Publications & Talks

Lawyers, Judges & Semi-Rational Beasts: Cognitive Science and Persuasion (2020)

“You can spend the next 5 years reading every good book on persuasion, or you can read this one elegantly written book by Dan Holloway. But this is more than a summary of what others have written; it is a brilliant integration of what others have written into a powerful perspective on persuasion for the trial lawyer.”

— Richard H. Friedman, Inner Circle of Advocates; co-author of Rules of the Road; author of Polarizing the Case and On Becoming a Trial Lawyer

“Lawyers spend their careers attempting to persuade judges, jurors, clients, adversaries, and the press to adopt their positions — without giving sufficient thought to what would motivate those audiences to do so. Dan Holloway has drawn together a fascinating analysis of the inner workings of the human mind and how lawyers can apply that knowledge to persuade different types of thinkers. A valuable analytical tool for any attorney’s arsenal.”

— Robert J. Dwyer, Partner, Boies Schiller Flexner LLP

“Full of surprising facts and strikingly original observations, this book manages to combine sound practical advice for lawyers with a profound meditation on human thought, motivation, and behavior.”

— Louis Michael Seidman, Carmack Waterhouse Professor of Constitutional Law, Georgetown University Law Center

“This book distills a library of cognitive science literature into a concise description of how human beings think and decide. Dan Holloway’s book provides the bedrock foundation from which all lawyers should work. It is required reading for anyone who wants to persuade.”

— Lloyd N. Bell, medical malpractice attorney and member of the Inner Circle of Advocates

Available at Amazon