The Idler Guide to Rhetoric in the 21st Century with John-Paul Flintoff

The most successful book of the sixteenth century was a book about rhetoric. Admittedly that was 500 years ago, but still today the art and science of rhetoric remain valuable to anyone wishing to understand their own mind, change the minds of others, and make sense of AI.

In this course, you will learn that rhetoric is a toolbox for finding the truth and communicating skillfully. It will help you understand your own ideas and assess the thinking of others.

Over the course of six lessons, you will work out your ideas more fully, using a range of crucial figures of speech. You’ll learn to recognise the key ingredients of successful communications, using what Aristotle called Logos, Pathos and Ethos (roughly equivalent to Reasoning, Emotion and Credentials). You’ll recognise your “rhetorical enemy” (not a person, but whatever it is you’re up against). You’ll think about whether you’re preaching to the converted or seeking to reach the unconvinced. You’ll read some examples of great rhetoric so that you can apply the best bits to your own work. Finally, you’ll see how to amend your ideas for different occasions and contexts, even using AI, to help you brainstorm fresh modes of expression.

You will finish this course as a better communicator. You will be able to express your own arguments with clarity and conviction and have the confidence to unpack the arguments of others.

About the Tutor

John-Paul Flintoff is a writer, mostly. He’s published six books, including memoir, fiction and non-fiction (most recently A Modest Book About How To Make An Adequate Speech). He worked for several years as feature writer and editor on The Sunday Times and Financial Times.

He is also an illustrator and theatrical improviser, and draws on those disciplines in his writing work. He’s also a veteran of group and one-to-one therapy (as a patient, which he mentions during the course), and believes that self-expression always feels risky. “I will be chuffed if even one person does this course and becomes a more confident speaker as a result of it,” he says.

What you Get

On-demand videos: six video lessons to watch any time

Audio: listen to the lessons in podcast form

Notes: in your printable notes you’ll find lesson summaries and additional resources

Exclusive course forum: chat and share your thoughts on the course with fellow Academy members

Quiz: test what you’ve learned with our fun self-assessment quiz

Certificate: when you pass the quiz you will be sent a personalised Idler Academy Certificate of Completion

Course Outline

Lesson One: Understand others, and change minds

Lesson Two: Work out exactly what you think

Lesson Three: Identify your rhetorical enemy (not a person!)

Lesson Four: Your credentials

Lesson Five: Learn from the best

Lesson Six: What where when who why and how

Meet the Tutor: 28 August 2024 at 6pm (45 minutes)
All Academy members will receive an invitation to this exclusive event. Find more information and a booking link on the course page.