Booker T. Washington once remembered: "Success must be measured not so much by the position one has reached in life as by the obstacles one has overcome" ( Washington ). Washington's belief that success must be defined by persistence and lifetime achievement directly corroborates David Brooks' belief that success comes from a strong work ethic and perseverance, as demonstrated in his article "A Nation of Grinders". The speaker, who is described as philosophical and wise, argues to an audience of average Americans striving for prosperity that success is not calculated simply on the basis of materialistic possessions but rather on the acquisition of knowledge, experience, memories and happiness all the time. span of an entire life. Rebelling against the traditional connotation of success as worldliness and superficiality, Brooks redefines success as the accumulation of happiness through diligence over a lifetime. In his article, “A Nation of Grinders,” Brooks uses histrionic allusions, insightful analogies, and compelling logos to generate a didactic tone that contributes to his redefinition of success as the accumulation of memories and experiences through hard work and an unyielding ethic. , “A Nation of Grinders,” Brooks uses shrewd allusions and a pedagogical tone to accentuate the fact that the social perception of success as composed of monetary accumulation is flawed and that success or joy is ultimately generated by assiduity. By constantly referencing a multitude of important historical figures, the author is able to effectively generate common ground with his audience, as well as create analogies that they find relatable through the use… of the medium of paper… understanding among his audience and improving his instructional tone. When the speaker thoughtfully states, "Like the Yuppie in the '80s...maybe Abraham Lincoln could be the Yuppie for the next decade," he uses his academic tone as well as Lincoln's analogy with the Yuppie, to effectively emphasize the fact that he sees Lincoln as an example of his own definition of success, as resulting from hard work, which further develops the ethos through his allusion to the prominent historical figure that is Abraham Lincoln. By using both an illustrative allusion and thought-provoking analogy as well as his scholastic tone, the author is able to make the audience more likely to accept his definition of success as resulting from hard work and a healthy work ethic thanks to the his development of common ground which results in a general understanding of his statement by his audience.