Know any good books on critical thinking?

Character Assassin · 22nd October 2012, 08:28 PM

Do you have any suggestions on any books I should read to improve my critical thinking skills?

Reivax · 22nd October 2012, 10:11 PM

The Demon-Haunted World - Carl Sagan
How To Think About Weird Things - Schick & Vaugh
The Bible

rjh01 · 23rd October 2012, 12:03 AM

All depends on what sort of critical thinking you need to improve. You could look at books by James Randi.
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss...andi%2Caps%2C0

Or maybe you need to look at a site like this one
http://www.fallacyfiles.org/taxonomy.html?ref=nf

Or how to win arguments
http://www.wikihow.com/Win-Informal-...ts-and-Debates

John Albert · 23rd October 2012, 10:22 AM

One of my favorites for critically examining stats and other mathematical claims: http://www.amazon.com/How-Lie-Statis.../dp/0393310728

It's also available in PDF form here: http://theinformationdj.com/wp-conte...rrell-Huff.pdf

Quinn · 23rd October 2012, 10:59 AM

Unweaving the Rainbow by Richard Dawkins.

Beerina · 23rd October 2012, 11:13 AM

The Bermuda Triangle Mystery Solved makes an excellent introduction without looking like it.

spin0 · 23rd October 2012, 07:01 PM

Oldie but goldie: Straight and Crooked Thinking by Robert H. Thouless

You can find it at Neglected Books: http://neglectedbooks.com/?p=336
I like the review: Although there are many other texts on applying logic to argument, Straight and Crooked Thinking remains one of the most succinct and practically-applicable books ever written. One blogger named it as his favorite book of all time, describing it as “a concise work of supreme genius.”

angrysoba · 24th October 2012, 06:41 AM

Bad Science by Ben Goldacre is pretty good.

SkepticalDrew · 25th October 2012, 05:23 AM

I started with Demon-Haunted World by Sagan. I also found Fads and Fallacies by Martin Gardner to be a great start as well. It's a little dated, but many of the methods and claims used by psuedoscientists it describes are still quite relevant today.

My favorite dealing with math is Innumeracy: Mathematical Illiteracy and It's Consequences by John Allen Paulos.

asydhouse · 25th October 2012, 05:50 AM

Someone has already suggested this, but spelt an author's name wrong:

How To Think About Weird Things: Critical Thinking For A New Age

by Theodore Schick, Jr and Lewis Vaughn.

This is a tremendous book, clear and a pleasure to read. You can really learn to use your brain effectively by studying this book.

Reivax · 25th October 2012, 09:26 PM

My apologies for incorrectly spelling the authors name! But yes, an amazing book!

h.g.Whiz · 16th November 2012, 12:05 AM

Thinking fast and slow - Daniel Kahneman

Wudang · 16th November 2012, 03:30 AM

One I continually recommend is A Rulebook for Arguments - separating your premises from your conclusion and all the good basic stuff.

pakeha · 17th November 2012, 05:43 PM

Another oldie but goldie:

Quote:

Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds is a history of popular folly by Scottish journalist Charles Mackay, first published in 1841.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extraor...ness_of_Crowds

Orphia Nay · 17th November 2012, 06:20 PM

The Duck that Won the Lottery (and 99 Other Bad Arguments) by Julian Baggini.

http://www.amazon.com/review/RQKP416VQ3GBM

SusanB-M1 · 24th November 2012, 07:29 AM

'Against All Gods' by A C Grayling. I had it recommended. It's really clear, unlike some of his other work which my reader and I have tried to follow, but gave up! It's quite a short book too.

'The Magic of Reality' by Richard Dawkins. this is definitely aimed at youngsters and is therefore straightforward and clear. As it's written by RD, I have of course decided to read it. (Above-mentioned reader reads a few pages each time as a change from the novel we're on.)

Elind · 24th November 2012, 11:33 AM

A golden oldie, "Lateral Thinking" by DeBono.

h.g.Whiz · 24th November 2012, 03:25 PM

Originally Posted by Orphia Nay

The Duck that Won the Lottery (and 99 Other Bad Arguments) by Julian Baggini.

http://www.amazon.com/review/RQKP416VQ3GBM

How much did the duck win?

ria_rokz · 24th November 2012, 09:47 PM

Originally Posted by asydhouse

Someone has already suggested this, but spelt an author's name wrong:

How To Think About Weird Things: Critical Thinking For A New Age

by Theodore Schick, Jr and Lewis Vaughn.

