Madsen Pirie

British author and public-policy analyst, co‑founder of the Adam Smith Institute, known for popular books on economics and critical thinking.

This list of books are ONLY the books that have been ranked on the lists that are aggregated on this site. This is not a comprehensive list of all books by this author.

  1. 1. How To Win Every Argument

    A brisk, witty manual that catalogs common logical fallacies and rhetorical tricks and offers practical strategies for both exposing and employing them in everyday debates. It explains how to spot straw men, ad hominem attacks, red herrings, equivocation, false dilemmas and other errors, and shows techniques for shifting burdens of proof, controlling definitions, asking decisive questions, making strategic concessions, and using reductio-style moves. Illustrated with concrete examples and tongue-in-cheek advice, it aims to help readers dismantle opponents’ arguments, avoid traps, and gain the upper hand in discussion while staying aware of ethical limits.

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