top critical thinking books

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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Nonfiction Books » Philosophy Books

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

Calling Bullshit: The Art of Skepticism in a Data-Driven World by Carl Bergstrom & Jevin West

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, 6 calling bullshit: the art of skepticism in a data-driven world by carl bergstrom & jevin west.

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?

Calling Bullshit by Carl Bergstrom and Jevin West started life as a course at the University of Washington. It is a book—a handbook really—written with the conviction that bullshit, particularly the kind that is circulated on the Internet, is damaging democracy , and that misinformation and disinformation can have very serious consequences. Bullshitters don’t care about truth. But truth is important, and this book shows why. It is focussed on examples from science and medicine, but ranges more widely too. It’s a lively read. It covers not just verbal bullshit, bullshit with statistics (particularly in relation to big data) and about causation, but also has a chapter on bullshit data visualisations that distract from the content they are about, or present that data in misleading ways. Like all good books on critical thinking this one includes some discussion of the psychology of being taken in by misleading contributions to public debate.

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

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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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..

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20 Best Books on Critical Thinking (2022 Review)

September 16, 2020 by James Wilson

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

Anthony metivier.

• December 12, 2022
• Critical Thinking

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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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6 Responses

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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100 Best Critical Thinking Books of All Time

We've researched and ranked the best critical thinking books in the world, based on recommendations from world experts, sales data, and millions of reader ratings. Learn more

Thinking, Fast and Slow

Kahneman | 5.00

Barack Obama A few months ago, Mr. Obama read “Thinking, Fast and Slow,” by Daniel Kahneman, about how people make decisions — quick, instinctive thinking versus slower, contemplative deliberation. For Mr. Obama, a deliberator in an instinctive business, this may be as instructive as any political science text. (Source)

Bill Gates [On Bill Gates's reading list in 2012.] (Source)

Marc Andreessen Captivating dive into human decision making, marred by inclusion of several/many? psychology studies that fail to replicate. Will stand as a cautionary tale? (Source)

See more recommendations for this book...

Factfulness

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

Hans Rosling, Anna Rosling Rönnlund, Ola Rosling | 4.62

Barack Obama As 2018 draws to a close, I’m continuing a favorite tradition of mine and sharing my year-end lists. It gives me a moment to pause and reflect on the year through the books I found most thought-provoking, inspiring, or just plain loved. It also gives me a chance to highlight talented authors – some who are household names and others who you may not have heard of before. Here’s my best of 2018... (Source)

Bill Gates This was a breakthrough to me. The framework Hans enunciates is one that took me decades of working in global development to create for myself, and I could have never expressed it in such a clear way. I’m going to try to use this model moving forward. (Source)

Nigel Warburton 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. It’s a plea to look at the empirical data, and not just assume that you know how things are now. (Source)

The Demon-haunted World

Science As a Candle in the Dark

Carl Sagan | 4.54

James Randi First of all, Carl was my very good friend, and we had a lot of confidences over the years. He was the epitome of the scientific mind and the scientific thinker. In The Demon-Haunted World, one of his later books, he investigates pseudoscience, frauds and fakes, and the mistakes that scientists made over the years. It’s very comprehensive. He had a whole chapter devoted to “Carlos” – or Jose... (Source)

Philip Plait He holds your hand and shows you the wonders of science and the universe. The Demon-Haunted World is probably his best book. (Source)

Dallas Campbell @TheChilterns Even if you profoundly disagree with Clarke, it’s very detailed. The classic is of course ‘The Demon Haunted World’ by Carl Sagan. When I’m Prime Minister it will be compulsory reading at school! Best book on what science is/isn’t and why we think the way we do. 👍 (Source)

The Psychology of Persuasion

Robert B. Cialdini | 4.53

Charles T. Munger Robert Cialdini has had a greater impact on my thinking on this topic than any other scientist. (Source)

Dan Ariely It covers a range of ways in which we end up doing things, and how we don’t understand why we’re doing them. (Source)

Max Levchin [Max Levchin recommended this book as an answer to "What business books would you advise young entrepreneurs read?"] (Source)

A Brief History of Humankind

Yuval Noah Harari | 4.52

Richard Branson One example of a book that has helped me to #ReadToLead this year is Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari. While the book came out a few years ago now, I got around to it this year, and am very glad I did. I’ve always been fascinated in what makes humans human, and how people are constantly evolving, changing and growing. The genius of Sapiens is that it takes some daunting,... (Source)

Reid Hoffman A grand theory of humanity. (Source)

Barack Obama eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'theceolibrary_com-leader-2','ezslot_7',164,'0','1'])); Fact or fiction, the president knows that reading keeps the mind sharp. He also delved into these non-fiction reads. (Source)

Man's Search for Meaning

Viktor E. Frankl, William J. Winslade, et al. | 4.50

Tony Robbins Another book that I’ve read dozens of times. It taught me that if you change the meaning, you change everything. Meaning equals emotion, and emotion equals life. (Source)

Jimmy Fallon I read it while spending ten days in the ICU of Bellevue hospital trying to reattach my finger from a ring avulsion accident in my kitchen. It talks about the meaning of life, and I believe you come out a better person from reading it. (Source)

Dustin Moskovitz [Dustin Moskovitz recommended this book on Twitter.] (Source)

Predictably Irrational

The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisions

Dan Ariely | 4.48

Nick Harkaway Predictably Irrational is an examination of the way in which we make decisions irrationally, and how that irrationality can be predicted. (Source)

Jonah Lehrer Dan Ariely is a very creative guy and was able to take this basic idea, that humans are irrational, and mine it in a million different directions. (Source)

The Black Swan

The Impact of the Highly Improbable

Nassim Nicholas Taleb | 4.48

Jeff Bezos [From the book "The Everything Store: and the Age of Amazon"] “The scholar argues that people are wired to see patterns in chaos while remaining blind to unpredictable events, with massive consequences. Experimentation and empiricism trumps the easy and obvious narrative,” Stone writes. (Source)

James Altucher And throw in “The Black Swan” and “Fooled by Randomness”. “Fragile” means if you hit something might break. “Resilient” means if you hit something, it will stay the same. On my podcast Nassim discusses “Antifragility” – building a system, even on that works for you on a personal level, where you if you harm your self in some way it becomes stronger. That podcast changed my life He discusses... (Source)

Freakonomics

A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything

Stephen J. Levitt, Steven D.; Dubner | 4.45

Malcolm Gladwell I don’t need to say much here. This book invented an entire genre. Economics was never supposed to be this entertaining. (Source)

Daymond John I love newer books like [this book]. (Source)

James Altucher [James Altucher recommended this book on the podcast "The Tim Ferriss Show".] (Source)

How to Read a Book

The Classic Guide to Intelligent Reading

Mortimer J. Adler, Charles Van Doren | 4.45

Sergey Brin had “How to Read a Book” by Mortimer J. Adler as one of his most recommended books. (Source)

Ben Chestnut I also love How to Read a Book by Mortimer Adler. I’m teaching its tips to my children while they’re young, so they can consume books much faster and have more fun reading. (Source)

Kevin Systrom [The author's] thesis is that the most important part of reading a book is to actually read the table of contents and familiarize yourself with the major structure of the book. (Source)

Don't have time to read the top Critical Thinking books of all time? Read Shortform summaries.

Shortform summaries help you learn 10x faster by:

• Being comprehensive: you learn the most important points in the book
• Cutting out the fluff: you focus your time on what's important to know
• Interactive exercises: apply the book's ideas to your own life with our educators' guidance.

