Rating: 
Summary: Everyday Life
Review: I learned about the book ,How to Argue and Win Every Time by Gerry Spence, from my eldest son. I bought the book, liked it so well I ordered the audio cassette. Liked that even better. My youngest son often refers to many things said by Mr. Spence. It's a great book to help in everyday living. I wish there were more of his books available on cassette. I haven't time to read but I do a lot of driving so I can listen as I drive. Thank you Gerry Spence. I plan to read all of your books when I can find the time. Sharon Bedell
Rating: 
Summary: Tree Hugging Claptrap
Review: Do your homework. Be honest. Tell an interesting story. These are the essential elements of a well-crafted argument, advises Gerry Spence and, in deed, his advice makes a lot of sense. Of course, nine words do not a salable book make, so in his effort to pad it to a marketable length, Mr. Spence causes his reader to hack through hundreds of pages of his particular brand of new age, tree-hugging, anti-corporate claptrap. At one point Mr. Spence encourages the shy among us to develop our oratory skills by sequestering ourselves in the wilderness and unload our pent-up emotions on rocks and trees, graduating a few weeks later to reading phone listings with all the thespianic gusto we can muster (I'm reminded of the old SCTV bit about a television ad- "John Houseman reads the white pages- available on cassette or 8-track!"). Talk about a captive audience.He can also be irritatingly contradictory, such as when, early in the book, he rightly notes that parents and children can never be friends because true friendship implies that the parties to a friendship are peers, something parents and children can never really be. Yet later in his chapter on arguing with one's children, Mr. Spence argues that the problem with kids today is a result of being raised by evil, parents-as-tyrants. Were we to relate to our children as friends our children would grow up to be well-adjusted, responsible, law abiding adults.... While there are some humorous parts, particularly his advice on how not to argue with one's wife, Mr. Spence's leftist, even-flowers-have-feelings diatribe makes for eye-rolling reading. And yet, I recommend plowing through it so that you'll be better prepared to defend yourself in the midst of a master truth-spinner with the skills of Mr. Spence.
Rating: 
Summary: One of the worst books ever.
Review: The only reason I gave this even one star is because the software program wouldn't accept zero stars. Spence never even comes close to delivering the alluring promise of the title. For example, he advises the reader to practice public speaking in front of an audience. Fine. And if you can't find an audience for practicing? He advises you to "create" one. He actually suggests that you go into a restaurant, stand up on a chair, clink a spoon on a glass to command attention and announce to the room that you need to practice speaking to them so please indulge you!!! Is he nuts? You'd get pelted with bread-sticks until the waiters gave you the bum's rush and heave-ho. It seems that he dictated this into a tape-recorder over a weekend, then nobody bothered to edit this ill-reasoned garble. How could this ever get onto best-sellers lists? Buckskin Bob has snowed them again.
Rating: 
Summary: Winning is not the same for everyone nor for every situation
Review: Mr. Spence takes great effort to explain why winning can not be defined as the defeat of the opponent, so this book feels like a blend of a self-improvement guide with a negotiations manual. Obviously, this book conveys more suggestions to attorneys that for any other group of professionals. However, it can also be of help to people involved in activities far apart from a court of law, like a soccer player, or any other person interested to know about how to gain communication skills. The chapter about how to deal with confrontations in the work environment is quite lousy, maybe because he is not a company employee, but labors solely for his independent clients.
Rating:
Summary: A must read!
Review: This is a must read for anyone interested in becoming a better communicator.
Rating:
Summary: Thought provoking
Review: Mr. Spence will have you thinking differently about yourself and everything around you. He is an excellent writer with a masterful command of the english language. You may not agree with many of Mr. Spence's thoughts as his outlook is probably radically different than how you now think. Irrespective of whether you agree or disagree with his approach you will be refreshed.
Rating:
Summary: Spence is a Hoot, Part Philosopher, Part MANIAC!!
Review: Spence does a wonderful job of framing what it means to "win" an arguement. He makes an eloquent, I dare say nearly buddhist, arguement of his own for what it means to let go of the need to be right. Pounding others into submission is not always helpful during arguements. Rather it is the style (if not substance) of your arguements that win. Slow at times, but a nice read.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent
Review: The book teaches you the essentials for doing exactly what the title says. Written with wisdom and humour in equal measure, the celebrity lawyer gives invaluable tips on winning any argument. I found the tips on ostentatiously covering your ears and singing "I'm not listening" in a repetitive and tuneless drone particularly useful.
Rating:
Summary: Beatifully rhetoric and psychology, lacking reason
Review: If you can set aside Spence's often annoying political views (especially his anti-corporate rhetoric), you will find tremendous value in reading how this extremely successful attorney wins cases. You will find nothing here about rational argumentation or logical reasoning. Spence focuses on how to tell a persuasive story, and how to use that to get what you want at work and in other situations. This is dangerous stuff in the wrong hands, but combined with a rational basis it will make your arguments far more compelling, whether you are making a case for a new business project, asking for a raise, or defending your position.
Rating:
Summary: Honesty - It's The Best!
Review: I read this book for the first time almost 4 years ago. I recently picked it from my bookshelf to use as an example for a project which involves communicating effectively. To summarize this book and what we can learn from it can be said in two words, "Be Honest." Spence teaches us, in this book, that honesty works. While it is impossible to teach honesty, Spence has tried his best to tell why it is the best policy, how he has made it work for him and for his clients and how you can make it work for you too. It is absolutely a book about communication and anyone who is interested and wants to be a better communicator (from a listener's stand point or from speaker's stand point) this book is an absolute must.
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