How To Academy Podcast Jay Heinrichs - How Classical Rhetoric Can Change Your Life
Sep 16, 2025
Jay Heinrichs, a New York Times bestselling author and rhetoric expert, dives into the transformative power of classical rhetoric for self-improvement. He discusses how to turn rhetoric inward, aligning personal desires with one's true self and shifting focus from past regrets to future choices. Heinrichs shares practical tools for overcoming distractions, like social media, and reframing failures as growth opportunities. With insights from Aristotle, he emphasizes authenticity, empathy, and the importance of compassionate self-talk in the journey toward becoming your best self.
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Rhetoric's Timeless Relevance
- Rhetoric is the art and practice of the power of words that shapes civilization and disagreement.
- Modern neuroscience and linguistics confirm many principles Aristotle wrote about millennia ago.
Wife's Challenge Sparked Self-Experiment
- Heinrichs recounts his wife's challenge to use rhetorical tools on himself to stop self-pity and nostalgia.
- He spent a year experimenting by persuading his 'soul' to be worthy of his better self.
The Soul As Your Ideal Self
- Aristotle defines the soul as an improved, ideal version of yourself to which you can address persuasion.
- Your everyday behavior often falls short of that noble self, creating the gap to work on.
