eight different speech events: impromptu, extemporaneous, expository, oratory, dramatic interpretation, dual interpretation, oral interpretation/interpretive reading, and humorous interpretation. this book contains all you need to improve your debating and speechmaking skills and get you ready for your next speech or forensics competition.

Book is in used-good condition. pages and cover are clean and intact. used items may not include supplementary materials such as cds or access codes. may show signs of minor shelf wear and contain limited notes and highlighting.

"[lakoff is] the father of framing."–the new york times "an indispensable tool for progressives–packed with new thinking on framing issues that are hotly debated right now."–jennifer m. granholm, former governor of michigan ten years after writing the definitive, international bestselling book on political debate and messaging, george lakoff returns with new strategies about how to frame today's essential issues. called the "father of framing" by the new york times, lakoff explains how framing is about ideas–ideas that come before policy, ideas that make sense of facts, ideas that are proactive not reactive, positive not negative, ideas that need to be communicated out loud every day in public. picks up where the original book left off–delving deeper into how framing works, how framing has evolved in the past decade, how to speak to people who harbor elements of both progressive and conservative worldviews, how to counter propaganda and slogans, and more. in this updated and expanded edition, lakoff, urges progressives to go beyond the typical laundry list of facts, policies, and programs and present a clear moral vision to the country–one that is traditionally american and can become a guidepost for developing compassionate, effective policy that upholds citizens' well-being and freedom.

The ultimate record of the nation's birth, now in a collector's boxed set: during the secret proceedings of the constitutional convention in 1787, the framers created a fundamentally new national plan to replace the articles of confederation and then submitted it to conventions in each state for ratification. immediately, a fierce storm of argument broke. gathering hundreds of original texts by franklin, madison, jefferson, washington, and patrick henry–as well as many others less well known today–this unrivaled collection allows readers to experience firsthand the intense year-long struggle that created what remains the world's oldest working national charter. here in full are the most essential federalist papers by madison and hamilton in their original dramatic context; the case against the new constitution by virginian george mason; and the crucial compromise forged by john hancock and samuel adams in massachusetts. the set also includes complete texts of the declaration of independence, articles of confederation, and constitution (with all amendments); detailed biographical profiles of all authors; informative notes; and a full historical chronology. library of america is an independent nonprofit cultural organization founded in 1979 to preserve our nation's literary heritage by publishing, and keeping permanently in print, america's best and most significant writing. the library of america series includes more than 300 volumes to date, authoritative editions that average 1,000 pages in length, feature cloth covers, sewn bindings, and ribbon markers, and are printed on premium acid-free paper that will last for centuries.

Tens of thousands of readers have studied and applied this practical guide to instruction in argumentation and communication since it was first published in 1961. in this fourth edition-the fiftieth anniversary edition-authors jon m. murphy, and raymond bud zeuschner have made significant revisions to improve the depth, flow, and clarity of this popular debater's handbook. with straightforward explanations and specific applications geared toward contemporary debate practice, this compact volume offers students and teachers clear-cut assistance in resolving the key problem faced by debaters: the need to present arguments forcefully and cogently while reacting effectively to criticism. beginning with a candid explanation of the basic principles of debate, the debater's guide then introduces the steps to building a case, from reviewing strategies for refutation and defense to engaging in cross-examination, solid research, and critical thinking. it advises readers on a wide range of important topics, from budgeting time in a debate to speaking in outline form by using a well-organized series of explanations, specific examples, and graphic presentations related to both policy and value issues. the authors apply these concepts to a variety of formats and situations commonly found in high school and collegiate debating. avoiding jargon and complex theory discussions, the debater's guide offers sound advice on presenting an effective case in oral discourse, helps students build their understanding of how and why debate functions, and provides a solid foundation for success in any format. the expanded contents pages and new subheadings allow for quick reference to any particular aspect of debate, making this new edition an excellent choice for classroom use as well as a valuable hands-on tool during debates.