The Tipping Point

How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference

Malcolm Gladwell | 4.38

Kevin Rose Bunch of really good information in here on how to make ideas go viral. This could be good to apply to any kind of products or ideas you may have. Definitely, check out The Tipping Point, which is one of my favorites. (Source)

Seth Godin Malcolm Gladwell's breakthrough insight was to focus on the micro-relationships between individuals, which helped organizations realize that it's not about the big ads and the huge charity balls... it's about setting the stage for the buzz to start. (Source)

Andy Stern I think that when we talk about making change, it is much more about macro change, like in policy. This book reminds you that at times when you're building big movements, or trying to elect significant decision-makers in politics, sometimes it's the little things that make a difference. Ever since the book was written, we've become very used to the idea of things going viral unexpectedly and then... (Source)

Improving Decisions About Health, Wealth, and Happiness

Richard H. Thaler | 4.37

Dan Ariely Nudge is a very important book. One of the reasons Nudge is so important is because it’s taking these ideas and applying them to the policy domain. Here are the mistakes we make. Here are the ways marketers are trying to influence us. Here’s the way we might be able to fight back. If policymakers understood these principles, what could they do? The other important thing about the book is that it... (Source)

Eric Ries A pioneer in behavioral economics and just recently awarded the Nobel Prize in Economics, his classic book on how to make better decisions. (Source)

Ryan Holiday This might feel like a weird book to include, but I think it presents another side of strategy that is too often forgotten. It’s not always about bold actors and strategic thrusts. Sometimes strategy is about subtle influence. Sometimes it is framing and small tweaks that change behavior. We can have big aims, but get there with little moves. This book has excellent examples of that kind of... (Source)

Asking the Right Questions

A Guide to Critical Thinking

M. Neil Browne, Stuart M. Keeley | 4.36

Enlightenment Now

The Case for Reason, Science, Humanism, and Progress

Steven Pinker | 4.35

Bill Gates Pinker is at his best when he analyzes historic trends and uses data to put the past into context. I was already familiar with a lot of the information he shares—especially about health and energy—but he understands each subject so deeply that he’s able to articulate his case in a way that feels fresh and new. I love how he’s willing to dive deep into primary data sources and pull out unexpected... (Source)

Yuval Noah Harari There is of course much to argue about, but that’s what makes this book so interesting. (Source)

Sam Harris [Sam Harris picked this book as the first book in his Book Club.] (Source)

The New Psychology of Success

Carol S. Dweck | 4.34

Tony Robbins [Tony Robbins recommended this book on the podcast "The Tim Ferriss Show".] (Source)

Bill Gates One of the reasons I loved Mindset is because it’s solutions-oriented. In the book’s final chapter, Dweck describes the workshop she and her colleagues have developed to shift students from a fixed to a growth mindset. These workshops demonstrate that ‘just learning about the growth mindset can cause a big shift in the way people think about themselves and their lives. (Source)

The Story of Success

Malcolm Gladwell | 4.34

Bill Gates [On Bill Gates's reading list in 2011.] (Source)

James Altucher Gladwell is not the first person to come up with the 10,000 hour rule. Nor is he the first person to document what it takes to become the best in the world at something. But his stories are so great as he explains these deep concepts. How did the Beatles become the best? Why are professional hockey players born in January, February and March? And so on. (Source)

Cat Williams-Treloar The books that I've talked the most about with friends and colleagues over the years are the Malcolm Gladwell series of novels. Glorious stories that mix science, behaviours and insight. You can't go wrong with the "The Tipping Point", "Outliers", "Blink" or "David & Goliath". (Source)

Bad Science

Quacks, Hacks, and Big Pharma Flacks

Ben Goldacre | 4.33

Timothy Ferriss I agree wholeheartedly with a lot of the co-opted science, which people can read a book called Bad Science, which is by a doctor named Ben Goldacre. It’s great. (Source)

Tim Harford This book changed the way I thought about my own writing and it changed the way I thought about the world. It really is one of the best books I have ever read. (Source)

Sarah-Jayne Blakemore It’s just a brilliant book, and he’s a fearless defender of science. (Source)

The Power of Thinking Without Thinking

Malcolm Gladwell | 4.33

Mike Shinoda I know most of the guys in the band read [this book]. (Source)

Marillyn Hewson CEO Marilyn Hewson recommends this book because it helped her to trust her instincts in business. (Source)

A Field Guide to Lies

Critical Thinking with Statistics and the Scientific Method

Daniel J. Levitin | 4.28

The Art of Thinking Clearly

Better Thinking, Better Decision

dobelli rolf | 4.28

Robert Cialdini Dobelli examines our most common decision-making failings with engaging eloquence and describes how to counter them with instructive good sense. (Source)

Nigel Warburton 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. Each of the 99 entries is pretty short, and it’s the kind of book to dip into. (Source)

Antifragile

Things That Gain from Disorder

Nassim Nicholas Taleb | 4.27

James Altucher You ask about success. To be successful you have to avoid being “fragile” – the idea that if something hurts you, you let collapse completely. You also have to avoid simply being resilient. Bouncing back is not enough. Antifragile is when something tries to hurt you and you come back stronger. That is real life business. That is real life success. Nassim focuses on the economy. But when I read... (Source)

Marvin Liao eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'theceolibrary_com-leader-2','ezslot_7',164,'0','1'])); My list would be (besides the ones I mentioned in answer to the previous question) both business & Fiction/Sci-Fi and ones I personally found helpful to myself. The business books explain just exactly how business, work & investing are in reality & how to think properly & differentiate yourself. On... (Source)

Vlad Tenev The general concept is applicable to many fields beyond biology, for instance finance, economics and monetary policy. (Source)

The 5 Elements of Effective Thinking

Edward B. Burger | 4.27

Mistakes Were Made (But Not by Me)

Why We Justify Foolish Beliefs, Bad Decisions, and Hurtful Acts

Mark Haddo | 4.25

Peter Attia A book about cognitive dissonance that looks at common weaknesses and biases in human thinking. Peter wants to ensure he goes through life without being too sure of himeself, and this book helps him to recalibrate. (Source)

Ryan Holiday Cognitive Dissonance is one of the most powerful and delusionary forces in the world. (Source)

David Kramaley When asked what books he would recommend to youngsters interested in his professional path, David mentioned Mistakes Were Made (But Not by Me). (Source)

Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World

Cal Newport | 4.24

Marvin Liao The Joy of Not Working (Zelinkski), Flash Foresight (Burrus), The Art of Worldly Wisdom (Gracian), Sapiens (Yuval), The End of Jobs (Pearson), Deep Work (Newport), Sovereign Individual (Davidson), The Fourth Economy (Davison) & The Monk & the Riddle (Komisar). Every single one of these books completely changed how I looked at everything in the world & literally pushed my life in a new direction.... (Source)

Daniel Pink As automation and outsourcing reshape the workplace, what new skill do we need? The ability to do deep work. Cal Newport's exciting new book is an introduction and guide to the kind of intense concentration in a distraction-free environment that results in fast, powerful learning and performance. Think of it as calisthenics for your mind-and start your exercise program today. (Source)

Seth Godin Cal Newport is a clear voice in a sea of noise, bringing science and passion in equal measure. (Source)

Guns, Germs and Steel

The Fates of Human Societies

Jared Diamond Ph.D. | 4.24

Bill Gates Fascinating.... Lays a foundation for understanding human history. (Source)

Daniel Ek A brilliant Pulitzer Prize-winning book about how the modern world was formed, analyzing how societies developed differently on different continents. (Source)

Yuval Noah Harari A book of big questions, and big answers. The book turned me from a historian of medieval warfare into a student of humankind. (Source)

A Rulebook for Arguments

Anthony Weston | 4.23

The God Delusion

Richard Dawkins | 4.22

Susan Jacoby Richard Dawkins is very funny. One of the reasons for reading The God Delusion is that it will disabuse you of the idea – which is a common stereotype of atheists – that they are utterly humourless. You hear this over and over again. I’m often invited to college campuses to give lectures, and often they’re religious schools – not fundamentalist schools, but colleges of a historically religious... (Source)

Vote Dem For The Planet @KimBledsoe14 @Goodbye_Jesus @Ian313f There were a lot of rebels and drifters in those days against the repressive regime. They had followers. Have you read “The God Delusion”? Great book. (Source)

Antonio Eram This book was recommended by Antonio when asked for titles he would recommend to young people interested in his career path. (Source)

Fooled by Randomness

The Hidden Role of Chance in Life and in the Markets

Nassim Nicholas Taleb | 4.22

Howard Marks Really about how much randomness there is in our world. (Source)

Anant Jain The five-book series, "Incerto", by Nassim Nicholas Taleb has had a profound impact on how I think about the world. There’s some overlap across the books — but you'll likely find the repetition helpful in retaining the content better. (Source)

