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charlesrop's review against another edition
4.0
The particulars that those particular particulars particulate is, in particular, particularly particular.
chiddybrendan's review against another edition
2.0
This is undoubtedly a classic for good reason. But I found it very boring as it reads like a textbook really. I guess I expected something a bit more hands on/practical, but got a book filled with definitions, more definitions, and the exploration of said definitions..
jvanwagoner's review against another edition
informative
4.0
I have been working my way through Aristotle and am impressed at his ability to think things through and his breadth of knowledge. Rhetoric is almost a lost art these days, and it was interesting to see what our ancestors taught for so many centuries. The advice is still valid and was an excellent refresher to help me communicate with people.
cantordustbunnies's review against another edition
3.0
Always when in high school (and even in University) in the west I have had a knee jerk reaction of dislike to those mandatory fluff courses whose only purpose seems to be to try and get you to communicate appropriately. I see now that this book is the kind of thing they are trying to emulate through these courses, albeit in a somewhat pandering and watered down manner. This book is actually fairly useful. It may come across as common sense but just imagine the genius it takes to be among the first to come up with this "common sense" before it existed. There are also a lot of cultural references and ideas that give an interesting look into the personality of the author and the culture of the time it was written in. If public school taught people more along the lines set up by this kind of work, the government would certainly have a formidable populace on its hands. Which of course is why we have the anemic versions taught instead. If I had a child I would seriously supplement their learning with this and other books by Aristotle and the like. From a modern perspective it doesn't seem overly groundbreaking or interesting, but it is formative, and a cut above what passes for education currently.
wdkilpackiii's review against another edition
5.0
I read this in college and it left me forever changed. First of all, anything that was written 2,000 years ago and is still absolutely valid and applicable today is so incredibly humbling. I can't even imagine that. Artistotle was brilliant and this is evidence enough. There are areas that are difficult to read, because it was originally written in ancient Greek and translations vary in quality of interpretation. He also is walking the walk, writing in a series of syllogisms. All the same, NO ONE should go through life without reading at least a little Aristotle. I now require that my students read an excerpt from Rhetoric. Highly recommended!