This is a tremendous book, clear and a pleasure to read. You can really learn to use your brain effectively by studying this book.

I ended up receiving this book for free and I really enjoyed it.

Hokulele Mom · 25th November 2012, 06:22 AM

Thomas Kida Don't Believe Everything You Think

22nd October 2012, 08:28 PM	#1
Character Assassin New Blood Join Date: Oct 2012 Posts: 2	Know any good books on critical thinking? Do you have any suggestions on any books I should read to improve my critical thinking skills?

22nd October 2012, 10:11 PM	#2
Reivax Thinker Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Australia Posts: 194	The Demon-Haunted World - Carl Sagan How To Think About Weird Things - Schick & Vaugh The Bible
	__________________ You will find easily More than sufficient doubt That these colours you see Were picked in advance By some careful hand With an absolute concept of beauty

23rd October 2012, 12:03 AM	#3
rjh01 Gentleman of leisure Tagger Join Date: May 2005 Location: Planet Earth Posts: 17,183	All depends on what sort of critical thinking you need to improve. You could look at books by James Randi. http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss...andi%2Caps%2C0 Or maybe you need to look at a site like this one http://www.fallacyfiles.org/taxonomy.html?ref=nf Or how to win arguments http://www.wikihow.com/Win-Informal-...ts-and-Debates
	__________________ dddffffpppqqqq Want to use your computer for something that will make society better? See this thread for details Folding@home

23rd October 2012, 10:22 AM	#4
John Albert Illuminator Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 3,143	One of my favorites for critically examining stats and other mathematical claims: http://www.amazon.com/How-Lie-Statis.../dp/0393310728 It's also available in PDF form here: http://theinformationdj.com/wp-conte...rrell-Huff.pdf
John Albert Illuminator Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 3,143	__________________ “In religion and politics, people's beliefs and convictions are in almost every case gotten at second-hand, and without examination, from authorities who have not themselves examined the questions at issue but have taken them at second-hand from other non-examiners, whose opinions about them were not worth a brass farthing.” —Mark Twain

23rd October 2012, 10:59 AM	#5
Quinn Breathtakingly blasphemous. Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 1,885	Unweaving the Rainbow by Richard Dawkins.
	__________________ It's not a matter of living life without mystery or wonder. It's a matter of living life without the approval of people who ignorantly assume that by rejecting the irrational, I experience no mystery or wonder. And frankly, I do just fine without that.

23rd October 2012, 11:13 AM	#6
Beerina Sarcastic Conqueror of Notions Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: A floating island above the clouds Posts: 23,835	The Bermuda Triangle Mystery Solved makes an excellent introduction without looking like it.
	__________________ "Great innovations should not be forced [by way of] slender majorities." - Thomas Jefferson The government should nationalize it! Socialized, single-payer video game development and sales *now!* More, cheaper, better games, right? Right?

23rd October 2012, 07:01 PM	#7
spin0 Muse Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Finland Posts: 606	Oldie but goldie: Straight and Crooked Thinking by Robert H. Thouless You can find it at Neglected Books: http://neglectedbooks.com/?p=336 I like the review: Although there are many other texts on applying logic to argument, Straight and Crooked Thinking remains one of the most succinct and practically-applicable books ever written. One blogger named it as his favorite book of all time, describing it as “a concise work of supreme genius.”

24th October 2012, 06:41 AM	#8
angrysoba Philosopher Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Osaka, Japan Posts: 8,534	Bad Science by Ben Goldacre is pretty good.

