best books to improve critical thinking

The 17 Best Books on Critical Thinking (to Read in 2024)

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The aim of improving your skill of critical thinking isn’t just to be able to reason and give logical arguments about a subject skillfully; your goal is to get to the right answer, to make the right decisions and choices for yourself and others.

Critical thinking helps you:

First , improve the quality of your decisions and judgments, and reevaluate your beliefs objectively.

The human mind is rarely objective. However, mastering the skill of critical thinking keeps your mind objective, at least about those things based on facts.

Take for example the beliefs you have about yourself; Some are based on facts, some on subjective (negative) opinions of others.

Second , become an independent thinker (learn to think for yourself); take ownership of your values, beliefs, judgments, and decisions.

Mastering critical thinking is essential , especially in our modern times, because you must:

• Make a tone of decisions every day;
• Think and come to the right conclusion fast;
• Solve (mostly alone) your problems and issues;
• Weigh carefully facts and information you receive from the dozens of sources you have at your disposal;
• Reevaluate your strategies, beliefs, and habits periodically.

Critical thinking is a skill that you must learn; you’re not born with it. To make your journey a little easier, we’ve gathered the best critical thinking books so you can learn from the masters. Get inspired to become a critical thinker in no time!

The best books on critical thinking:

Table of Contents

1. Critical Thinking: A Beginner’s Guide to Critical Thinking, Better Decision Making, and Problem Solving – Jennifer Wilson

2. wait, what: and life’s other essential questions- james e. ryan, 3. think smarter: critical thinking to improve problem-solving and decision-making skills – michael kallet, 4. brain power: learn to improve your thinking skills – karl albrecht, 5. the art of thinking clearly – rolf dobelli, 6. being logical: a guide to good thinking – d.q. mcinerny, 7. predictably irrational, revised and expanded edition: the hidden forces that shape our decisions – dr. dan ariely, 8. a more beautiful question: the power of inquiry to spark breakthrough ideas – warren berger, 9. a rulebook for arguments – anthony weston, 10. thinking, fast and slow – daniel kahneman, 11. the organized mind: thinking straight in the age of information overload – daniel j. levitin, 12. don’t believe everything you think: the 6 basic mistakes we make in thinking – thomas e. kida, 13. the decision book: 50 models for strategic thinking – mikael krogerus, roman tschäppeler, philip earnhart, jenny piening, 14. weaponized lies: how to think critically in the post-truth era – daniel j. levitin, 15. the demon-haunted world: science as a candle in the dark paperback – carl sagan, ann druyan, 16. how to think about weird things: critical thinking for a new age – theodore schick, lewis vaughn, 17. the 5 elements of effective thinking – edward b. burger, michael starbird.

As the title says, this book introduces you to the art of critical thinking. You’ll discover in it:

• What is critical thinking in practice,
• The different thought processes of critical thinking,
• How will your life be better mastering critical thinking,
• The things your brain needs to enjoy exercising critical thinking,
• Techniques you can use for solving problems,
• How to become a better decision maker, Strategies to use in your critical thinking processes,
• Ways to make good decisions when more people (not just you) are involved,
• Tips to frame your questions in order to maximize the efficiency of your critical thinking.

Wisdom comes from observation, learning, practice, and asking the right questions.

Using examples from history, politics, and his own personal life, James e Ryan shows you the importance of knowing how to:

• Ask questions and gain a better understanding,
• Get to be more curious,
• Push yourself to take action,
• Make your relationship stronger,
• And stay focused on the important things in life.

Related:  Critical Thinking Examples

The book starts with the five fundamental questions:

• Couldn’t we at least…?
• How can I help…?
• What truly matters….?

Knowing how to formulate, address, and deliver the right questions doesn’t leave room for misunderstandings, misinterpretations; asking the wrong questions will most probably give you a wrong answer.

This book (Wait, What?: And Life’s Other Essential Questions) will make you feel (more) courageous; after all, asking questions thanks courage. Asking yourself and others the right questions helps you make informed decisions and decisive action.

This book is a guide on how to train your brain to work even more for you. The author (Michael Kallet) is a critical thinking trainer and coach and gives you a practical set of tools and techniques for critical thinking in your day-to-day life and business.

If you want a clear, actionable step by step program to:

• Improve your critical thinking skills,
• A better understanding of complex problems and concepts,
• And how to put them in practice, then this book is for you.

Learn how to discover the real issues that need a solution, so you don’t waste your time in trying to solve imaginary problems. Increase your mental toughness, useful and productive thought.

In this book, Karl Albrecht shows you how to:

• Build your mental strength,
• Think more clearly logically and creative,
• Improve your memory,
• Solve problems,
• Make decisions more effectively.

Karl Albrecht talks in this book about the six functional abilities you need to have and become more adaptable and an innovative thinker.

The book is packed with practical exercises, fascinating illustrations, games, and puzzles to improve your mental capabilities.

The art of thinking Clearly by Rolf Dobelli is a window into human psychology and reasoning; how we:

• Make decisions;
• Evaluate choices and options;
• Develop cognitive biases.

This book helps you notice and recognize erroneous thinking and make better choices and decisions, change unwanted behaviors and habits.

It will change the way you think about yourself and life in general because you have in this book 99 short chapters with examples of the most common errors of judgment and how to rectify them.

If you wish to think more clearly, make better decisions and choices, reevaluate your biases, and feel better about yourself, this book is for you.

When you decide you want to study the field of logic more closely and improve your critical thinking, this book might be exactly what you need. It’s written clearly and concisely laying out for you the basic building blocks of logic and critical thinking.

The ancient civilizations understood better than us how important is to study logic and rhetoric. With the help of this book, you’ll bring back into your life these essential things that our modern society forgot and missed to teach you as a child.

Having increased logical thinking doesn’t mean to ignore your emotions. It means to start from your emotions and together, (emotions and logic) to take better decisions and see more clearly your choices to move forward in life.

“Predictably Irrational, The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisions” is a book packed with examples of how:

• Irrational are our choices;
• We make decisions on impulse;
• We fool ourselves with optimism- “that must work for me.”

The author presents you, in this book, a large number of mental traps and flawed tendencies which can make your life harder.

After reading this book, you’ll be better informed about a variety of human flaws and how to avoid being trapped by irrational thinking. You’ll be better prepared to make decisions and choices based more on facts rather than subjective personal opinions.

Knowing how to ask the right questions is determining your success about many things in your life:

• Influencing others,
• Getting out of tricky situations,
• Reevaluating your beliefs,
• Offering yourself and others compassion,
• Overcoming mistakes and fears.

Warren Berger shows you in this book examples of people who are successful (partially) because they are experts in asking questions and don’t have preconceived ideas about what the answers should be.

This book helps you avoid wasting your innovative and brilliant ideas by presenting them in the same way over and over and getting nowhere over and over.

Asking yourself (and others) the right questions gives you the opportunity to display your ideas in a way that those around you feel compelled to listen.

This book is impressive because, Anthony Weston gives you a lot of excellent and practical advice, ordered in a logical and clear manner.

The examples in this book are realistic and useful, ranging from deductive to oral arguments, from argumentative essays to arguments by analogy.

Once you read this book you’ll want to have it on hand to sort out all sorts of situations you’ll encounter in your day-to-day life.

Daniel Kahneman, the author of this book, is a renowned psychologist and winner of the Nobel Prize in economics.

In this book, you will discover where you can and cannot trust your intuition; how to use the two systems that drive the way you think.

The first system is fast, intuitive, and emotional; the second system is slower, based on facts, and more logical.

The author argues that knowing how to use these two systems can make a huge difference in how you:

• Design your strategies,
• Predict consequences,
• Avoid cognitive biases,
• (and even simple things like) choosing the colors for your home office.

If you want to improve your critical thinking, know when you should use logic (instead of using emotions), and become mentally stronger this book is definitely for you.

Critical thinking can’t be created in a cluttered mind. It’s like trying to prepare a gourmet meal for your loved ones in a cramped and dysfunctional kitchen.

As if is not enough all the information you store in your mind from what you personally experience every day, our modern times forcefully adds to that information a lot of junk.

The book “The Organized Mind: Thinking Straight in the Age of Information Overload” by Daniel J. Levitin will help you sort out and organized your thoughts with the help of the four components in the human attentional system:

• Mind wandering mode;
• Central executive mode;
• Attentional filter;
• Attentional switch.

The book is showing you how you can improve your critical thinking and make better decisions concerning many areas of your life.

This book can (really) change your life if you’re dealing with procrastination, multitasking, the inability to switch off and block the outside world.

All in all, you’ll be better prepared to think straight in the age of information overload.

Thomas E. Kida talks in this book very elegantly about the six basic mistakes your thinking can make.

• The first mistake is being mesmerized by stories and ignoring the facts or statistics.
• The second mistake is searching to confirm what we already know or believe.
• The third mistake is to discount the role that chance and coincidence play in our life.
• The fourth mistake is believing that what you see it’s always the reality.
• The fifth mistake is to oversimplify things.
• The sixth mistake is to believe (trust) faulty memories.

This book can be for you an eye-opener into critical thinking, accepting who you are as you are, and improving the way you choose and make decisions.

Did you know you have a strategy for everything you do? From brushing your teeth to making new friends? From choosing a career to dealing with difficult people?

Considering you have a strategy for everything you do, it’s only logical the try to improve every day the way you develop your strategies and don’t leave it to chance, habit, or convenience.

“The Decision Book: 50 Models for Strategic Thinking” can improve your critical thinking and help you make your life easier and more enjoyable.

This book is interactive and provokes you to think about some of the strategies that don’t bring you the results you want.

It contains 58 illustrations offering summaries for known strategies such as the Rubber Band Model, the Personal Performance Model, and the Black Swan Model.

This book is for you if you want to improve the flexibility of your thinking, accept challenges more comfortable, feel more in control of your decisions and choices.

From this book, by Daniel Levitin, you’ll learn how to think critically and avoid being manipulated by things like misleading statistics and graphics, extreme view, or fake news.

The book contains three main sections:

• Evaluating numbers – how to read statistics and data to find out what lurks underneath and make a more objective analysis
• Evaluating words – how to assess the information you receive from experts, understanding the difference between incidence and prevalence, risk perceptions, and probabilistic thinking
• Evaluating the world – how to interpret scientific methods for different types of reasoning (induction, deduction, abduction)

This book will help you improve your critical thinking providing you with a lot of food for thought.

You know how in a criminal trial they call two experts that have divergent opinions on the same facts? Depending on whose side they are? This book teaches you to see the truth.

Although written in the 1990s, this bestseller book is still relevant in today’s society.

With both intelligence and compassion, Carl Sagan lays out the importance of education, logic, and science. This book will show you a ton of practical skills for assessing arguments, recognizing logical fallacies, and applying the scientific method.

Sagan felt that reason and logic could make the world a better place.

This book contains invaluable instructions on logic and reason using critical thinking, without being dull or difficult to understand.

Schick and Vaughn effectively laid out the key elements on how to assess evidence, sort through reasons, and recognize when a claim is likely to be accurate, making this book an absolute must-read for all students.

If you want to be better at decision-making based on sound evidence and argument, then this book is for you.

If you ever found yourself stuck on a problem, or having trouble in forming new ideas, this book will guide you in finding creative solutions to life’s difficult challenges.

This book emphasizes the value of effective thinking, how it can be mastered, and how to integrate it into everyday life.

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Carmen Jacob

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The best books on critical thinking, recommended by nigel warburton.

Thinking from A to Z by Nigel Warburton

Do you know your straw man arguments from your weasel words? Nigel Warburton , Five Books philosophy editor and author of Thinking from A to Z,  selects some of the best books on critical thinking—and explains how they will help us make better-informed decisions and construct more valid arguments.

Interview by Cal Flyn , Deputy Editor

Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman

Factfulness: Ten Reasons We're Wrong About The World — And Why Things Are Better Than You Think by Hans Rosling

Black Box Thinking: The Surprising Truth About Success by Matthew Syed

The Art of Thinking Clearly by Rolf Dobelli

Critical Thinking: Your Guide to Effective Argument, Successful Analysis and Independent Study by Tom Chatfield

1 Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman

2 factfulness: ten reasons we're wrong about the world — and why things are better than you think by hans rosling, 3 black box thinking: the surprising truth about success by matthew syed, 4 the art of thinking clearly by rolf dobelli, 5 critical thinking: your guide to effective argument, successful analysis and independent study by tom chatfield.

W e’re here to talk about critical thinking. Before we discuss your book recommendations, I wonder if you would first explain: What exactly is critical thinking, and when should we be using it?

But that’s just one element of critical thinking. Critical thinking is broader, though it encompasses that. In recent years, it’s been very common to include discussion of cognitive biases—the psychological mistakes we make in reasoning and the tendencies we have to think in certain patterns which don’t give us reliably good results. That’s another aspect: focussing on the cognitive biases is a part of what’s sometimes called ‘informal logic’, the sorts of reasoning errors that people make, which can be described as fallacious. They’re not, strictly speaking, logical fallacies, always. Some of them are simply psychological tendencies that give us unreliable results.

The gambler’s fallacy is a famous one: somebody throwing a die that isn’t loaded has thrown it three times without getting a six, and then imagines that, by some kind of law of averages, the fourth time they’re more likely to get a six, because they haven’t yet got one yet. That’s just a bad kind of reasoning, because each time that you roll the dice, the odds are the same: there’s a one in six chance of throwing a six. There’s no cumulative effect and a dice doesn’t have a memory. But we have this tendency, or certainly gamblers often do, to think that somehow the world will even things out and give you a win if you’ve had a series of losses. That’s a kind of informal reasoning error that many of us make, and there are lots of examples like that.

I wrote a little book called Thinking from A to Z which was meant to name and explain a whole series of moves and mistakes in thinking. I included logic, some cognitive biases, some rhetorical moves, and also (for instance) the topic of pseudo-profundity, whereby people make seemingly deep statements that are in fact shallow. The classical example is to give a seeming paradox—to say, for example ‘knowledge is just a kind of ignorance,’ or ‘virtue is only achieved through vice.’ Actually, that’s just a rhetorical trick, and once you see it, you can generate any number of such ‘profundities’. I suppose that would fall under rhetoric, the art of persuasion: persuading people that you are a deeper thinker than you are. Good reasoning isn’t necessarily the best way to persuade somebody of something, and there are many devious tricks that people use within discussion to persuade people of a particular position. The critical thinker is someone who recognises the moves, can anatomise the arguments, and call them to attention.

So, in answer to your question: critical thinking is not just pure logic . It’s a cluster of things. But its aim is to be clear about what is being argued, what follows from the given evidence and arguments, and to detect any cognitive biases or rhetorical moves that may lead us astray.

Many of the terms you define and illustrate in Thinking from A to Z— things like ‘straw man’ arguments and ‘weasel words’—have been creeping into general usage. I see them thrown around on Twitter. Do you think that our increased familiarity with debate, thanks to platforms like Twitter, has improved people’s critical thinking or made it worse?

I think that improving your critical thinking can be quite difficult. But one of the ways of doing it is to have memorable labels, which can describe the kind of move that somebody’s making, or the kind of reasoning error, or the kind of persuasive technique they’re using.

For example, you can step back from a particular case and see that somebody’s using a ‘weak analogy’. Once you’re familiar with the notion of a weak analogy, it’s a term that you can use to draw attention to a comparison between two things which aren’t actually alike in the respects that somebody is implying they are. Then the next move of a critical thinker would be to point out the respects in which this analogy doesn’t hold, and so demonstrate how poor it is at supporting the conclusion provided. Or, to use the example of weasel words—once you know that concept, it’s easier to spot them and to speak about them.

Social media, particularly Twitter, is quite combative. People are often looking for critical angles on things that people have said, and you’re limited in words. I suspect that labels are probably in use there as a form of shorthand. As long as they’re used in a precise way, this can be a good thing. But remember that responding to someone’s argument with ‘that’s a fallacy’, without actually spelling out what sort of fallacy it is supposed to be, is a form of dismissive rhetoric itself.

There are also a huge number of resources online now which allow people to discover definitions of critical thinking terms. When I first wrote Thinking from A to Z , there weren’t the same number of resources available. I wrote it in ‘A to Z’ form, partly just as a fun device that allows for lots of cross references, but partly because I wanted to draw attention to the names of things. Naming the moves is important.

“People seem to get a kick out of the idea of sharing irrelevant features—it might be a birthday or it might be a hometown—with somebody famous. But so what?”

The process of writing the book improved my critical thinking quite a lot, because I had to think more precisely about what particular terms meant and find examples of them that were unambiguous. That was the hardest thing, to find clear-cut examples of the various moves, to illustrate them. I coined some of the names myself: there’s one in there which is called the ‘Van Gogh fallacy,’ which is the pattern of thought when people say: ‘Well, Van Gogh had red hair, was a bit crazy, was left-handed, was born on the 30th of March, and, what do you know, I share all those things’—which I do happen to do—‘and therefore I must be a great genius too.’

I love that. Well, another title that deals with psychological biases is the first critical thinking book that you want to discuss, Daniel Kahneman’s Thinking Fast and Slow . Why did you choose this one?

This is an international bestseller by the Nobel Prize-winning behavioural economist—although he’s principally a psychologist—Daniel Kahneman. He developed research with Amos Tversky, who unfortunately died young. I think it would have been a co-written book otherwise. It’s a brilliant book that summarizes their psychological research on cognitive biases (or its patterns of thinking) which all of us are prone to, which aren’t reliable.

There is a huge amount of detail in the book. It summarizes a lifetime of research—two lifetimes, really. But Kahneman is very clear about the way he describes patterns of thought: as using either ‘System One’ or ‘System Two.’ System One is the fast, intuitive, emotional response to situations where we jump to a conclusion very quickly. You know: 2 + 2 is 4. You don’t think about it.

System Two is more analytical, conscious, slower, methodical, deliberative. A more logical process, which is much more energy consuming. We stop and think. How would you answer 27 × 17? You’d have to think really hard, and do a calculation using the System Two kind of thinking. The problem is that we rely on this System One—this almost instinctive response to situations—and often come out with bad answers as a result. That’s a framework within which a lot of his analysis is set.

I chose this book because it’s a good read, and it’s a book you can keep coming back to—but also because it’s written by a very important researcher in the area. So it’s got the authority of the person who did the actual psychological research. But it’s got some great descriptions of the phenomena he researches, I think. Anchoring, for instance. Do you know about anchoring?

I think so. Is that when you provide an initial example that shapes future responses? Perhaps you’d better explain it.

That’s more or less it. If you present somebody with an arbitrary number, psychologically, most people seem prone when you ask them a question to move in the direction of that number. For instance, there’s an experiment with judges. They were being asked off the cuff: What would be a good sentence for a particular crime, say shoplifting? Maybe they’d say it would be a six-month sentence for a persistent shoplifter.

But if you prime a judge by giving an anchoring number—if you ask, ‘Should the sentence for shoplifting be more than nine months?’ They’re more like to say on average that the sentence should be eight months than they would have been otherwise. And if you say, ‘Should it be punished by a sentence of longer than three months?’ they’re more likely to come down in the area of five , than they would otherwise.

So the way you phrase a question, by introducing these numbers, you give an anchoring effect. It sways people’s thinking towards that number. If you ask people if Gandhi was older than 114 years old when he died, people give a higher answer than if you just asked them: ‘How old was Gandhi when he died?’

I’ve heard this discussed in the context of charity donations. Asking if people will donate, say, £20 a month returns a higher average pledge than asking for £1 a month.

People use this anchoring technique often with selling wine on a list too. If there’s a higher-priced wine for £75, then somehow people are more drawn to one that costs £40 than they would otherwise have been. If  that was the most expensive one on the menu, they wouldn’t have been drawn to the £40 bottle, but just having seen the higher price, they seem to be drawn to a higher number. This phenomenon occurs in many areas.