Emotional Intelligence

Why It Can Matter More Than IQ

Daniel Goleman | 4.22

Drew Houston It’s nonfiction, but it spelled out something that I just didn’t know you could kind of break down in a logical way. And, suddenly, I had this understanding about the world that I didn’t have before. (Source)

Sharon Salzberg [Sharon Salzberg recommended this book on the podcast "The Tim Ferriss Show".] (Source)

Roxana Bitoleanu [One of the books recommends to young people interested in her career path.] (Source)

Amusing Ourselves to Death

Public Discourse in the Age of Show Business

Neil Postman, Andrew Postman | 4.22

Austin Kleon Earlier this year Postman’s son Andrew wrote an op-ed with the title, “My dad predicted Trump in 1985 — it’s not Orwell, he warned, it’s Brave New World.” Postman wrote: “What Orwell feared were those who would ban books. What Huxley feared was that there would be no reason to ban a book, for there would be no one who wanted to read one.” (Source)

Steve Lance Neil Postman took the work of Marshall McLuhan – who was putting out early theories on media – and built on them. However, Postman was far more observant and empirical about the trends occurring in the media landscape. The trends which he identifies in Amusing Ourselves to Death, written in the 1980s, have since all come true. For example, he predicted that if you make news entertaining, then... (Source)

Kara Nortman @andrewchen Also a great book on the topic - Amusing Ourselves to Death https://t.co/yWLBxKumLQ (Source)

You Are Not So Smart

Why You Have Too Many Friends on Facebook, Why Your Memory Is Mostly Fiction, and 46 Other Ways You're Deluding Yourself

David McRaney | 4.21

Jessica Flitter Honestly, almost every major topic that we cover in an introductory social psychology chapter is covered in the book. It makes psychology real: this isn’t something that theoretically exists in the classroom. It exists every single day. That’s why I love this book. (Source)

How Not to Be Wrong

The Power of Mathematical Thinking

Jordan Ellenberg | 4.20

Bill Gates The writing is funny, smooth, and accessible -- not what you might expect from a book about math. What Ellenberg has written is ultimately a love letter to math. If the stories he tells add up to a larger lesson, it’s that 'to do mathematics is to be, at once, touched by fire and bound by reason' -- and that there are ways in which we’re all doing math, all the time. (Source)

Auston Bunsen I’ve got a few, one book that really impacted me early on as someone coming from a middle-class family was “Rich dad, Poor dad”. Since then I’ve read many books but one that really stands out is “How not to be wrong” by Jordan Ellenberg which really reignited my appetite & appreciation for math. (Source)

Nick Ganju Written for an audience of people who have historically been intimidated by math [...] and introduces things in a very simple way, and then works up to more complex concepts. (Source)

"Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman!"

Adventures of a Curious Character

Richard P. Feynman, Ralph Leighton, Edward Hutchings, Albert R. Hibbs | 4.19

Sergey Brin Brin told the Academy of Achievement: "Aside from making really big contributions in his own field, he was pretty broad-minded. I remember he had an excerpt where he was explaining how he really wanted to be a Leonardo [da Vinci], an artist and a scientist. I found that pretty inspiring. I think that leads to having a fulfilling life." (Source)

Larry Page Google co-founder has listed this book as one of his favorites. (Source)

Peter Attia The book I’ve recommended most. (Source)

Critical Thinking

Tools for Taking Charge of Your Professional and Personal Life

Richard Paul, Linda Elder | 4.19

How to Think About Weird Things

Critical Thinking for a New Age

Theodore Schick, Lewis Vaughn | 4.19

Stephen Law Carefully and critically, aware of the various cognitive biases to which we are, unfortunately, all very prone. This book explains various fallacies to watch out for; the Slippery Slope, the Straw Man fallacy, the Post Hoc fallacy, and so on. It points out all of the problems that we’ve already looked at so far as anecdotal evidence is concerned. It includes many impressive case studies and... (Source)

The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe

How to Know What's Really Real in a World Increasingly Full of Fake

Steven Novella, Bob Novella - contributor, et al | 4.19

Black Box Thinking

Why Some People Never Learn from Their Mistakes - But Some Do

Matthew Syed | 4.18

Richard Branson [...] highlights the need for a growth mindset in life. It advocates for changing attitudes towards failure, and understanding that the only way we learn is by trying things and altering our behaviour based on the results. It’s an attitude we found incredibly valuable during my highlight of the year, completing the Virgin Strive Challenge. (Source)

Daniel Ek Since reading this book, I’ve literally incorporated this approach to problem-solving into every day. (Source)

Nigel Warburton 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 mistake that they make, and how those failures can teach them... (Source)

How the Shipping Container Made the World Smaller and the World Economy Bigger - Second Edition with a New Chapter by the Author

Darrell Huff and Irving Gei | 4.17

Bill Gates I picked this one up after seeing it on a Wall Street Journal list of good books for investors. It was first published in 1954, but it doesn’t feel dated (aside from a few anachronistic examples—it has been a long time since bread cost 5 cents a loaf in the United States). In fact, I’d say it’s more relevant than ever. One chapter shows you how visuals can be used to exaggerate trends and give... (Source)

Tobi Lütke We all live in Malcolm’s world because the shipping container has been hugely influential in history. (Source)

Jason Zweig This is a terrific introduction to critical thinking about statistics, for people who haven’t taken a class in statistics. (Source)

A Brief History of Tomorrow

Yuval Noah Harari | 4.16

Richard Branson I certainly wouldn’t consider myself a big reader of paleontology or anthropology – not good words for us dyslexics! – but I enjoy learning about how society has unfolded and history has developed in an exciting, easy to read way. The sequel, Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow, is a fascinating look into the future too. While these aren’t traditional business or leadership books, they are all... (Source)

Bill Gates Harari’s new book is as challenging and readable as Sapiens. Rather than looking back, as Sapiens does, it looks to the future. I don’t agree with everything the author has to say, but he has written a thoughtful look at what may be in store for humanity. (Source)

Vinod Khosla Not that I agree with all of it, but it is still mind-bending speculation about our future as a follow-up to a previous favorite, Sapiens. It’s directionally right. (Source)

Why People Believe Weird Things

Michael Shermer, Stephen Jay Gould | 4.16

Richard Wiseman A wider perspective on the paranormal, looking at UFOs and conspiracies – where people link up ideas which aren’t necessarily connected to one another. (Source)

The Selfish Gene

Richard Dawkins | 4.16

Why are there miles and miles of "unused" DNA within each of our bodies? Why should a bee give up its own chance to reproduce to help raise her sisters and brothers? With a prophet's clarity, Dawkins told us the answers from the perspective of molecules competing for limited space and resources to produce more of their own kind. Drawing fascinating examples from every field of biology, he paved the way for a serious re-evaluation of evolution. He also introduced the concept of self-reproducing ideas, or memes , which (seemingly) use humans exclusively for their propagation. If we are puppets, he says, at least we can try to understand our strings. --Rob Lightner

Charles T. Munger recommends this book in the second edition of Poor Charlie’s Almanack. (Source)

Matt Ridley Turned evolutionary biology on its head and was written like a great detective story. (Source)

Phil Libin Had a profound influence on me pretty early on. (Source)

How We Know What Isn't So

The Fallibility of Human Reason in Everyday Life

Thomas Gilovich | 4.16

Jonah Lehrer A really smart book and the reason I put it on there is that it really invented the genre of science non-fiction. (Source)

Nicholas Epley This is a book about intuitive human judgment and how the way we think about the world can be distorted and misdirected by forces within our own mind, like our tendency to think well of ourselves, by cognitive forces, such as the ease with which information comes to mind, and by environmental forces, like asymmetries in feedback. (Source)

Being Logical

A Guide to Good Thinking

D.Q. McInerny | 4.14

David and Goliath

Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art of Battling Giants

Malcolm Gladwell | 4.14

Catalina Penciu Business-wise, my goal for this year is to improve my collection and my mindset, but my favorite so far has been David and Goliath by Malcolm Gladwell. (Source)

Robert Katai Buy Malcolm Gladwell’s book “David and Goliath” and read the interesting stories about how the Davids of that moments have defeated the Goliaths. (Source)

