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3.7 of 5 stars
Few, if any, writers in history have made major contributions to as many fields of knowledge as Aristotle...

'If there are two definitive featu... read full description


reviews

Jul 25, 2010
Matt rated it: 2 of 5 stars
Aristotle defines. Unmercifully. And The Art of Rhetoric is no exception. Aristotle disdained the sophist tradition of ancient Greece as much as Plato, but he also understood that rhetoric was a popular study of the day and it became another discipline he sought to master. With a scientific eye and a mind toward philosophical value, Aristotle studied rhetoric as “the power to observe the persuasiveness of which any particular matter admits” (pg. 74; Ch. 1.2). Rhetoric, when used appropriate More...
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Jul 26, 2011
Tim rated it: 4 of 5 stars
In addition to reading Aristotle's Rhetoric, I took a class about the revival of Aristotle.

Rhetoric was -- thanks largely to Aristotle, Seneca, and Cicero -- a "queen" of the sciences in the ancient world. It was that discipline that summoned, combined and strengthened other disciplines. But during the Enlightenment rhetoric fell on hard times. It became what it is today: The study of elaborate language. Or, to put it less politely, the study of how to blow hot air.

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Feb 26, 2010
Scott rated it: 4 of 5 stars
This book is obviously a classic to the field of rhetoric. It also contains what is essentially the first treatise on human psychology, in addition to systematically analyzing the art of persuasion.

I have never read any other editions of this book, but I would recommend this edition to everyone who wants to read it. George Kennedy's translation and his commentary are incredibly helpful, even amusing at times. His sheer knowledge of Aristotle and this work (he must have spent decades More...
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Dec 15, 2011
Paul rated it: 4 of 5 stars
Not Aristotle's clearest or best organized work, but still part of the core curriculum of a liberal education.

Why read Aristotle today? Because he is one of the greatest minds in Western history, and such a person's well-considered thoughts are inherently worth reading, if anything is.

In addition, this book was deliberately aimed at those seeking to play an active role in a democratic society, to help them fulfill their function as citizens of a free society. We in the We More...
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Jan 28, 2012
Paul rated it: 5 of 5 stars
You may never have read anything by Aristotle; but if you've ever taken a college writing course, you've had him as your teacher. The Art of Rhetoric did so much to define how subsequent generations, and civilizations, regarded the task of crafting persuasive language that it can truly be regarded as a founding text. Methodically, Aristotle sets forth his sense of how the writer's handling of character and emotion contributes to success in rhetorical terms. His insights regarding style and co More...
Sep 16, 2008
Carmen rated it: 2 of 5 stars
I need an Idiot's Guide type book to help me with this one because this is just not sinking in. Perhaps I need to reread it. ehh. I'm not really a fan of rhetoric to begin with but this is certainly the book for orators, politicians, and lawyers to be. Proof, proof, proof, make sure you can back up what you say, but when you don't have proof, at least say it with style and panache, that's half the battle. An interesting read during election season.

One of the most interesting moments More...
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Oct 05, 2010
Mando rated it: 4 of 5 stars
An excellent edition, really. The footnotes are quite comprehensive, and make the text much more approachable than it would be otherwise. It incorporates notes about past translations as well as commentary about what parts weren't necessarily written by Aristotle. There are general explanatory notes to make the text sensible, and notes about when what parts were probably added by Aristotle as he worked on the text over several years of his life. Introductions to each book and chapter section More...
May 23, 2010
Jesse rated it: 3 of 5 stars
This is, next to the Metaphysics, the most turgid of Aristotle's texts, unless you're a masochist enough to read the Prior Analytics (like I was, and both read too much like what they are: lecture notes). On the positive side, this is a fascinating combination of rational psychology, Aristotelian ethics, and the rhetoric developed by the school of Isocrates. After reading this, you will be able to spot the well-veiled epideictics of Lenin.
Jan 21, 2011
Heather rated it: 2 of 5 stars
This book should probably be read by anyone on a debate team, or who wants to be a lawyer, or probably men on the high counsil, it has some very interesting points on how to speak to others, how your emotions, and the audiences emotions work and if you are trying to convince them of something, how to work your presentation to fit that model.

The part on emotions was very intereesting to me. The part right after the emotion part was VERY VERY painfully boring to me, I don't know why. More...
Jul 27, 2010
Mary rated it: 4 of 5 stars
This is a strange book to read, probably because it wasn’t supposed to be a real book. I’ve read this book 3 times and I’m still not sure I get everything in this. This is a different translation. I like Aristotle with this practical art in rhetoric. I tell my students that.
Nov 05, 2009
Paula rated it: 4 of 5 stars
É impressionante como o modo de dizer é bem mais importante do que o que é dito. Foi sempre algo que me passou ao lado, mas depois de ler este livro, tento pensar numa forma mais agradável de dizer algo mais negativo.
Recomendo. Dá que pensar.
Apr 21, 2011
Rhonda rated it: 4 of 5 stars
I am glad to be reminded of this wonderful book, although I read it some time ago. It is effectively practical advice in nature which perhaps I did not completely appreciate at the time. Perhaps it is time to read it again.
Feb 22, 2009
S added it
350 BCE
Cambridge; London: Harv Loeb 1926
John Henry Freece, trans

he is the unique place where his divergent opinions come together sometimes excellent, sometimes dull
Sep 13, 2011
Steven rated it: 3 of 5 stars
Without this text, the New Critics never would have existed. I'll leave it to you to decide whether that would have been a good thing.
Dec 27, 2010
Kenneth rated it: 5 of 5 stars
This book gives a fantastic view into human nature, and how, even after all these years, the human race has failed to change.
Jul 20, 2009
Logan rated it: 2 of 5 stars
People make a great deal out of Aristotle, Plato, Socrates, &c. as philosophers, but I do not enjoy them especially. If this floats your boat, however, read it.
0 comments like (1 person liked it)
Mar 03, 2011
Maxo added it
Awesome read because he filled some timeless truths about human nature.
Jan 17, 2011
Barbara rated it: 3 of 5 stars
A bit dry. Tough to slog through it. Glad I read it. Not sure why.
Jan 17, 2010
Bdesmond added it
The Art of Rhetoric (Penguin Classics) by Aristotle (1992)
Sep 17, 2009
Tim rated it: 5 of 5 stars
A foundational work on the forms and function functions oratory.
Jun 15, 2009
Gwen rated it: 3 of 5 stars
Read this when I barely knew what "rhetoric" meant. So I should sift through it again.
1 comment like (1 person liked it)
Nov 05, 2011
Chris rated it: 4 of 5 stars
Fuck off Peter Ramus, Aristotle is just all right with me.
Jun 09, 2010
Andrew rated it: 5 of 5 stars
Illuminating, provocative and useful in strategy and life.
Jan 15, 2009
Holly rated it: 3 of 5 stars
Read for a seminar in the history of rhetoric.
Jul 21, 2011
Yann rated it: 4 of 5 stars
Je me suis régalé avec Aristote.
Jun 24, 2010
Jrome!! rated it: 5 of 5 stars
Read it! That all that i have to say!
Nov 29, 2008
Lana rated it: 5 of 5 stars
The rhetorician's bible.
Feb 26, 2009
Ellen rated it: 3 of 5 stars
HORROR!!!!!!!
Apr 20, 2009
Douglas rated it: 4 of 5 stars
Excellent.
Dec 18, 2009
Steve rated it: 3 of 5 stars
Well I've read it now...