And there are so many things that Kahneman covers. There’s the sunk cost fallacy, this tendency that we have when we give our energy, or money, or time to a project—we’re very reluctant to stop, even when it’s irrational to carry on. You see this a lot in descriptions of withdrawal from war situations. We say: ‘We’ve given all those people’s lives, all that money, surely we’re not going to stop this campaign now.’ But it might be the rational thing to do. All that money being thrown there, doesn’t mean that throwing more in that direction will get a good result. It seems that we have a fear of future regret that outweighs everything else. This dominates our thinking.

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What Kahneman emphasizes is that System One thinking produces overconfidence based on what’s often an erroneous assessment of a situation. All of us are subject to these cognitive biases, and that they’re extremely difficult to remove. Kahneman’s a deeply pessimistic thinker in some respects; he recognizes that even after years of studying these phenomena he can’t eliminate them from his own thinking. I interviewed him for a podcast once , and said to him: ‘Surely, if you teach people critical thinking, they can get better at eliminating some of these biases.’ He was not optimistic about that. I’m much more optimistic than him. I don’t know whether he had empirical evidence to back that up, about whether studying critical thinking can increase your thinking abilities. But I was surprised how pessimistic he was.

Interesting.

Unlike some of the other authors that we’re going to discuss . . .

Staying on Kahneman for a moment, you mentioned that he’d won a Nobel Prize, not for his research in psychology per se but for his influence on the field of economics . His and Tversky’s ground-breaking work on the irrationality of human behaviour and thinking forms the spine of a new field.

Let’s look at Hans Rosling’s book next, this is Factfulness . What does it tell us about critical thinking?

Rosling was a Swedish statistician and physician, who, amongst other things, gave some very popular TED talks . His book Factfulness , which was published posthumously—his son and daughter-in-law completed the book—is very optimistic, so completely different in tone from Kahneman’s. But he focuses in a similar way on the ways that people make mistakes.

We make mistakes, classically, in being overly pessimistic about things that are changing in the world. In one of Rosling’s examples he asks what percentage of the world population is living on less than $2 a day. People almost always overestimate that number, and also the direction in which things are moving, and the speed in which they’re moving. Actually, in 1966, half of the world’s population was in extreme poverty by that measure, but by 2017 it was only 9%, so there’s been a dramatic reduction in global poverty. But most people don’t realise this because they don’t focus on the facts, and are possibly influenced by what they may have known about the situation in the 1960s.

If people are asked what percentage of children are vaccinated against common diseases, they almost always underestimate it. The correct answer is a very high proportion, something like 80%. Ask people what the life expectancy for every child born today is, the global average, and again they get it wrong. It’s over 70 now, another surprisingly high figure. What Rosling’s done as a statistician is he’s looked carefully at the way the world is.

“Pessimists tend not to notice changes for the better”

People assume that the present is like the past, so when they’ve learnt something about the state of world poverty or they’ve learnt about health, they often neglect to take a second reading and see the direction in which things are moving, and the speed with which things are changing. That’s the message of this book.

It’s an interesting book; it’s very challenging. It may be over-optimistic. But it does have this startling effect on the readers of challenging widely held assumptions, much as Steven Pinker ‘s The Better Angels of Our Nature has done. It’s a plea to look at the empirical data, and not just assume that you know how things are now. But pessimists tend not to notice changes for the better. In many ways, though clearly not in relation to global warming and climate catastrophe, the statistics are actually very good for humanity.

That’s reassuring.

So this is critical thinking of a numerical, statistical kind. It’s a bit different from the more verbally-based critical thinking that I’ve been involved with. I’m really interested to have my my assumptions challenged, and Factfulness is a very readable book. It’s lively and thought-provoking.

Coming back to what you said about formal logic earlier, statistics is another dense subject which needs specialist training. But it’s one that has a lot in common with critical thinking and a lot of people find very difficult—by which I mean, it’s often counter-intuitive.

One of the big problems for an ordinary reader looking at this kind of book is that we are not equipped to judge the reliability of his sources, and so the reliability of the conclusions that he draws. I think we have to take it on trust and authority and hope that, given the division of intellectual labour, there are other statisticians looking at his work and seeing whether he was actually justified in drawing the conclusions that he drew. He made these sorts of public pronouncements for a long time and responded to critics.

But you’re right that there is a problem here. I believe that most people can equip themselves with tools for critical thinking that work in everyday life. They can learn something about cognitive biases; they can learn about reasoning and rhetoric, and I believe that we can put ourselves as members of a democracy in a position where we think critically about the evidence and arguments that are being presented to us, politically and in the press. That should be open to all intelligent people, I think. It is not a particularly onerous task to equip yourself with a basic tools of thinking clearly.

Absolutely. Next you wanted to talk about Five Books alumnus Matthew Syed ‘s Black Box Thinking .

Yes, quite a different book. Matthew Syed is famous as a former international table tennis player, but—most people probably don’t know this—he has a first-class degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE) from Oxford as well.

This book is really interesting. It’s an invitation to think differently about failure. The title, Black Box Thinking, comes from the black boxes which are standardly included in every passenger aircraft, so that if an accident occurs there’s a recording of the flight data and a recording of the audio communications as the plane goes down. When there’s a crash, rescuers always aim to recover these two black boxes. The data is then analysed, the causes of the crash, dissected and scrutinized, and the information shared across the aeronautic industry and beyond.

Obviously, everybody wants to avoid aviation disasters because they’re so costly in terms of loss of human life. They undermine trust in the whole industry. There’s almost always some kind of technical or human error that can be identified, and everybody can learn from particular crashes. This is a model of an industry where, when there is a failure, it’s treated as a very significant learning experience, with the result that airline travel has become a very safe form of transport.

This contrasts with some other areas of human endeavour, such as, sadly, much of healthcare, where the information about failures often isn’t widely shared. This can be for a number of reasons: there may be a fear of litigation—so if a surgeon does something unorthodox, or makes a mistake, and somebody as a result doesn’t survive an operation, the details of exactly what happened on the operating table will not be widely shared, typically, because there is this great fear of legal comeback.

The hierarchical aspects of the medical profession may have a part to play here, too. People higher up in the profession are able to keep a closed book, and not share their mistakes with others, because it might be damaging to their careers for people to know about their errors. There has been, historically anyway, a tendency for medical negligence and medical error, to be kept very quiet, kept hidden, hard to investigate.

“You can never fully confirm an empirical hypothesis, but you can refute one by finding a single piece of evidence against it”

What Matthew Syed is arguing is that we need to take a different attitude to failure and see it as the aviation industry does. He’s particularly interested in this being done within the healthcare field, but more broadly too. It’s an idea that’s come partly from his reading of the philosopher Karl Popper, who described how science progresses not by proving theories true, but by trying to disprove them. You can never fully confirm an empirical hypothesis, but you can refute one by finding a single piece of evidence against it. So, in a sense, the failure of the hypothesis is the way by which science progresses: conjecture followed by refutation, not hypothesis followed by confirmation.

As Syed argues, we progress in all kinds of areas is by making mistakes. He was a superb table-tennis player, and he knows that every mistake that he made was a learning experience, at least potentially, a chance to improve. I think you’d find the same attitude among musicians, or in areas where practitioners are very attentive to the mistakes that they make, and how those failures can teach them in a way that allows them to make a leap forward. The book has a whole range of examples, many from industry, about how different ways of thinking about failure can improve the process and the output of particular practices.

When we think of bringing up kids to succeed, and put emphasis on avoiding failure, we may not be helping them develop. Syed’s argument is that we should make failure a more positive experience, rather than treat it as something that’s terrifying, and always to be shied away from. If you’re trying to achieve success, and you think, ‘I have to achieve that by accumulating other successes,’ perhaps that’s the wrong mindset to achieve success at the higher levels. Perhaps you need to think, ‘Okay, I’m going to make some mistakes, how can I learn from this, how can I share these mistakes, and how can other people learn from them too?’

That’s interesting. In fact, just yesterday I was discussing a book by Atul Gawande, the surgeon and New Yorker writer, called The Checklist Manifesto . In that, Gawande also argues that we should draw from the success of aviation, in that case, the checklists that they run through before take-off and so on, and apply it to other fields like medicine. A system like this is aiming to get rid of human error, and I suppose that’s what critical thinking tries to do, too: rid us of the gremlins in machine.

Well, it’s also acknowledging that when you make an error, it can have disastrous consequence. But you don’t eliminate errors just by pretending they didn’t occur. With the Chernobyl disaster , for instance, there was an initial unwillingness to accept the evidence in front of people’s eyes that a disaster had occurred, combined with a fear of being seen to have messed up. There’s that tendency to think that everything’s going well, a kind of cognitive bias towards optimism and a fear of being responsible for error, but it’s also this unwillingness to see that in certain areas, admission of failure and sharing of the knowledge that mistakes have occurred is the best way to minimize failure in the future.

Very Beckettian . “Fail again. Fail better.”

Absolutely. Well, shall we move onto to Rolf Dobelli’s 2013 book, The Art of Thinking Clearly ?

Yes. This is quite a light book in comparison with the others. It’s really a summary of 99 moves in thinking, some of them psychological, some of them logical, some of them social. What I like about it is that he uses lots of examples. Each of the 99 entries is pretty short, and it’s the kind of book you can dip into. I would think it would be very indigestible to read it from cover to cover, but it’s a book to keep going back to.

I included it because it suggests you can you improve your critical thinking by having labels for things, recognising the moves, but also by having examples which are memorable, through which you can learn. This is an unpretentious book. Dobelli doesn’t claim to be an original thinker himself; he’s a summariser of other people’s thoughts. What he’s done is brought lots of different things together in one place.

Just to give a flavour of the book: he’s got a chapter on the paradox of choice that’s three pages long called ‘Less is More,’ and it’s the very simple idea that if you present somebody with too many choices, rather than freeing them and improving their life and making them happier, it wastes a lot of their time, even destroys the quality of their life.

“If you present somebody with too many choices, it wastes a lot of their time”

I saw an example of this the other day in the supermarket. I bumped into a friend who was standing in front of about 20 different types of coffee. The type that he usually buys wasn’t available, and he was just frozen in this inability to make a decision between all the other brands that were in front of him. If there’d only been one or two, he’d have just gone for one of those quickly.

Dobelli here is summarising the work of psychologist Barry Schwartz who concluded that generally, a broader selection leads people to make poorer decisions for themselves. We think going into the world that what we need is more choice, because that’ll allow us to do the thing we want to do, acquire just the right consumable, or whatever. But perhaps just raising that possibility, the increased number of choices will lead us to make poorer choices than if we had fewer to choose between.

Now, that’s the descriptive bit, but at the end of this short summary, he asks ‘So what can you do about this practically?’ His answer is that you should think carefully about what you want before you look at what’s on offer. Write down the things you think you want and stick to them. Don’t let yourself be swayed by further choices. And don’t get caught up in a kind of irrational perfectionism. This is not profound advice, but it’s stimulating. And that’s typical of the book.

You can flip through these entries and you can take them or leave them. It’s a kind of self-help manual.

Oh, I love that. A critical thinking self-help book .

It really is in that self-help genre, and it’s nicely done. He gets in and out in a couple of pages for each of these. I wouldn’t expect this to be on a philosophy reading list or anything like that, but it’s been an international bestseller. It’s a clever book, and I think it’s definitely worth dipping into and coming back to. The author is not claiming that it is the greatest or most original book in the world; rather, it’s just a book that’s going to help you think clearly. That’s the point.

Absolutely. Let’s move to the final title, Tom Chatfield’s Critical Thinking: Your Guide to Effective Argument, Successful Analysis and Independent Study . We had Tom on Five Books many moons ago to discuss books about computer games . This is rather different. What makes it so good?

Well, this is a different kind of book. I was trying to think about somebody reading this interview who wants to improve their thinking. Of the books I’ve discussed, the ones that are most obviously aimed at that are Black Box Thinking , the Dobelli book, and Tom Chatfield’s Critical Thinking . The others are more descriptive or academic. But this book is quite a contrast with the Dobelli’s. The Art of Thinking Clearly is a very short and punchy book, while Tom’s is longer, and more of a textbook. It includes exercises, with summaries in the margins, it’s printed in textbook format. But that shouldn’t put a general reader off, because I think it’s the kind of thing you can work through yourself and dip into.

It’s clearly written and accessible, but it is designed to be used on courses as well. Chatfield teaches a point, then asks you to test yourself to see whether you’ve learnt the moves that he’s described. It’s very wide-ranging: it includes material on cognitive biases as well as more logical moves and arguments. His aim is not simply to help you think better, and to structure arguments better, but also to write better. It’s the kind of book that you might expect a good university to present to the whole first year intake, across a whole array of courses. But I’m including it here more as a recommendation for the autodidact. If you want to learn to think better: here is a course in the form of a book. You can work through this on your own.

It’s a contrast with the other books as well, so that’s part of my reason for putting it in there, so there’s a range of books on this list.

Definitely. I think Five Books readers, almost by definition, tend towards autodidacticism, so this is a perfect book recommendation. And, finally, to close: do you think that critical thinking is something that more people should make an effort to learn? I suppose the lack of it might help to explain the rise of post-truth politics.

It’s actually quite difficult to teach critical thinking in isolation. In the Open University’s philosophy department, when I worked there writing and designing course materials, we decided in the end to teach critical thinking as it arose in teaching other content: by stepping back from time to time to look at the critical thinking moves being made by philosophers, and the critical thinking moves a good student might make in response to them. Pedagogically, that often works much better than attempting to teach critical thinking as a separate subject in isolation.

This approach can work in scientific areas too. A friend of mine has run a successful university course for zoologists on critical thinking, looking at correlation and cause, particular types of rhetoric that are used in write ups and experiments, and so on, but all the time driven by real examples from zoology. If you’ve got some subject matter, and you’ve got examples of people reasoning, and you can step back from it, I think this approach can work very well.

But in answer to your question, I think that having some basic critical thinking skills is a prerequisite of being a good citizen in a democracy . If you are too easily swayed by rhetoric, weak at analysing arguments and the ways that people use evidence, and prone to all kinds of biases that you are unaware of, how can you engage politically? So yes, all of us can improve our critical thinking skills, and I do believe that that is an aspect of living the examined life that Socrates was so keen we all should do. [ end of the original interview. Update below ]

———————————-

It’s been just over two years since you explained to us what critical thinking is all about. Could you update us on any books that have come out since we first spoke?

In How To Make the World Add Up , Tim Harford gives us ten rules for thinking better about numbers, together with a Golden Rule (‘Be curious’). Anyone who has listened to his long-running radio series More or Less will know how brilliant Tim is at explaining number-based claims – as I read it, I hallucinated Tim’s reassuring, sceptical, reasonable, amused, and  patient voice. He draws on a rich and fascinating range of examples to teach us (gently) how not to be taken in by statistics and poorly supported claims. There is some overlap with Calling Bullshit , but they complement each other. Together they provide an excellent training in how not to be bamboozled by data-based claims.

December 4, 2020

Also recommended on Five Books :

Five Books aims to keep its book recommendations and interviews up to date. If you are the interviewee and would like to update your choice of books (or even just what you say about them) please email us at [email protected]

Nigel Warburton

Nigel Warburton is a freelance philosopher, writer and host of the podcast Philosophy Bites . Featuring short interviews with the world's best philosophers on bite-size topics, the podcast has been downloaded more than 40 million times. He is also our philosophy editor here at Five Books , where he has been interviewing other philosophers about the best books on a range of philosophy topics since 2013 (you can read all the interviews he's done here: not all are about philosophy). In addition, he's recommended books for us on the best introductions to philosophy , the best critical thinking books, as well as some of the key texts to read in the Western canon . His annual recommendations of the best philosophy books of the year are among our most popular interviews on Five Books . As an author, he is best known for his introductory philosophy books, listed below:

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20 Influential Books on Critical Thinking You Must Read for Intellectual Growth

Critical thinking is an essential skill that allows individuals to analyze information, challenge assumptions, and solve problems effectively. Reading books on this subject can help enhance these skills by providing different perspectives, techniques, and frameworks.

1) Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman

Daniel Kahneman, a Nobel Prize-winning psychologist, authored Thinking, Fast and Slow . The book delves into two distinct systems of thought.

System 2 is slower, deliberate, and logical. It requires more mental energy and concentration. Tasks like solving complex equations or making big decisions involve System 2.

For instance, people might rely too much on their gut feelings, which can be misleading. System 2 helps to catch these errors but demands more effort.

2) The Demon-Haunted World by Carl Sagan

“The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark” is a 1995 book by Carl Sagan. Sagan explains the scientific method in a clear and engaging way. He aims to help readers develop critical and skeptical thinking skills.

The book received praise for its powerful defense of rationality. It won the Los Angeles Times Book Prize. “The Demon-Haunted World” remains a valuable resource for anyone interested in science and critical thinking. For more information, visit The Demon-Haunted World – Wikipedia or Penguin Random House .

3) Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking by Malcolm Gladwell

Through stories and studies, readers learn when to trust their instincts and how to improve their decision-making skills. The book offers insights into the strengths and weaknesses of quick thinking.

4) How to Think by Alan Jacobs

Alan Jacobs’ “How to Think: A Survival Guide for a World at Odds” addresses the challenges of thinking clearly in a divided society. Jacobs explores how social and emotional influences shape our thinking patterns. He aims to help readers recognize these influences and encourages them to develop more independent and reflective thought processes.

In addition, Jacobs emphasizes the importance of patience in thinking. He criticizes the fast pace of modern information consumption, particularly through social media. According to Jacobs, this rush prevents deep, analytical thought, leading to shallow understanding and quick judgments.

5) The Art of Thinking Clearly by Rolf Dobelli

Dobelli uses simple language to describe complex concepts from psychology and behavioral economics. Readers learn to recognize thinking errors and reduce their impact on daily decisions.

The ideas in this book can be applied to various aspects of life, from personal decisions to professional strategies. This makes it a comprehensive guide for critical thinking.

6) Innumeracy: Mathematical Illiteracy and Its Consequences by John Allen Paulos

Innumeracy covers various topics, addressing how people struggle with basic mathematical concepts. Paulos uses real-world examples to illustrate the impact of mathematical illiteracy on everyday life.

Innumeracy encourages readers to develop a more quantitative perspective on the world. The book’s insights can help people avoid common pitfalls and errors related to numerical information.

7) Thinking in Bets by Annie Duke

The book highlights the importance of making decisions based on probabilities rather than certainties. Duke explains that even the best decisions can lead to poor outcomes due to luck.

Duke’s writing is engaging and often humorous, making complex ideas accessible. Her book encourages readers to adopt a mindset where every decision is a bet, calculated with available information and probabilities.

8) The Structure of Scientific Revolutions by Thomas S. Kuhn

Kuhn argued that science does not progress linearly but rather through a series of revolutions. These revolutions occur when accumulating anomalies challenge the existing framework, leading to a new paradigm.

This work has been pivotal in fields far beyond science, influencing philosophy, sociology, and even political theory. Kuhn’s ideas continue to be discussed and debated today, showing their enduring relevance.

9) Superforecasting: The Art and Science of Prediction by Philip E. Tetlock and Dan M. Gardner

Philip E. Tetlock is a professor at the University of Pennsylvania, holding appointments in the psychology and political science departments. He and his wife, Barbara Mellers, co-lead the Good Judgment Project, which looks into improving the quality of predictions by using statistical methods and cognitive science.

Read more about Tetlock and Gardner’s findings in their masterwork on prediction .

10) The Black Swan by Nassim Nicholas Taleb

The book bridges different fields such as economics, history, and psychology. Taleb’s theory challenges the traditional methods of risk assessment and forecasting. He suggests that instead of trying to predict Black Swan events, societies should focus on building resilience.

