Writing to Persuade: How to Bring People Over to Your Side

by Trish Hall

Paperback. 13,50 / 21.00 cm. In Turkish. 232 p. Orijinal Writing to Persuade Translated by Murat Sir Edited by M. Murtaza Özeren Cover designed by Baris Sehri Düzelti - Redaksiyon : Adem Senel Mustafa Karagüllüoglu New York Times gazetesi Misafir Yazar Sayfasi eski editörünün usta kaleminden çikmis bu kitap, ikna sanati konusunda her türden yazar için essiz ve eglendirici bir kaynak degerindedir. Trish Hall'in etkileyici yazma üzerine degindigi yeni eseri, neredeyse herkesi hemen hemen her konuda ikna etmek için yazilmis egitici rehberler ve tavsiyelerle doludur. Hall bütün yillarini tartismalara, argümanlara ve topluma kazinan yeni fikirlere harcamakla geçirdi. Eserleri mahveden jargonlarla ve gelisigüzel yazilmis sikici yazilarla da mücadele etmeyi asla birakmadi. Nobel ödüllü sahsiyetler, Putin gibi küresel çapta söz sahibi insanlar ve Angelina Jolie gibi toplumu etkileme gücüne sahip ünlüler adina yaptigi editörlük tecrübelerine bakildiginda Trish Hall yazarlara, ögrencilere ve hatta is basvurusunda bulunanlara ikna edici sekilde yazmanin en önemli inceliklerine dair kilavuzluk ediyor. Okuyucularla bütünlesmenin en temel prensiplerini ortaya döken "Ikna Etmek Için Yazmak" adli bu kitap, en bilindik anekdotlar ile en pratik ve en uygulanabilir tavsiyeleri bir araya getirmektedir. Bunu yaparken de günümüz 21. yüzyil dijital medya kalabaligi ve gürültüsünün üzerine çikarak etkileyici sekilde iletisim kurma sanatini oldukça anlasilir bir dille aktariyor.

Genres: Writing, Nonfiction, Psychology, Reference, Language, Professional Development, Audiobook

224 pages, Paperback

Published June 2, 2020

Reviews

[D. St. Germain · Rating 4 out of 5]

People reject ideas that threaten their sense of self, writes Trish Hall in Writing to Persuade. Therefore, writers should not make a reader feel bad if they want to convince readers of their ideas. This means not admonishing them, intimidating them, browbeating or bulling them, or otherwise blustering to a conclusion on an issue.

Writing to Persuade is in some ways a book on the lost art of manners - and it’s one we need right now, because the dominant narratives of those in power have long abandoned basic decency when talking about the issues that affect people. They instead focus on inflaming emotions through demonization, categorizing people into vilified subgroups, accusing those subgroups of aberrant behavior, inventing further differences, and otherwise browbeating, belittling and bulling people with faux facts and whatever else they have at their disposal. This dominant narrative has in turn, shaped how ordinary people discuss ideas.

Hall reminds us of the basics then of civilized discourse. Focusing on what you have in common with others and your shared values, being warm and friendly, avoiding upsetting people, understanding what people fear, and using social pressure (in the form of people they like who share your viewpoint, or people they don’t like who hold the opposite viewpoint), and never belittling others are all important to-dos in persuasive writing, Hall argues. Never repeat a falsehood when writing to persuade; instead firmly make the counterpoint in such a way that tugs at readers’ emotions.

Emotions are a huge part of persuasion, as Hall shows us, and emotions have a strong bearing on our decisions. Too much writing falls flat when it tries to remove emotion from the equation - because facts mean nothing if they do not effect us in some way. It is the persuasive writer’s job to build an emotional connection by fleshing out facts with stories that resonate with others.

The tools of fiction and narrative also come in handy when seeking to persuade. Hall suggests creating stories in your writing, using narrative techniques such as suspense, transformation, and vivid imagery.

Finally, be succinct, focus on one or two key points, avoid generalities, and ditch the jargon. Call for small steps toward the outcome you’d like to produce in the reader.

In five years of editing the New York Times Op-Ed pages, Trish Hall has seen all manner of arguments, and this book examines at what the most successful arguments that have appeared there do. She grounds her points in ample anecdotes, examples from the Times, and academic studies of persuasion and psychology.

Writers seeking to connect with readers will find Writing to Persuade a primer on making arguments, served with a side dish of pop psychology. Writers with some background in persuasion, decision-making, or behavioral science will not find a lot of new material. However, a reminder of the basics of civilized discourse is something everyone writing anything about the state of the world could use a refresher course in these days.

[Brandice · Rating 3 out of 5]

Writing to Persuade: How to Bring People Over to Your Side is an easy-to-read book by former New York Times Op-Ed editor, Trish Hall. It has practical tips for writing well, generally, and advice on writing to persuade, specifically. While I didn’t learn a lot of new information, there were good reminders included in the book.

It’s often challenging to change someone’s mind. The points regarding writing to persuade were interesting - Know your audience, find commonality, recognize their perspective and acknowledge it, and do not repeat their POV/position in your arguments. Find a new or surprising angle to share. Again, these aren’t necessarily new ideas, but helpful concepts.

The biggest takeaway for me was the chapter focused on listening - An often underused skill. I know the concept of active listening has (re)gained traction in recent years and Hall notes here that if we do a better job listening we will hear more worthy stories. She also emphasizes the importance of truly listening, not planning your response or interrupting the person you’re engaged in conversation with. Since I read this chapter a few weeks ago, I’ve found myself making an active effort to recognize (& stop) when I’m doing this.

Writing to Persuade is a solid, straightforward refresher on writing, and given its length, worth the time to read.

[Kathryn Bashaar · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't get as much out of this book as I'd hoped to. It was a lot more memoir of the author's career as an editor than a manual. Most of the advice was pretty basic: tell a story rather than just reciting facts, don't be too wordy. I was looking for a lot more deconstruction of good versus bad essays.

Like my reviews? Check out my blog at http://www.kathrynbashaar.com/blog/
Author of The Saint's Mistress: https://www.bing.com/search?q=amazon....

[Walker Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pros: Do you like to gossip? How about an adventure? Well, this book is both of these balled into one. How exciting to find out about some of the scandals that happened some time ago due to not fact checking? What about the power of persuasion through offering unemotional words to avoid an argument? If I only had these tools in the past, I could have prevented a lot of mishaps with my spouse and in the workplace. This book will provide more than just tips, and it will offer a new way of thinking. I will put a lot of these tools to use from this point forward. Okay, did I appeal to your emotional side yet? If not, then I need to go back a reread that particular chapter.

Cons: None! This book is phenomenal, and it will be added to my arsenal of reference books as well.

[Anne Janzer · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you want to change people's opinions with your words, and particularly if you want to write an opinion piece that makes an impact, read this new book by the former editor of the New York Times Op-Ed page. Writing to Persuade by Trish Hall interweaves behind-the-scenes stories about the workings of The NYT Op-Ed page with solid advice founded in both research and experience. It's both informative and entertaining.

[Krystina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is split into five sections: lessons from Hall’s professional career; finding your story; winning people over; tips on writing; and the psychology of persuasion. Each chapter digs into practical life/writing advice and personal stories. I felt like I was reading a memoir that just happened to have a lot of writing tips in it. I loved Hall’s voice and feel like I’ll return to this book in the future.

If you’re short on time, the preface summarizes the author’s 15 principles of persuasive writing:
1. Listen to people.
2. We believe what we believe.
3. Respect your audience. Learn to be empathetic.
4. Don’t get into fights.
5. Play on feelings.
6. Understand moral values.
7. Emphasize your similarities.
8. What do you know?
9. Surprise your reader.
10. Be specific.
11. Tell stories.
12. Facts aren’t magic.
13. Facts do matter.
14. Abandon jargon.
15. Prune ruthlessly.

