Good Arguments

How Debate Teaches Us to Listen and Be Heard

By: Bo Seo

Narrated by: Bo Seo

“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 listeners 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.

©2022 Bo Seo (P)2022 Penguin Audio

Great Book

As soon as the audiobook began, I purchased the hard bound edition. With so much depth of content, listening and reading were each important disciplines.

The value of this book goes well beyond the interests of competitive debaters. Yes, those who compete in debate programs will find important tips and practices to improve your skills.

More important are Seo’s assessment of debate in a larger community. Leaders can be confounded by the competing voices that come from diverse peoples and competing interests. A framework that allows for debate - differing opinions being spoken, being heard, and being understood - can be an important part of building and strengthening a community.

I should add that, as a former competitive debater, this was a fun read and a marvelous occasion to revisit a fun and formative season of life.

Nice perspective of how to engage in conversations/debate

I think is a good book for people that needs to increase their social skills, the first 2/3 of the books gives a interesting perspective and framework of how to engage in a debate / negotiation.
I would say the last part of the book was not so interesting to me as it was more storytelling .
I would recommend it.

Good tips but not as educational as I hoped

Some great tips on debate and overview of debates
however there is a good deal of "memoir" 'ing and political opinions
overall I'd probably recommend, at least the first 6 chapters

An interesting personal story

This book is mostly personal stories and anecdotes from the life of a debater. I was left wanting for more information, facts, science, and methods for good argumentation.

Arguably great

A very interesting and to me unknown avenue of academic and intellectual endeavor. Very cool! Thank you Bo Seo!

Useful ideas, political though

Learned a bit from this book. Worth that much. Author can’t help but inject his politics - not what I signed up for. Interesting he couldn’t immediately find a job after Harvard.

Enjoyable

I enjoyed the book very much, especially the parts that described the world of competitive debating. Bo's experiences ranging from elementary school to the time he got his first job, are also exciting. I liked the idea of a "good argument," but the book did not explain how debating can help real-life arguments. After all, the life of debating did not help Bo communicate well with his parents when he returned home. The "scaling" part of the book also felt rushed.

Best Book

The best book for our time, we’ve been needing its coaching about argument. Thanks for the stories, thanks for the arguments.

Enhanced my view of humanity

For most of my life I would say that I thought arguments with friends or family was a sign of a problem. Either with myself or with the other person. Arguments would therefore trigger a fight or flight response whenever I would encounter one. This book helped me see that arguments are what allows us to make good decisions together.

story, lessons of speech, and a autobiography

I appreciate when authors read there own books as it feels more genuine to relay their message. the books was incredible. I appreciate the lessons and learning the thought process behind deconstructing an argument. I hope to see more books from Bo in the future.