The Rhetoric of RHETORIC: The Quest for Effective Communication (Wiley-Blackwell Manifestos)

In this manifesto, distinguished critic Wayne Booth claims that communication in every corner of life can be improved if we study rhetoric closely. Written by Wayne Booth, author of the seminal book, The Rhetoric of Fiction (1961). Explores the consequences of bad rhetoric in education, in politics, and in the media. Investigates the possibility of reducing harmful conflict by practising a rhetoric that depends on deep listening by both sides. The Rhetoric Of Rhetoric Is A Manifesto Addressed To A Broad Audience, Dramatizing The Importance Of Rhetorical Studies And Lamenting Their Widespread Neglect. In It, Distinguished Critic Wayne C. Booth Claims That Communication In Every Corner Of Life Can Be Improved If Only We Study Rhetoric More Closely. After Exploring And Combating The Various Pejorative Definitions Of Rhetoric And Briefly Tracing Its History, Booth Explores The Consequences Of Bad Rhetoric In Education, In Politics, And In The Media. A Few Cures For Bad Rhetoric Are Offered, And A Final Chapter Investigates The Possibility Of Reducing Harmful Conflict By Practicing A Rhetoric That Depends On Deep Listening By Both Sides. The Key Example Used Is The Warfare Between Science And Religion.--jacket. How Many Rhetorics? -- A Condensed History Of Rhetorical Studies -- Judging Rhetoric -- Some Major Rescuers -- In Education -- In Politics -- In The Media -- Can Rhetorology Yield More Than A Mere Truce, In Any Of Our Wars? Wayne C. Booth. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 173-187) And Indexes. The Rhetoric of RHETORIC 4 Contents 8 Preface 9 Acknowledgments 17 Part I Rhetoric's Status: Up, Down, and – Up? 18 1 How Many "Rhetorics"? 20 2 A Condensed History of Rhetorical Studies 40 3 Judging Rhetoric 56 4 Some Major Rescuers 72 Part II The Need for Rhetorical Studies Today 102 5 The Fate of Rhetoric in Education 106 6 The Threats of Political Rhetrickery 124 7 Media Rhetrickery 146 Part III Reducing Rhetorical Warfare 166 8 Can Rhetorology Yield More Than a Mere Truce, in Any of Our "Wars"? 170 Conclusion 188 Notes 190 Index of Names and Titles 206 Index of Subjects 218

In this manifesto, distinguished critic Wayne Booth claims that communication in every corner of life can be improved if we study rhetoric closely.

• Written by Wayne Booth, author of the seminal book, The Rhetoric of Fiction (1961).


• Explores the consequences of bad rhetoric in education, in politics, and in the media.


• Investigates the possibility of reducing harmful conflict by practising a rhetoric that depends on deep listening by both sides.

Wayne Booth claims that communication in every corner of life can be improved by close study of rhetoric. He looks at how bad rhetoric can impede us in education, in politics & in the media, & explores the potential for reducing harmful conflict by practise of a rhetoric that depends on deep listening