[Max · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really engaging book with some great tips for effective writing and public speaking. My biggest takeaway from this book is that people aren’t persuaded by facts because we tend to reject information that doesn’t fit our preconceived opinions. Instead, effective persuasion is done through stories and anecdotes that appeal to the moral values of the audience we’re trying to convince. Finally, it’s important to avoid aggressive arguments and insults because that will cause people to stop listening and hold more firmly to what they already believe.

[Bakertyl · Rating 4 out of 5]

The vast majority of this book is excellent, similar in style and tone to Stephen King's "On Writing".  A couple paragraphs got on my nerves, but the advice and instructions Hall provides are well done and worth reading.

I'm not going to summarize Hall's work, she is an in-the-trenches editor, her advice is not arguable.  If you want your writing to persuade someone, read this book twice, taking notes both times.  Then write Trish a thank-you note.

The only thing I didn't like was the politics... which no one likes, honestly.  Hall made good points of historical or current celebrities using persuasive writing, from Woody Allen to Paul Kalanithi to... Donald Trump.

I didn't vote for Trump.  He's an ass, but if you're not going to explain in depth, don't bother bringing up his shortcomings.  Too many people wave their hands as if they're so right they don't need to explain, and then wonder why half the country disagrees with them.  This is literally a book on persuasive writing, persuade me; I would have loved a chapter titled "An Example on Persuasive Writing: Why Trump is a Bad President".  Having a couple paragraphs isn't helpful, its not convincing, its just annoying.  Criticize right or just skip it.  

Overall, an excellent book, and worth reading.

**This ARC was provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

[Logan Markle · Rating 4 out of 5]

A concise depiction of how words can be compelling and how one might make them more so. From the fingers of a veteran editor and writer, I learned a lot about the writing industry and why words are at the center of it all. Words encapsulate intelligence, authority, story, attention and connection. I will attempt to always make my opinion writing condensed and clear, straight to the point, written with my audience in mind, and attempt to write something surprising (and unique). I have little to no practice at this style of writing but find it appealing as a form and hope to experiment.

[Drew · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fine for what it is, but I was hoping to get something a little more sophisticated about what makes op-eds work. Probably helpful for someone getting started.

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent book about writing by the OpEd Editor at the NY Times. Hall writes beautifully, persuasively and with humor. If she were a professor, I'd sign up for her course immediately.

[BlueBirdie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy to understand and follow along. I found myself pulling out my sticky tabs marking several key points or pages here and there to follow up on later. This is really help me in the future more than what I had hoped!

[Gustavo · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's ok. The book is a good start on how to write persuasively but it lacks depth into how to do it.
The stories are very engaging and they help illustrate the author's advice.
The lists on how to write were helpful although too superficial.

A further reading list of books, articles and sources would have been helpful to cover the lack of depth.

[Abraham · Rating 4 out of 5]

When you buy a book that claims to tell you something about writing, the stakes are high from the moment you open the cover. Perhaps very few of us would refer to ourselves as “writers”, but in this age of the screen, written communication is more important than ever. Combine this with ever-shortening attention spans and increasingly selected-for audiences, and “Writing to Persuade” feels like a book for its time.

There is plenty of advice here - anyone looking for tips for an important speech or letter will find clear guidance, written in a very light and to clear style which makes this book very easy to get through. I look forward to coming back to review certain sections when I need their help.

Not all of the assumptions here made sense to me. The last chapter describes conservatives and liberals as having fundamentally different minds, without providing much evidence. I was skeptical and felt that parts of this book could have actually been longer. Perhaps they would have been more persuasive. Even if you don’t find everything in this book useful, I find it difficult to imagine you will regret reading it. Hall’s style displays a mastery of succinct communication which we could all do well to earn.

[David · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm baffled by the claim that it's in the tradition of the Elements of Style. There is actually very little in the way of specific instruction about writing. There's a little on psychology of persuasion [if you're interested in that topic, Cialdini's book on influence is much better and much deeper], plus some fairly obvious guidance [don't insult someone and tell them they're all wrong about everything, while hoping they'll for some reason meet you in the middle as a result].

Vast majority of the book concerns the somewhat specialized question of how to get something accepted by NYT op-ed page.........when she used to edit it.

I used to edit an academic journal, and it's an occupational hazard to think you have something of general interest to say to authors after that experience. the problem is that when the info is really useful to authors is when you are starting your term, not when it's over.

[Ulysses · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book sounds great in theory, and the author's credentials to write such a book (as an editor of the New York Times' Op-Ed page) are impeccable. However, to a reader with even basic college-essay-level writing experience, this book has disappointingly little to offer, and the biographical/experiential context in which the author presents its lessons is surprisingly boring. I kept reading far longer than I typically would for such an empty book, primarily on the assumption that surely I would find at least one valuable new tip to take away from it, but also simply because if it is not an engaging read, at least it is a short one. However, the effort I put into slogging through the book despite my rising level of frustration with it was not worthwhile; I would have been better off just (re)reading The Elements of Style.

[Diana Bogan · Rating 3 out of 5]

For seasoned writers this book is one of those quick reads that serve primarily as a reminder of what you know (or hopefully should) topped off with a handful of insights that feel fresh or surprise.

I think the book best serves aspiring writers -- and not just in media fields but also in legal and technical fields. It's a straight-forward easily understandable read. I think it's perfect for a college bound student or recent university grad hoping to make a living as an effective communicator.

[Paul · Rating 1 out of 5]

If you’re looking for a book to help you write more persuasively, save your time and money and skip this one. I rarely give up on a book, but I gave up on this one about a third of the way through. A book on writing that is poorly written and poorly edited. And way too much name-dropping. A better title would have been “My Life as an Editor: Brushes with Celebrity.” If I were to sum up the author’s advice (at least through the first third of the book): (1) become a celebrity, and (2) rewrite your piece when your editor tells you to make it more personal.

[Christie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is billed as being something akin to The Elements of Style, but it isn't quite as detailed or rules-based. The suggestions on writing persuasively are helpful, but nothing really that new. There are also distracting comment bubbles throughout--I've never been a fan because it kind of breaks up the reading process for me, jarring my brain one direction, and then another when I go back to the main text.

[Jia L · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book had a great title and I was expecting a more prescriptive book which begins from part 2 onwards but looking back, I guessed that it was a half autobiography of the ex editor. Being a editor requires a different set of skills from being a writer and this book sheds light on the expectations from "the story" being published and how one strives to write one.

[Max · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 or so, but wouldn't round it up to a 4. Super valuable read that addresses cognitive biases and addresses how to be a more simple, engaging writer. This woman understands her craft with such humility and precision. Remarkable book.

[D · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nice start but quickly became quite disappointing. Was unable to finish:(

[Theodore Kinni · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you write or want to write OpEds, this is a must read--the author used to be in charge of OpEd at the New York Times.

[Jeff Rivers · Rating 1 out of 5]

Too much memoir, not enough practical advice.

[Frances · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book did not impress me. It didn't contain anything that you couldn't find by googling "how to write an op-ed." And I found the transphobia on page 72 not only morally repugnant but also hypocritically in contradiction with her emphasis on "finding the facts."

To quote:

"I remember the day I was hanging around in the office of Frank Bruni, one of our columnists, wondering why so many men who transitioned to be women adopted an extremely feminine style. They seemed to embrace the strictures that women born as women had spent years trying to escape.

"'Why do they have to turn into parodies of women?'

"Frank laughed. 'You have to talk to my friend Elinor,' he said. 'We just got off the phone and she was saying exactly the same thing.'”