The Signal and the Noise

Why So Many Predictions Fail - But Some Don't

Nate Silver | 4.14

Bill Gates Anyone interested in politics may be attracted to Nate Silver’s The Signal and the Noise: Why So Many Predictions Fail—but Some Don't. Silver is the New York Times columnist who got a lot of attention last fall for predicting—accurately, as it turned out–the results of the U.S. presidential election. This book actually came out before the election, though, and it’s about predictions in many... (Source)

The End of Faith

Religion, Terror, and the Future of Reason

Sam Harris | 4.13

Evan Carmichael His first book, The End of Faith, spent 33 weeks on The New York Times Best Seller list. He's one of the most sought after speakers in the world. He's Sam Harris and here's my take on his Top 10 Rules for Success! #Believe #EvanCarmichael #SamHarris #entrepreneur #valueyourtime https://t.co/ZL0iUlqCOT (Source)

Dr. Andrew Weil One of the books that I have commonly given out to people. (Source)

Lies My Teacher Told Me

Everything Your American History Textbook Got Wrong

James W. Loewen | 4.13

Talking to Strangers

What We Should Know about the People We Don't Know

Malcolm Gladwell | 4.13

Ryan Holiday I'll put here what I emailed Malcolm when I finished the book: "Just finished your new book in one sitting yesterday. So good. You are at the height of your powers and remain an inspiration to all of us trying to master an un-masterable profession." It's a little less practical or self-improvement oriented than his previous books, but far more thought provoking. (Source)

Nilofer Merchant An interesting analysis/ essay re Gladwell’s latest book —> https://t.co/5Ey1maNRyI (Source)

God Is Not Great

How Religion Poisons Everything

Christopher Hitchens | 4.13

Sam Harris You can get the benefit of both his voice and his writing if you listen to [this audiobook]. (Source)

Poor Charlie's Almanack

The Wit and Wisdom of Charles T. Munger

Peter D. Kaufman, Ed Wexler, Warren E. Buffett, Charles T. Munger | 4.12

Warren Buffett From 1733 to 1758, Ben Franklin dispensed useful and timeless advice through Poor Richard's Almanack. Among the virtues extolled were thrift, duty, hard work, and simplicity. Subsequently, two centuries went by during which Ben's thoughts on these subjects were regarded as the last word. Then Charlie Munger stepped forth. (Source)

Naval Ravikant I always recommend [this book] as my top business book. (Source)

Think like a Freak

The Authors of Freakonomics Offer to Retrain Your Brain

Steven D. Levitt, Stephen J. Dubner | 4.12

Critical Thinking Skills

Effective Analysis, Argument and Reflection

Stella Cottrell | 4.12

The Invisible Gorilla

And Other Ways Our Intuitions Deceive Us

Christopher Chabris, Daniel Simons | 4.11

Dan Ariely These guys did one of the most important pieces of research in social science, to show how little we actually see in the world around us. (Source)

The Undoing Project

A Friendship That Changed Our Minds

Michael Lewis | 4.11

Doug McMillon Here are some of my favorite reads from 2017. Lots of friends and colleagues send me book suggestions and it's impossible to squeeze them all in. I continue to be super curious about how digital and tech are enabling people to transform our lives but I try to read a good mix of books that apply to a variety of areas and stretch my thinking more broadly. (Source)

David Heinemeier Hansson Michael Lewis is just a great storyteller, and tell a story in this he does. It’s about two Israeli psychologists, their collaboration on the irrationality of the human mind, and the milestones they set with concepts like loss-aversion, endowment effect, and other common quirks that the assumption of rationality doesn’t account for. It’s a bit long-winded, but if you like Lewis’ style, you... (Source)

Francisco Perez Mackenna ​This summer, Mackenna is learning more about the birth of behavioral economics, the psychology of white collar crime, and the restoration of American cities as locations of economic growth. (Source)

The Organized Mind

Thinking Straight in the Age of Information Overload

Daniel J. Levitin | 4.11

David Allen Your head is not designed to remember, remind, prioritize, or manage relationships with more than four things. I’ve known this experientially for the last 35 years—that your head is for having ideas, but it’s a terrible place to hang onto them. Levitin validated that in a very rigorously researched book. (Source)

Your Guide to Effective Argument, Successful Analysis and Independent Study

Tom Chatfield | 4.11

Nigel Warburton Clearly written and accessible. 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. (Source)

The Coddling of the American Mind

How Good Intentions and Bad Ideas Are Setting Up a Generation for Failure

Greg Lukianoff, Jonathan Haidt | 4.10

Mark Manson The kids aren’t alright. No, really—I know every generation says that, but this time it’s true. Kids who grew up with smartphones (and have begun to enter the university system) are emotionally stunted, overly fragile, and exhibiting mental health issues at alarming rates. I expected this book to be another, “Let’s all shit on social media together,” party, but it’s not. Social media, of course,... (Source)

Max Levchin Highlights the need to continue to have such discussions about sensitive topics instead of ignoring them for the sake of comfort. (Source)

Glenn Beck Just finished The Coddling of the American mind by @glukianoff Greg Lukianoff and Jonathan Haidt. Insightful. Straight forward and very helpful. A book that not only correctly identifies what ails us but also gives practical steps to cure. MUST READ (Source)

Nonviolent Communication

A Language of Life

Marshall B. Rosenberg, Deepak Chopra | 4.10

Satya Nadella Upon becoming CEO, Nadella confronted Microsoft’s legendarily combative culture by urging his new reports to read this book, which preaches the power of empathy, self-awareness, and authenticity in collaboration in the workplace, at home, and beyond. Like many of his favorites, it was first recommended to him by his wife, Anu: “I’m heavily influenced by the books she reads more than the books I... (Source)

Dustin Moskovitz Seek first to understand. (Source)

Esther Perel I think that this book is a classic for anyone who is thinking relationships. (Source)

How to Make Better Decisions

Dan Heath, Chip,Heath | 4.09

Cristian-Dragos Baciu So for business related books, the one that I think had the most impact for me was Decisive: How to make better choices in life and work, by Chip & Dan Heath. [...] The reason I enjoyed their work so much is because they offer real-life stories and insights that makes it so much easier for the reader to imprint that information in his mind. (Source)

Sean Mallon It looks at what hinders great decision making, and how to improve any decisions you make. Any entrepreneur knows how crucial their decisions in business are (and how devastating indecision can be). Decisive helps the reader to understand how good decisions are made, what key elements to look for, and how to make your choices better and quicker. (Source)

Julia Galef Explains four of the biggest judgment errors [...] and gives tips for combating them. (Source)

A More Beautiful Question

The Power of Inquiry to Spark Breakthrough Ideas

Warren Berger | 4.08

21 Lessons for the 21st Century

Yuval Noah Harari | 4.08

Bill Gates Harari is such a stimulating writer that even when I disagreed, I wanted to keep reading and thinking. All three of his books wrestle with some version of the same question: What will give our lives meaning in the decades and centuries ahead? So far, human history has been driven by a desire to live longer, healthier, happier lives. If science is eventually able to give that dream to most people,... (Source)

Brajesh Kumar Singh Harari, currently, the world's best historian and future analyst, is a gay! He is a Jew and writes his books in Hebrew! Got universal acclaim for his first book Sapiens, followed by Homo Deus and now the latest, 21 lessons for the 21st century! Salute to this genius, keep it up! https://t.co/s7R6oEbwiN (Source)

Eh Bee Family @harari_yuval This book is amazing. After every chapter...I pause...then freak out...then gather myself and keep reading. (Source)

Superforecasting

The Art and Science of Prediction

Philip E. Tetlock, Dan Gardner | 4.08

Sheil Kapadia Read the book Superforecasting, had a great conversation with @bcmassey and came up with seven ideas for how NFL teams can try to find small edges during the draft process. Would love to hear feedback on this one. https://t.co/PdN1fKCagl (Source)

Julia Galef [Has] some good advice on how to improve your ability to make accurate predictions. (Source)

