About this book
Every day, we are exposed to arguments designed to sway our thinking — in business, politics, media, advertising, and everyday conversation. Many of these arguments use what can only be called illegitimate persuasion.
Illegitimate persuasion bypasses logic. It exploits psychological weaknesses. It targets emotion instead of reason. Politicians, marketers, negotiators, and others — knowingly or unknowingly — use these tactics to influence our decisions.
The problem: these tactics work. We get persuaded even when we shouldn't be.
Logically, we should not be swayed by a celebrity endorsing a product (appeal to authority), by fear of missing out (bandwagon effect), or by an argument that attacks a person rather than their idea (ad hominem). Yet we are — because these traps operate below our conscious awareness.
This book exposes those traps.
What's covered
Logical Fallacies
Errors in reasoning that make arguments invalid. Learn to dismantle weak arguments by spotting flaws in their foundation.
Cognitive Biases
Mental shortcuts that lead to flawed judgment. Discover the internal glitches in your own mind that lead to poor decisions.
Rhetorical Devices
Language techniques that persuade through emotion rather than evidence. Master the art of recognizing manipulative language.
The approach
Each chapter briefly explains a fallacy, bias, or rhetorical device, followed by multiple examples across contexts — business, politics, media, everyday life. The examples help you recognize these tactics when you encounter them.
Understanding these traps is the first step to resisting them.
Complete contents
Logical Fallacies (14)
Argument from popularity • Poisoning the well • Hasty generalization • Genetic fallacy • Line drawing fallacy • Perfectionist fallacy • Ad hominem • False dilemma • Slippery slope • Strawman • Post hoc ergo propter hoc • Cum hoc ergo propter hoc • Red herring • Fallacy of composition
Cognitive Biases (17)
Confirmation bias • Reciprocity bias • Self-serving bias • Peak-end rule • Anchoring bias • Sunk cost bias • Selection bias • Survivorship bias • Decoy effect • Availability bias • Groupthink • Fundamental attribution error • Hindsight bias • Negativity bias • Loss aversion • Framing effect • Bandwagon effect
Rhetorical Devices (17)
Loaded language • Guilt tripping • Appeal to authority • Appeal to pity • Appeal to patriotism • Appeal to fear • Scapegoating • Appeal to self-interest • Name calling • Metaphors • Simile • Allusion • Irony • Anecdote • Personification • Fear mongering • Flattery
Who it's for
Anyone who wants to think more clearly, make better decisions, and stop being manipulated:
- Business executives and managers
- Students (high school and above)
- Professionals, educators, researchers
- Journalists and media professionals
- Anyone who engages in debates, discussions, or negotiations
Educational institutions can use this book for courses on critical thinking or persuasion. Corporate organizations may find it valuable for training decision-makers.
About the author
A.S. Prasad is a management graduate from IIM Ahmedabad (1981-83). After three decades in marketing and senior management, he developed a holistic critical thinking system and has been teaching it since 2013 at premier institutions and corporations.
He is also the lead author of Critical and Analytical Thinking (Cengage, 2024), a comprehensive textbook that takes a holistic view of critical thinking. His next book, Nail the Issue: Hardwiring Critical Thinking, is currently in progress.
Get your copy
Available worldwide on Amazon: