Worklife with Adam Grant

How to have good arguments with world debate champion Bo Seo

Nov 29, 2022

Bo Seo, a world debate champion and author of "Good Arguments," shares his journey from avoiding disputes to mastering the art of constructive dialogue. He emphasizes the importance of effective debating skills in sharpening our thinking and enhancing listening capabilities. The discussion explores how practicing disagreement can foster better connections, especially for those who struggle with agreeableness. Seo also highlights the need for curriculum changes in education to promote argument literacy, emphasizing the value of engaging with diverse viewpoints.

45:25

Creator website

Episode guests

Bo Seo

Highlights

AI Chapters

Episode notes

On the conversation about a conversation

01:11

How to Debate: Preparing for the Other Side

01:12

The Cost of Being Polite

01:19

Prioritizing Disagreements in Personal Relationships

00:58

Intro

2min

Mastering the Art of Debate

12min

The Cost of Agreeableness

5min

Navigating Constructive Disagreements

16min

Mastering the Art of Selective Argumentation

2min

Fostering Argument Literacy in Education

9min

Growing up, Bo Seo avoided arguments at all costs–until he discovered competitive debate. He went on to win the world debate championship twice and coach the Australian national team as well as the Debating Union at Harvard. Adam and Bo discuss the value of good arguments, how key debate skills pushes us to sharpen our thinking, and how we can get better at disagreeing. Bo’s new book “Good Arguments: How Debate Teaches Us to Listen and Be Heard,” is out now. This episode first aired on The Next Big Idea podcast. You can listen to The Next Big Idea wherever you’re listening to this.

For the full text transcript, visit ted.com/podcasts/worklife/worklife-with-adam-grant-transcripts

Want to help shape TED’s shows going forward? Fill out our survey!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts

Save insights instantly, chat with episodes, and build lasting knowledge - all powered by AI.