11) Nudge: Improving Decisions About Health, Wealth, and Happiness by Richard H. Thaler and Cass R. Sunstein

“Nudge” explores how small changes in the way choices are presented can significantly alter people’s decisions. Richard H. Thaler, a Nobel laureate, and Cass R. Sunstein, co-author, discuss the concept of “nudging” to influence behavior in a positive direction.

“Nudge” also touches on important life decisions such as mortgages, education, and environmental responsibility. By understanding how people make choices, policymakers can create strategies that help individuals and society thrive.

12) Weapons of Math Destruction by Cathy O’Neil

Cathy O’Neil’s book, Weapons of Math Destruction , examines the dark side of data and algorithms. She explains how algorithms, while appearing neutral, can reinforce inequality and exploit vulnerable populations.

Her book, a New York Times bestseller, highlights the urgent need for accountability and regulation in the use of algorithms. O’Neil’s insights make this book a valuable read for anyone interested in the impact of technology on society.

13) Predictably Irrational by Dan Ariely

Dan Ariely uses clever experiments to show how our behavior is often irrational. For instance, we might overpay for coffee or make poor choices in different areas of life.

For more information, check out Predictably Irrational: The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisions and PREDICTABLY IRRATIONAL – Dan Ariely .

14) Gödel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid by Douglas Hofstadter

Hofstadter examines the works of logician Kurt Gödel, artist M.C. Escher, and composer Johann Sebastian Bach. He demonstrates how their creations share common themes of symmetry, structure, and self-reference.

To learn more about this intriguing work, visit Godel, Escher, Bach on Wikipedia and its listing on Amazon .

15) Factfulness by Hans Rosling

Key figures like Bill Gates and Barack Obama have praised the book. Gates describes it as an indispensable guide to thinking clearly about the world. Obama calls it a hopeful book about how human progress can be achieved by focusing on facts.

In addition to being informative, the book is also engaging. Rosling uses lively anecdotes to make the material accessible and interesting. This approach makes Factfulness both educational and enjoyable to read.

16) Bad Science by Ben Goldacre

Ben Goldacre’s “Bad Science” targets the misuse of science by quacks, journalists, and big pharmaceutical companies. The book sheds light on how misinformation spreads through media and affects public understanding.

The book is not just a critique but also a toolkit for critical thinking. It encourages readers to question information and seek out trustworthy sources. This makes it an educational read for anyone interested in science and public policy.

17) Mistakes Were Made (But Not by Me) by Carol Tavris and Elliot Aronson

“Mistakes Were Made (But Not by Me)” is an essential read for anyone interested in critical thinking. Written by social psychologists Carol Tavris and Elliot Aronson, the book dives into the concept of self-justification.

For those wanting to understand how the mind works to protect its beliefs, “Mistakes Were Made (But Not by Me)” is a must-read. It offers insights into why we defend our actions, even when they are wrong. Read more about the book on Goodreads .

18) The Scout Mindset by Julia Galef

By using a scout mindset, people can better navigate complex and uncertain environments. This approach emphasizes facing reality directly, even when it is uncomfortable or challenging.

Galef’s book is ideal for anyone looking to improve their decision-making skills and better understand the world around them. It is a vital read for those interested in critical thinking and rationality.

19) The Fifth Discipline by Peter M. Senge

The other four disciplines include personal mastery, mental models, building shared vision, and team learning. These concepts help individuals within the organization improve their skills and teamwork.

For those interested in deeper insights, the book’s available PDF can be found on Archive.org . Additionally, more details about Peter Senge’s work can be found on Wikipedia and Amazon .

20) You Are Not So Smart by David McRaney

Through engaging and accessible language, McRaney reveals that many of the stories we create are not true. He provides insights into self-delusion and highlights how human brains often mislead us.

Importance of Critical Thinking in Modern Society

Critical thinking is a vital skill in today’s world, enhancing decision-making, problem-solving, and understanding of complex issues. It enables individuals to evaluate information critically and make well-informed decisions.

Defining Critical Thinking

Benefits of critical thinking skills, how to develop critical thinking through reading.

Developing critical thinking through reading involves selecting appropriate books and engaging deeply with the material. These strategies enhance analytical skills and foster better decision-making.

Choosing the Right Books

Active reading strategies.

Active reading involves more than just skimming through text. It requires engaging with the material by asking questions, making notes, and summarizing key points. Highlight important sections and reflect on how the information fits with known facts and perspectives.

Analyzing Themes in Critical Thinking Literature

Philosophical perspectives.

Books on critical thinking frequently explore philosophical foundations. These texts delve into the nature of reasoning, the essence of truth, and the structures of sound arguments. Authors like Robert Ennis emphasize logical relationships, arguing that clear, rational thinking is vital for discerning truth from falsehoods—critical in fields like law and ethics.

Practical Applications in Daily Life

Another perspective is provided by titles that link critical thinking with problem-solving in various disciplines . This connection underscores how essential critical thinking is in fields such as science and math, where students must apply core concepts to unsolved problems, fostering a deeper understanding and innovation.

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10 Best Books on Critical Thinking & Analytical Skills

In today’s world, where information is abundant and often conflicting, it’s essential to possess strong critical thinking and analytical skills. Critical thinking helps us make informed decisions, evaluate arguments and claims, and solve problems. Analytical skills, on the other hand, allow us to break down complex issues and data into more manageable parts, making it easier to understand and act upon them.

Why Critical Thinking and Analytical Skills are Essential

Critical thinking and analytical skills are essential because they enable us to navigate the ever-changing landscape of information, knowledge, and ideas. In a world where we are bombarded with information from multiple sources, these skills help us assess the reliability and validity of that information and make informed decisions.

Moreover, critical thinking and analytical skills are crucial for academic success. Students who develop these skills can analyze and evaluate complex texts, arguments, and ideas, and formulate their own opinions based on evidence. These skills also help students in their research projects, enabling them to differentiate between credible and unreliable sources, and critically evaluate the evidence presented in those sources.

The Importance of Critical Thinking in Daily Life

Every aspect of our life requires critical thinking, be it personal relationships, buying a product online, or evaluating political campaigns. Critical thinking helps us identify and evaluate assumptions, biases, and arguments and make decisions based on evidence.

For instance, critical thinking can help us evaluate the claims made in advertisements and make informed decisions about the products we buy. It can also help us identify and challenge stereotypes and biases in our personal relationships, leading to more respectful and inclusive interactions.

How Analytical Skills Enhance Problem-Solving Abilities

Problem-solving is an essential skill in the workplace and personal life. Analytical skills help us break down complex problems into smaller parts, identify the root causes, and develop effective solutions. Analytical thinkers can predict possible outcomes and assess the risks involved in decision-making.

Furthermore, analytical skills can help us in our everyday life. For example, when faced with a household problem such as a leaky faucet, analytical skills can help us diagnose the problem, identify the necessary tools and materials, and develop a plan to fix the issue.

In conclusion, critical thinking and analytical skills are essential for success in both personal and professional life. These skills enable us to make informed decisions, evaluate information, and solve complex problems. Therefore, it is important to cultivate these skills through education and practice.

The Top 10 Books on Critical Thinking

Critical thinking is an essential skill that helps us navigate the complexities of the world around us. It enables us to analyze information, evaluate arguments, and make informed decisions. If you’re looking to improve your critical thinking skills, here are ten books that can help you on your journey.

“Thinking, Fast and Slow” by Daniel Kahneman

This book is a fascinating exploration of how our brain processes information and makes decisions. Drawing on insights from neuroscience, psychology, and economics, Kahneman shows how we can overcome cognitive biases and think more critically. He also offers practical tips for improving our decision-making skills.

You can find this book here .

“The Art of Thinking Clearly” by Rolf Dobelli

In this book, Dobelli provides readers with 99 clear-thinking errors, biases, and fallacies that they should avoid. He uses real-life examples to make his points more relatable and offers practical advice for improving our critical thinking skills.

“The 5 Elements of Effective Thinking” by Edward B. Burger and Michael Starbird

This book draws on insights from neuroscience, education, and psychology to reveal the five essential elements of critical thinking. Burger and Starbird provide a framework for thinking about challenging problems and coming up with innovative solutions. They also offer practical tips for improving our problem-solving skills.

“Critical Thinking: A Concise Guide” by Tracy Bowell and Gary Kemp

If you’re new to critical thinking, this book is an excellent place to start. Bowell and Kemp provide readers with an introduction to critical thinking, including a breakdown of the key concepts, tools, and techniques. They also cover ethics, reasoning, and argument evaluation.

“The Power of Critical Thinking” by Lewis Vaughn

In this book, Vaughn explores how critical thinking can improve our daily lives. He provides tips and tools for analyzing and evaluating arguments, and includes real-life examples and exercises to help readers develop their critical thinking skills.

“Think Smarter: Critical Thinking to Improve Problem-Solving and Decision-Making Skills” by Michael Kallet

Kallet offers readers a step-by-step approach to critical thinking, including how to identify biases, assumptions, and problems. He also provides tools and techniques that can help in making better decisions. This book is a must-read for anyone looking to improve their problem-solving skills.

“The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark” by Carl Sagan

Sagan’s book is a powerful exploration of the importance of scientific thinking and skepticism in a world where misinformation and superstition often dominate. He provides readers with a foundation in scientific thinking that can help them evaluate claims and evidence more effectively.

“Nonsense: The Power of Not Knowing” by Jamie Holmes

In this book, Holmes explores how embracing uncertainty and ambiguity can improve critical thinking skills. He includes real-life examples and explores how different approaches to problem-solving can lead to better outcomes. This book is a great read for anyone looking to expand their thinking beyond the confines of certainty.

“The Logic of Scientific Discovery” by Karl Popper

This book is a classic in the philosophy of science and explores how scientific theories are developed and tested. Popper provides readers with a framework for evaluating claims and evidence and can help them understand the scientific process more fully. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in the scientific method.

“The Structure of Scientific Revolutions” by Thomas S. Kuhn

Kuhn’s book explores how scientific paradigms shift over time and how new ideas and technologies can challenge and replace old ones. He provides readers with a deeper understanding of how scientific ideas are developed and can help them evaluate the validity and reliability of scientific claims and evidence. This book is a fascinating read for anyone interested in the history of science.

Tips for Developing Your Critical Thinking Skills

Developing critical thinking skills is essential for navigating the complexities of modern life with confidence and clarity. In addition to reading books on the subject, there are several ways to develop your critical thinking skills. Here are a few tips:

Practice Active Listening

Active listening is a crucial component of critical thinking. When you’re communicating with others, actively listen to what they’re saying, and ask questions to clarify their points. This will help you understand their perspective and challenge your own assumptions. By doing so, you can broaden your perspective and gain new insights that you may not have considered before.

For example, if you’re having a conversation with someone who has a different political view than you, instead of immediately dismissing their opinion, ask them why they believe what they do. By doing so, you can gain a better understanding of their perspective and challenge your own assumptions.

Ask Thought-Provoking Questions

Asking thought-provoking questions is another way to develop your critical thinking skills. Instead of accepting surface-level explanations, dig deeper by asking questions that challenge assumptions and break down complex problems. Questions like “why?” and “how?” can help you identify underlying issues and gain a deeper understanding of a problem.

For example, if you’re trying to solve a problem at work, instead of accepting the first solution that comes to mind, ask yourself why that solution is the best option. By doing so, you can identify potential flaws in your thinking and develop a more effective solution.

Reflect on Your Own Thinking Process

Self-reflection is a critical component of developing your critical thinking skills. Take time to reflect on your own thinking process and identify any biases or assumptions that may be influencing your decisions. By doing so, you can become more aware of your own thought patterns and develop more effective strategies for critical thinking.

For example, if you’re trying to make a decision about a job offer, take time to reflect on your own biases and assumptions about the job, the company, and the industry. By doing so, you can make a more informed decision that is based on facts rather than assumptions.

Reading books on critical thinking and analytical skills can also help us develop a more effective approach to problem-solving and decision-making. By honing these skills, we can navigate the complexities of modern life with confidence and clarity.

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Best Books on Critical Thinking

Dive into the realm of logic and reason with this collection – the most recommended books on critical thinking, curated based on frequent recommendations from leading book blogs and publications..

14 Of The Best Critical Thinking Books That Come Packed With Examples

Anthony metivier.

• December 12, 2022
• Critical Thinking

Podcast: Download

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However, few of them come packed with examples.

Even fewer come with exercises. 

Examples and exercises are important because critical thinking is not just something you learn. 

It’s something you develop through practical application. 

Here’s another problem that might be frustrating you if you’re looking for the best critical thinking books:

A lot of them are either irrelevant, “dumbed-down” for the mass market, or already abandoned by their authors.

For example, the famous Thinking, Fast and Slow on just about every list has big problems. 

Its author, Daniel Khaneman has agreed that several entire chapters need to be removed in a future edition. 

The reproducibility problem. Many of the studies he refers to weren’t scientifically valid. 

But critical thinking is based on reproducible models.

So on this page, let’s dig into a comprehensive list of critical thinking books that won’t go out of date.

The 14 Best Critical Thinking Books Packed With Examples For Improving Your Mind

As you go through these examples, consider your specific goals.

As you’ll see, each of these examples are related, but each has different strengths. 

You’ll want to beef up on each of these areas, but as you gather your collection, I suggest you start with where you currently feel you need the most help. 

One: Scientific Critical Thinking

In Critical Thinking for Better Learning: New Insights from Cognitive Science , Carole Hamilton helps you understand how the brain creates categories in the mind. 

Knowledge of how your mind works helps you tap into how your memory deals with examples and analogies that can improve your thinking skills.

Some of the best parts of this book teach you:

• How to study topics thoroughly so that you can think critically about them.
• How to develop creative analogies so you can see the “shape” and dynamics of larger topics. 
• Threshold concepts, which are “the central, defining truths in a given discipline, the ideas that open a gateway to deeper understanding.”
• Why some ideas are obvious to certain people but take others a long time to learn.

As an example of how this book helped me, when I was working on my Art of Memory project, it reminded me to read both the historical summary and also the specific books about memory during that period. This is what Hamilton means by knowing the “shape” of a topic.

Other great aspects of this book include its points on:

• How beliefs can distort facts
• Who really benefits and who suffered from environmental damage in the world
• The concept of opportunity cost
• How to assess critical thinking

It gives examples of each and concludes strong with its best tip: 

Study real problems and how they were solved, and then recall these frequently to test your memory for accuracy about the details. 

Two: A Jargon Free Toolkit

Critical thinking often involves a lot of complex terminology. You have to learn about antecedents in logic and the concept of paraconsistencies .

But if you’re just beginning and don’t have a Memory Palace , such terms can be hard to learn and remember. 

Enter The Critical Thinking Toolkit .

This book provides a wonderful introduction with examples from:

• Political science

Three: How To Think About Arguments

We all get into arguments.

That’s not a problem, but the ways we use language while arguing often causes more problems than necessary. 

Enter The Uses of Argument by Stephen E. Toulmin.

But in this excellent book, Toulmin shows you:

• What it means to make a valid argument
• How to lay out valid arguments
• The difference between working logic and idealised logic
• How that validity must be intra-field, not inter-field (so that you approach critical thinking comparatively)

It boils down to this:

Arguments have patterns and we can learn to perceive those patterns. 

One pro tip in this book is to find ways to see logic and critical thinking as historical. 

When you know how logic has changed over time, you’re able to note the patterns that shape how we communicate and use them better. 

That’s just one benefit. Here are 11 more benefits of critical thinking you can expect after reading the books on this page.

Four: Validity In Your Thinking

I’ll never forget hearing The Amazing Kreskin discuss hypnosis. He said:

“Hypnosis is nothing more than the acceptance of a suggestion.”

If you don’t have much time to learn how this is happening to you, I suggest Critical Thinking : A Concise Guide by Tracy Bowell and Gary Kemp.

This book’s strength is how it helps you determine whether an argument is valid. 

To do so, the authors teach you the connection between critical thinking and symbolic logic, informal logic and formal logic.

You also learn how to determine which parts of an argument are relevant. You get real world examples with detailed commentary on each.

A v Hoare is one of my favorite examples. In it, you learn about how the amount of detail shapes our perceptions. You also learn how to determine what information is valuable to properly assess the context and shape of an argument.

Five: How To Stop Thinking Against Yourself

I used to think very darkly. 

Little did I know that I was using my thoughts against myself, practically making it impossible to see opportunities.

Then I discovered The Luck Factor by Richard Wiseman.

This book not only goes through numerous examples of how people use cynical thinking against themselves. It also gives powerful exercises that help your critical thinking skills see opportunities your own thinking patterns might be hiding from you.

Six: Understanding Your Personality

That’s why I recommend Stuart Hanscomb’s Critical Thinking: The Basics .

Looking at your personal dispositions can help you avoid many of the problems created by emotions and cognitive biases . 

You may even want to go further by looking into the OCEAN model to help better understand how your personality might help or hinder your thinking abilities.

Either way, Hanscomb’s book is great. Pay extra attention to the final chapter. It’s pack with additional examples of fallacies you’ll want to avoid. 

Seven: Simple, But Not “Dumbed Down”

Crit ical Thinking Skills For Dummies , like many books in the “dummies” series is actually quite valuable.

Its biggest strengths are: 

• Strong examples of false dichotomies
• How to avoid logical pitfalls
• Examples of key arguments

Pay special attention to the final chapter and its list of “arguments that changed the world.” These are interesting and useful case studies. 

Eight: Thinking On Autopilot

One of the most challenging critical thinking examples to work through involves the topic of free will.

My favorite book on the topic is also one of the most hotly contested. 

But it’s the examples in Free Will by Sam Harris that really bring it all together.

And although Daniel Dennet strongly disagrees with its thesis, going through the for and against will give your thinking abilities a stretch.

Without a doubt, contending with the issue of free will is one of the best ways you can practice critical thinking. It will also give you a better understanding of human consciousness too. 

Nine: The Humpty Dumpty Of Thought

As the cohost of Philosophy Bites , a fantastic philosophy podcast, Warburton has packed this book with excellent critical thinking tools to up your game.

Some of my favorites include:

Weasel Words

“Advertisers who declare the food they are selling to be a ‘healthier alternative’ need to specify precisely what the food is healthier than and why. If they cannot do this, then the weasel words ‘healthier alternative’ are meaningless – mere rhetoric”

Humptydumptying

Giving private meanings to words in common use

‘When I use a word,’ Humpty Dumpty answers, in rather a scornful tone, ‘it means just what I choose it to mean — neither more nor less.’

Ten: The Power of Analysis

This book proves a number of self assessment activities, including several sub-skills, such as identifying similarities and differences.

It also includes material on:

• Note taking in a critical manner
• Critical writing
• Reflective thinking tips as a mental discipline
• Multiple models of reflective thinking
• Bonus practice activities

If you do any kind of reading and writing, this book is a must. 

Eleven: Improve Your Research Skills

If you do anything involved in research, you know just how difficult interpreting data accurately can be. 

In this book, you’ll learn all about:

• How to seek trustworthy knowledge
• How to understand the role of hypothetical questions
• How samples are chosen and validated
• Aspects that threaten the validity of a research project
• The role of ethics in research
• Examples of multiple studies in different fields of interest

There are a large number of practice articles too. These will help you better engage with scientific reporting you encounter in the media. 

Twelve: Avoiding Errors

If you’re like me, you probably prefer to avoid mistakes whenever possible. 

This book exposes the many poor thinking habits we have. Here are just a few the book covers and then repairs:

• Being in a hurry
• Missing a deadline
• Faulty cost analyses
• Failing to ask for help

I’ve personally found this book helpful, especially when dealing with customers and personal coaching clients. It’s great to be able to ascertain what errors people are making and help guide them to more logical conclusions.