The Magic of Reality

How We Know What's Really True

Richard Dawkins | 4.08

Bill Gates Dawkins, an evolutionary biologist at Oxford, has a gift for making science enjoyable. This book is as accessible as the TV series Cosmos is for younger audiences—and as relevant for older audiences. It’s an engaging, well-illustrated science textbook offering compelling answers to big questions, like “how did the universe form?” and “what causes earthquakes?” It’s also a plea for readers of all... (Source)

Vote Dem For The Planet @EJDuboisL7444 @realDonaldTrump It’s a great book, like all Dawkins’ books. (Source)

The Shock Doctrine

The Rise of Disaster Capitalism

Naomi Klein | 4.08

George Monbiot The Shock Doctrine explains some of the mechanisms by which patrimonial capital acquires power and enhances its wealth. It’s a brilliant piece of work, and one of those rare books that changes the way you perceive the world. (Source)

Mat Whitecross It starts with the theory that moments of crisis have been utilised by the right wing in the US and other countries to manipulate people into following their agenda. (Source)

Donna Dickenson Naomi Klein’s argument is that capitalism actually requires deliberately engineered shocks to the economic systems. (Source)

Algorithms to Live By

The Computer Science of Human Decisions

Brian Christian and Tom Griffiths | 4.08

Sriram Krishnan @rabois @nealkhosla Yes! Love that book (Source)

Chris Oliver This is a great book talking about how you can use computer science to help you make decisions in life. How do you know when to make a decision on the perfect house? Car? etc? It helps you apply algorithms to making those decisions optimally without getting lost. (Source)

Judgment Under Uncertainty

Heuristics and biases.

Daniel Kahneman | 4.07

Jonah Lehrer This is one of the most influential books in modern economics. (Source)

Adam Robinson This study should be taught at every business school in the country. (Source)

The Blind Watchmaker

Why the Evidence of Evolution Reveals a Universe Without Design

Richard Dawkins | 4.06

James Randi They talk about the blind watchmaker not being able to make a watch, but if you’re given an almost infinite number of combinations and permutations of materials and situations, the world will come about. Or it may not. In our case, it came about. You’re here, I’m here, and I’m very happy about that. (Source)

Jerry Coyne If I had to pick just one self-contained book that lays out Dawkins’s philosophy and methodology, and shows his literary skills, I would have to pick this one. (Source)

Tom Clarke Dawkins brought Darwin up to date, explaining evolution in a way that incorporates our understanding of genetics and heredity. (Source)

This Will Make You Smarter

New Scientific Concepts to Improve Your Thinking

John Brockman | 4.06

Think Smarter

Critical Thinking to Improve Problem-Solving and Decision-Making Skills

Michael Kallet | 4.06

The Believing Brain

From Ghosts and Gods to Politics and Conspiracies---How We Construct Beliefs and Reinforce Them as Truths

MICHAEL SHERMER | 4.05

The Shallows

What the Internet Is Doing to Our Brains

Nicholas Carr | 4.05

Juliette Aristides Nicholas Carr talks at length about what is gained and lost by technological progress. Reading and writing enlarged people’s sympathetic response and enriched their lives even when the book was put aside. One could say the same thing about drawing. (Source)

Andra Zaharia While I was thinking of the best books to add to this short list, I realized that not even half of them are directly related to digital marketing. This is because I believe that the best marketers are people who understand human nature deeply and aim to bring out the best in it. Call me naive, but that’s how I see it. If I were to want to pursue a career in marketing, I’d read [...] The Shallows. (Source)

How Drug Companies Mislead Doctors and Harm Patients

Ben Goldacre | 4.04

Tools for Smart Thinking

Richard Nisbett | 4.04

The Drunkard's Walk

How Randomness Rules Our Lives

Leonard Mlodinow | 4.03

David Spiegelhalter This is a general introduction to the history of probability and the way it comes into everyday life. It intersperses the historical development with modern applications, and looks at finance, sport, gambling, lotteries and coincidences. (Source)

Gabriel Coarna Leonard Mlodinow's "The Drunkarkd's Walk" -more precisely, the section on the "Monty Hall" problem- totally changed how I look-at/think-about probabilities and choices in general; this has impacted almost every real-life choice I've made since I read this book. (Source)

Don't Believe Everything You Think

The 6 Basic Mistakes We Make in Thinking

Thomas E. Kida | 4.03

What the Dog Saw and Other Adventures

Malcolm Gladwell | 4.03

Sam Freedman @mrianleslie (Also I agree What the Dog Saw is his best book). (Source)

Merchants of Doubt

How a Handful of Scientists Obscured the Truth on Issues from Tobacco Smoke to Global Warming

Erik M Conway | 4.03

Elon Musk I recommend people read a book called Merchants of Doubt. All they need to do is create doubt. (Source)

Trick or Treatment

The Undeniable Facts about Alternative Medicine

Edzard Ernst, Simon Singh | 4.03

Jennifer Gunter @EdzardErnst @SLSingh Fantastic book. Really. Thank you for writing it!! (Source)

Stephen Law I really like this book. It’s a modern classic of the sceptic movement. Simon Singh is an excellent science writer. Edzard Ernst is the world’s first professor of complementary medicine. Well he was, Ernst is retired now. He started out convinced that there was some truth to the claims made by homeopathy and some other alternative practices. He was trained as a homeopath and he was a practising... (Source)

The Structure of Scientific Revolutions

Thomas S. Kuhn and Ian Hacking | 4.02

Mark Zuckerberg It's a history of science book that explores the question of whether science and technology make consistent forward progress or whether progress comes in bursts related to other social forces. I tend to think that science is a consistent force for good in the world. I think we'd all be better off if we invested more in science and acted on the results of research. I'm excited to explore this... (Source)

Tim O'Reilly The Structure of Scientific Revolutions, by Thomas Kuhn. Kuhn introduced the term "paradigm shift" to describe the changeover from Ptolemaic to Copernican astronomy. But the book is far more than a classic in the history of science. It's also a book that emphasizes how what we already believe shapes what we see, what we allow ourselves to think. I've always tried to separate seeing itself from... (Source)

Andra Zaharia I’ve gone through quite a few experiences brought on or shaped by what I’ve learned from books. A particularly unexpected one happened in college when our public relations teacher asked us to read a book called The Structure of Scientific Revolutions by Thomas Kuhn. As a humanities student, you can imagine that I wasn’t thrilled I’d have to read a book on science, but what followed blew my mind... (Source)

The Art of Reasoning

An Introduction to Logic and Critical Thinking

David Kelley | 4.02

How to Change Your Mind

What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression, and Transcendence

POLLAN MICHAE | 4.02

Daniel Goleman Michael Pollan masterfully guides us through the highs, lows, and highs again of psychedelic drugs. How to Change Your mind chronicles how it’s been a longer and stranger trip than most any of us knew. (Source)

Yuval Noah Harari Changed my mind, or at least some of the ideas held in my mind. (Source)

David Heinemeier Hansson How we get locked into viewing the world, ourselves, and each other in a certain way, and then finding it difficult to relate to alternative perspectives or seeing other angles. Studying philosophy, psychology, and sociology is a way to break those rigid frames we all build over time. But that’s still all happening at a pretty high level of perception. Mind altering drugs, and especially... (Source)

Seeing Like a State

How Certain Schemes to Improve the Human Condition Have Failed

Professor James C. Scott | 4.02

Marvin Liao I tend to jump from book to book and may switch if I am interested in some new topic. This is a pleasure for me (which I also do benefit work wise from too). It’s quite a random list because I have eclectic interests (or just scatterbrained most likely) on tech business, AI, general global economy, geopolitics, rising Biotech economy & history. I'm basically 15% to 50% into all these books. (Source)

Venkatesh Rao Scott’s book is very important for anybody who wants to have an understanding of how complex modern societies work, why things seem to fail predictably, and what you can do about them, to a limited extent. (Source)

Clare Lockhart Seeing Like A State. He’s quite similar to Dewey in a way. He also sees the state as only a mechanism. But he thinks that the way that the state chooses to count, or the way it chooses to see, will inform how it behaves and what kind of animal it becomes. Scott explains, for example, how in France, in early modern times, the state decided to count two things. It decided to count how much salt... (Source)

Wait, What?

