Customer Reviews

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

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This is the first book I've read by Wayne Booth, and it makes me want to read all of his other well-known and oft-quoted works. I am not a fan of literary criticism, since it is generally poorly written and about as interesting and well-produced as cheap sausage, but The Rhetoric of Rhetoric is the real thing. I actually *enjoyed* reading it -- a page-turner. I learned a great deal about the history and meaning of rhetoric, which I wish I'd known before. But this isn't simply history (though that in itself is worth the book): I was buoyed by his idea of "listening rhetoric" in a world that has become trapped in the futile and belligerent cycle of "win rhetoric," particularly, as he notes, in a global/cyberculture where the whole world is listening--sort of. He is right to note that this global net culture has eliminated the niche audience: no more speaking exclusively to the choir (or at least not without global eavesdroppers).

Buy this book and then, let's talk: I promise to listen.

Wayne Booth's book is readable and he argues a strong case for the revival of the study of rhetoric. Booth goes one step further and argues for what can be called dialogical rhetoric. This is where parties to a discussion truly engage with each other in an attempt to understand where the other party is coming from, rather than simply trying to conquer all opposition. Booth's so-called 'Listening Rhetoric' has much in common with Hans-Georg Gadamer's notion of the fusion of horizons where different parties seek deeper understanding of each other, and through this can come to a deeper understanding of their own position. Anyone looking for a primer in rhetoric should look elsewhere as Booth's book provides only an overview of the field. He is more concerned to raise awareness and arouse interest in a subject that has been sadly neglected for too long. Rhetoric needs to be rehabilitated and Booth's book goes some way to achieving this.

The latest work by Wayne C. Booth, distinguished critic and author of the seminal book, The Rhetoric of Fiction (1961), claims to be nothing less than a manifesto. The book is addressed to a broad audience and dramatizes the importance of rhetorical studies. In it Booth asserts that communication in every corner of live as well as complex conflict situations can be improved by the study of rhetoric. The book opens with the characteristic problem of the study of rhetoric: the issue of its definition and its inevitable misinterpretations. But whereas conventional contemporary rhetorical study often limit the relevance of this study to insight in the disseminating work of language, Booth becomes somewhat of an optimist. Booth develops a pragmatic idea of rhetoric as a means for, surprisingly, `better' communications. He investigates the possibility of reducing harmful conflict by practising a rhetoric that depends on deep listening by both sides. This makes the book both a compelling read in its relevance for current affairs (politics, media and education), and a small but noticeable leap away from theoretical occupations. The latter shows however that the book's insights depend on an internal contradiction - can rhetoric find positive appreciation outside of theoretic circles -, a conflict that the book itself cannot solve; it needs a benevolent reader to do this.