This book comes across as a handbook on deception, but it clearly educates you on how to recognize fallacies and erroroneous reasoning by understanding how to create fallacies and invalid reasoning. The tone is serious, but having listened to the tape version and have read the book, the author is clearly demonstrating bad reasoning in order we can recognize and are not deceived by salesmen, supervisors, spouses, or anyone else who self-intrests are counter to our self-interests. It's unique prespective helps you deal with deceptive, manipulative, and exploitative people. Also, recommend Sherlock's Logic, another unique approach to logic that might appeal to people who are more comfortable with the idea of using logic to arrive at the truth in a straightforward way.

The author found that the best way to teach his philosophy students how to spot fallacies was to teach them the tricks of deceptive arguing--and it works. It eschews most of the passive, tedious techniques commonly used, with a lively, amusing tutorial on how never to lose an argument. Not just limited to formal Socratic debate, it discusses how to approach different audiences, considering how to handle adverse facts, and ways to make your argument 'win' even when it is logically weaker.

If more people read and understood this book, 99% of op-ed columnists would be out of a job!

One of the reviewers gave this book only one star because the book showed (the reviewer seems to think the author is actually advocating the use of)methods to deceive others. While accurate to some extent, the motive for such instruction was to highlight ways people may use to deceive the reader. In his Introduction, the author indicated he would teach the reader methods of deception so the reader will recognize and avoid attempts by others to deceive the reader through similar devices. In this, the book is quite successful. With all the propaganda thrown at us by politicians and the so-called "News" media,the teachings in this book are indispensable for anyone hoping to avoid being sucked in. Too basic for the trained logician, but an excellent discussion for the rest of us.

I would not like to be the author of a book and have to read a review of it like the one I feel I must write on this one. However, I am a learning addict, particularly an audiobook addict (well spent car time) on professional and personal growth. While there are undeniably excellent points made and material covered in this book, I found it to be presented in a manner which brought out the worst attention deficit in me. This reader is that memorable professor who's monotone lectures bored you and put you to sleep in college. No question the man is an authority on the topic(s) that this book intends to address for our gain. However, given his writing and reading style, I believe his own mastery would be better served if used for his own personal and career benefit rather than for his attempt to pass great wisdom on to us who choose which book or books to spend our money and time on to gain or strengthen these skills. I continue (thus far unsuccessfully) to seek an audiobook on the topic of debate. There are hundreds in print and apparently none currently on audio worth your or my money.

Whether you are an experienced arbitrator looking for an easy reference or someone just interested in learning more about the many techniques of winning your point, this book is for you. The structure of this book is logical and easy to follow. You'll become familiar with such terms as "theoretical constructs" ,"red herrings", and many more which you'll learn to use as you develop your point and sway your opponents. This book is an invaluabe reference for those with arbitration experience and those looking to get some. I have found the tools inside this book to be extremely usefull in settling large claims where tensions are high and points need to be made. Read it, enjoy it, and learn from it. If you enjoy the art of arguing, you'll definately enjoy this book.

For those with a desire to increase their skill at argumentation, from formal debates to quiet negotiations at home to shouting matches in the street, this book offers some of the most powerful and effective weapons you will ever add to your arsenal. I question anyone who didn't find it of help, since the techniques held in this manual you do not use....you wield! I recommend "How to Win an Argument" By Michael Gilbert for those new to argumentation, as "Deception" will make much more sense with foreknowledge of the subject. Then move on to "Deception" and prepare to enter a training ground that will give you weapons and techniques so powerful, so devastating that they may be more than you even wanted. The strategies here are incredibly powerful, and are remarkably effective. Each chapter you will grow stronger and stronger until by the end you will be able to win or draw every argument you will face, and tear some people to pieces in the process. Believe me when I say that I have made people scream in fury at me, scream that they hate me after dismantling them with what I learned in this book. In some ways the book is too powerful. In some ways you will not even know your own strength after reading it. I recommend using Dale Carnegie techniques most of the time in life, but when you need to defend yourself in a verbal battle or lock up with another in a good old fashion argument, then "The Art of Deception" will provide you with an invaluable arsenal that will ready you for war. Watch in pleasure and even disbelief as you feel yourself roll effortlessly over your opponent, picking them apart like a bug, and watch in delight as they finally lose their temper and begin screaming in defeat. Ready yourself for the very fast paced types of arguments where you seem to be unable to even get a word in, but God help them when it's your turn, for you will usually be able to defeat your opponent in thirty seconds or less in this situation. Please be careful however, because some of the artillery that this book provides is so devastating that you can crush even a good friend in an argument easily and make them very angry, and you may not even mean to.
Learn the basic argument structures such as valid and sound syllogisms which form the building blocks of argumentation. Learn how to build and present a nearly invincible case. Learn how to refute an opponent's argument, and defend you own from attack. Then learn how to catch people in fallacies and tear them apart by identifying weak points in their case. Be trained how to attack and defend brilliantly from any front and direction. Additionally, one of the most devastating weapons, learn how to use fallacies themselves as valid weapons and watch your hapless opponent writhe in agony and drown in a pool of defeat. If you're going to get into verbal confrontations in the future, this is the next best thing to punching them in the face. Become invincible in argumentation, read the masterpiece, "The Art of Deception"