How To Win Every Argument: The Use And Abuse Of Logic

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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. We all like to think of ourselves as clear-headed and logical - but all readers will find in this book fallacies of which they themselves are guilty. 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. We recommend that you arm yourself with it whilst keeping out of the hands of others. Only buy this book as a gift if you are sure that you can trust the recipient.

Paperback: 240 pages

Publisher: Bloomsbury Academic; 2 edition (May 7, 2015)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 147252912X

ISBN-13: 978-1472529121

Product Dimensions: 5.1 x 0.8 x 7.7 inches

Shipping Weight: 10.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)

Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (98 customer reviews)

Best Sellers Rank: #61,672 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #26 in Books > Textbooks > Humanities > Philosophy > Logic #53 in Books > Politics & Social Sciences > Philosophy > Logic & Language

There's a lot to like about this book, as it's entertaining, witty, and educational on top of all that. The title isn't really an accurate reflection of what's in the book, although he does talk about winning arguments too. The author clearly seems to know a lot about argument and about fallacies, and he is able to present the information in a manner that is clever (in the best sense of the word) and he uses many amusing examples. Since the book is done in short sections, it is ideal to pick up and read when time is short, or perhaps left on the nightstand to read a fallacy or two before sleeping. On the other hand, I liked it enough that I read it in just a couple of days, wanting to know what the next fallacy was and what the next example would be.There are 79 fallacies listed alphabetically from the the Abusive Analogy through Wishful Thinking, although there are lists that show how they can be subdivided for reasons of classification by type at the end of the book. Each fallacy is treated in a similar manner starting with the name of the fallacy, an explanation of what it means, and a couple of examples of how it works. There is then a discussion of the fallacy that goes into history of the fallacy, who might want to use it, for whom it might be most effective, and sometimes a pithy summary of the fallacy. After another example the author discusses how one might use the fallacious reasoning to one's own benefit and gives an example of how that might be done.Many examples are given, often using economics and politics, and there is a tendency on the author's part to use British examples. Most of them are amusing and clever and the author's commentary is quite lively and entertaining, and the wordplay is wonderful.

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