Rhetoric and Power

"A refulgent performance by a textual conductor in command of a demanding repertoire. Its three movements (necessity-techne, actuality-possibility, tragedy-comedy) will satisfy many an intellectual longing in discriminating readers of all stripes. Hands down, the most important book on rhetoric in the early morning of the twenty-first century."—John Poulakos, University of Pittsburgh

"Both drama and epic, this remarkable book traces the continually shifting conceptions of rhetoric and power from Homer to Aristotle. This broad sweep is balanced by the clarity and nuance of each chapter, and one sure result is that it will be a superb text for classroom instruction. We still have much to learn from antiquity, and Crick exemplifies how the study of classical rhetoric can be a source of understanding for a tragic world."—Robert Hariman, Northwestern University

"Rhetoric and Power is likely to have strong interdisciplinary appeal, offering valuable insights relevant to rhetoric, philosophy, political science, ancient history, ethics, and civics education... For readers seeking better understanding of the relationship between rhetoric and power, who agree with Crick's assertion that "we do not have the luxury to simply sail effortlessly on the currents of power without understanding the nature of power and its relevance to the way we think, speak, act, and persuade" Rhetoric and Power is worth adding to the reading list."—Rhetoric & Public Affairs