How to Think Like Plato and Speak Like Cicero

Think clearly. Speak persuasively. Make better arguments.

Finalist, The Independent Author Network 2025 Book Awards

Why do intelligent people lose arguments?

Why do bad ideas spread faster than good ones?

And why is it that being right is often not enough?

The ancient Greeks and Romans wrestled with these same questions more than two thousand years ago. Their answers remain as relevant today as ever.

In How to Think Like Plato and Speak Like Cicero, psychiatrist and philosopher Dr Neel Burton combines the wisdom of classical philosophy with the practical tools of rhetoric to help you think more clearly, communicate more effectively, and persuade more convincingly.

Drawing on Plato, Aristotle, Cicero, and other great thinkers, you’ll discover how reasoning and persuasion work together—and why mastering both is essential in a world overflowing with misinformation, manipulation, and noise.

You’ll learn:

• How to think more clearly and avoid common errors in reasoning


• How to recognise fallacies, cognitive biases, and self-deception


• How knowledge, intuition, imagination, and emotion contribute to good judgement


• Why persuasion is about much more than logic alone


• How to use ethos, pathos, timing, and style to strengthen your message


• How to handle bad-faith arguments and modern-day sophists


• How to present your ideas with confidence, clarity, and impact

Whether you’re a student, professional, leader, writer, speaker, or simply someone who wants to think better and communicate better, this book offers a practical classical education for the modern world.

Because the best arguments don’t always win.

But the best thinkers and speakers change minds.

About the author

Dr Neel Burton FRSA is a psychiatrist and philosopher who lives and teaches in Oxford, England. His other books include The Gang of Three: Socrates, Plato, Aristotle and Hypersanity: Thinking Beyond Thinking. His work features regularly in the likes of Aeon and Psychology Today, and has been translated into several languages. This is his third book on thinking skills.

Editorial reviews

Concise and accessible, insightful and thought-provoking. Aristotle’s thoughts on politics round off an outstanding book that is highly recommended. —Readers’ Favorite

A brilliant synthesis of classical philosophy and rhetoric that is urgently needed in this age of misinformation. —KC Finn, USA Today best-selling author

Whether you’re a novice or someone already knee-deep in debate, this is a guide for everyone. —Jamie Michele, award-winning author

A surprisingly engaging and relevant look at the wisdom of the ancients. —CR Hurst, author and teacher of writing

Burton seeks to bridge the gap between ancient philosophy and modern challenges, offering insights that resonate deeply in today’s troubled world. —Plato’s Academy Centre

Contents

Preface

Introduction

Part I: How to Think

1. Arguments

2. Fallacies

3. Self-Deception

4. Cognitive Biases

5. Reason

6. Knowledge

7. Science

8. Intuition

9. Emotion

10. Imagination

11. Wisdom

12. Plato’s Cave

Part II: How to Speak

13. Rhetoric Versus Dialectic

14. History of Rhetoric in Greece

15. History of Rhetoric in Rome

16. Ethos and Decorum

17. Pathos

18. Kairos

19. The Five Canons and Six Parts

20. Rhetorical Devices

21. Opening and Closing

22. Planning and Preparing

23. Practicalities

24. Killer Moves and Quagmires

◆ Grab your copy now for the ultimate classical, liberal education that we never got.

Publisher - Acheron Press

Language - English

Perfect Bound

Contributors

Author

Neel Burton

Published Date - 2025-04-25

ISBN - 9781913260576

Dimensions - 21.6 x 13.8 x 1.4 cm

Page Count - 236