Bo Seo

How Debate Teaches Us to Listen and Be Heard

Good Arguments

Two-time world champion debater and former coach of the Harvard debate team, Bo Seo tells the inspiring story of his life in competitive debating and reveals the timeless secrets of effective communication and persuasion When Bo Seo was 8 years old, he and his family migrated from Korea to Australia. At the time, he did not speak English, and, unsurprisingly, struggled at school. But, then, in fifth grade, something happened to change his life: he discovered competitive debate. Immediately, he was hooked. It turned out, perhaps counterintuitively, that debating was the perfect activity for someone shy and unsure of himself. It became a way for Bo not only to find his voice, but to excel socially and academically. And he’s not the only one. Far from it: presidents, Supreme Court justices, and CEOs are all disproportionally debaters. This is hardly a coincidence. By tracing his own journey from immigrant kid to world champion, Seo shows how the skills of debating—information gathering, truth finding, lucidity, organization, and persuasion—are often the cornerstone of successful careers and happy lives. Drawing insights from its strategies, structure, and history, Seo teaches readers the skills of competitive debate, and in doing so shows how they can improve their communication with friends, family, and colleagues alike. He takes readers on a thrilling intellectual adventure into the eccentric and brilliant subculture of competitive debate, touching on everything from the radical politics of Malcom X to Artificial Intelligence. Seo proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that, far from being a source of conflict, good-faith debate can enrich our daily lives. Indeed, these good arguments are essential to a flourishing democracy, and are more important than ever at time when bad faith is all around, and our democracy seems so imperiled.

Art of Disagreeing Well

Bo Seo, pemegang dua gelar juara dunia debat dan mantan pelatih tim debat Harvard, menuturkan kisah inspiratifnya dalam dunia debat dan mengungkapkan rahasia tak lekang zaman dari komunikasi serta persuasi yang efektif. Ketika berusia delapan tahun, Bo dan keluarganya pindah dari Korea ke Australia. Kala itu dia tidak bisa bicara bahasa Inggris dan mengalami kesulitan menyesuaikan diri di sekolah. Namun, saat kelas 5 SD, terjadi sesuatu yang mengubah hidupnya: dia berkenalan dengan debat kompetitif. TernyataÑwalaupun mungkin bertentangan dengan intuisi umumÑdebat adalah kegiatan yang sempurna bagi seorang pemalu yang merasa tak yakin dengan dirinya sendiri. Debat menjadi cara bagi Bo untuk tidak hanya menemukan suaranya, tapi juga menjadi unggul secara sosial dan akademis. Hal itu terbukti tidak hanya berlaku bagi Bo; banyak presiden dan CEO adalah praktisi debat. Dalam napak tilas perjalanannya, dari anak imigran hingga menjadi juara dunia, Bo menunjukkan bagaimana keterampilan berdebatÑmengumpulkan informasi, menemukan kebenaran, menyatakan sesuatu secara jelas, dan membujukÑsering kali menjadi fondasi untuk karier yang sukses serta hidup yang bahagia. Dengan menarik wawasan dari strategi, struktur, dan sejarah debat, Bo berbagi keterampilan debat kompetitif, serta menunjukkan bagaimana kita bisa memperbaiki komunikasi dengan teman, kerabat, dan relasi. Bukannya menjadi sumber konflik, debat yang baik justru dapat memperkaya hidup kita sehari-hari.

Good Arguments: Menguasai Seni Mengutarakan Pandangan untuk Hidup dan Karier yang Lebih Memuaskan

By a two-time debating world champion, a dazzling look at how arguing better can transform your life - and the world - for the better

Bo Seo

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