And Life's Other Essential Questions

James E. Ryan and HarperAudi | 4.02

The Greatest Show on Earth

The Evidence for Evolution

Richard Dawkins, Well-illustrated | 4.02

The Psychology of Intuitive Judgment

Thomas Gilovich, Dale Griffin, Daniel Kahneman | 4.02

Matthew Syed This is another really good set of essays in a rapidly growing branch of intellectual enquiry called behavioural economics where they look at the irrationalities in the way that humans behave. I thought this was brilliant. One essay in particular on irrational optimism caught my eye. It’s the idea that individuals who have slightly inflated expectations of their own abilities tend to persevere... (Source)

The Miniature Guide to Critical Thinking

Concepts and Tools

Richard Paul, Linda Elder | 4.02

This miniature guide, which has sold more than half a million copies, is widely used in teach and learning, in personal and professional life. It distills the essence of critical thinking into a 23-page, pocket-sized guide. It introduces the interrelated complex of critical thinking concepts and principles implicit in the works of Richard Paul and Linda Elder. This guide is widely used at the college level. It can be used as a critical thinking supplement to any textbook or course.

Being Wrong

Adventures in the Margin of Error

Kathryn Schulz | 4.02

Peter Attia One of the books that considers to be an important read for people interested in his career path. (Source)

Fabrice Grinda I have lots of books to recommend, but they are not related to my career path. The only one that is remotely related is Peter Thiel’s Zero to One. That said here are books I would recommend. (Source)

The Portable Atheist

Essential Readings for the Nonbeliever

Christopher Hitchens | 4.02

Thinking in Bets

Making Smarter Decisions When You Don't Have All the Facts

Annie Duke | 4.01

Charles Duhigg Through wonderful storytelling and sly wit, Annie Duke has crafted the ultimate guide to thinking about risk. We can all learn how to make better decisions by learning from someone who made choices for a living, with millions on the line. (Source)

Marc Andreessen Compact guide to probabilistic domains like poker, or venture capital. Best articulation of "resulting", drawing bad conclusions from confusing process and outcome. Recommend for people operating in the real world. (Source)

Seth Godin Brilliant. Buy ten copies and give one to everyone you work with. It's that good. (Source)

Thank You for Arguing

What Aristotle, Lincoln, and Homer Simpson Can Teach Us About the Art of Persuasion

Jay Heinrichs | 4.01

Angela Pham The attendees in the altMBA program actually influenced me the most in my book purchases: Robin Flaherty persuaded me to buy Thank You For Arguing. (Source)

Teaching Critical Thinking

Practical Wisdom

bell hooks | 4.01

Letter to a Christian Nation

Sam Harris | 4.01

Finite and Infinite Games a Vision of Life as Play and Possibility

James P. Carse | 4.01

Jane McGonigal It’s basically a book about games, but then it turns out it’s about the meaning of life. (Source)

Tom Critchlow @fkpxls Also it made me think of analogies to finite and infinite games. Have you read that book? If not you might enjoy it! (Source)

Kevin Kelly Gave me a mathematical framework for my own spirituality. (Source)

Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds

Charles MacKay | 4.01

Jonah Lehrer A wonderful eclectic history of mass human irrationality, and a great history of financial bubbles. (Source)

Tom Joseph "Do you know who I am"- Trump cries a/b his status, Iran & Obama are panic b4 his bubble pops Mania's will end in panic as noted in a favorite book: Extraordinary Popular Delusions & the Madness of Crowds by Charles Mackay. Not a plug-written in 1841 Trumpmania is now Trumpanic https://t.co/WnVGJ8Hung (Source)

John Gapper It’s a very patchy book, but it leads off with three classic financial booms and busts – tulip mania in Holland, the Mississippi scheme in 18th century France, and the South Sea Bubble. MacKay was a journalist with a fine tabloid style, and he writes it all up very entertainingly. He gets the eyewitness quotes and he finds the human foibles. (Source)

Skin in the Game

Hidden Asymmetries in Daily Life

Nassim Nicholas Taleb | 4.01

Ben Horowitz A book about the dynamics of how large-scale, highly random systems behave. (Source)

Marc Andreessen Skin in the game as conflict of interest, or as attaching one's livelihood to one's speech? Who to listen to, and why. Ideal counterpart to Philip Tetlock's Expert Political Judgment. (Source)

Daniel Kahneman Changed my view of how the world works. (Source)

Psychics, ESP, Unicorns, and Other Delusions

James Randi, Isaac Asimov | 4.01

Richard Wiseman This book had a huge impact on me when I first came across it, because it was the first time I’d seen a whole volume which wasn’t taking any nonsense. (Source)

Why Evolution Is True

Jerry A. Coyne | 4.01

An Illustrated Book of Bad Arguments

Ali Almossawi, Alejandro Giraldo | 4.00

Beyond Feelings

Vincent Ruggiero | 4.00

The Power of the Socratic Classroom

Students. Questions. Dialogue. Learning.

Charles Ames Fischer | 4.00

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 Leidener

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.

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17 Best Books On Logic And Critical Thinking

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you click and buy, we may make a commission at no additional charge to you. Please see our affiliate disclosure for more details.

“The ability to think critically and logically is an essential skill everyone should possess. It allows us to evaluate information and arguments objectively, make informed decisions, and communicate effectively. With so much information at our fingertips, it can be challenging to determine what is credible and relevant. That’s why it’s crucial to have a solid foundation in logic and critical thinking.

In this blog post, we’ll introduce you to 17 of the best books on logic and critical thinking that will help you develop your reasoning skills, think more deeply, and approach problems with clarity and precision. Whether you’re a student, professional, or lifelong learner, these books offer practical advice, thought-provoking exercises, and real-world examples to help you master the art of critical thinking.”

Table of Contents

Best Books On Logic And Critical Thinking

1. thinking, fast and slow by daniel kahneman.

“Thinking, Fast and Slow” by Daniel Kahneman is a book that explores the workings of the human mind and how it influences our decision-making and behavior. It provides insights into how our minds make automatic, intuitive judgments and decisions and how these can sometimes lead to errors in thinking. The book is based on decades of research in the field of psychology and behavioral economics, and is written in a clear and accessible style.

Here are the key points from the book:

• Dual Process Theory : The book introduces the idea of two systems of thinking – System 1 and System 2. System 1 is fast, automatic, and intuitive, while System 2 is slow, deliberate, and effortful. Kahneman argues that our decisions and actions are often driven by System 1 thinking, which can lead to biases and errors.
• Heuristics and Biases : Heuristics are mental shortcuts that we use to make quick judgments and decisions. These can be useful in many situations but can also lead to biases and errors in thinking. The book discusses various heuristics, such as the availability heuristic (judging the probability of an event based on how easily examples come to mind), the anchoring effect (the tendency to rely too heavily on the first piece of information encountered), and the framing effect (the way that different ways of presenting information can influence our decisions).
• Overconfidence : Kahneman argues that we are often overconfident in our judgments and predictions and that this can lead to poor decisions. He provides examples from various fields, such as medicine and finance, to show how overconfidence can lead to errors.
• The Role of Emotions : The book explores the role that emotions play in our decision-making. Kahneman argues that emotions can influence our thinking and that we are often not aware of this influence.
• The Limits of Rationality : The book challenges the idea that people are always rational and that decisions are always based on careful analysis. Instead, Kahneman argues that people often make decisions based on intuition and emotions and that these decisions are not always rational.
• The Role of Experiences : The book highlights the importance of experiences in shaping our thinking and behavior. Kahneman argues that our experiences can influence our beliefs and attitudes and that we often rely on these experiences to make decisions.
• The Importance of Awareness : The book emphasizes the importance of awareness in avoiding biases and errors in thinking. Kahneman argues that by being aware of our biases and heuristics, we can reduce their influence and make better decisions.

In conclusion, “Thinking, Fast and Slow” is a fascinating book that provides insights into the workings of the human mind and how it influences our behavior.

2. Predictably Irrational: The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisions by Dan Ariely

“Predictably Irrational: The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisions” by Dan Ariely is a book that explores the ways in which our decisions are influenced by factors other than rational thinking. The book is based on the author’s extensive research in the field of behavioral economics, and it challenges the traditional economic view of humans as rational decision-makers.