Anyone can do this for themselves too. Read this book. 

Thirteen: Know Your Science

The lack of scientific literacy in society is a huge problem. 

That’s why I recommend Science, Pseudo-science, Non-sense, and Critical Thinking: Why the Differences Matter .

In this book by Marianna Barr and Gershon Ben-Shakhar, you get detailed chapters that use critical thinking to debunk:

• Cold reading

Another thing that makes this critical thinking book unique is that it includes:

• Correspondence with Houdini
• Good movie and literature examples
• Excellent lists of books to follow-up on with for further information about each pseudoscientific topic

I also like how the book discusses the reasons why people need to believe – or at least think they do.

Fourteen: An Ancient Critical Thinking Book

Basically, this term translates to a statement like: “the culmination of the Vedas is ‘not two’”.

In other words, the philosophy works to demonstrate a “oneness” in human consciousness. 

One of the most interesting books uses critical thinking to demonstrate this principle. It is called Panchadasi .

My favorite commentary on this text, which includes a translation, is Inquiry Into Existence , by James Swartz.

This philosophy will probably stretch your mind.

The trick is not to mistake its conclusions for solipsism, which is arguably nonsense . It’s really just a way of thinking through the situation we all find ourselves in as the bearers of consciousness. 

Crafting A Library Of Critical Thinking Books

I hope you enjoyed checking out this list of books on critical thinking. Please let me know which ones you check out and how you helpful you found them. 

There are many more out there, and keep in mind that you can find texts that will help you improve many types of thinking . 

The important thing is to have a library that you continually build and read thoroughly. 

And to get it all in, I recommend that you check out how to read faster next.

Need help with remembering what you read from these books? Check out my free memory improvement course:

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Always a pleasure Anthony to read your ideas and thoughts!

Thanks so much for stopping by to give it a look, Raymond.

Anything new with your memory and learning journey lately?

Your lessons always help me. It’s really useful for every student.

Thanks so much for stopping by and letting me know!

As always, you provide great material for self-empowerment

Thanks so much for giving it a read. It is an honor and a pleasure to do this work and I appreciate your support very much!

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8 Best Books on Critical Thinking for a Successful Career – Tools to Transform Your Mindset

Critical thinking isn’t just a buzzword; it’s a powerful skillset that can empower you to excel in your career. By developing your critical thinking muscles, you become a more valuable employee, capable of tackling challenges with greater confidence and agility.

But how does one cultivate such skills? The answer lies in learning from experts through their insightful writings. In this article, we explore five groundbreaking books on critical thinking.

1. “Thinking, Fast and Slow” by Daniel Kahneman

Daniel Kahneman , a Nobel laureate, introduces the dual-process theory in “ Thinking, Fast and Slow ,” dividing thought processes into intuitive (System 1) and analytical (System 2) thinking.

System 1 is fast and emotional, leading to quick conclusions, while System 2 is slower, more logical, and methodical. Understanding these systems is crucial for distinguishing between situations that require quick decisions and those that benefit from a more deliberate approach.

How to Improve Decision-Making in the Workplace?

Kahneman provides practical insights into how these thought processes affect decision-making and judgment in professional settings. He illustrates how to identify and overcome cognitive biases and logical fallacies.

These insights help professionals to make more informed decisions, fostering a thoughtful and effective work environment.

2. “Factfulness” by Hans Rosling

Hans Rosling ‘s “Factfulness” champions the use of data to accurately understand the world. He argues that many people’s worldviews are based on misconceptions, advocating for a fact-based perspective.

Rosling’s emphasis on data literacy is crucial for questioning assumptions and overcoming biases, particularly relevant in today’s data-driven professional environments.

Importance of Data Literacy in Professional Decision Making

“ Factfulness ” is a guide for professionals to navigate a world inundated with data. Rosling demonstrates how accurate data interpretation leads to better business and policy decisions. This approach promotes adaptability and forward-thinking, essential traits for career advancement.

3. “The Skeptic’s Guide to the Future” by Steven Novella

Steven Novella, in “The Skeptic’s Guide to the Future,” advocates for skepticism as a tool for evaluating emerging trends and technologies. He teaches readers to balance optimism about the future with critical questioning, helping professionals avoid the pitfalls of uncritically following trends or investing in unproven technologies.

Definition of Skepticism in Strategic Planning

Novella’s approach is crucial for strategic planning  and innovation. He guides professionals on how to critically assess new ideas and technologies, leading to more sustainable and successful innovations. This skepticism is key to maintaining a competitive edge in any industry.

4. “Predictably Irrational” by Dan Ariely

In “Predictably Irrational,”  Dan Ariely  explores how irrational behaviors often influence our decision-making. He uses experiments to show how emotions and social norms can lead to irrational choices. For professionals, understanding these patterns is vital for making more objective decisions.

Rational Decision-Making in Negotiation and Leadership

Ariely’s insights are particularly relevant for enhancing negotiation and leadership skills. By recognizing and mitigating irrational tendencies, professionals can negotiate more effectively and lead teams with a balanced, rational approach.

5. “Think Again” by Adam M. Grant

Adam M. Grant’s “Think Again” delves into the  importance of rethinking and questioning  one’s long-held beliefs. Grant argues that the ability to rethink and reassess information is crucial for growth and adaptability in both personal and professional life.

He encourages embracing the joy of being wrong and the necessity of questioning even the most fundamental beliefs to foster continuous learning and improvement.

Adaptability and Innovation

In a professional context, Grant’s principles are transformative. He highlights how adaptability, born out of the willingness to reconsider one’s views, is essential in today’s fast-paced business environment.

Grant demonstrates that professionals who regularly challenge their own ideas can drive innovation and stay ahead in their careers. This mindset not only leads to personal growth but also cultivates a culture of open-mindedness and progressive thinking in the workplace.

6. “Critical Thinking: Tools for Taking Charge of Your Professional and Personal Life” by Richard Paul and Linda Elder

Richard Paul and Linda Elder ‘s book provides a comprehensive guide to understanding the principles of critical thinking. The authors present critical thinking as a set of tools for taking charge of one’s professional and personal life, emphasizing the importance of questioning assumptions and evaluating evidence.

They provide a framework for identifying and challenging biases, leading to more effective decision-making.

Application in Everyday Professional Scenarios

This book is particularly useful for professionals seeking to apply critical thinking skills in everyday work scenarios. Paul and Elder offer practical strategies for enhancing critical analysis and problem-solving skills, which are essential for navigating complex workplace situations.

Readers will learn how to apply these tools in real-world contexts, leading to better judgment and more strategic thinking.

7. “The 5 Elements of Effective Thinking” by Edward B. Burger and Michael Starbird

Edward B. Burger and Michael Starbird’s “The 5 Elements of Effective Thinking” presents a novel approach to developing thinking skills. The authors break down  effective thinking into five essential elements : understanding deeply, failing in order to succeed, raising questions, seeing the flow of ideas, and changing one’s perspective.

Practical Tools for Career Growth

Each element offers practical tools for career growth. The book encourages embracing failure as a learning opportunity and continuously questioning to deepen understanding.

It provides insights into how shifting perspectives can lead to innovative solutions, making it an invaluable resource for professionals who aim to enhance their cognitive abilities and advance in their careers.

8. “Superforecasting: The Art and Science of Prediction” by Philip E. Tetlock and Dan Gardner

The book begins by challenging the common perception that accurate forecasting is the domain of a few gifted individuals. Instead, Tetlock and Gardner argue that superforecasting is a skill that can be cultivated through practice and a systematic approach.

They present a fascinating study conducted by the Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity (IARPA), which found that some ordinary people could predict global events with astonishing accuracy.

Cultivating the Superforecaster Mindset

Superforecasting  is not just about being knowledgeable; it’s about thinking critically, being open to new information, and updating beliefs as new data comes in.

The authors provide a detailed analysis of the thought processes and behaviors that distinguish superforecasters from the average person. They emphasize the importance of intellectual humility, curiosity, and the willingness to admit mistakes and learn from them.

While it can help professionals, even students may face some benefits from reading it. For example, it can help them to  cope with stress . One of the most intriguing aspects of the book is its practical application.

The authors do not just describe what superforecasting is; they also offer guidance on how to develop these skills. They outline specific practices, such as breaking down complex problems into manageable parts, seeking out diverse perspectives, and balancing inside and outside views.

How can “Thinking, Fast and Slow” help in conflict resolution at work?

“Thinking, Fast and Slow” provides insights into how our quick (System 1) and slow (System 2) thinking processes can affect conflict resolution. Understanding these systems helps identify when emotional reactions (System 1) might escalate conflict and when a more analytical approach (System 2) is needed to resolve issues thoughtfully and effectively.

How can I improve my IQ and critical thinking?

Improving IQ involves engaging in activities that challenge your brain, like puzzles, learning new skills, or intellectually stimulating tasks. For critical thinking, practice analyzing situations from multiple perspectives and questioning assumptions.

Do books help with critical thinking?

Yes, reading books, especially those on subjects like logic, philosophy, and problem-solving, can significantly enhance critical thinking skills. They provide new perspectives and frameworks for analyzing information and making decisions.

Can you train critical thinking?

Absolutely, critical thinking can be trained and improved by regularly engaging in activities that require analysis, evaluation, and strategic thinking. Participating in debates, solving complex problems, and reflecting on decision-making processes are effective ways to sharpen these skills.

Remember, the key to mastering critical thinking lies not just in acquiring knowledge, but in the willingness to question, analyze, and adapt one’s thinking in an ever-evolving world.

This mindset is a powerful tool for personal and professional growth, leading to greater success and fulfillment in various aspects of life.

Related Posts:

• If You Want to Make God Laugh, Tell Him About Your Plans
• The 4 Quadrants of Time Management - How to Organize…

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Reviews of The Best Books on Every Subject

20 Best Books on Critical Thinking (2022 Review)

September 16, 2020 by James Wilson

DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, I receive a commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Critical thinking is a skill/mindset that enables a person to think logically. Critical thinking is a vital necessity for everyone these days who want to perform exceptionally. No matter what field of life you are in, let it be a student, a teacher, an athlete or a corporate employee. There are high chances that you will need to enable critical thinking to find a noteworthy solution to your problems and be able to move forward effectively.

To enable critical thinking, there are certain things involved. These include evaluating evidence, weighing the chances, analysing assumptions and more. Once you start your journey towards critical thinking, you start to take the next steps automatically. It is a journey that takes you from assumptions to the realities that are possible.

What are the Best Critical Thinking Books to read?

With effective critical thinking skills, it is impossible for you to be fooled by anyone. You can read one’s intentions right away. You can even see what other people cannot, based on evidence and argument.

If you are looking to grow respective critical thinking skills, and want to learn it quick. We have compiled a list of books that you can read the review for. This will enable you to choose the right book on critical thinking for your learning journey.

Best Books on Critical Thinking: Our Top 20 Picks

Here are some of the best critical thinking books that you can consider to expand your knowledge on the subject:

1. Critical Thinking Skills for Dummies

Of Course, we all are already aware of the “For Dummies” series. For those who are not, this series presents an absolute and definitive guide for the beginners. With the help of this series, everyone can effectively learn the skills from the beginner level to advance. If you have little to zero knowledge about critical thinking and want to learn, this is the book for you.

The book has been written by Martin Cohen. It serves the purpose by enabling its readers to get access to the most comprehensible and easy-to-read narrative on critical thinking. The book provides you with access to several tools that you can activate to develop reflective thinking. There is also deep insight from the beginners’ level on how you can brainstorm to generate insights.

• Authors : Martin Cohen (Author)
• Publisher : For Dummies; 1st Edition (May 4, 2015)
• Pages : 376 pages

2. Think Smarter: Critical thinking to improve problem-solving and decision-making skills

Critical thinking is a necessary skill for all that are studying, teaching, or working in any part of life. It enables you to look at the flaws in a system, a story, a program, a project or virtually anything so you can effectively improve it.

This book is all about using critical thinking to improve problem-solving and decision-making skills. Written by Michael Kallet, the book presents valuable arguments that you can use to weigh your options, find the flaws and improve your critical thinking skills. This book goes beyond the concepts and is about the examples of real-world scenarios that will not only serve as a clear piece of understanding for you but also help you with the exercise and practice of such skills. The book has over 25 tools for critical thinking with real-world examples.

• Authors : Michael Kallet (Author)
• Publisher : Wiley; 1st Edition (April 7, 2014)
• Pages : 240 pages

3. Critical Thinking (10th Edition)

There are levels of Critical thinking classified with the understanding and utilization level of the students. The course enables students to think logically and critically not only in the class but in the real-world to make effective decisions.

It will not be wrong to call this book the most taught textbook on critical thinking subjects. The book is written by Brooke Noel Moore and Richard Parker. It presents the students with a buffet of examples and exercises that they can perform within or outside the class to enable their critical thinking skills and do well in their life. The book presents a highly understandable version of critical thinking in Moore’s famous, engaging narrative.

• Authors : Brooke Noel Moore (Author), Richard Parker (Author)
• Publisher : McGraw-Hill; 10th Edition (January 1, 2012)
• Pages : 576 pages

4. Critical Thinking: Tools for taking charge of your learning and your life (3rd Edition)

Critical thinking has become highly popular in the last couple of decades. It enables you with an approach of integration and making decisions based on viable arguments and evidence instead of hallow words. The sixth sense is a thing, but weighing your arguments and the right evidence laying in front of you is what critical thinking enables you to do.

Written by two experts of the field Richard Paul, and Linda Elder, this book presents its readers with a huge list of interactive tools that they can learn to utilize in their learning journey towards critical thinking. This book is focused on a comprehensive and practical approach to critical thinking that is to be used in everyday life. With this book, you can get your hands on some new diagrams that will enhance your decision-making skills.

• Authors : Richard Paul (Author), Linda Elder (Author)
• Publisher : Pearson; 3rd Edition (November 20, 2019)
• Pages : 528 pages

5. The power of Critical Thinking: Effective Reasoning about Ordinary and Extraordinary claims

Critical thinking is a power that takes you from assuming to believing. It enables you to understand the truth laying behind the valid evidences that someone is trying to hide it from you. It is a skill to believe in the true version of events instead of hallow words.

Written by Lewis Vaughn, this book is the right read for you if you are looking to enable and use critical thinking in your daily routine. The book enables you access to a wide range of tools you need to apply for critical thinking in daily life. It provides a perspective understandable and applicable by students, teachers, corporate workers, and normal people alike. Including scientific reasoning, evidence, authority, and visual reasoning this book can enable you to get the skills of critical thinking in a commendable manner.

• Authors : Lewis Vaughn (Author)
• Publisher : Oxford University Press; 6th Edition (September 20, 2018)
• Pages : 600 pages

6. Critical Thinking, Reading and Writing: A Brief Guide to Argument (9th Edition)

If you are a reader, student or an individual with a job requirement of reading and getting the right information. This book is the right guide for you. This book is a comprehensive, compact guide for all those who want to learn the right skillset to weigh arguments based on validity and authority.

The book presents you with a number of real-life examples that will enable you to understand the fundamentals of skimming through the information and improve your analysis to reach the right conclusion. Written by Sylvan Barnet, Hugo Bedau, and John O’Hara this book has all the information and guidance to enable critical thinking and create valid arguments based on facts and figures.

• Authors : Sylvan Barnet (Author), Hugo Bedau (Author), John O’Hara (Author)
• Publisher : Bedford/St. Martin’s; Ninth Edition (October 4, 2016)

7. Critical Thinking (11th Edition)

Critical thinking is being taught as a course in most schools. It enables the students to make the right decisions in life effectively and to weigh the chances for their success. Critical thinking is a necessary tool for all who want to survive in this highly competitive world and outperform their selves every day.

It will not be wrong to call this book a Textbook. Written by Brooke Noel Moore, and Richard Parker this book contains a unique and interactive approach towards learning the skills required to enable critical thinking. There are real-world applications that enable the students and instructors alike to understand the concepts better. The book is a great help for not only scoring grades in the course but also being able to use the concepts and learnings effectively in daily routine.

• Publisher : McGraw-Hill Education; 11th Edition (January 15, 2014)
• Pages : 512 pages

8. Models for Critical Thinking: A fundamental guide to effective decision making, deep analysis, Intelligent reasoning, and independent thinking

Critical thinking has benefits far more reasonable and useful beyond the academic career. While there are no doubts about the importance of critical thinking for educational purposes. There are also a number of other applications that you can use critical thinking to analyse and understand the process of certain things going around.

Written by Albert Rutherford, this book is a marvel of critical thinking. With this book, you can get your hands on some advance concepts and techniques used to enable critical thinking. And the best part is, there are also numerous applications including that will enable you to enhance your critical thinking skills. The book contains elaborative insight on how you can apply logic to analyse and everyday events around you and use that to save yourself from getting tricked or manipulated.

• Authors : Albert Rutherford (Author)
• Publisher : Independently published (October 17, 2018)
• Pages : 278 pages

9. LOGITICA: Improve your critical thinking and problem-solving skills: the brain behind the brain

Problem-solving skills rely greatly on critical thinking. To understand an error in your work and to effectively eliminate that requires a deeper sense of understanding towards the comprehension of the reasons that may have caused the error and how you can improve.

This book is based on logistical facts and figures rather than assumptions, that could have been true. Logics presents you with a more accurate opportunity and approach towards improving our problem-solving skills. Written by Neelabh Kumar, this book is a right guide for all those who want to understand an in-depth perspective of what may have caused an error and how you can eliminate the possibility of recurrence through enhances critical thinking skills.

• Authors : Neelabh Kumar (Author)
• Publisher : Independently published (January 8, 2019)
• Pages : 329 pages

10. A workbook for arguments, Second Edition: A complete course in critical thinking

This second edition of a highly popular guide on critical thinking contains all major improvements that back the fundamentals of the first edition. However, advancement and revelations are continued and this book is the right example of moving forward in your journey of learning critical thinking efficiently.

The book is written by David R. Morrow and Anthony Weston. In this book, they present an understandable and easy to imply narrative towards critical thinking. The book contains elaborative information on all the exercises of critical thinking. Also, it has improved and enhanced version of scientific reasoning that was discussed in earlier edition. This is a perfect workbook for all the students and those who are looking to improve their critical thinking skills.

• Authors : David R. Morrow (Author), Anthony Weston (Author)
• Publisher : Hackett Publishing Company, Inc.; Second Edition (November 1, 2015)

11. From Critical Thinking to Argument: A Portable Guide (5th Edition)

Critical Thinking is a valuable skill for all, especially the writers. While other people have to self-analyse and use the information for their own improvements and apply them their selves. Writers are required to craft the arguments based on the information and their critical thinking skills.

This book is written by Sylvan Barnet, Hugo Bedau, and John O’Hara. It is a handbook that is compact and has a precise narrative to not only enhance critical thinking skills but also to improve the knowledge. The book contains practical exercises on how one can effectively craft the arguments based on facts, figures, and assumptions that might come true.

• Publisher : Bedford/St. Martin’s; Fifth Edition (December 22, 2016)
• Pages : 432 pages

12. Critical Thinking: The effective Beginner’s guide to master logical facilities using a scientific approach and improve your rational thinking skills with problem-solving tools to make better decisions

Thinking deep and analytically requires you to work on your thinking process and analyse the information effectively. These are some skills that require you to work on yourself and the way you look at things. It includes changing your narrative towards the things that might be causing hindrance in your thinking process and clouding your judgment.

The book is written & published by Travis Holiday, and Kevin Hollins. This is the right guide for all the beginners to start thinking rationally and based on the facts that are affecting things around you. There are indicators that allow you to see the reality hidden behind things and words with absolute meaning. However, there are deeper practices along the way and you must understand those to start thinking effectively the right possible way. This book is the right guide that will take you from beginner to master-level critical thinking approach through its easy to understand and imply a narrative.

