Why (and How) Donald Trump Persuades
Trump's persuasion model reinforces the old saying that "two out of three ain't bad." "Anyone who thinks my story is anywhere near over...
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Insights
Each week, I co-host a live discussion on LinkedIn with Dan Goodstein, CEO of IRPA-AI and the Digital Enterprise Institute. In addition, below are commentaries on items of interest to students of persuasion from today's headlines and elsewhere.
My analysis of persuasion in the news and elsewhere.
Still-Life (Talking)
A 17th century Dutch masterpiece makes a subtle case against the vanities and perils of wealth “When it is said that the artist imitates...
How Persuasion (Itself) Can Corrupt
It is not enough to understand that persuasion can lead us to bad outcomes, it can harm us even when the goals are good Politics requires...
On the Deliberative Audience
All persuasion starts (and sometimes stays) inside the mind of the communicator One of the loveliest sonnet sequences in the English...
The Persuasive Power of an (Ad) Image
Most print ads ask only that you notice them; the best also ask you to think. In a previous post, I discussed René Magritte’s painting,...
In the U.S. abortion debate, the left convinces but it may not persuade
In the debate about abortion, pro-choice activists in Latin America and the U.S. are deploying very different persuasion strategies. Only...
Persuasion in music: Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On"
Marvin Gaye's "beautiful descent into despair" fuses sublime music with messages that have inspired and persuaded for over half a century...
Why Emotion (not Sentiment) Persuades
Many speakers set out to use emotion to persuade, but even the best communicators can fall into the trap of sentimentality “I made...
Persuasion in the news: Arnold Schwarzenegger's Video to the Russian People
The famous actor's recent public speech to the people of Russia is a good example of the rules of persuasion put to effective use A...
Volodymyr Zelenskyy's Speech to Congress: An Analysis
As usual with the Ukrainian leader, his speech to the U.S. Congress on Wednesday was clear, emotional, and effective On March 16th, the...
Can machines persuade?
For as long as we can remember, persuasion has been the function of gods and humans only — that may be about to change. Earlier this...
Is Russia's Propaganda Persuading?
Russia is using the propaganda playbook to defend its actions in Ukraine, but early signs are not good for the Kremlin In 1928, Arthur...
Elizabeth Holmes and Theranos
The Theranos saga demonstrates the power of character to persuade even when evidence and logic clearly state the opposite A reader...
Persuasion in the news: Putin's speech on Ukraine
His latest speech recalls themes presented in 2014 and, despite Western criticism, delivers a clear message to his intended audience On...
Persuasion Versus Coercion
In some settings, the line between the two effects is difficult to see Coercion may prevent many transgressions; but it robs even actions...
Persuasion in art: Magritte's "Treachery of Images"
The rules of persuasion are present in all forms of human communication, including the visual arts People are sometimes surprised to hear...
Persuasion in the news: Palin suit vs. NY Times is over (for now)
Judge plans to dismiss Governor Palin's libel case v NY Times because she did not persuade the court (as I suspected) I was not surprised...
Persuasion in the news: Sarah Palin vs. The New York Times
The outcome of her defamation against the paper trial hangs in large part on each side's ability to distance itself from its own history...
Persuasion in advertising: Nike's "Just do It" by Dan Wieden
When we think about persuasion the form that comes most readily to mind is advertising. We all know that advertising exists to persuade,...
The influence of ancient Greek on persuasion
The unique qualities of the Greek language accelerated and enabled the development of persuasion techniques In addition to the social and...
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