Great Readings

This document consists of great books or articles on Rhetoric. Some are here because there is a course covering the same material; some are just great books that you should read at some point in your career.

Once you have made it through most of the curriculum, knowing whether a book is worth your time will become easier. Or, if you are struggling in one of the courses, perhaps reading a book on the subject will help.

Classical Foundations

Name Author(s)
Thank You for Arguing: What Aristotle, Lincoln, and Homer Simpson Can Teach Us About the Art of Persuasion Jay Heinrichs
A Grammar of Motives Kenneth Burke
The Elements of Eloquence: Secrets of the Perfect Turn of Phrase Mark Forsyth

Modern and Critical Rhetoric

Name Author(s)
The Rhetoric of Fiction Wayne C. Booth
Farnsworth's Classical English Rhetoric Ward Farnsworth
Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die Chip Heath & Dan Heath