> I'd like to see more books about how people actually argue in life and how to change their view. First, the point of a discussion isn't necessarily to change

> I'd like to see more books about how people actually argue in life and how to change their view. First, the point of a discussion isn't necessarily to change the mind of opposing parties. There is very often an audience, often including members receptive to a changed opinion. We need to discuss things rationally and reasonably for the sake of the broader community if nothing else. And, barring influencing third parties, there's something to be said for making proponents of bad arguments work for all the rhetorical ground they take. Second, even in smaller discussions, I feel it's honorable to continually give people the chance to think better and make better decisions. It's respectful to them to do so, and it's deeply disrespectful to write someone off as unpersuadable or hopeless, not matter how accurate that sentiment is. Third, it's good for us to give ourselves the chance to improve as well. If we fail to engage with different viewpoints, we only entrench in our current thought patterns. We owe it to ourselves to expose those thoughts to the light of day and see if they can be improved or if they need to be abandoned altogether.