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Doesn't Hurt to Ask

Using the Power of Questions to Communicate, Connect, and Persuade

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Doesn't Hurt to Ask

By: Trey Gowdy
Narrated by: Trey Gowdy
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About this listen

Number-one New York Times best seller

Former congressman and prosecutor Trey Gowdy teaches you how to effectively communicate and persuade on the issues that matter most to you, drawing on his experience in the courtroom and the halls of Congress.

“A must-read for people who want to learn how best to succeed.” (Dana Perino, Fox News host and best-selling author of Everything Will Be Okay)

You do not need to be in a courtroom to advocate for others. You do not need to be in Congress to champion a cause. From the boardroom to the kitchen table, opportunities to make your case abound, and Doesn’t Hurt to Ask shows you how to seize them. By blending gripping case studies from nearly two decades in a courtroom and four terms in national politics with personal stories and practical advice, Trey Gowdy walks you through the tools and the mindset needed to effectively communicate your message.

Along the way, Gowdy reflects on the moments in his life when he learned the most about how to argue and convince. He recounts his missteps during his first murder trial, the conversation that changed his view on criminal justice reform, and what he learned while questioning James Comey and Secretary Hillary Clinton.

Sharing the techniques he perfected advocating in law and politics, Gowdy helps you identify your objective, understand your personal jury, and engage in the art of questioning so you can be heard, be understood, and, ultimately, move others. Whether it’s getting a boss to take a chance on your idea, convincing someone to support your cause, or urging a child to invest more effort in an important task, movement requires persuasion. Doesn’t Hurt to Ask shows you how to persuade, no matter the jury and no matter the cause.

©2020 Trey Gowdy (P)2020 Random House Audio
Business Communication Communication & Social Skills United States Career Business

Critic Reviews

“Gowdy was tough when he was a federal prosecutor, and he drew on that experience when interrogating individuals who appeared before Congress, during his tenure as a South Carolina representative. He possesses an uncanny ability to ask the right questions to pull out the truth from those on Capitol Hill - no easy feat. Doesn’t Hurt to Ask demonstrates how to ask questions to move people and get the answers you need to make decisions and become a stronger communicator.” (Sean Hannity, nationally syndicated radio and TV host and best-selling author of Live Free or Die)

“If I could have anyone in the world argue my case, it would be Trey Gowdy - the person I trust the most to make common sense. Whether it’s made on a football field or in a courtroom, a good argument is a good argument, no matter the authority. In Doesn’t Hurt to Ask, Gowdy is the authority.” (Lou Holtz, hall of fame coach and best-selling author of Wins, Losses, and Lessons)

“Gowdy, one of our finest courtroom lawyers, has written a very fine book on the art of persuasion. In Doesn’t Hurt to Ask, you’ll learn a lot about the importance of listening to evidence, using words with precision, and, above all, asking good questions. You’ll also learn some things about being a better person. In the end, this is a book about finding a purpose bigger than yourself, and then moving others toward that purpose with you.” (William J. Bennett, best-selling author of The Book of Virtues)

What listeners say about Doesn't Hurt to Ask

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Autobiography/Overview of the American Legal Syste

An enjoyable listen. A semi-autobiographical, legal system synopsis more than an illustration of using questions as tools. I think a couple of chapters covered 'questions to communicate' adequately, however, I was expecting some powerful or useful techniques but I didn't find any.
I don't live in America so I'm unconcerned with Trey's politics, though he sounds a decent chap. Talked at length about Hilary and her emails, and assumes everyone is a Christian believer or religious at least. I have no interest in either subject though I did smile listening to his presumtions.

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Loved this book.

Absolutely loved this book. Trey is inspiring and generous in his ability to share not only his wisdom and knowledge but also in the sharing of his life.
I learned so much about communicating through questioning and persuading through posing the right questions.
I also learned a lot about a brave, intelligent man with a true servant heart - a rare kind of man these days - Trey Gowdy. Thank you. I will be reading your book again and again.

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great read

if you're a prescriptive thinker and articulator (or have the desire to become one) you will like this book. Barristers and Lawyers would definitely love it. He uses examples of cases he's prosecuted to demonstrate his point; and just hearing these cases is interesting in itself. Yep would recommend.

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Brilliant, Insightful, Engaging!

Loved this book! Excellent content, well structured and great delivery! Definitely recommending this book to friends, family and colleagues!

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Informative and entertaining at the same time

As a layperson who has (mostly successfully) defended himself in court appearances multiple times for minor traffic offences I found Mr Gowdy's revelations and experiences to be very insightful and inspiring.
Through my personal sojourns into the 'shearing sheds' of the magistrate's courts down here in Australia I learnt to never make claims, or if needing to do so, form them into questions whenever possible. Gowdy goes much deeper into the 'whys' of this tactic and backs them up with very informative examples and different techniques of questioning.
I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in not only law and politics but also those interested in learning how to persuade those around them in non-belligerent ways and trigger contemplation rather than conflict... be it family, friends, work colleagues or social media 'antagonists'.

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Well worth reading

This was an excellent (and persuasive) book which explains how to persuade and influence other people and situations for the better. Trey's discussion on the death penalty was particularly good. I would recommend this book to anyone seeking to improve society and make a difference.

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