• Authors : Travis Holiday (Author), Kevin Hollins (Author)
• Publisher : Independently published (September 18, 2019)
• Pages : 210 pages

13. Critical Thinking (12th Edition)

Researches are being conducted daily on critical thinking. With each passing day, there are new and more effective concepts that are being discovered and proven right. These concepts are not a denial to older ones but strengthen their validity. If you are looking to get your hands on some of the latest concepts of Critical thinking, this is the right book for you.

Written by Brooke Noel Moore and Richard Parker, this book presents you with the most up-to-date concepts of critical thinking. It has an improved narrative and hundreds of latest examples based on real-world scenarios that will enable you to think critically and improve your decision-making skills in every part of your life.

• Publisher : McGraw-Hill Higher Education; 12th Edition (October 25, 2016)

14. The basics of Critical Thinking

Young minds are more interesting and they are more curious. Curiosity is considered the first step toward critical thinking. It is believed that habits made in early age stays with you for life. Critical thinking is more of a habit, a lifestyle than a skill set that you can earn over time. Hence, this book presents a version of basic tools that can enable younger minds to get hold of the basics of critical thinking.

The book follows simple English with a narrative that is easier to understand for children. To increase interest, this book contains a colourful and image-based description of things. The book is written by Michael Baker. While it is intended for younger people, that does not mean adults cannot read it. For all those who want to learn the fundamentals of critical thinking and to enable their selves to analyse things effectively, this book is a worthy read.

• Authors : Michael Baker (Author), Children’s Books – Educational (Introduction)
• Publisher : The Critical Thinking Co. (January 1, 2015)
• Pages : 152 pages

15. Tools of Critical Thinking: Meta thoughts of psychology, second edition.

While there are other books that focus on basics and how you can start analysing things and events to think critically. This book is focused more on in-depth analysis and understanding of psychology involved behind decision making and critical thinking approach.

Written by David A. Levy, this book presents a highly understandable narrative and approach towards thinking critically and to understand how human psychology works towards it. If you are having problems in thinking critically due to the emotions attached and are unable to get ahead of these. This book is the perfect guide for you.

• Authors : David A. Levy (Author)
• Publisher : Waveland Pr Inc; 2nd Edition (September 1, 2009)
• Pages : 298 pages

16. Your Deceptive Mind: A Scientific guide to critical thinking skills

Our minds can often deceive us to think differently, while the truth is looking right in your eyes. Being said that, human judgment and decision making can often be clouded by certain feelings that are attached to it. There is no denial to it that sometimes we are unable to look at the reality because of our emotions and feelings.

This book is the right guide for all those who think that they are lacking in any field of life due to their emotions and being unable to think critically on the subject. The book presents you with a blunt and harsh narrative to stop relying on emotions and scientifically understand the factors that are stopping you from thinking critically and efficiently. It is written by Steven Novella and published by The Great Courses. The book also includes a critical toolbox that you can use to access the quality of information and skillset required to think critically.

• Authors : Professor Steven Novella (Author), Yale School of Medicine (Foreword)
• Publisher : The Great Courses (January 1, 2012)

17. Master Critical Thinking: Think Intelligently, Improve Problem-Solving Skills, make better Decisions, and Upgrade your life.

To master critical thinking, one must have several goals. The goals can be thinking intelligently and enable enhanced thinking, improving your problem-solving skills or simply making better decisions in everyday life.

Whatever your goals may be, critical thinking is the right approach towards upgrading your life with the help of improving each decision and backing it based on solid arguments instead of vague assumptions and emotions attached to it that can be deceiving at times. If you often struggle with the urge to make the right decision and want to get over with the gut feelings you have. This book will guide you to start thinking critically instead of simply relying on emotions and assumptions.

• Authors : Henrik Rodgers (Author)
• Publisher : Independently published (July 9, 2019)
• Pages : 116 pages

18. Critical Thinking: The Beginners User manual to Improve your communication and self-confidence skills Every day. The Tools and the concepts for problem-solving and decision making.

To learn from your own failures is the right way to understand and not make those mistakes again. It is the best practice to improve your own-self. However, to improve and to correct your own mistakes, the right approach is to realise them. While there are people, who can turn a blind eye towards their own mistakes. This book is the right guide that teaches you how not to. The book contains great insight into self-realization and how you can use it to improve your own thinking skills.

The book is written by Jacko Babin and Ray Manson. It contains elaborative insight on how you can effectively stop second-guessing yourself and have a confident approach towards improving the mistakes. Once you have realized your own mistakes, the rest of the journey becomes easier for you. The book also contains numerous real-life examples that will help you understand these concepts in a much better way.

• Authors : Jocko Babin (Author), Ray Manson (Author)
• Publisher : Independently published (March 9, 2019)
• Pages : 147 pages

19. A concise guide to critical thinking (1st Edition)

Lewis Vaughn is considered an expert on the subject of critical thinking. He has written several books covering the topic. His books contain an in-depth analysis of how you can enable critical thinking in your daily routine and what might be stopping you from doing so.

This book, however, can be deemed as a complete summary of concepts being advocated by him. Along with the guidance on covering the obstacles that are stopping you and enabling your mind to think critically. This book contains a highly understandable and easy to follow the narrative that will be great for all the beginners to understand and imply critical thinking from scratch to master level.

• Publisher : Oxford University Press; Annotated – Illustrated Edition (October 1, 2017)
• Pages : 352 pages

20. The miniature guide to critical thinking concepts and tools (Thinker’s guide library)

If you are looking to master critical thinking and do not have time to read extensive concepts and get yourself indulged with the psychic or scientific approach. This is the book for you. This book presents a concise and to-the-point approach to critical thinking concepts and tools.

Written by Richard Paul and Linda Elder, the book does not only contain all the information required to understand the concepts on critical thinking but also how you can imply those in your daily life to enhance your decision making and critical thinking skills effectively. The book presents a short and easy to follow approach towards the subject.

• Publisher : The Foundation for Critical Thinking; Eighth Edition (September 20, 2019)
• Pages : 48 pages

Choosing the Best Critical Thinking Books

Critical thinking is not just a skill-set. It is a way of life that enables you to make the right decisions in every part of life. It also enables you to understand the things, events and the factors involved behind them efficiently. With the help of critical thinking, you can analyse the events and decisions unbiased by any sort of feelings or attachments.

We have gone through these books and compiled a list of critical reviews on these books. If you are looking to start thinking critically and are unsure of where to start. This guide will definitely help you to choose the right book to aid your learning journey.

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Top Books on Critical Thinking: Enhance Decisions & Problem-Solving

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In the context of an era that emphasizes innovation, we are familiar with concepts such as "thinking" and "critical thinking". 

However, thinking is not innate. Sometimes, it requires relevant understanding and training.

Today's "critical thinking" book list focuses on multiple fields such as problems, solutions, decision-making, life, psychology, sociology, communication, and cross-culture. 

The common feature of these books is that when we open them, those inherent and rusty thinking may be hit, thus generating some different ideas.

Critical thinking is a popular concept nowadays. I believe everyone has heard of it.

If you want to improve your thinking skills, the top books on critical thinking can help. These books teach you how to reason better, solve problems, and make smarter decisions. 

They show you how to question ideas, spot biases, and think more clearly. Whether you're a student, working, or just want to get better at thinking, these books offer useful tips and strategies. 

By reading them, you'll learn to handle challenges with confidence and think more deeply about everything in life. Start your journey to better thinking today! 

What is Critical Thinking? 

Some people think that it is to constantly criticize other people's views and question what others say. Isn't this just arguing? This needs to be clarified. 

Critical thinking is to evaluate thinking through certain standards and then improve thinking. 

It is reasonable and reflective thinking. It is both a thinking skill and a thinking tendency. 

Critical thinking is generally established as one of the goals of education, especially higher education.

How do we learn and understand critical thinking? I recommend the following 24 books.

1. Critical Thinking By Brooke Noel Moore

Critical thinking is about making wise decisions and reaching the right conclusions. When we evaluate the reasoning that led to our conclusions, we engage in critical thinking. 

People are not purely rational. They will inevitably be tired, depressed, angry, or driven by their own interests or emotions. At this time, the decisions they make may be wrong. 

To make up for this deficiency, critical thinking is particularly necessary. The results of critical thinking may not always be correct, but it is important to trigger people to think clearly, discern credibility, weigh things objectively, and reasonably evaluate their own reasoning. 

This book can help readers initially master the tools of critical thinking and cultivate the habit of critical thinking.

2. Learn to ask questions

When faced with questions, are you able to organize more solid evidence to support your views? Or do you just think that louder voices are reasonable? 

When someone raises an opposing view, do you think that they are just picking on you and are deliberately making things difficult for you, or even getting annoyed by it?

We should not be hasty or blindly follow others but think carefully about the issues, not be swayed by emotions and unfounded rumors, try our best to understand the analytical reasoning methods of those whose values are contrary to ours and overcome the influence of prejudice on judgment. 

Only in this way can we reach more correct and rational conclusions.

Learning to ask questions means not being easily influenced by other people's opinions. Have your thoughts, positions, arguments, evidence, and conclusions. 

Whether at work or in life, asking more questions is beneficial to improving your critical thinking.

3. Pyramid Principle by Barbara Minto

The "Pyramid Principle" was invented by Barbara Minto in 1973. It introduces an effective method to clearly present ideas. 

The Pyramid Principle helps people organize and express their thoughts in written form. It can be applied to the process of identifying and analyzing problems. 

From a macro perspective, the Pyramid Principle can guide the entire process of writing, thinking, and analyzing problems.

4. Critical Thinking by Richard Paul and Linda Elder

If we embark on the challenge of becoming a critical thinker, we face a set of questions that have so far no answers. 

This book is based on the details of these questions. This problem-centered narrative process provides the impetus for reshaping one's worldview. 

Through this book, we will use some basic methods to identify which of our intellectual work needs to change our thinking; 

We will need to regularly re-examine our ignorance; we will need to regularly practice to train our thinking; we will understand the long-term nature of wisdom development, social change, and personal growth and transformation. 

The imperfections of our thinking system can be used to improve and enhance ourselves through a complete and scientific thinking model framework.

5. Simple Logic

"Simple Logic" is, of course, an entry-level book just by looking at the title. This book tells readers a profound logic in a language that is close to life, easy to understand, and interesting. Although it is not a formal textbook, it is a good practical guide.

The first half of the book focuses on some concepts, basic principles, and language of logic, while the second half focuses on non- logical thinking , such as the roots of non-logical thinking and the main forms of non-logical thinking. Each section is relatively independent, and you can choose the part you need to read when you read it.

6. Out of Control and Loving It by Lisa Bevere

In the Internet age where truth and lies are intertwined, knowledge and ideas are confused, and emotional venting obscures factual analysis, how can we avoid losing control of our cognition of the truth?

The book "Out of Control and Loving It" gives us some perspectives to think about. Especially as an advertiser, how do we deal with the massive amount of information? How do we view each crisis public relations event? I believe this book can give us some help.

7.  Psychology: A Framework for Everyday Thinking by Scott O. Lilienfeld, Steven Jay Lynn

"Lose 20 pounds in a month without dieting or exercising."

"You can teach a 3-month-old baby to talk, a surprising study finds."

"Studies show that our products can improve your self-esteem by 50%."

Do you believe the above statements? Are the things that seem to be taken for granted in life necessarily correct and scientific? Are your eyes often blinded by the illusions in life?

Starting from the psychology of daily life, "Psychology Changes Thinking" proposes six key principles of scientific thinking throughout the book. 

For many psychological phenomena and viewpoints, "Clarifying the Facts" presents interesting and surprising facts, and "Identifying Illusions" proposes false, unfounded, but generally accepted viewpoints. 

By analyzing fallacies, drawing scientific conclusions, and proposing highly operational methods, it helps readers establish scientific thinking that can separate the true from the false, and apply it to all aspects of daily life.

8. Cross-cultural psychology——Critical Thinking and Contemporary Applications (4th Edition) by Eric B. Shearley and David A. Levy

The author reviews the theories and research of cross-cultural psychology within the framework of critical thinking. 

This book introduces the research field of cross-cultural psychology, discusses the basic research methods, and explores issues such as perception, consciousness, intelligence, human development, emotions, motivation, social cognition and interaction, and psychological disorders from a cross-cultural perspective. 

The book also includes many of the latest research: race, religious identification, the psychological impact of globalization, the soul, cross-cultural communication, evolutionary anthropology, cultural archetypes, psychotherapy and counseling, social cognitive errors, intelligence, collectivism, cultural adjustment, suicide, and the stigma of mental illness.

9. Misunderstanding the Internet by James Curran, Natalie Fenton

The growth of the Internet has been spectacular. Today, there are 2 billion Internet users worldwide, about 30% of the world's population. 

This is undoubtedly a new phenomenon, with great significance for the economic, political, and social life of contemporary countries. 

A large number of popular and academic works on the Internet have advocated that its potential will be fundamentally re-understood, especially in the mid-1990s when many commentators were in awe of the Internet. 

Although the awe and wonder may have passed, the technocentrism behind it - the belief that technology determines outcomes - lingers, and with it comes a misunderstanding of the Internet - a failure to understand it in a socio-economic and political context.

This book briefly discusses the impact of the Internet on society from the perspectives of history, sociology, politics, and economics. 

The book is divided into three parts: the first part talks about the history of the Internet and gives an overview of its social status; the second part focuses on the regulation of the Internet and the Internet economy; the third part examines its political and cultural impact.

10. Right and Wrong Thinking and Their Results by Alan Martin  Crane

This book explores how to think actively and positively; why people have wrong thinking patterns, such as the influence of the subconscious mind; proposes three levels of positive thinking training, namely how to think, how to stop thinking about a specific event, and how to replace the original thought with another thought; and gives several ways to change thinking habits, such as trying to find kindness, looking for the root of the problem from the easy level and the subjective level, etc.

11. Big History: Between Nothing and Everything by David Christian

" Big History: Between Nothingness and Everything " talks about the history of the universe over 13 billion years, and the focus is of course the history of life evolution on Earth over billions of years. The focus of the focus is naturally the history of human civilization.

The reason why I recommend this book is because of its interdisciplinary nature. It spans multiple disciplines such as physics, chemistry, biology, geography, history, sociology, economics, anthropology, etc. It is very comprehensive and can help people establish a systematic and complete worldview.

Bill Gates also donated a large sum of money to this big history education project and established free online open courses. Everyone can take courses on the website www.bighistoryproject.com, and the learning experience is very good.

12. Worldviews: An Introduction to the History and Philosophy of Science by Richard DeWitt

" World View " is an introductory textbook on the history and philosophy of science. I like to call this book a love triangle between history, science, and philosophy.

It tells us about the transformation of the human worldview from Aristotle's teleology to Newton's mechanism and finally discusses the new changes brought to the mechanistic worldview by relativity, quantum mechanics, and evolution.

After reading this book, you will not worship science like a fanatical believer but will be a calm thinker who accurately understands the important position of science in our worldview.

13. Statistics: The Conceptual Approach by Gudmund R. Iversen, Mary Gergen

Statistics is a statistics textbook that is very suitable for liberal arts students or MBAs. Compared with other statistics textbooks, it focuses on a clear understanding of basic concepts and methods and puts the derivation and calculation of mathematical formulas in a secondary position.

I recommend this book mainly for the importance of statistics in critical thinking. If you find a better statistics book on the market, that's great. There are also many open video courses on statistics on the Internet, which are also worth learning.

14. Understanding Beliefs by Nils Nilsson

Understanding Beliefs , written by an expert in the field of artificial intelligence, is a critical thinking training manual written by him from the perspective of computer science. It is concise and worth recommending. 

Even for programmers who already have very rigorous thinking, it is worthwhile to take the time to read this thin little book.

15. How the Mind Works by Steven Pinker

" Mind Detective ", author Steven Pinker is not only a first-class psychologist and linguist in the ivory tower, but also a public intellectual outside the ivory tower. 

Each of his works is worth recommending, and the one I chose here is a book about the working mechanism of the human mind.

To be honest, this book is so thick that I wanted to use an introductory psychology textbook instead. But the narrative and commentary style of this book and the interestingness between the lines made me reluctant to give it up.

After reading this book, you can more or less understand how the mind works. What is amazing is that it is this kind of mind that allows Pinker to write such excellent works, and it is this kind of mind that allows you to understand his works.

16. The Sociological Imagination by C. Wright Mills

The Sociological Imagination . Friends in the sociology community all know how good this book is. It is not an introduction to sociological thought or sociological methods, but rather a merciless rant and heartfelt advocacy by the author Mills.

In Mills' own words, sociological imagination can help us better understand history, understand the times, understand the macro-society, understand the micro-individual daily experiences, understand our own inner state, and understand public issues that deserve everyone's concern.

With sociological imagination, you can reflect on the rules of the social game, and even change them, instead of being played by them unconsciously. So, sociological imagination is something you deserve.

17. The Economic Way of Thinking by Paul Heyne

" Economic Way of Thinking ". Friends in the economics education field all know how good this book is. It is a very good general economics textbook. If you only plan to read one economics book in your life, this is the right choice.

However, once you understand this book, you will probably be attracted by the economic way of thinking and will want to read more economic articles and books. In fact, economics is a popular subject today. I don’t need to emphasize that everyone wants to know some common sense about economics.

But I still want to recommend this book, because the common sense of economics you see from other places may be garbage ideas disguised as economics, while this book is a systematic university textbook, from which you can gain a complete knowledge system rather than fragmentary knowledge.

18. Teaching for Critical Thinking by Stephen D. Brookfield

" Teaching for Critical Thinking ", the author is an old professor who has been engaged in teaching critical thinking for decades. He records his understanding of critical thinking, the difficulties he encountered in teaching, and the valuable experience he has accumulated in this book without reservation.

Its target readers are teachers who are engaged in critical thinking education, but students can also benefit from reading it. 

It can help students understand what kind of teachers are good teachers who teach critical thinking, and also help students understand why critical thinking education is so difficult and how teachers can overcome those difficulties. This book has great inspirational value for my own critical thinking teaching.

19. Metaphors We Live By - by George Lakoff, Mark Johnson

" Metaphors We Live By ". I originally wanted to choose a textbook on cognitive linguistics, but then I thought about it and changed to the original work by Lakoff and Johnson.

To put it simply, this book can make you understand how much influence "metaphor" has on our thinking, and how easy it is to underestimate or even ignore this influence.

Some scholars estimate that at least 70% of the language used in daily communication contains metaphors. A metaphor is a systematic analogy between two conceptual domains and is the thinking framework in which we live.

When we ignore the existence of the stage background, we will be trapped by unreliable subtle metaphors and fall into hidden thinking traps, unable to extricate ourselves.

All we can do is replace worse metaphors with better ones. But how can we do that if we don’t understand metaphors? So this book is worth reading carefully and reflecting on.

20. Intuition Pumps And Other Tools for Thinking by Daniel C. Dennett

" Intuition pumps and other tools for thinking ", literally translated as "Intuition pumps and other thinking tools". The author Daniel Dennett is the contemporary philosopher who has had the greatest influence on me. 

Dennett himself said that when you mix the knowledge of Quine and Ryle and cognitive science together, you get his ideas.

This book can be regarded as a series of his thoughts. The process of reading this book can be compared to the process of downloading and installing the thoughts of philosophers such as Dennett, Quine, Ryle, and many scientists into your mind.

It is hard not to admire Dennett's knowledge, both in breadth and depth. Even if his conclusions are not in line with your intuition, he can still convince you with his powerful logical analysis and narrative skills.

21. The Big Questions: A Short Introduction to Philosophy by Robert C. Solomon, Kathleen M. Higgins

This concise introduction to philosophy is easy to understand and popular without losing professional standards. It is very suitable for non-philosophy readers. It is not a boring philosophical narrative history, nor is it a simple philosophical argument. 

