Jon M. Ericson

This book isn't really a "great read" per se. I'm not sure I'd sit down and read it for pleasure. Having said that, however, this is a great book for helping structure classroom debates. I've never done forensics myself, so I can't speak to that side of things, but the book definitely gave me some idea of what goes on in proper debating.

Looking at the book reminds one of how good debating is supposed to be. What one sees in the political sphere is a sad vestige of a pretty vigorous tradition. I wish we did more of this in our schools. As we attempt to prepare kids for life in a democratic society, we need to model reasoned discourse rather than the cable-news/talk radio screeds we've grown accustomed to.… (meer)