At a time when every disagreement turns toxic, world champion debater bo seo reveals the timeless secrets of effective communication and persuasion. when bo seo was 8 years old, he and his family migrated from korea to australia. at the time, he did not speak english, and, unsurprisingly, struggled at school. but, then, in year five, something happened to change his life: he was introduced to debating. immediately, he was hooked. it turned out, perhaps counterintuitively, that debating was the perfect activity for someone shy and unsure of himself. it became a way for bo not only to find his voice, but to excel socially and academically. he went on to win world titles with the australian schools and harvard university teams. but debating isn't just about winning or losing an argument: it's about information gathering, truth finding, lucidity, organization, and persuasion. it's about being able to engage with views you disagree with, without the argument turning toxic. good arguments shares insights from the strategy, structure and history of debating to teach readers how they might better communicate with friends, family and colleagues. touching on everything from the radical politics of malcom x to artificial intelligence, seo proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that, far from being a source of conflict, good-faith debate can enrich our daily lives. indeed, these good arguments are more important than ever at time when bad faith is all around, and our democracy seems so imperiled. 'from two-time world champion debater bo seo, a thoughtful, instructive and eloquent meditation on the art of debate and why its central pillars – fact-finding, reason, persuasion and listening to opponents – are so valuable in today's alarming ecosystem of misinformation and extreme emotion. when bo seo's family immigrated from south korea to australia, he was a shy, conflict-averse eight year old who worried about being an outsider, and in "good arguments," he recounts how debate not only helped him to cross language lines, but also gave him confidence and a voice of his own' – michiko kakutani, former chief book critic for the new york times.

In the great debate yuval levin explores the origins of the familiar left/right divide in american politics by examining the views of the men who best represent each side of that debate: edmund burke and thomas paine. in a groundbreaking exploration of the origins of our political order, levin shows that our political divide did not originate (as many historians argue) in the french revolution, but rather in the anglo-american debate about that revolution. burke and paine were both utterly fascinating figures … active in politics, versed in philosophy, and two of the best, most effective and powerful political writers and polemicists in the history of the english speaking world. levin sets the work of these two men against the dramatic history of their era and shows how they mixed theory and practice to advance their very different notions of liberty, equality, nature, history, reason, revolution, and reform. paine believed in radical change and saw the american and french revolutions as catalysts for creating a new society; burke believed in a significantly more gradual approach with each generation acting merely as part of a long chain of history. these differing approaches to revolution and reform created a division that continues to shape our current political discourse … including issues ranging from gun control and abortion to welfare and economic reform.

This combination rhetoric/reader helps readers develop strategies for critical reading, critical thinking, research, and writing that will help students argue clearly and convincingly. it teaches them to identify and develop arguments, to read and form reactions and opinions of their own, to analyze an audience, to seek common ground, and to use a wide, realistic range of techniques to write argument papers that express their individual views and original perspectives on modern issues. therhetoricportion includes clear explanations and examples of argument theory and reading and writing processes, research and documentation skills, and offers engaging, class-tested writing assignments and activities. thereaderportion includes 75 reading selections covering seven broad issue areas and 18 more focused areas, all of contemporary concern. unique chapters discuss argument styles, rogerian argument, and argument and literature material covered includes engaging with argument for reading and writing, understanding the nature of argument for reading and writing, writing a research paper that presents an argument and visual and oral argument. readings cover a range of issues including those concerning families and relationships, education, crime and the treatment of criminals, race, culture and identity, freedom, war and issues concerning the future. for anyone interested in a clear presentation of argument theory applied to written, visual and oral forms.

This combination rhetoric/reader helps readers develop strategies for critical reading, critical thinking, research, and writing that will help students argue clearly and convincingly. it teaches them to identify and develop arguments, to read and form reactions and opinions of their own, to analyze an audience, to seek common ground, and to use a wide, realistic range of techniques to write argument papers that express their individual views and original perspectives on modern issues. therhetoricportion includes clear explanations and examples of argument theory and reading and writing processes, research and documentation skills, and offers engaging, class-tested writing assignments and activities. thereaderportion includes 75 reading selections covering seven broad issue areas and 18 more focused areas, all of contemporary concern. unique chapters discuss argument styles, rogerian argument, and argument and literature material covered includes engaging with argument for reading and writing, understanding the nature of argument for reading and writing, writing a research paper that presents an argument and visual and oral argument. readings cover a range of issues including those concerning families and relationships, education, crime and the treatment of criminals, race, culture and identity, freedom, war and issues concerning the future. for anyone interested in a clear presentation of argument theory applied to written, visual and oral forms.