Writing about something, even if you know it well, often reveals gaps in your understanding. Putting ideas into words is a severe test. The initial words chosen are usually wrong, requiring multiple rewrites. Your ideas will not only be imprecise but incomplete. Half of the ideas in an essay emerge during the writing process. Once published, it seems those were your original thoughts, but the act of writing changes them.
Rhetoric, or the art of persuasion, remains highly relevant today. In our age of information sharing, rhetoric surrounds us daily. Sam Leith’s book, "Words Like Loaded Pistols: Rhetoric from Aristotle to Obama", serves as a valuable tool to navigate these waters. Leith unpacks rhetorical concepts and provides the knowledge needed to become a powerful speaker. The book features sections like ‘Champions of Rhetoric,’ where he analyzes the work of famous orators. The chapter comparing Adolf Hitler to Winston Churchill is particularly intriguing.