She then goes on to say that it's unfair that Lawrence H. Summers, a former president of Harvard, was criticized for saying that "there were differences in the brains of men and women" while it was okay for Caitlyn Jenner ("born Bruce") "said pretty much the same thing in an interview with Diane Sawyer," where Jenner said, "My brain is much more female than it is male," which, according to Hall, "clearly implies a difference." Then, she says "Liberals who had been so quick to chastise Summers praised Jenner for her bravery. Why? Because Jenner was transgender and liberals supported her, while they were more likely to find fault with a heterosexual man like Summers."

So let's dissect. Hall conveniently omits that Summers suggested that the dearth of women in STEM was due to "innate" differences, a comment that really fucks women over. She also shows her lack of critical thinking by completely ignoring:

1) the dynamics of power

People like Hall will go blue in the face saying that everyone deserves to express themselves. She's not wrong. But providing equal space to those in power and those from marginalized communities shows that she has no concept of equity, of the idea that, maybe, just maybe, people whose voices have been silenced/oppressed deserve a bit more space as they're making up for lost time. Her Woody Allen piece also demonstrates her lack of understanding of power dynamics, of how sexual abuse survivors are silenced, threatened, etc. I'm not saying Allen shouldn't have had the chance to respond to the allegations against him; what I'm saying is there's something wrong with Hall's insistence that he get equal airtime.

2) the fact that minorities are not a monolith

Hall takes great liberties in assuming what Jenner meant. She also forgets that Jenner is ONE person of MANY and that her views don't represent that of all trans people.

It's painfully obvious that Hall did not do any research into the facts -- she obviously knows little of biology, of the history of gender definitions, of the fact that there are many cultures who honor transgender people, of trans history. She even deadnames Jenner. Someone who works at one of the world's most respected publications prides herself on impartiality but refuses to explore WHERE that "impartiality" comes from.

Don't waste your time on this BS.

[William Schram · Rating 4 out of 5]

Former New York Times Editor Trish Hall writes about persuasion in the book Writing To Persuade. Mrs. Hall includes fifteen principles of persuasive writing, along with a mini-memoir of how she reached the lofty heights of a newspaper editor. She regales the reader with tales of sexual harassment and other horrible things in the newspaper industry.

The first principle of persuasive writing is listening to people. Persuasion is not about the writer. It is about the person reading the material. Second, we believe what we believe. When someone's beliefs are deeply ingrained, changing them can be an impossible task. Third, respect your audience and learn empathy. Fourth, don't get into fights. Fighting doesn't work in the way you want it to. Fifth, play on feelings. Facts don't always work, but emotionally engaging content is effective. Sixth, understand moral values. Seventh, emphasize your similarities. Eighth, write what you know. If you are a dilettante in a field of knowledge, don't talk about something you don't understand. Ninth, surprise your reader. Make it engaging with imagery and relevant ideas. Tenth, be specific. Use concrete, tangible details, or your writing will fail. Eleventh, tell stories. Stories are universal. Twelfth, facts aren't magic. Facts will not convince people, and you should use them sparingly. Thirteenth, facts do matter. Given the previous point, this may come off as a surprise. Fact-check your stories, or you will pay for it. Fourteenth, abandon jargon. If you are a specialist, this advice will be hard to follow. Fifteenth, prune ruthlessly. Why use fifty words when ten will do?

Mrs. Hall includes short pieces of writing with flaws, and she edits them to improve the essay or letter.

I enjoyed the book. Thanks for reading my review, and see you next time.

[David Pang · Rating 4 out of 5]

I consider myself a writer, and originally I went into this book looking to learn how to better persuade, advertise and market ideas through writing. However, Trish Hall left me with something more philosophical.

Hall seems to blend the concept of a memoir and an advice book seamlessly in “Writing to Persuade,” distinguishing it from other “how-to” type books. I appreciated her stories and anecdotes. I thought they were powerful and added to her validity. As someone with a degree in journalism, I thought I’d resonate more with the actual theory and practice of persuasive writing that Hall introduces in the latter half of the book. But surprisingly, I actually liked the first half of this book more than the second half. And here’s why.