• Irrationality : The book argues that humans are not always rational in their decision-making, and that there are many factors that can influence our choices. Ariely explores these factors and provides examples of how they can lead to predictable irrationality in our behavior.
• Anchoring : The author discusses the concept of anchoring, which refers to the way that our first exposure to a piece of information can influence our subsequent thinking and decision-making. Ariely provides examples of how anchoring can lead to predictable irrationality in our behavior, such as the way that people are willing to pay more for a product if they are first shown a higher price.
• Context : The book highlights the importance of context in shaping our behavior and influencing our decisions. Ariely argues that our choices are often influenced by the context in which they are made, and that this can lead to predictable irrationality.
• Social Norms : The author explores the role of social norms in shaping our behavior and decisions. Ariely argues that social norms can influence our behavior in ways that are not always rational, and that we often make decisions based on what is socially acceptable rather than what is in our best interest.
• The Influence of Emotions : Ariely argues that emotions play a key role in shaping our decisions and that we are often not aware of the influence that emotions have on our behavior. He provides examples of how emotions can lead to predictable irrationality, such as the way that people are more likely to make decisions based on their feelings rather than on rational considerations.
• The Power of Free : The author explores the concept of “free,” and how it can influence our behavior and decisions. Ariely argues that people often place a higher value on things that are free, and that this can lead to predictable irrationality in our behavior.
• The Influence of Scarcity : Ariely discusses the role of scarcity in shaping our behavior and decisions, and how the availability of a limited resource can lead to predictable irrationality. He provides examples of how scarcity can influence our behavior, such as the way that people are willing to pay more for a product when it is in short supply.

In conclusion, “Predictably Irrational: The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisions” is a thought-provoking book that challenges traditional views of human rationality and provides insights into the many factors that can influence our behavior and decisions. The book is written in a clear and accessible style, and is recommended for anyone interested in psychology, economics, and the science of decision-making. It’s one of the best critical thinking books that you should check out.

3. The Art of Thinking Clearly by Rolf Dobelli

“The Art of Thinking Clearly” by Rolf Dobelli is a book that explores the ways in which our thinking can be biased, and provides practical tips for improving our decision-making and critical thinking skills. The book covers a wide range of topics, including cognitive biases, logical fallacies, and other common pitfalls that can lead to poor decision-making.

Here are some key points from the book:

• Cognitive Biases : The book discusses a variety of cognitive biases, including confirmation bias, sunk cost fallacy, and availability bias. Dobelli explains how these biases can influence our thinking and decision-making and provides examples of how they can lead to poor decisions.
• Logical Fallacies : The author covers a range of logical fallacies, including ad hominem arguments, false dichotomies, and slippery slopes. He explains how these fallacies can be used to mislead and how to recognize them to improve your critical thinking skills.
• The Importance of Probabilities : Dobelli emphasizes the importance of understanding probabilities and how they can influence our thinking and decision-making. He provides tips for improving our understanding of probabilities, such as avoiding overconfidence and avoiding the false belief that a low-probability event is unlikely to happen.
• The Power of Framing : The book explores the role of framing in shaping our perceptions and decisions and how different ways of presenting information can lead to very different decisions. Dobelli provides examples of how framing can influence our thinking, such as the way that people are more likely to support a policy if it is framed in terms of benefits rather than costs.
• The Impact of Emotions : The author discusses the role of emotions in shaping our thinking and decision-making and how they can lead to irrational behavior. He provides tips for reducing the influence of emotions, such as using logic and reason to make decisions and avoiding emotional appeals.
• The Importance of Simplicity : Dobelli argues that simplicity is key to effective thinking and decision-making and that we should strive to keep our thinking simple and avoid over-complicating issues. He provides tips for simplifying our thinking, such as avoiding distractions, focusing on the most important information, and avoiding overly complex explanations.
• The Role of Intuition : The author discusses the role of intuition in our decision-making and how it can be both useful and misleading. He provides tips for improving our intuition, such as exposing ourselves to a variety of experiences and avoiding over-reliance on intuition.

In conclusion, “The Art of Thinking Clearly” is a practical and accessible guide to improving your critical thinking skills and decision-making abilities. The book covers a wide range of topics and provides actionable advice for avoiding common pitfalls and biases. Whether you’re a student, a professional, or just someone interested in improving your thinking skills, this book is an excellent resource for anyone who wants to be a more effective thinker.

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

“Weaponized Lies: How to Think Critically in the Post-Truth Era” by Daniel J. Levitin is a book that explores the dangers of misinformation and propaganda, and provides practical tips for improving critical thinking and decision-making skills in the digital age.

Below are the key points from the book:

• The Rise of Misinformation : Levitin discusses the proliferation of misinformation in the digital age and how it can be used to manipulate public opinion and spread false information. He provides examples of how misinformation has been used to distort public discourse and the impact that this can have on modern society.
• The Science of Thinking : Levitin draws on the latest research in cognitive psychology and neuroscience to explain why it is so difficult to think critically in the face of misinformation. He provides an overview of the ways in which our brain processes information and how this can lead to biases and misunderstandings.
• The Power of Narratives : Levitin explains how narratives can be used to manipulate public opinion, and provides tips for identifying false narratives and breaking down complex information into more manageable pieces.
• The Importance of Evidence : The author emphasizes the importance of evidence in critical thinking and provides tips for evaluating the credibility of sources and using data to make informed decisions. He discusses the role of intuition and gut feelings in decision-making and how to distinguish between intuition that is based on solid evidence and intuition that is based on false or misleading information.
• The Role of Emotions : Levitin discusses the role of emotions in shaping our thinking and decision-making and provides tips for reducing the influence of emotions in order to think more critically. He explains how emotions can be used to manipulate public opinion and provides examples of how propaganda and misinformation can play on our emotions to spread false information.
• The Need for Digital Literacy : Levitin argues that digital literacy is essential in the post-truth era and provides tips for improving digital literacy skills, such as evaluating the credibility of sources, identifying misinformation, and using data to make informed decisions.
• The Importance of Diversity : The author emphasizes the importance of diversity in critical thinking and provides tips for seeking out a diversity of perspectives and avoiding echo chambers. He explains how diversity can help us to identify false narratives and think more critically about the information that we are presented with.

In conclusion, “Weaponized Lies: How to Think Critically in the Post-Truth Era” is an important and timely book that provides practical advice for improving critical thinking skills in the face of misinformation and propaganda. Whether you’re a student, a professional, or just someone interested in improving your critical thinking skills, this book is an excellent resource for anyone who wants to be better equipped to navigate the complex and often misleading information landscape of the digital age.

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

“Critical Thinking: Your Guide to Effective Argument, Successful Analysis, and Independent Study” by Tom Chatfield is a comprehensive guide to improving critical thinking skills. The book covers a wide range of topics, including argumentation, analysis, and independent study, and provides practical advice and exercises for putting critical or irrational thinking skills into practice.

• The Fundamentals of Critical Thinking : Chatfield provides an overview of the basics of critical thinking, including its definition, its importance, and its applications. He explains how critical thinking skills can be used to analyze information, make informed decisions, and argue effectively.
• The Art of Argument : Chatfield provides a comprehensive guide to argumentation, including the structure of arguments, the different types of arguments, and the techniques used to make and rebut arguments. He also provides tips for avoiding common pitfalls in argumentation, such as fallacies, and for constructing effective and persuasive arguments.
• The Power of Analysis : Chatfield discusses the importance of analysis in critical thinking and provides tips for approaching and analyzing information in a systematic and thorough manner. He covers a range of analytical techniques, including inductive and deductive reasoning, as well as strategies for organizing and synthesizing information.
• Independent Study : The author provides guidance for developing independent study skills, including setting goals, managing time, and staying motivated. He also discusses the importance of self-reflection and self-assessment in the learning process and provides tips for monitoring progress and improving skills over time.
• Overcoming Barriers to Critical Thinking : Chatfield explores some of the common barriers to critical thinking, such as cognitive biases, emotional reactions, and logical fallacies. He provides tips for recognizing and overcoming these barriers and for developing a critical thinking mindset.
• Putting Critical Thinking into Practice : The author provides practical exercises and real-world examples to help readers put their critical thinking skills into practice. He covers a range of topics, including evaluating sources, analyzing data, constructing arguments, and developing independent study skills.

