Rhetoric | The Mind Collection

Rapoport’s Rules: How to Criticise Constructively

A reflection on Rapoport’s Rules. It’s the most effective way to criticise you’ve never tried (and probably for good reasons).

A reflection on propaganda techniques; methods used to manipulate perception and opinion to further an agenda. But it’s not that simple.

An exploration of the power of good questions and five ways to ask them. From Story-eliciting Questions to the Columbo Method.

A reflection on Mill’s Trident as coined by free speech advocate Greg Lukianoff. Is it the best of all arguments on freedom of speech?

Tackle the steelmanning challenge, a three-step method to win arguments by helping your opponent. Its only downside: Nobody will ever take it.

A listicle of nine linguistic oddities. Brain teasers that bend the rules of language for our entertainment – or confusion?

Join me in revisiting Paul Graham’s Hierarchy of Disagreement. Can it help us survive Twitter? And is name-calling ever okay?

An exploration of how to say ‘No’ without feeling guilty. Would I be wrong to assume this is a superpower you’d love to have?

A comprehensive guide to three underrated debate games and how to facilitate them. We love to argue. So why not become good at it?

A review of Never Split The Difference, a besteller about the fine art of negotiation by former FBI hostage negotiator Chris Voss.