THE DEBATE GUIDE

Win Like the Greeks

Master the timeless art of persuasion. Twenty chapters on rhetoric, logic, and the philosophy of winning arguments with honor.

For anyone serious about thinking better and arguing well.

Begin Here INTRODUCTION: THE AGORA AWAITS
I

THE FOUNDATIONS

Before you can argue well, you need to understand what argument is and where it comes from. Part I establishes the foundations: why structured disagreement matters, how the Greeks invented rhetoric, and the core frameworks—the rhetorical triangle and kairos—that underpin everything that follows. Master these concepts and you'll see persuasion differently forever.

II

THE THREE APPEALS

Aristotle identified three paths to persuasion: ethos (character), pathos (emotion), and logos (logic). Part II explores each in depth. You'll learn why credibility matters more than truth, how to use emotion ethically, and how to construct arguments that actually hold together. These are the building blocks of every persuasive act.

III

THE ART OF ARGUMENT

Theory becomes practice. Part III covers the craft of argument: how to build cases, dismantle opposing ones, spot fallacies, deploy the Socratic method, and steelman positions you disagree with. These are the skills that separate those who talk about ideas from those who can actually move minds.

IV

MODERN APPLICATIONS

Ancient skills meet modern contexts. Part IV applies classical rhetoric to the challenges of contemporary life: workplace disagreements, educational settings, digital discourse, and civic engagement. The Greeks didn't have Slack or Twitter, but their techniques work in both.

V

MASTERY

What does it mean to win? Part V steps back from technique to examine the philosophy of argument itself. The Greeks pursued something deeper than victory in debate—they sought truth, wisdom, and the examined life. So should you.

What Readers Say

VOICES FROM THE AGORA

"I've read dozens of books on persuasion, but this is the first one that actually changed how I argue. The Socratic method chapter alone transformed my team meetings."
Sarah Chen Product Director, Tech Startup
"Finally, a rhetoric guide that respects the reader's intelligence. No gimmicks, no manipulation tactics—just the real art of persuasion that the Greeks perfected."
Dr. Marcus Webb Philosophy Professor
"I use the steelmanning technique every day now. My colleagues have noticed—they say I've become the person everyone wants in difficult conversations."
James Okonkwo Management Consultant