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Good Arguments

How Debate Teaches Us to Listen and Be Heard

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Good Arguments

Written by: Bo Seo
Narrated by: Bo Seo
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“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 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 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. Asian Creators Business Communication Communication & Social Skills Educators Personal Development Personal Success Professionals & Academics Business Career
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I was sad when I finished it. The author is likeable and left me wanting to hear more

Good lesson on how to listen

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Loved the biography portions. Bo is a natural storyteller. Learned some interesting argument and debate techniques. Appreciate his reflections. Had to speed up the presentation to 1.2 as he speaks very slowly.

Good story, a bit slow moving

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I enjoyed learning about the author's upbringing from how he got started in debate, to how he became a champion, to coaching a world-class team, to starting his career. Along his journey, he expertly ties in the zeitgeist of each phase of his life.

By reading this book, you will be more empathic to opposing views, learn how to choose your battles, learn how to structure your arguments, learn of the nefarious debate strategies that are commonly deployed and how to counter them, and you will gain a better appreciation of the importance of reasonable discourse.

In our heavily polarized society, reasonable discourse is needed now more than ever. I hope more people read this book, so we can get back to mutual trust and understanding.

Captivating Story

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great book and opened my interest into the skill of debate. This book is very accessible and doesn't make debate seem intimidating or boring. It's not a how to book, it's more an introduction to why you need to add this skill to better your life.

Loved it! great intro to debate for all ages

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I was hopeful about this title but just couldn’t get through it. There seemed to be more of a focus on clever language and being “writerly” than telling an absorbing story. I got bored early on but really wanted to give it a chance. So, I kept listening and ultimately ruined my chance for a refund.

Didn’t finish it

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