After reading this book, I realized I had been separating my journalism brain from my social brain. My journalism brain is naturally inclined to actively listen for the sake of a story, and my social brain is a lot more relaxed and likes to interrupt others. But, this in turn makes me a poor listener to those I should care about the most. Hall has inadvertently introduced the idea of treating all social interactions like an interview for a story. Want to show others you care? Do exactly what a journalist does when he wants more information for a story, and the rest will come. It’s cliche, but I’ve never thought to put it together.

I feel like I came out of this experience wanting to be a better person and more conscious of how I listen, speak and communicate with those I’m close to rather than learn how to craft better arguments. It’s a conclusion I never really thought I’d arrive to after reading this book, but it’s a pleasant one I will gladly accept!

[Hadi Houalla · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wouldn’t have made it through 200 pages of this BUT for the author’s storytelling. After reading this, I feel immersed in the operations of the NYT op-ed section. I remember stories about op-eds failing or anecdotes from the author’s life like avoiding confrontation when her husband was angry about traffic. This is far from a dry handbook on persuasion.

Nothing too surprising, but there are some great tips. Like emphasizing similarities and shared values with your audience. If you agree to fight climate change, you’ve warmed up a Progressive reader to hear about your climate subsidy program. If you agree that the government shouldn’t overstep, you’ve warmed up a Conservative reader to hear your case for federal protections for the environment. Throw your audience a bone, in short.

Other useful tips were not repeating falsehoods (e.g. “immigrants are our family, our heroes” rather than “immigrants are not violent”). Organizing information as we would in a conversation (+ deciding on 1 main idea and starting with that). The importance of sharing why we are the authority on a subject and telling a story.

Also some beautiful reflections. She focuses on how ingrained we are in our beliefs (to the point where we surround ourselves by others who agree with us and silence our disagreements to conform). She shares a new perspective on empathy; it’s more about creating partnerships and knowing how to get under people’s skin. It differs from sympathy.

Finally, reading someone who writes with short, punchy sentences is just lovely. And lovely that she breathed life into her tips through stories. Writing to Persuade is rich with life lessons; I wish I had the motivation to re-read it.

[Alan Kercinik · Rating 3 out of 5]

For me, writing books are much like -- as the saying goes -- pizza. Even when they're bad, they're still pretty good.

It's not that this book is bad, exactly. Trish Hall is a former editor of the New York Times Op-Ed page and her purview is about writing that can change minds. Her advice is geared toward writing pieces that forge connections that just might open people's minds to your perspective.

What nagged at me, as I read her advice, is that it almost sounded quaint. A communique from another, potentially wildly romanticized, time when people were open to debate and other people's points of view. And while some of the stories I love most involve how some flawed person comes to make some sort of meaninful change in their lives, it is a quality I feel is increasingly absent from how we talk to each other today.

As it turns out, it isn't until the last chapter that Hall touches on this niggling doubt and addresses the 800-pound elephant in the room. About whether understanding a respectful way to make a case and move hearts is even worth it. She retains her optimism.

I wish she'd have followed her own advice -- one about being urgent -- and spent the first portion of the book addressing the moments we're living now. And how we can not only write more persuasive arguments, but how we ensure we are more open to persuading.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's definitely a good book, but my mind wasn't in the mood for it.

Ramble of Thoughts
-The author makes interesting and accurate points about writing and persuasion, specifically in the editorial/journalism world.
-Some of her examples, especially relating to politics and older lesser-known historical events lost me and I found myself mindlessly reading the words, not truly comprehending.
-Her suggestions sometimes felt repetitive.
-It was very interesting to see the thought process of an Op-Ed editor; she was blunt and concise about the process in which they pick out pieces and how/why.
-Speaking of concise, she did an excellent job of maintaining a clear voice without using superfluous words or jargon (shoutout to her rule to not use jargon lol). Even though I wasn't always able to follow her examples, I could at least appreciate her direct approach to her chapters.

Overall, I think it's a decent read if you're at all interested in writing. It's definitely a more analytical approach to writing and understanding editors, but worth it to expand your English mind!