Instead, it explains the philosophical issues through many vivid examples. As the issues gradually unfold, it intersperses the content of the history of philosophy, step by step, and leads readers into the palace of philosophy little by little, allowing them to enjoy the fun of thinking. 

Among the many introductory books on philosophy, if you can only choose one, Solomon's book should be your first choice.

22. Reason in the Balance: An Inquiry Approach to Critical Thinking by Sharon Bailin, Mark Battersby

If you think reading critical thinking books is always too boring, then read this one. Each chapter of this book is based on a dialogue scene with characters and conflicts. 

23. Critical Thinking and Communication: The Use of Reason in Argument by Edward Inch, Kristen Tudor

This book explores the concept, construction, and presentation of argumentation, which helps to understand the core of critical thinking, "argumentation".

24. Argumentation is a Science

"Argumentation is a Science" is an entry-level book. It starts with some basic principles, and then divides the important part of critical thinking - argumentation into example argumentation, analogy argumentation, appeal to authority argumentation, causal argumentation, deductive argumentation, and other parts, and explains them in detail.

The book lists many easy-to-understand examples to help us understand the concepts. At the end of the book, it also lists many common fallacies to help everyone distinguish them. It is very easy to read for beginners.

The above books may seem boring at first reading, but improving thinking requires conscious investment and learning. 

Only by being good at thinking can we make continuous progress, and upgrading thinking can make people better understand the world. You will gain different things after reading them.

Note that this list needs to be completed. It only covers the books I have read carefully or read roughly. Books that I have not read at all are not included in this list. 

The books are not ranked in order of superiority or inferiority but are arranged in the order I took them out of the bookshelf. 

As you can see, the books on critical thinking that I have not bought may be very good, but they are not on this list.

Some of the books I've bought on critical thinking aren't good enough, so they're just on my bookshelf and not on this list. 

Critical Thinking Booklists for:

Here are curated booklists for various categories of critical thinking literature.

Best-Selling

Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman

The Art of Thinking Clearly by Rolf Dobelli

Think Smarter: Critical Thinking to Improve Problem-Solving and Decision-Making Skills by Michael Kallet

The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark by Carl Sagan

Weaponized Lies: How to Think Critically in the Post-Truth Era by Daniel J. Levitin

Good Thinking: Why Flawed Logic Puts Us All at Risk and How Critical Thinking Can Save the World by David Robert Grimes

Factfulness: Ten Reasons We're Wrong About the World—and Why Things Are Better Than You Think by Hans Rosling

The Righteous Mind: Why Good People Are Divided by Politics and Religion by Jonathan Haidt

Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don't Know by Adam Grant

A Rulebook for Arguments by Anthony Weston

For Beginners

Wait, What?: And Life's Other Essential Questions by James E. Ryan

Asking the Right Questions: A Guide to Critical Thinking by M. Neil Browne & Stuart M. Keeley

Predictably Irrational: The Hidden Forces that Shape Our Decisions by Dan Ariely

The 5 Elements of Effective Thinking by Edward B. Burger and Michael Starbird

Critical Thinking: A Beginner's Guide by Jennifer Wilson

The Critical Thinking Toolkit by Dr. Randy K. Smith

For University Students

Thinking Critically in College: The Essential Handbook for Student Success by Louis E. Newman

The Elements of Reasoning by Ronald Munson and Andrew Black

Critical Thinking: Tools for Taking Charge of Your Professional and Personal Life by Richard Paul and Linda Elder

How to Read a Book: The Classic Guide to Intelligent Reading by Mortimer J. Adler and Charles Van Doren

The Miniature Guide to Critical Thinking Concepts and Tools by Richard Paul and Linda Elder

Clear Thinking: Turning Ordinary Moments into Extraordinary Results by Shane Parrish

For Students

Think Like a Detective: A Kid's Guide to Critical Thinking by David Pakman

The Fallacy Detective: 38 Lessons on How to Recognize Bad Reasoning by Nathaniel Bluedorn and Hans Bluedorn

The Critical Thinking Toolkit for Kids by Dr. Randy K. Smith

A Kid's Guide to Critical Thinking by David A. Adler

The Art of Thinking Clearly for Kids by Rolf Dobelli

The Cartoon Introduction to Philosophy by Grady Klein and Sarah Hutt

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens by Sean Covey

What If?: Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions by Randall Munroe

The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart

The Book of Why: The New Science of Cause and Effect by Judea Pearl and Dana Mackenzie

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7 Best Critical Thinking Books Of All Time (Updated 2024).

Check out the Best Critical Thinking Books - Picked based on recommendations from experts and fan around the world.

7 Best Books On Critical Thinking

Thinking, Fast and Slow

Daniel Kahneman

Predictably Irrational

The Demon-Haunted World

The Art of Thinking Clearly

Rolf Dobelli

Factfulness

Hans Rosling

How to Think About Weird Things

Theodore Schick

Asking the Right Questions

M. Neil Browne

Author: Daniel Kahneman

Featured in 4 articles

• The 5 Best Books On Critical Thinking | Game-Changer
• The 5 Best Books on Critical Thinking for Einstein-Esque Performance
• The 17 Best Books on Critical Thinking (to Read in 2023)
• 20 Best Critical Thinking Books of All Time (December 2022) | The Art of Living

Also Recommended by

The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisions

Author: Dan Ariely

Publish Year : 2009

Featured in 3 articles

Science as a Candle in the Dark

Author: Carl Sagan

Publish Year : 1995

Author: Rolf Dobelli

Ten Reasons We're Wrong About the World - and Why Things Are Better Than You Think

Author: Hans Rosling

Publish Year : 2018

Featured in 2 articles

Critical Thinking for a New Age

Author: Theodore Schick

A Guide to Critical Thinking

Author: M. Neil Browne

Q 1 : What are some of the attributes of a good critical thinking book?

A good critical thinking book should provide readers with the ability to think more deeply, weigh evidence, solve problems, and be more creative and logical in their thinking. It should also provide clear explanations of certain concepts, help readers recognize and assess assumptions, and challenge readers to question their own ideas and beliefs.

Q 2 : What types of topics are covered in critical thinking books?

Critical thinking books can cover a wide range of topics, such as logic, decision-making, problem solving, communication, creativity, critical analysis, and argumentation. They may also cover topics specific to particular disciplines and areas of study such as law, business, medicine, and engineering.

Q 3 : How do I ensure I'm selecting the best critical thinking book for my needs?

It is important to read reviews of various books in order to get an idea of which ones are the most helpful. You should also take into account the author's credentials and level of experience and expertise. Additionally, make sure the book covers the topics that are most relevant to your interests or areas of study.

Q 4 : How have books on critical thinking changed over the years?

Over the years, books on critical thinking have evolved to become more interactive and application-based, incorporating real-world examples and exercises to enhance analytical skills. Earlier books primarily focused on theory. A notable recent book in this genre is 'Thinking, Fast and Slow' by Daniel Kahneman, which simplifies complex concepts into digestible insights, making the learning curve easier and engaging for readers.

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The 4 Pillars of Critical Thinking: 103 Techniques & Hacks to Improve Your Work and Personal Life by Mastering Mental Skills. Analyze Situations Better and Reason Well by Detecting Logical Fallacies Paperback – December 9, 2023

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Then you’re in the right place! “ The 4 Pillars of Critical Thinking: ” will equip you with the mental skills needed to navigate complex situations and make sound choices.

Here’s what you’ll gain from this book:

• Enhanced Clarity and Informed Decision-Making : Gain the ability to make well-informed decisions and understand complex information with ease. By developing clear thinking and honing your logical reasoning skills, you'll navigate through the maze of options and arrive at sound conclusions that align with your goals and values.
• Effective Problem-Solving Strategies : Say goodbye to feeling stuck when faced with challenges. With improved analytical skills, you'll tackle problems head-on, uncover innovative solutions, and overcome obstacles with confidence.
• Overcoming Bias and Misinformation : In today's information-saturated world, biases and misinformation abound. By mastering critical thinking, you'll develop the ability to recognize and overcome these obstacles. You'll learn to discern reliable sources, challenge assumptions, and distinguish between fact and fiction. Armed with this skill, you'll make more accurate, objective, and informed conclusions.
• Strengthened Analytical Skills : Experience a significant boost in your ability to analyze and evaluate arguments, claims, and evidence critically. The book provides you with a comprehensive toolkit of 103 techniques and hacks that will sharpen your analytical prowess. From dissecting complex ideas to uncovering hidden fallacies, you'll become a master of logical reasoning and strategic thinking.
• Effective Communication and Persuasion : You'll be able to express your thoughts and ideas more clearly, leading to better understanding and improved interpersonal relationships. You'll become a more persuasive communicator, capable of influencing others through well-reasoned arguments and evidence.
• Empowerment and Self-Confidence : As you progress on your journey of critical thinking, you'll experience a profound sense of empowerment and self-confidence. Armed with the knowledge and skills to analyze situations and reason effectively, you'll approach challenges with a newfound assurance. You'll make choices based on sound judgment, navigate complexities with ease, and embrace opportunities for personal and professional growth.

And so much more!

Imagine the confidence and clarity you'll have when analyzing complex topics, weighing ethical questions, and making sound decisions. Embrace a world where you can extract meaning, joy, and fulfillment from everyday situations, appreciating the beauty in the details.

Begin developing your cognitive abilities, expanding your appreciation for learning, and gaining a greater understanding of the world. Start thinking critically and seize the opportunity to make a profound impact on your work and personal life.

Grab your copy of “ The 4 Pillars of Critical Thinking ” today!

• Print length 151 pages
• Language English
• Publication date December 9, 2023
• Dimensions 6 x 0.35 x 9 inches
• ISBN-10 1961398133
• ISBN-13 978-1961398139
• See all details

From the Publisher

Ready to achieve meaningful results? This Powerful Guide Enhances Your Reasoning, Decision-Making, and Problem-Solving Skills!

Enhance Your Skills with Critical Thinking

• Develop sharper problem-solving abilities and make well-informed decisions
• Strengthen logical reasoning and improve effective communication
• Foster creativity, ethical thinking, and lifelong learning

Ideal for professionals, students, educators, and anyone seeking personal development.

Product details

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Mind Mentor (December 9, 2023)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 151 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1961398133
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1961398139
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 7.8 ounces
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.35 x 9 inches
• #1 in Labor & Employment Law (Books)
• #1 in Labor Law
• #1 in Analytic Philosophy

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Patrik ian meyer.

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Customers find the book offers 103 techniques to think more critically, communicate more effectively, and sharpen analytical skills. They describe the writing quality as concise and articulate. Readers describe the book as worthwhile, commendable, and enlightening. They appreciate the content depth, saying it offers valuable insights and practical tools to help.

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Customers find the book's insights useful. They say it provides a theoretical framework that serves as a solid foundation for staying mentally sharp and tightening up logical mindsets. Readers also mention the book helps them learn to solve problems creatively, communicate persuasively, and confidently. They also mention it's packed with practical techniques to help them spot flaws in arguments and solve problems.

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Customers find the writing quality of the book concise and informed. They say it helps them think more clearly and make better choices. Readers also appreciate the book's ability to communicate persuasively and infuse objectivity into their decision-making.

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Customers find the book worthwhile, commendable, and enlightening. They also say it's an exceptional guide that explains very clearly. Readers mention the exercises make the learning process enjoyable and impactful.

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Customers find the content depth of the book in-depth and practical. They say it offers valuable insights and practical tools to help them scrutinize information, analyze facts, and interpret data. Readers also appreciate the book's breadth of content, encompassing decision-making, problem-solving, and exploring four pillars that serve as a guide to developing better reasoning. They mention the sections on detecting logical fallacies and overcoming bias are particularly enlightening.

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Critical Thinking

45 Top Books for Enhancing Critical Thinking Skills

Critical thinking is a crucial skill that enables individuals to analyze information, make informed decisions, and solve complex problems effectively. Understanding how to think critically is essential in today's fast-paced and information-saturated world. Explore our curated list of top critical thinking books to gain valuable insights, strategies, and techniques for developing your analytical skills. Enhance your expertise in logical reasoning, decision-making, and problem-solving by diving into the diverse perspectives offered in these books.

by Peter Hollins

What is Polymath about?

"Polymath" by Peter Hollins is a comprehensive guide that empowers readers to become extraordinary self-learners. Through practical strategies and insightful advice, the book explores the art of mastering multiple disciplines, acquiring new skills, and developing flexible thinking. Hollins provides a roadmap for becoming an autodidact, offering valuable tools and techniques to enhance learning, expand knowledge, and unlock one's full potential in any field.

Who should read Polymath

Students seeking to excel academically and develop a versatile skillset.

Professionals looking to enhance their career prospects and adapt to changing industries.

Individuals interested in personal growth and expanding their intellectual horizons.

Never Split the Difference

by Chris Voss, Tahl Raz

What is Never Split the Difference about?

In this gripping and insightful book, a former FBI hostage negotiator shares his expertise on negotiation strategies that can be applied to everyday life. Drawing from his intense experiences, the author reveals powerful techniques to effectively communicate, build trust, and influence others. Packed with real-life examples and practical advice, this book is a must-read for anyone looking to master the art of negotiation and achieve better outcomes in both personal and professional situations.

Who should read Never Split the Difference

Business professionals seeking to enhance their negotiation skills.

Law enforcement personnel looking to improve their crisis negotiation tactics.

Individuals interested in mastering effective communication and persuasion techniques.

by Randall Munroe

What is How To about?

In this witty and informative book, the author, known for his popular webcomic, offers hilariously unconventional solutions to everyday problems using absurd scientific advice. From how to throw a pool party on the moon to how to build a lava moat around your house, Munroe's unique blend of humor and scientific knowledge will entertain and educate readers, proving that sometimes the most outlandish ideas can lead to surprisingly practical solutions.

Who should read How To

Science enthusiasts seeking unconventional solutions to everyday challenges.

Problem solvers looking for humorous and out-of-the-box scientific advice.

Fans of Randall Munroe's witty and informative writing style.

Doesn’t Hurt to Ask

by Trey Gowdy

What is Doesn’t Hurt to Ask about?

In this insightful book, the author explores the art of effective communication through the power of asking questions. Drawing from his experience as a former prosecutor and congressman, Gowdy shares practical strategies and real-life examples to demonstrate how asking the right questions can foster meaningful connections, influence others, and navigate complex situations. Whether in personal relationships or professional settings, this book offers valuable insights on the transformative impact of asking the right questions.

Who should read Doesn’t Hurt to Ask

Professionals seeking to enhance their communication and persuasion skills.

Individuals interested in improving their ability to connect with others.

Anyone looking to master the art of asking effective questions.

What If? Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions

What is what if serious scientific answers to absurd hypothetical questions about.

In this thought-provoking and entertaining book, the author, known for his webcomic, xkcd, tackles absurd hypothetical questions with serious scientific answers. From exploring the consequences of throwing a baseball at near-light speed to pondering the effects of a robot uprising, Munroe's witty and informative explanations delve into the realms of physics, biology, and engineering. With a blend of humor and scientific rigor, this book offers fascinating insights into the bizarre and imaginative world of hypothetical scenarios.

Who should read What If? Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions

Science enthusiasts seeking entertaining and thought-provoking hypothetical scenarios.

Curious minds eager to explore the intersection of science and imagination.

Fans of Randall Munroe's witty and informative webcomic

Don’t Burn This Book

by Dave Rubin

What is Don’t Burn This Book about?

In this thought-provoking book, the author challenges readers to embrace critical thinking and individuality in a world plagued by irrationality. With wit and insight, he explores the dangers of groupthink, cancel culture, and political correctness, urging readers to question prevailing narratives and form their own opinions. Through personal anecdotes and compelling arguments, "Don't Burn This Book" serves as a rallying cry for intellectual independence and the preservation of free speech in an increasingly polarized society.

Who should read Don’t Burn This Book

Individuals seeking to challenge prevailing narratives and think critically.

Those interested in understanding the dangers of groupthink and echo chambers.

Readers looking for practical advice on navigating ideological polarization.

Six Thinking Hats

by Edward de Bono

What is Six Thinking Hats about?

In this insightful book, the author introduces a powerful thinking tool called the "Six Thinking Hats." Edward de Bono explores how this method can enhance decision-making and problem-solving by encouraging individuals to approach situations from different perspectives. Each "hat" represents a different thinking style, allowing readers to effectively analyze, generate ideas, evaluate, and make informed choices. With practical examples and exercises, this book offers a valuable framework for improving critical thinking skills and fostering collaboration in various aspects of life.

Who should read Six Thinking Hats

Business professionals seeking to improve decision-making and problem-solving skills.

Educators looking to enhance critical thinking and creativity in the classroom.

Individuals interested in personal development and effective communication strategies.

Thinking, Fast and Slow

by Daniel Kahneman

What is Thinking, Fast and Slow about?

In this thought-provoking book, the author explores the two systems that drive our thinking: the fast, intuitive system and the slow, deliberate system. Drawing on decades of research, he reveals the biases and errors that often cloud our judgment, and offers insights into how we can make better decisions. With engaging anecdotes and compelling examples, this book challenges our understanding of decision-making and provides valuable tools for improving our thinking processes.

Who should read Thinking, Fast and Slow

Individuals interested in understanding the complexities of human decision-making.

Psychologists and behavioral economists seeking insights into cognitive processes.

Business professionals looking to improve their decision-making skills.

Factfulness

by Hans Rosling, Anna Rosling Rönnlund, Ola Rosling

What is Factfulness about?

"Factfulness" challenges common misconceptions about the state of the world by presenting ten reasons why our understanding is often flawed. Drawing on extensive data and personal experiences, the authors argue that despite prevailing negativity, global progress has been significant. They provide a refreshing perspective on topics such as poverty, education, and health, urging readers to adopt a fact-based worldview and embrace a more optimistic outlook on the future.

Who should read Factfulness

Students and educators seeking a fresh perspective on global issues.

Individuals interested in challenging their preconceived notions about the world.

Policy makers and leaders looking for evidence-based insights on progress.

Think Again

by Adam Grant

What is Think Again about?

In this thought-provoking book, the author challenges readers to reevaluate their beliefs and embrace the power of intellectual humility. Through captivating stories and compelling research, the book explores the importance of questioning our assumptions, being open to new ideas, and constantly reevaluating our knowledge. With practical advice and insightful anecdotes, "Think Again" encourages readers to embrace a mindset of continuous learning and adaptability, ultimately unlocking their full potential.

Who should read Think Again

Professionals seeking to enhance their critical thinking skills.

Students and educators looking to challenge their existing beliefs.

Individuals interested in personal growth and self-improvement.

by David Epstein

What is Range about?

In this thought-provoking book, the author challenges the prevailing notion that specialization is the key to success. Drawing on a wide range of examples from sports, science, and the arts, Epstein argues that individuals with diverse experiences and a broad skill set, known as generalists, often outperform specialists in today's complex world. With compelling evidence and engaging storytelling, he explores the benefits of embracing a more flexible and exploratory approach to life and work.

Who should read Range

Professionals seeking to excel in a rapidly changing job market.

Students and educators looking to navigate career choices effectively.

Individuals interested in understanding the benefits of a broad skillset.

How to Read a Book

by Mortimer J. Adler, Charles Van Doren

What is How to Read a Book about?

This book is a comprehensive guide that teaches readers how to effectively read and understand various types of literature. It provides valuable insights and techniques to enhance reading skills, such as active reading, interpretation, and critical analysis. With practical advice and examples, the authors aim to empower readers to become more thoughtful and engaged readers, enabling them to extract deeper meaning and knowledge from any book they encounter.

Who should read How to Read a Book

Students of all ages seeking to improve their reading skills.

