Inviting Understanding: A Portrait of Invitational Rhetoric

Inviting Understanding: A Portrait of Invitational Rhetoric is a comprehensive reference work that provides a new definition of rhetoric as an invitation to understanding, encouraging rhetors to listen across differences, engage in dialogue, and understand positions different from their own. The book is organized into three categories and includes published articles and new essays that explore and expand the theory's applications in various contexts.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 414 pages
Publication date: 27 September 2022
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield

Inviting Understanding: A Portrait of Invitational Rhetoric is a comprehensive and authoritative reference work that delves into the theory of invitational rhetoric, which was developed twenty-five years ago by Sonja K. Foss and Cindy L. Griffin. This groundbreaking theory challenges the conventional notion of rhetoric as solely persuasive and redefines it as an invitation to understanding, aimed at fostering relationships based on equality, inherent value, and self-determination. Instead of celebrating argumentation, division, and winning, invitational rhetoric encourages rhetors to engage in listening across differences, participate in dialogue, and seek to understand positions that may differ from their own.

The book is organized into three categories: foundations, extensions, and applications. It comprises a compilation of published articles and new essays that explore and expand the theory in various contexts, including community organizing, social justice activism, social media, film, graffiti, institutional and team decision-making, communication and composition pedagogy, and interview protocols.

Given the current cultural, social, and political divisions in the United States and around the world, the principles and practices of invitational rhetoric are more relevant than ever. A volume that showcases its application in diverse contexts can inspire readers to implement these strategies in their workplaces and daily lives. By fostering understanding, invitational rhetoric has the potential to bridge divides, promote empathy, and create a more inclusive and equitable society.

Weight: 980g
Dimension: 254 x 178 x 28 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781538174128