“Persuasion has been and will continue to be one of the chief levers of life. Today the density of competing messages is greater than ever before, making the study of persuasion not only necessary for the specializing few but also requisite for all who would live effectively in modern society” (Brembeck & Howell, 1952). Although these words were written over half a century ago, they are arguably even more true today. Because of the enormous role that persuasion plays in shaping the institutions that underlie contemporary society as well as the day-to-day lives of individuals, an understanding of it is essential for everyone.