25th October 2012, 05:23 AM	#9
SkepticalDrew Critical Thinker Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 384	I started with Demon-Haunted World by Sagan. I also found Fads and Fallacies by Martin Gardner to be a great start as well. It's a little dated, but many of the methods and claims used by psuedoscientists it describes are still quite relevant today. My favorite dealing with math is Innumeracy: Mathematical Illiteracy and It's Consequences by John Allen Paulos.
	__________________ "In fact, evolution can be precisely defined as any change in the frequency of alleles within a gene pool from one generation to the next." - Helena Curtis and N. Sue Barnes, Biology, 5th ed. 1989 Worth Publishers, p.974

25th October 2012, 05:50 AM	#10
asydhouse Muse Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Swansea in the UK Posts: 533	Someone has already suggested this, but spelt an author's name wrong: How To Think About Weird Things: Critical Thinking For A New Age by Theodore Schick, Jr and Lewis Vaughn. This is a tremendous book, clear and a pleasure to read. You can really learn to use your brain effectively by studying this book.

25th October 2012, 09:26 PM	#11
Reivax Thinker Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Australia Posts: 194	My apologies for incorrectly spelling the authors name! But yes, an amazing book!
	__________________ You will find easily More than sufficient doubt That these colours you see Were picked in advance By some careful hand With an absolute concept of beauty

16th November 2012, 12:05 AM	#12
h.g.Whiz Illuminator Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Egoville Posts: 3,083	Thinking fast and slow - Daniel Kahneman
	__________________ Reading this sentence is ineluctable.

16th November 2012, 03:30 AM	#13
Wudang BOFH Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Sheffield Posts: 8,245	One I continually recommend is A Rulebook for Arguments - separating your premises from your conclusion and all the good basic stuff.
	__________________ Aphorism: Subjects most likely to be declared inappropriate for humor are the ones most in need of it. -epepke

17th November 2012, 05:43 PM	#14
pakeha Philosopher Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 7,991	Another oldie but goldie: Quote: Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds is a history of popular folly by Scottish journalist Charles Mackay, first published in 1841. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extraor...ness_of_Crowds
pakeha Philosopher Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 7,991

17th November 2012, 06:20 PM	#15
Orphia Nay Penguilicious Spodmaster. Tagger Join Date: May 2005 Location: Ponylandistan Presidential Palace (above the Spods' stables). Posts: 28,369	The Duck that Won the Lottery (and 99 Other Bad Arguments) by Julian Baggini. http://www.amazon.com/review/RQKP416VQ3GBM
	__________________ Are you an ex-Truther? Please share your story. ~ The Australasian Skeptics Forum.

24th November 2012, 07:29 AM	#16
SusanB-M1 Incurable Optimist Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Almost in the New Forest, Hampshire, UK Posts: 2,867	'Against All Gods' by A C Grayling. I had it recommended. It's really clear, unlike some of his other work which my reader and I have tried to follow, but gave up! It's quite a short book too. 'The Magic of Reality' by Richard Dawkins. this is definitely aimed at youngsters and is therefore straightforward and clear. As it's written by RD, I have of course decided to read it. (Above-mentioned reader reads a few pages each time as a change from the novel we're on.)
	__________________ I know that you believe that you understood what you think I said, but I am not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant.

24th November 2012, 11:33 AM	#17
Elind Philosopher Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Florida Posts: 6,622	A golden oldie, "Lateral Thinking" by DeBono.

24th November 2012, 03:25 PM	#18
h.g.Whiz Illuminator Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Egoville Posts: 3,083	Originally Posted by Orphia Nay The Duck that Won the Lottery (and 99 Other Bad Arguments) by Julian Baggini. http://www.amazon.com/review/RQKP416VQ3GBM How much did the duck win?
	__________________ Reading this sentence is ineluctable.

24th November 2012, 09:47 PM	#19
ria_rokz Muse Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Alberta, Canada Posts: 534	Originally Posted by asydhouse Someone has already suggested this, but spelt an author's name wrong: How To Think About Weird Things: Critical Thinking For A New Age by Theodore Schick, Jr and Lewis Vaughn. This is a tremendous book, clear and a pleasure to read. You can really learn to use your brain effectively by studying this book. I ended up receiving this book for free and I really enjoyed it.
	__________________ ~ Ria ~ <insert original, funny, and thought-provoking quote here>

25th November 2012, 06:22 AM	#20
Hokulele Mom Critical Thinker Join Date: May 2008 Location: Far East of Eden Posts: 326	Thomas Kida Don't Believe Everything You Think
	__________________ I am sorry. But such a reasonable and well thought out comment is completely out of place here. Come back when you have something ridiculous to say. --- Doubt