Should you read books for debate? Yes! Albeit, it can seem hard to know what exactly to read, how much of it to read, and how to apply it to debate. This is a compiled list of books suggested by current and former debaters and coaches that cover material that comes up frequently in debates, sorted by subject area. Note that often subject areas overlap, so some of the books in one subject also likely apply to other subjects as well. When reading a book for debate, go carefully over the table of contents and select the chapters you think are going to be most relevant. In determining relevance, as yourself: What I am reading this book for—background information, historical contextualization, arguments (pro/con)? With that in mind, read the introduction closely (take notes!)—the introduction will outline the core ideas in the book as well as provide a preview of the forthcoming chapters. You do not need to read each chapter (but of course you can!)—select the chapters based on the introduction’s preview that are most relevant to the knowledge gaps you are looking to fill. You can either read those chapters closely or scan them, looking for the content and material of relevance. Pay attention to subject headings within chapters, key words and phrases, and focus in on reading those sections of the chapter that are most relevant. Next, if the book has thus far been relevant and helpful, read the conclusion closely.
Throughout your reading, if there are areas of the book that you find particularly helpful, take note if the author is citing other sources and track down those sources in the bibliography and consider reading those as well. Reading books for debate can seem daunting, but it will provide a depth of understanding and knowledge that few other sources can! And the more you read for debate, the easier and faster it becomes. Happy reading!
-- Helen
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Once you find the book you need, browse in that immediate area to discover other books that might be useful.
