Win Every Argument: The Art of Debating, Persuading and Public Speaking
By Mehdi Hasan
Henry Holt & Co
ISBN: 978-1250853479
336pp.

In 1933, in an essay lamenting the rise of the Nazis, British philosopher Bertrand Russel paraphrased lines from Irish poet W.B. Yeats’ famous 1920 poem ‘The Second Coming’ by saying “The fundamental cause of the trouble is that in the modern world the stupid are cocksure, while the intelligent are full of doubt.”

To test the sustainability of this quote in the 21st century, one only has to cast an eye on the narratives, theories, debates and speeches — apart from the daily drip-drip of half-baked opinions — that are regularly foisted on the world. Voicing dissent with the majority view often opens up a hornet’s nest.

No wonder then that people who possess common sense, which French writer Voltaire says is not so common, have taken refuge in silence and detachment, to avoid disagreements and moronic attacks.

Not so fast, says Mehdi Hasan, the British American broadcaster, political commentator, columnist and author. Renowned for his no-holds-barred interviews of politicians, pundits and policy makers, Hasan posits that arguments and debates are the very lifeblood of democracy. They shine a spotlight on the truth, broaden the canvas of our minds and bring in fresh new ideas. The problem is that our skills at winning arguments, polishing speeches and persuading audiences need to be promptly upgraded.

Media personality Mehdi Hasan delves into the history of the art of persuasion through history and brings his own experiences to bear in a self-help book about how to communicate with confidence

After 20 years of winning arguments and audiences, Hasan has written a firecracker of a book — Win Every Argument: The Art of Debating, Persuading and Public Speaking — with snappy guidelines on how to win every argument utilising his tried and tested principles and techniques.

One of the most effective ways that he advocates to connect with your audience is to get personal. “There is simply no better way to influence or stir an audience — instantly, powerfully, authentically — than by opening up to them with a personal story or anecdote.”

Or as the Greek philosopher Plato is supposed to have said, “Those who tell the stories rule society.”

An illustration from one of Hasan’s well-documented triumphs is a case in point. Perhaps no other debate has garnered him more fame than the speech he made in 2013 at the Oxford Union debate ‘The House believes Islam is a religion of peace’ — which he supported.

As he reached his concluding remarks, he looked at the sea of students inside a packed chamber and said: “Let me just say this to you: think about what the opposite of this motion is. That Islam isn’t a religion of peace… That the people who follow Islam — me, my wife, my retired parents, my six-year-old child, that 1.8 million of your fellow British residents and citizens, that 1.6 billion people across the world, your fellow human beings — are all followers, promoters, believers in a religion of violence. Do you really think that? Do you really believe that?”

In the vote on the motion, the house agreed with Hasan and his team by 286-168 votes.

In the early 2000s, Hasan worked as part of the research team of ITV’s award-winning journalist Jonathan Dimbleby, one of the most feared interviewers of his era. Dimbleby conducted a weekly, hour-long, in depth interrogation with a top politician in front of a live studio audience. Hasan’s rich experience with Dimbleby laid the foundation for his future career. Hasan realised that if you want to ace an argument, nothing is more important than keeping your nose to the grindstone.

Nobody is a natural-born speaker, Hasan asserts, and he warns against winging it. A lot of hard work and research goes into each and every public speech and debate that he has undertaken. It could be days, weeks and months of dedication that leads to the actual event.

Nobody is a natural-born speaker, Hasan asserts, and he warns against winging it. A lot of hard work and research goes into each and every public speech and debate that he has undertaken.

“When I deliver a 10- or 15-minute address at an event, that’s all the audience sees or thinks about. But what they won’t see is how much time went into that speech in the days, weeks, or months prior. Not just to research and write it, but also to prepare and practise it, in my head and out loud.”

One of the most interesting points that Hasan emphasises is that when you are dealing with people, you must realise that they are not only creatures of logic, they are also creatures of emotion. Hasan believes that one of the winning tactics of right-wing parties, which are cementing their ascent globally, is their reliance on whipping up sentiments and appealing to peoples’ hearts and fears.

Know your audience, Hasan says, because, as design expert Ken Haemer says, “Designing a presentation without an audience is like writing a love letter and addressing it ‘To whom it may concern.’”

Above all, Hasan says, you have to try to understand where your audience is coming from. He makes it a point to ask the organisers of events he is invited to speak at about the demographics and profiles of the audience members. “It all matters because, once you have a detailed breakdown of all members of your prospective audience, you can focus your language and tailor your arguments towards them.”

This is a practical and useful guide to the art of argument and rhetoric. The book takes us on a fast-paced trot through history, as Hasan seeks to establish the persuasive powers of leaders, statesmen and philosophers — from the Greeks to Churchill, from Cicero to Martin Luther King, from Bill Clinton to Nelson Mandela. This serves as a master-stroke for any doubtful sceptics to showcase the art of persuasion throughout history and explains how anyone can hone this skill.

Packed with tips and anecdotes from around the world, the book is entertaining and educational for anyone seeking to improve their communication skills in an increasingly connected but polarised and frenetic world.

The reviewer is an author and communications strategist.

She can be reached at maheenusmani12@yahoo.com

Published in Dawn, Books & Authors, July 21st, 2024