The most vital technique in the book is the , named after the bumbling TV detective who used unassuming questions to uncover the truth . It follows a three-step process:
: Follow a person's logic to its ultimate conclusion to show that it leads to an absurd or unacceptable result .
: Ask "How did you come to that conclusion?" This ensures the person making the claim is responsible for supporting it with evidence, rather than you having to disprove a baseless assertion .