Educators and teachers looking for effective reading strategies to teach.

Individuals interested in deepening their understanding of complex texts.

A Mind for Numbers

by Barbara Oakley, Ph.D.

What is A Mind for Numbers about?

In this insightful guide, a renowned expert in learning strategies shares her secrets to mastering math and science. Barbara Oakley, Ph.D., reveals effective techniques to overcome common obstacles and develop a "mind for numbers." With practical tips, real-life examples, and engaging exercises, this book equips readers with the tools to excel in these subjects, regardless of their previous experiences or perceived abilities.

Who should read A Mind for Numbers

Students struggling with math and science concepts.

Professionals seeking to enhance their analytical thinking skills.

Educators looking for effective teaching strategies in math and science.

Good Strategy/Bad Strategy

by Richard Rumelt

What is Good Strategy/Bad Strategy about?

In this insightful book, the author delves into the world of strategy, dissecting the difference between good and bad strategies and emphasizing their impact. Richard Rumelt explores the common pitfalls of bad strategies and offers practical advice on how to develop effective ones. With real-world examples and engaging analysis, this book serves as a guide for individuals and organizations seeking to understand the importance of strategy and its role in achieving success.

Who should read Good Strategy/Bad Strategy

Business executives seeking to develop effective strategic thinking skills.

Students studying business management and strategy.

Entrepreneurs looking to enhance their strategic decision-making abilities.

Rebel Ideas

by Matthew Syed

What is Rebel Ideas about?

In this thought-provoking book, the author explores the immense power of diverse thinking and its impact on innovation, decision-making, and problem-solving. Drawing from a wide range of captivating stories and scientific research, he reveals how embracing different perspectives and challenging conventional wisdom can lead to groundbreaking ideas and transformative change. With compelling insights, "Rebel Ideas" encourages readers to harness the collective intelligence of diverse teams and embrace the potential of inclusive thinking in all aspects of life.

Who should read Rebel Ideas

Business leaders seeking innovative strategies through diverse perspectives.

Educators interested in fostering creativity and critical thinking skills.

Individuals looking to challenge their own biases and expand perspectives.

Naked Statistics

by Charles Wheelan

What is Naked Statistics about?

In this engaging and accessible book, the author takes readers on a journey through the world of statistics, demystifying the subject and making it relatable to everyday life. With humor and real-world examples, Wheelan explores the power and pitfalls of data analysis, teaching readers how to interpret and critically evaluate statistics. Whether you're a math enthusiast or someone who fears numbers, this book will equip you with the tools to navigate the world of data with confidence.

Who should read Naked Statistics

Students and professionals seeking a comprehensive introduction to statistics.

Individuals looking to understand the practical applications of statistical concepts.

Anyone interested in demystifying data analysis and making informed decisions.

by Dan Heath

What is Upstream about?

In "Upstream," the author explores the power of prevention and proactive problem-solving. Drawing from various real-life examples, Dan Heath emphasizes the importance of addressing issues at their root causes rather than simply reacting to their consequences. With insightful anecdotes and practical strategies, he encourages readers to shift their mindset and take action to prevent problems before they arise, ultimately leading to more effective and sustainable solutions.

Who should read Upstream

Individuals seeking proactive strategies to prevent problems in their lives.

Business leaders aiming to anticipate and address potential challenges.

Policy makers interested in implementing preventive measures for societal issues.

by Scott Adams

What is Loserthink about?

In this thought-provoking book, the author explores the concept of "loserthink" and its impact on American society. Scott Adams delves into the ways in which untrained minds contribute to the downfall of critical thinking and rational decision-making. With a blend of humor and insightful analysis, he challenges readers to recognize and overcome the pitfalls of cognitive biases, offering a fresh perspective on how to navigate the complexities of modern life.

Who should read Loserthink

Individuals interested in understanding the impact of untrained thinking on America's society.

Those seeking insights into the detrimental effects of cognitive biases.

Readers looking for strategies to overcome unproductive thinking patterns.

Calling Bullshit

by Carl T. Bergstrom & Jevin D. West

What is Calling Bullshit about?

"Calling Bullshit: The Art of Skepticism in a Data-Driven World" is a thought-provoking book that equips readers with the tools to navigate the overwhelming amount of misinformation in today's data-driven society. Written by two renowned experts, the book explores the art of skepticism, teaching readers how to critically analyze and debunk misleading claims, false statistics, and deceptive arguments. With practical examples and insightful guidance, this book empowers individuals to become more discerning consumers of information.

Who should read Calling Bullshit

Students and educators seeking to develop critical thinking skills.

Professionals working with data who want to detect misinformation.

General readers interested in understanding and navigating a data-driven world.

How to Think Like Leonardo da Vinci

by Michael J. Gelb

What is How to Think Like Leonardo da Vinci about?

In this insightful guide, the author explores the mind of the legendary artist and inventor, Leonardo da Vinci, revealing seven practical steps to cultivate genius in our daily lives. Drawing from da Vinci's notebooks, Gelb presents exercises and techniques to enhance creativity, sharpen thinking skills, and foster a holistic approach to problem-solving. This book offers a captivating journey into the mind of a genius, inspiring readers to unlock their own potential and think like da Vinci.

Who should read How to Think Like Leonardo da Vinci

Aspiring artists and creatives seeking to unlock their potential.

Professionals looking to enhance their problem-solving and critical thinking skills.

History enthusiasts interested in understanding the mind of Leonardo da Vinci.

The 5 Elements of Effective Thinking

by Edward B. Burger, Michael Starbird

What is The 5 Elements of Effective Thinking about?

"The 5 Elements of Effective Thinking" offers readers a practical guide to enhance their thinking skills and become more effective problem solvers. Written by two renowned educators, this book explores five essential thinking strategies that can be applied to any situation. Through engaging examples and thought-provoking exercises, the authors empower readers to think more creatively, critically, and strategically, ultimately leading to improved decision-making and success in various aspects of life.

Who should read The 5 Elements of Effective Thinking

Students seeking to improve their critical thinking skills.

Professionals looking to enhance their problem-solving abilities.

HBR Guide to Thinking Strategically

by Harvard Business Review

What is HBR Guide to Thinking Strategically about?

The book offers a comprehensive guide to strategic thinking, providing readers with practical tools and frameworks to develop a strategic mindset. It explores various aspects of strategic thinking, including analyzing data, identifying opportunities, making informed decisions, and creating effective strategies. With real-world examples and expert insights, this book equips individuals with the skills needed to think strategically and drive success in today's competitive business landscape.

Who should read HBR Guide to Thinking Strategically

Business professionals seeking to enhance their strategic thinking skills.

Managers and executives looking to develop a strategic mindset.

Students and academics interested in understanding strategic decision-making.

by Malcolm Gladwell

What is Blink about?

In this thought-provoking book, the author explores the fascinating concept of "thin-slicing," the ability to make accurate judgments in the blink of an eye. Through captivating anecdotes and scientific research, Gladwell delves into the power of our unconscious mind, revealing how our snap judgments can often be surprisingly accurate. With practical insights, he challenges conventional wisdom and encourages readers to trust their instincts, offering a fresh perspective on decision-making and the hidden forces that shape our choices.

Who should read Blink

Individuals interested in understanding the subconscious processes behind decision-making.

Psychologists and researchers seeking insights into rapid cognition and intuition.

Professionals in fields such as marketing and law

looking to enhance their decision-making skills.

Freakonomics

by Steven D. Levitt, Stephen J. Dubner

What is Freakonomics about?

In this thought-provoking book, an unconventional economist delves into the unexpected connections between seemingly unrelated phenomena. Levitt and Dubner explore the hidden side of various aspects of life, from crime rates and parenting techniques to the impact of names on success. With their unique blend of economics and storytelling, they challenge conventional wisdom and shed light on the surprising forces that shape our world. Prepare to have your assumptions challenged and your perspective on everyday life transformed.

Who should read Freakonomics

Economics enthusiasts seeking unconventional insights into everyday phenomena.

Curious individuals interested in understanding the hidden forces shaping society.

Anyone looking for a thought-provoking exploration of the unexpected connections in life.

The Art of Thinking Clearly

by Rolf Dobelli

What is The Art of Thinking Clearly about?

"The Art of Thinking Clearly" is a thought-provoking book that explores the common cognitive biases and logical fallacies that often cloud our decision-making process. Written by an acclaimed author, this book offers practical insights and strategies to help readers identify and overcome these mental traps. With a blend of psychology, philosophy, and real-life examples, it provides a valuable guide to improving our critical thinking skills and making better choices in various aspects of life.

Who should read The Art of Thinking Clearly

Individuals seeking to improve their decision-making skills and critical thinking abilities.

Business professionals looking to enhance their problem-solving strategies and avoid cognitive biases.

Anyone interested in understanding common thinking errors and improving their judgment.

Superforecasting

by Philip E. Tetlock Ph.D., Dan Gardner

What is Superforecasting about?

"Superforecasting: The Art and Science of Prediction" explores the fascinating world of forecasting and the individuals who excel at it. Written by Philip E. Tetlock Ph.D. and Dan Gardner, this book delves into the techniques and mindset of superforecasters, individuals who consistently make accurate predictions. Through engaging stories and scientific research, the authors reveal the secrets behind their success, offering valuable insights into improving our own forecasting abilities.

Who should read Superforecasting

Aspiring forecasters seeking to improve their prediction skills.

Researchers interested in the science behind accurate forecasting.

Decision-makers looking to make better informed choices based on predictions.

Ways of Seeing

by John Berger

What is Ways of Seeing about?

"Ways of Seeing" by John Berger is a thought-provoking exploration of how we perceive and interpret visual images in our society. Through a combination of essays and images, Berger challenges traditional notions of art, advertising, and the male gaze, urging readers to question the power dynamics and hidden meanings behind what we see. This book offers a fresh perspective on the ways in which visual culture shapes our understanding of the world around us.

Who should read Ways of Seeing

Art enthusiasts seeking a fresh perspective on visual culture.

Students studying art history or visual communication.

Individuals interested in exploring the social and political aspects of art.

The Death of Expertise

by Tom Nichols, Ph.D.

What is The Death of Expertise about?

In this thought-provoking book, a renowned scholar delves into the alarming rise of anti-intellectualism and the erosion of expertise in modern society. With compelling arguments and extensive research, the author explores the consequences of dismissing established knowledge, highlighting the dangers it poses to democracy, public policy, and even our personal lives. A wake-up call to value and respect expertise, this book urges readers to confront the perils of a society that disregards the wisdom of experts.

Who should read The Death of Expertise

researchers

and scholars seeking to understand the erosion of expertise.

Politicians and policymakers grappling with the challenges of anti-intellectualism.

General readers interested in the consequences of dismissing expert opinions.

Thinkertoys

by Michael Michalko

What is Thinkertoys about?

"Thinkertoys" is a practical guide by Michael Michalko that offers a diverse collection of creative-thinking techniques. This handbook provides readers with a toolbox of strategies to enhance their problem-solving skills and stimulate innovative ideas. Through a combination of exercises, puzzles, and real-life examples, Michalko encourages readers to think outside the box and tap into their creative potential. Whether you're a student, professional, or simply seeking to expand your thinking abilities, this book is a valuable resource for unlocking your imagination.

Who should read Thinkertoys

Aspiring entrepreneurs seeking innovative strategies to boost their business.

Students and educators looking to enhance their problem-solving skills.

Professionals in creative fields aiming to unlock their creative potential.

Questions Are the Answer

by Hal B. Gregersen

What is Questions Are the Answer about?

In this thought-provoking book, the author presents a groundbreaking approach to solving the most challenging problems we face in both our personal and professional lives. Through the power of asking the right questions, Hal B. Gregersen guides readers on a transformative journey, encouraging them to challenge assumptions, explore new perspectives, and unlock innovative solutions. Packed with real-life examples and practical strategies, this book offers a fresh perspective on problem-solving that will inspire readers to think differently and find answers they never thought possible.

Who should read Questions Are the Answer

Professionals seeking innovative problem-solving strategies for their work challenges.

Individuals looking to overcome personal obstacles and find solutions.

Leaders and managers aiming to foster a culture of curiosity and creativity.

The Art of Creative Thinking

by John Adair

What is The Art of Creative Thinking about?

"The Art of Creative Thinking" by John Adair is a practical guide that explores the process of generating innovative ideas. Filled with insightful techniques and real-life examples, this book equips readers with the tools to enhance their creativity and develop great ideas. Adair delves into various aspects of creative thinking, including problem-solving, brainstorming, and fostering a creative environment. Whether you're an individual seeking personal growth or a team leader aiming to inspire innovation, this book offers valuable strategies for unlocking your creative potential.

Who should read The Art of Creative Thinking

Aspiring entrepreneurs seeking to unlock their creative potential.

Professionals in creative industries looking to enhance their innovative skills.

Students and educators interested in fostering creativity and idea generation.

How Not to Be Wrong

by Jordan Ellenberg

What is How Not to Be Wrong about?

In this captivating book, the author explores the fascinating world of mathematics and its practical applications in everyday life. Through engaging anecdotes and thought-provoking examples, he reveals how mathematical thinking can help us make better decisions, solve complex problems, and avoid common pitfalls. With wit and clarity, the author demonstrates the power of mathematical reasoning, showing readers how to think critically and navigate the world with a sharper, more logical perspective.

Who should read How Not to Be Wrong

Students and educators seeking to enhance their mathematical reasoning skills.

Professionals in fields like finance

engineering

or data analysis.

Anyone interested in understanding the practical applications of mathematics.

Think Like a Freak

What is think like a freak about.

"Think Like a Freak" is a thought-provoking book that challenges conventional wisdom and encourages readers to approach problems with a fresh perspective. Written by the authors of Freakonomics, Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner, this book offers practical advice on how to retrain your brain to think creatively, solve complex issues, and make better decisions. With engaging anecdotes and real-life examples, it provides a fascinating exploration of the power of unconventional thinking.

Who should read Think Like a Freak

Individuals seeking unconventional approaches to problem-solving and decision-making.

Business professionals looking to enhance their critical thinking skills.

Fans of the Freakonomics series eager to explore new perspectives.

Thinking in Bets

by Annie Duke

What is Thinking in Bets about?

In this insightful book, Annie Duke, a former professional poker player, explores the art of decision-making in uncertain situations. Drawing from her experiences in high-stakes poker games, Duke reveals how to think in bets and make smarter choices when faced with limited information. With practical strategies and engaging anecdotes, she teaches readers to embrace uncertainty, evaluate probabilities, and avoid common cognitive biases. This book is a valuable guide for anyone seeking to improve their decision-making skills and navigate life's unpredictable challenges.

Who should read Thinking in Bets

Individuals seeking to improve their decision-making skills in uncertain situations.

Business professionals looking to enhance their strategic thinking abilities.

Anyone interested in understanding the psychology behind decision-making processes.

What is Win Bigly about?

In this thought-provoking book, the author explores the power of persuasion in a world driven by emotions rather than facts. Drawing from his experience as a renowned cartoonist and creator of Dilbert, Scott Adams delves into the strategies used by influential figures to shape public opinion and win big. With a blend of humor and insight, he offers a unique perspective on the art of persuasion and its impact on our daily lives.

Who should read Win Bigly

Individuals interested in understanding the power of persuasion in today's world.

Business professionals seeking to enhance their communication and negotiation skills.

Political enthusiasts looking to gain insights into the art of persuasion in politics.

The Organized Mind

by Daniel J. Levitin

What is The Organized Mind about?

In this insightful book, the author explores the challenges of living in a world filled with overwhelming amounts of information. Levitin delves into the science behind how our brains process and organize information, offering practical strategies to help readers regain control of their minds. From managing digital clutter to improving decision-making skills, "The Organized Mind" provides valuable insights and techniques to navigate the age of information overload and think more clearly.

Who should read The Organized Mind

Professionals seeking strategies to manage information overload and improve productivity.

Students looking to enhance their study skills and focus.

Individuals interested in understanding the impact of technology on cognition.

Willful Blindness

by Margaret Heffernan

What is Willful Blindness about?

In this thought-provoking book, the author explores the concept of willful blindness and its consequences. Through a combination of real-life examples and psychological research, she delves into why individuals and organizations often choose to ignore the obvious, even when it poses significant risks. With compelling insights, Heffernan challenges readers to confront their own blind spots and offers strategies to overcome them, ultimately emphasizing the importance of embracing uncomfortable truths for personal and collective growth.

Who should read Willful Blindness

Business leaders seeking to understand the dangers of ignoring critical information.

Individuals interested in exploring the psychological factors behind willful ignorance.

Anyone looking to enhance their decision-making skills and avoid blind spots.

The Intelligence Trap — Why Smart People Do Stupid Things and How to Make Wiser Decisions

by David Robson

What is The Intelligence Trap — Why Smart People Do Stupid Things and How to Make Wiser Decisions about?

In this thought-provoking book, the author explores the fascinating concept of intelligence and its limitations. Through engaging anecdotes and scientific research, he reveals how even the smartest individuals can fall into cognitive traps, leading to poor decision-making. Offering practical strategies and insights, the book empowers readers to overcome their own biases, enhance their critical thinking skills, and make wiser choices in various aspects of life.

Who should read The Intelligence Trap — Why Smart People Do Stupid Things and How to Make Wiser Decisions

Individuals seeking to understand the cognitive biases that hinder decision-making.

Professionals looking to enhance their critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

Anyone interested in exploring the intersection of intelligence and decision-making.

Lateral Thinking

by Edward de Bono, Dr.

What is Lateral Thinking about?

In this insightful guide, the author explores the concept of lateral thinking and provides practical techniques to enhance creativity. Edward de Bono encourages readers to break free from traditional thought patterns and embrace a more innovative approach to problem-solving. With step-by-step instructions and engaging examples, this book offers valuable tools to unlock one's creative potential and think outside the box. A must-read for those seeking to cultivate their creativity and find fresh solutions to challenges.

Who should read Lateral Thinking

Aspiring artists and designers seeking to enhance their creative process.

Business professionals looking to develop innovative problem-solving skills.

Educators and trainers interested in fostering critical thinking abilities.

Why We Make Mistakes

by Joseph T. Hallinan

What is Why We Make Mistakes about?

In this thought-provoking book, Joseph T. Hallinan explores the fascinating world of human error and the reasons behind our frequent mistakes. Through captivating anecdotes and scientific research, he delves into the cognitive biases, illusions, and overconfidence that lead us to overlook details, forget important information, and believe we are better than we actually are. With a blend of humor and insight, Hallinan sheds light on the universal nature of human fallibility and offers valuable lessons for improving decision-making and avoiding errors in our daily lives.

Who should read Why We Make Mistakes

Individuals interested in understanding the psychology behind human errors.

Professionals seeking insights into cognitive biases and decision-making flaws.

Anyone curious about the illusions of competence and memory lapses.

Too Big to Know

by David Weinberger

What is Too Big to Know about?

In this thought-provoking book, David Weinberger challenges traditional notions of knowledge in the digital age. He explores how the internet has transformed the way we acquire and share information, blurring the lines between facts and opinions. With experts and vast amounts of data readily available, he argues that knowledge is no longer confined to individuals but emerges from the collective intelligence of online communities. A must-read for anyone seeking to understand the evolving nature of knowledge in our interconnected world.

Who should read Too Big to Know

Students and academics seeking a fresh perspective on knowledge.

Professionals in the information age grappling with the changing landscape.

Individuals interested in the impact of technology on knowledge.

Seeing What Others Don’t

by Dr. Gary Klein

What is Seeing What Others Don’t about?

In "Seeing What Others Don't," Dr. Gary Klein explores the fascinating world of insights and how they are formed. Through captivating stories and research, he delves into the minds of experts from various fields to uncover the hidden processes behind their remarkable ability to gain insights. This thought-provoking book offers valuable insights into how we can enhance our own ability to see what others often miss, ultimately leading to more innovative and creative thinking.

Who should read Seeing What Others Don’t

Business professionals seeking to enhance their problem-solving skills.

Researchers and psychologists interested in the science of insight.

Individuals looking to unlock their creative potential and gain new perspectives.

Effective Decision-Making

by Edoardo Binda Zane

What is Effective Decision-Making about?

In this insightful guide, the author explores the art of effective decision-making in challenging situations. With a focus on navigating uncertainty and pressure, the book offers practical strategies and techniques to enhance decision-making skills. Drawing from real-life examples and research, readers will gain valuable insights into analyzing risks, managing emotions, and optimizing outcomes. Whether in personal or professional life, this book equips individuals with the tools to make better decisions and thrive in uncertain environments.

Who should read Effective Decision-Making

Professionals seeking to improve their decision-making skills in high-pressure environments.

Students studying decision-making processes and strategies in uncertain situations.

Individuals looking to enhance their ability to make informed choices.

A Spy’s Guide to Thinking

by John Braddock

What is A Spy’s Guide to Thinking about?

In this insightful guide, the author, a former intelligence officer, shares his expertise on critical thinking and decision-making. Drawing from his experiences in the field, he reveals practical strategies and techniques used by spies to analyze information, assess risks, and make sound judgments. With a focus on enhancing mental agility and avoiding cognitive biases, this book equips readers with the tools to navigate complex situations and think like a spy in their everyday lives.

Who should read A Spy’s Guide to Thinking

Aspiring spies seeking to enhance their critical thinking skills.

Professionals in intelligence and espionage looking to sharpen their mental acuity.

Anyone interested in learning strategic thinking from a spy's perspective.

by Daniel Kahneman, Ph.D., Olivier Sibony, PhD, Cass R. Sunstein

What is Noise about?

In this thought-provoking book, three renowned authors delve into the fascinating world of human judgment and decision-making. Exploring the concept of noise, they reveal how seemingly identical decisions can vary widely due to random factors, biases, and inconsistencies. Drawing on extensive research and real-life examples, the authors challenge our assumptions about rationality and offer practical insights to reduce noise and improve decision-making in various fields, from medicine to law. A compelling read that sheds light on the flaws in our judgment and the potential for improvement.

Who should read Noise

Individuals interested in understanding the impact of noise on decision-making.

Psychologists and researchers studying cognitive biases and judgment errors.

Professionals seeking to improve their decision-making processes and outcomes.

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10 best books on critical thinking and problem solving.

Now that you know the importance of solving problems and thinking critically, it’s time to delve into the best books on critical thinking and problem solving. These books will give you a deeper understanding of both concepts and how to use them in all aspects of your life.

What Makes a Critical Thinking Book the “Best”?

The term “best” is so broad that it could mean different things in various situations. The best book on a certain subject is one that is highly relevant to the topic, expansive and comprehensive in its details, and popular with its readers.

All the books on this list share the above-mentioned qualities. They have four to five-star ratings and positive comments on review sites and forums like Quora and Reddit. Additionally, they offer vast discussions and instructions about how to implement the recommended practices.

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10 of the Best Books on Critical Thinking and Problem Solving

These are 10 of the best books to develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills. You can start your journey with any one of them and become a master at the evaluative and problem-resolution processes.

Two of the title names have been shortened. You can click on the links to see the full titles of all referenced books.

1. “Critical Thinking Skills For Dummies” by John Cohen

The “dummies” books are popular with people worldwide because of their humorous way of breaking down complex topics and putting them into laymen’s terms.  This particular book  has a 4.5-star rating from more than 500 readers.

The book pledges to teach readers how to:

• Assess their thinking skills
• Separate facts from opinions
• Understand a writer’s position
• Read between the lines
• Use the information they collect to create solid arguments

The writer takes a solid philosophical stance in his teachings and is said to mention his unbelief in spiritual matters and deity in the text. Thus, his work might be an excellent option for readers with a solid philosophical or psychology-based stance.

2. “Master Your Mind: Critical-Thinking Exercises and Activities to Boost Brain Power and Think Smarter” by Marcel Denesi PhD

This book  is suitable for people who already have a background in psychology or philosophy but need a firmer grasp on deductive reasoning, critical thinking, problem-solving, and the like. It uses puzzles, case studies, and real-world scenarios to train readers to think more critically before drawing conclusions.

The reading material has an overall rating of 4.4 out of five stars from 47 readers. Most reviewers said that the book gave them a brain boost and helped them become better thinkers. You can consider it one of the best books on critical thinking and problem solving for intermediate thinkers who want to advance their skills.

3. “Critical Thinking: This book includes: Beginner’s guide and Critical Thinking Skills” by Carl Patterson

This set  includes two books that can help readers become better critical thinkers and problem solvers. One book teaches the readers to draw conclusions using logical reasoning. The second book helps people who read the first book to use deep analysis and think of effective solutions to various challenges and problems.

The book only has a one-star rating thus far, but it’s a perfect five-star rating. It might be worth taking a chance on it, as it could be one of the best critical thinking books of all time.

4. “Critical Thinking: The Basics” by Stuart Hanscomb

The  above-mentioned book  is perhaps one of the best critical thinking books for beginners. It teaches readers about psychology, emotions, and persuasion and how those elements affect the choices they make. It also goes into argument evaluation once it covers the basics of critical thinking.

Users rated this book 4.7 out of five stars. Positive reviewers claimed that it gave them tools they could use in their personal and work lives.

5. “Critical Thinking & Dark Psychology Secrets 101” by Pamela Hughes

The book , as mentioned above, is a unique piece that takes readers onto the dark roads of psychological manipulation and social influence so that they can understand how to make more informed decisions. Sometimes, it’s necessary to learn how things work from the other side to gain an advantage over your thought processes. Therefore, the book teaches concepts such as:

• Myth and truth recognition
• How to read other people
• The best methods to avoid being manipulated
• Tips for creative problem-solving

This book does not have many comments, but it has a five-star rating. It may be an excellent read for someone who doesn’t mind taking the risk.

6. “Bulletproof Problem Solving: The One Skill That Changes Everything” by Charles Conn

This book  is a straightforward guide to performing complex strategic problem-solving in the 21st century. It provides real-world business-related issues to help readers learn to tackle them effectively, and it’s one of the best sources for successfully navigating the modern workplace.

7. “The Art of Problem Solving 101:Improve Your Critical Thinking and Decision Making Skills and Learn How to Solve Problems” by Michael Sloan

Michael Sloan’s book  teaches people that they are natural problem solvers who need to learn how to fine-tune their skills and bring the best out of them themselves. It not only uses a comprehensive method to teach people to problem-solve, but it instructs individuals who have difficulty facing adversity. It’s a perfect match for people who want to learn how to survive, endure hardships, and come out on top.

Readers rated the book 4.3 out of five stars. The most common positive comments about the book were that it is concise, informational, and extremely helpful. The author has many other books on the shelf with related topics.

8. “Think Out of The Box (Power-Up Your Brain)” by Som Bathla

This  hardcover book  is a heavy hitter when it comes to problem-solving and decision-making. Its readers rated it 4.3 stars out of five stars and deemed it an excellent book worth the time.

By the time a new reader finishes this book, he or she is expected to know how to think faster, smarter, and more creatively. Furthermore, the reader will develop the skills to boost creativity and activate left-brain thinking. It’s a solid option for beginners as well as intermediate thinkers.

9. “Critical Thinking and Analytical Mind: The Art of Making Decisions and Solving Problems. Think Clearly, Avoid Cognitive Biases and Fallacies in Systems. Improve Listening Skills. Be a Logical Thinker” by Marcus P. Dawson

This  develop m ental guide  explores analytical thinking and critical thinking from a self-improvement angle. It seeks to teach its readers how to:

• Improve critical thinking skills
• Identify and resolve hindrances and self-sabotaging obstacles
• Get involved in daily essential exercises for thinking
• Apply crucial thinking to employment decisions
• Help instill critical thinking principles in children

The book has 300 pages full of readworthy knowledge for you to explore. It’s a great pick if you have the time to dedicate yourself to your studies. Satisfied readers rated it four stars out of five, and the positive reviewers adored it because of its informative approach and usefulness.

10. “Think Smarter” by Micheal Kallet

The author describes  this book  as a comprehensive guide to training your brain to do much more for you. It has 25 useful tools readers can use to increase their critical thinking skills and activities.

Furthermore, the book offers instructions on using those tools in real-world situations. Anyone can take the information they read and use it better for their choices and actions in different aspects of life.

Users rated this book 4.6 out of five stars, which is way above average. Its most grateful readers described it as a “game-changer” and a true source of knowledge.

How To Choose the Best Books on Critical Thinking and Problem Solving

All readers have different preferences and styles. First, you have to think about which style of reading suits you. You’ll want to grab a short book if you’re someone who doesn’t enjoy reading very much. You can also choose to purchase a book that also has an audiobook version.

Audiobooks are great for people who have limited time or limited interest in sitting in the same place to read. You can listen to these audiobooks on your way to work or whenever you lie down in bed and absorb the knowledge that way.

Then there are writing styles to think about. Do you like flowery, long-winded writers or concise authors? Do you prefer to look at pictures while you read something? You must think about all those factors before you choose a book.

The books on this list are excellent selections, but they are only the tip of the iceberg. Sift through the description to see if they meet your price range and preferences, but don’t be afraid to continue searching if you don’t see a book that piques your interest. You can learn all about problem solving and critical thinking from the best authors in the industry if you dedicate a little time to finding a book that suits you.

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Founder of Eggcellentwork.com. With over 20 years of experience in HR and various roles in corporate world, Jenny shares tips and advice to help professionals advance in their careers. Her blog is a go-to resource for anyone looking to improve their skills, land their dream job, or make a career change.

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5 of the Best Books on Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving

Critical Thinking: Hypothesis-Driven Thinking

Anyone can come up with a good idea. The real challenge is putting that idea into action. In this online course, explore how to form compelling, testable hypotheses and bring ideas to life in your own organization.

Critical Thinking: Structured Reasoning

Even a few simple techniques for logical decision making and persuasion can vastly improve your skills as a leader. Explore how critical thinking can help you evaluate complex business problems, reduce bias, and devise effective solutions.

Critical Thinking: Problem-Solving

Problem-solving is a central business skill, and yet it's the one many people struggle with most. This course will show you how to apply critical thinking techniques to common business examples, avoid misunderstandings, and get at the root of any problem.

Critical thinking is an essential skill to master whether you aspire to compete in the fast-paced startup space or just improve your daily workflow. But no one is born a master problem solver. Like any other skill, you’ll need to study and practice.

When it comes to self-study, all the Wikipedia articles and Quora questions in the world can’t replace a good book. We asked GLOBIS faculty members to weigh in on the books that helped them step-up their critical thinking game.

Decipher the Data

The signal and the noise: why so many predictions fail—but some don’t , by nate silver.

Do you ever feel so lost in data that you forget what you’re looking for in the first place? Do you find it difficult to parse the important details from large sets of data? Nate Silver’s The Signal and the Noise will help you sift through the numbers and find what’s most useful for your purposes.

In the GLOBIS Critical Thinking course , we teach that the most important step of the problem-solving process is identifying the issue. After that, you’ll need to break down the issue into a set of points (like criteria). Finally, you search for data to support or change these points.

The Signal and the Noise applies this process to the realm of predictions in the age of Big Data.

Ultimately, Silver cautions against overconfidence in predictions, ranging from the stock market to sports and politics, and the importance of assessing the level of certainty in your findings. He also points to the often-hidden assumptions in data—another important lesson you’ll find in GLOBIS’s Critical Thinking class. What makes this book exciting is the way it explores current issues in a quantitative way, challenging what we thought to be true and the prediction process behind it. Aside from that, there are many other tips and tricks to improve your problem-solving and data analysis skills.

While I can’t claim to make many predictions, if you’re looking to hone your critical thinking skills, I can say with confidence that you’ll enjoy this book!

—Brian Cathcart, Critical Thinking Faculty at GLOBIS University

Think about the Way You Think

Thinking, fast and slow , by daniel kahneman.

What if you found out you had a disease with a 10% mortality rate? Would it be worse than a disease with a 90% survival rate? In fact, your chances of making it through are precisely the same, but somehow, we tend to respond more positively to the latter scenario.

This is an example of the framing effect , one of many biases and heuristics introduced in Daniel Kahneman’s bestseller Thinking, Fast and Slow . Kahneman, a Nobel laureate, presents decades of fascinating insights into our not-so-rational minds. He elegantly summarizes our thinking into two processes: System 1 and System 2.

System 1 is effortless and instantaneous, handling thoughts like 2+2=4. It is our autopilot that guides us through most of the day, allowing us to simultaneously manage complex tasks like driving a car while chatting with the passenger about the morning news.

System 2, on the other hand, is a process that we have to manually switch on to tackle something more mentally challenging. System 1 can handle 2+2 instantly, but System 2 needs to kick in for us to work out 27×18.

Kahneman’s mind-blowing research and simple tests show us just how laughably irrational System 1 can be. It is a powerful reminder of why it’s worth questioning our own judgment.

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Fooled by Randomness , by Nassim Nicholas Taleb

Fooled by Randomness offers a narrower, but still powerful illustration of how the flaws of our thinking habits skew our worldview. In a precursor to his bestseller The Black Swan , Nassim Taleb focuses on the role of randomness in our lives, and how underestimating this randomness can have potentially serious consequences.

In business, it’s generally unpopular to ascribe results to luck. Countless books and articles seek to explain the genius behind the success of certain companies and businesspeople. And when results go sour, people point to poor decisions that should have been avoided.

Compelling as it may be, this storytelling misleads us into believing that we control much more than we do. Taleb argues that luck, in fact, plays a large role in any success, and smart decisions can lead to poor outcomes (hard as it may be to convince your boss or shareholders).

Taleb’s tone throughout the book is often cynical and scathing, and he is clearly not a fan of MBAs. But his message is still important for any businessperson who wants to keep their feet on the ground. As I often tell MBA students in my Critical Thinking course, even the most thorough analysis and planning cannot guarantee success. However, critical thinking can help us reduce the role of luck in our decision-making. Ultimately, that will increase our odds of success.

—Jake Pratley, Critical Thinking Faculty at GLOBIS University

Learn from Those Who Came Before You

Problem solving 101 , by ken watanabe.

The Japanese bestseller Problem Solving 101 is quite easy to read, since it’s targeted towards an elementary school level. Don’t let that deter you, though—the content itself covers practical elements in business, from diagnosing the situation to identifying root causes and decision-making.

During these uncertain times, it’s getting harder and harder to make confident decisions. We tend to rely on our past experiences and knowledge rather than asses the issues at hand. But if you face unprecedented events, you’ll require the right skills to identify problems and develop the right solutions to solve them. This book will help you acquire these skills.

Toyota Production System: Beyond Large-Scale Production , by Taiichi Ohno

Taiichi Ohno built the foundation of the famous Toyota Production System (TPS). This book dives into the background, history, and philosophy of the concepts utilized in this system, including kaizen , jido-ka , and kanban.

For example, although Toyota changed its zero-inventory policy specifically to deal with shortages of semiconductors, TPS can help improve productivity with limited resources in any industry.

This book also shows us the importance of Toyota’s philosophy—which is what really drives the popularity of TPS worldwide. Many organizations have introduced TPS into their everyday operations, but most fail to utilize the robust philosophy of the system to its full potential.

Ohno’s book may be a bit old, but its indisputable influence on the business world means it’s still more than worth reading now.

—Takashi Tsutsumi, Critical Thinking Faculty at GLOBIS University

Turn the Page on Your Critical Thinking Journey

Understanding critical thinking and problem-solving means a lot more than being the best brainstormer at the pitch meeting. It also means you can identify obstacles, overcome them, and consider the best decisions for yourself and those around you.

Ultimately, if you’re learning how to be a critical thinker, you’re also learning how to become an independent and decisive decision maker. Like a beautiful logic tree , you’ll need to nourish your mind in order to grow. A good read is a great way to get started.

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13 Easy Steps To Improve Your Critical Thinking Skills

With the sheer volume of information that we’re bombarded with on a daily basis – and with the pervasiveness of fake news and social media bubbles – the ability to look at evidence, evaluate the trustworthiness of a source, and think critically is becoming more important than ever. This is why, for me, critical thinking is one of the most vital skills to cultivate for future success.

Critical thinking isn’t about being constantly negative or critical of everything. It’s about objectivity and having an open, inquisitive mind. To think critically is to analyze issues based on hard evidence (as opposed to personal opinions, biases, etc.) in order to build a thorough understanding of what’s really going on. And from this place of thorough understanding, you can make better decisions and solve problems more effectively.

To put it another way, critical thinking means arriving at your own carefully considered conclusions instead of taking information at face value. Here are 13 ways you can cultivate this precious skill:

1. Always vet new information with a cautious eye. Whether it’s an article someone has shared online or data that’s related to your job, always vet the information you're presented with. Good questions to ask here include, "Is this information complete and up to date?” “What evidence is being presented to support the argument?” and “Whose voice is missing here?”

2. Look at where the information has come from. Is the source trustworthy? What is their motivation for presenting this information? For example, are they trying to sell you something or get you to take a certain action (like vote for them)?

3. Consider more than one point of view. Everyone has their own opinions and motivations – even highly intelligent people making reasonable-sounding arguments have personal opinions and biases that shape their thinking. So, when someone presents you with information, consider whether there are other sides to the story.

4. Practice active listening. Listen carefully to what others are telling you, and try to build a clear picture of their perspective. Empathy is a really useful skill here since putting yourself in another person's shoes can help you understand where they're coming from and what they might want. Try to listen without judgment – remember, critical thinking is about keeping an open mind.

5. Gather additional information where needed. Whenever you identify gaps in the information or data, do your own research to fill those gaps. The next few steps will help you do this objectively…

6. Ask lots of open-ended questions. Curiosity is a key trait of critical thinkers, so channel your inner child and ask lots of "who," "what," and "why" questions.

7. Find your own reputable sources of information, such as established news sites, nonprofit organizations, and education institutes. Try to avoid anonymous sources or sources with an ax to grind or a product to sell. Also, be sure to check when the information was published. An older source may be unintentionally offering up wrong information just because events have moved on since it was published; corroborate the info with a more recent source.

8. Try not to get your news from social media. And if you do see something on social media that grabs your interest, check the accuracy of the story (via reputable sources of information, as above) before you share it.

9. Learn to spot fake news. It's not always easy to spot false or misleading content, but a good rule of thumb is to look at the language, emotion, and tone of the piece. Is it using emotionally charged language, for instance, and trying to get you to feel a certain way? Also, look at the sources of facts, figures, images, and quotes. A legit news story will clearly state its sources.

10. Learn to spot biased information. Like fake news, biased information may seek to appeal more to your emotions than logic and/or present a limited view of the topic. So ask yourself, “Is there more to this topic than what’s being presented here?” Do your own reading around the topic to establish the full picture.

11. Question your own biases, too. Everyone has biases, and there’s no point pretending otherwise. The trick is to think objectively about your likes and dislikes, preferences, and beliefs, and consider how these might affect your thinking.

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12. Form your own opinions. Remember, critical thinking is about thinking independently. So once you’ve assessed all the information, form your own conclusions about it.

13. Continue to work on your critical thinking skills. I recommend looking at online learning platforms such as Udemy and Coursera for courses on general critical thinking skills, as well as courses on specific subjects like cognitive biases.

Read more about critical thinking and other essential skills in my new book, Future Skills: The 20 Skills & Competencies Everyone Needs To Succeed In A Digital World . Written for anyone who wants to surf the wave of digital transformation – rather than be drowned by it – the book explores why these vital future skills matter and how to develop them.