In conclusion, “Critical Thinking: Your Guide to Effective Argument, Successful Analysis, and Independent Study” is an invaluable resource for anyone looking to improve their critical thinking skills. Whether you’re a student, a professional, or just someone interested in developing your analytical abilities, this book provides a comprehensive guide to critical thinking and a wealth of practical advice and exercises for putting these skills into practice.

6. The 5 Elements of Effective Thinking by Edward B. Burger

“The 5 Elements of Effective Thinking” by Edward B. Burger is a comprehensive guide to developing effective thinking skills. The book provides a step-by-step framework for approaching problems, making decisions, and solving problems and is designed for anyone looking to improve their thinking abilities.

• Element 1: Understanding : Burger introduces the first element of effective thinking, understanding, and explains why it is the foundation of all effective thinking. He provides tips for gaining a deep understanding of problems and concepts and for breaking down complex ideas into simple parts.
• Element 2: Exploring Possibilities : The second element of effective thinking is exploring possibilities. Burger explains how to generate a wide range of ideas and options for solving problems and provides tips for evaluating and selecting the best solution.
• Element 3: Reasoning and Argument : The third element of effective thinking is reasoning and argument. Burger discusses the importance of logical reasoning in problem-solving, and provides tips for constructing and evaluating arguments. He also covers common logical fallacies and how to avoid them.
• Element 4: Re-evaluating and Reflecting : The fourth element of effective thinking is re-evaluating and reflecting. Burger explains why it’s important to continually re-evaluate and reflect on one’s thinking, and provides tips for improving critical thinking skills over time.
• Element 5: Engaging and Persisting : The final element of effective thinking is engaging and persisting. Burger discusses the importance of perseverance and determination in problem-solving, and provides tips for staying motivated and engaged in the face of obstacles and setbacks.

Throughout the book, Burger provides real-world examples and case studies to illustrate the five elements of effective thinking in action. He covers a range of topics, including mathematics, science, and everyday problem-solving.

In conclusion, “The 5 Elements of Effective Thinking” is a valuable resource for anyone looking to improve their thinking skills. Whether you’re a student, a professional, or just someone interested in developing your problem-solving abilities, this book provides a comprehensive guide to effective thinking and a wealth of practical advice and exercises for putting these skills into practice. It’s one of the best books on critical thinking that you can read.

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

“Think Smarter: Critical Thinking to Improve Problem-Solving and Decision-Making Skills” by Michael Kallet is a comprehensive guide for developing critical thinking skills. The book provides a step-by-step framework for approaching problems, making decisions, and solving problems and is designed for anyone looking to improve their thinking abilities.

Here are the key points from this critical thinking book:

• Understanding Critical Thinking : Kallet introduces the concept of critical thinking and explains why it is an essential skill for problem-solving and decision-making. He provides an overview of the key components of critical thinking, including reasoning, logic, and problem-solving.
• Mindsets and Approaches : The book discusses the importance of the right mindset and approach in problem-solving and decision-making. Kallet provides tips for developing a growth mindset, and explains how to approach problems with an open and flexible mindset.
• Analytical Tools and Techniques : Kallet provides a range of analytical tools and techniques for improving critical thinking skills, including SWOT analysis, root cause analysis, and decision trees. He explains how to use these tools to identify and analyze problems, and provides tips for selecting the most effective tool for a given problem.
• Problem-Solving and Decision-Making : The book covers the key steps involved in problem-solving and decision-making, from defining the problem to implementing a solution. Kallet provides tips for breaking down complex problems into smaller, more manageable parts, and for evaluating and selecting the best solution.
• Communication and Collaboration : Kallet explains the importance of effective communication and collaboration in problem-solving and decision-making, and provides tips for improving communication skills. He covers topics such as active listening, feedback, and conflict resolution.
• Overcoming Barriers and Improving Critical Thinking Skills : The book concludes by discussing common barriers to critical thinking and problem solving and provides strategies for overcoming these barriers. Kallet provides tips for improving critical and strategic thinking skills over time, including self-reflection and continuous learning.
• Real-world Applications : Throughout the book, Kallet provides real-world examples and case studies to illustrate the key concepts and techniques in action. He covers a range of topics, including business , finance, and everyday problem-solving.

In conclusion, “Think Smarter: Critical Thinking to Improve Problem-Solving and Decision-Making Skills” is a valuable resource for anyone looking to improve their thinking skills.

8. A Rulebook for Arguments by Anthony Weston

“A Rulebook for Arguments” by Anthony Weston is a comprehensive guide to constructing and evaluating arguments. The book provides a concise and accessible introduction to the principles of critical thinking and argumentation, and is designed for students, professionals, and anyone interested in improving their reasoning skills.

• Understanding Arguments : Weston introduces the concept of arguments and explains why they are an essential component of critical thinking. He provides an overview of the key components of arguments, including premises, conclusions, and evidence.
• Reasoning and Evidence : The book discusses the importance of reasoning and evidence in constructing arguments, and provides tips for evaluating the strength of arguments. Weston explains how to identify and analyze arguments, and provides tips for constructing arguments that are supported by sound reasoning and evidence.
• Logical Fallacies : Weston covers common logical fallacies and explains how to identify and avoid them in arguments. He provides a range of examples of fallacies, including ad hominem attacks, straw man arguments, and hasty generalizations.
• Evaluating Arguments : The book covers the key steps involved in evaluating arguments, including identifying premises and conclusions, analyzing evidence, and evaluating reasoning. Weston provides tips for evaluating the strength of arguments, and explains how to detect and avoid flaws in reasoning.
• Writing Arguments : The book concludes by discussing the importance of effective writing in argumentation, and provides tips for improving writing skills. Weston covers topics such as clarity, concision, and coherence, and provides tips for constructing well-supported arguments in written form.

In conclusion, “A Rulebook for Arguments” is a valuable resource for anyone looking to improve their reasoning and argumentation skills. Whether you’re a student, a professional, or just someone interested in developing your critical thinking abilities, this book provides a comprehensive guide to the principles of argumentation and a wealth of practical tips and techniques for constructing and evaluating arguments.

9. Thinking from A to Z Nigel Warburton

“Thinking from A to Z” by Nigel Warburton is a comprehensive guide to critical thinking, designed to help readers develop their reasoning and analytical skills. The book covers a wide range of topics, from the basics of argumentation and reasoning to more advanced concepts in philosophy and logic.

• Introduction to Critical Thinking : Warburton provides an overview of critical thinking, explaining what it is and why it is important. He covers the key skills and abilities involved in critical thinking, including reasoning, analysis, and evaluation.
• Basic Elements of Argumentation : The book covers the basics of argumentation, including the structure of arguments, the use of evidence, and the importance of coherence and clarity in writing. Warburton explains how to identify premises, conclusions, and evidence, and provides tips for constructing well-supported arguments.
• Logical Fallacies : Warburton covers common logical fallacies and explains how to identify and avoid them in arguments. He provides a range of examples of fallacies, including ad hominem attacks, straw man arguments, and hasty generalizations.
• Reasoning and Evidence : The book discusses the importance of reasoning and evidence in constructing arguments, and provides tips for evaluating the strength of arguments. Warburton explains how to analyze arguments and provides tips for evaluating the reasoning and evidence used in arguments.
• Advanced Topics in Philosophy and Logic : In addition to the basics of critical thinking and argumentation, the book covers more advanced topics in philosophy and logic, including the nature of truth, inductive reasoning, and deductive reasoning. Warburton provides a clear and accessible introduction to these topics, making them accessible to readers with no prior knowledge of philosophy or logic.
• Writing and Communication : The book concludes by discussing the importance of effective writing and communication in critical thinking. Warburton provides tips for improving writing skills, and explains how to construct well-supported arguments in written form.

In conclusion, “Thinking from A to Z” is a comprehensive and accessible guide to critical thinking and argumentation.

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

“Critical Thinking: Your Guide to Effective Argument, Successful Analysis and Independent Study” by Tom Chatfield is a comprehensive guide to the skills and techniques of critical thinking. The book is designed to help readers develop their reasoning, analytical, and argumentation skills and to become more confident, independent thinkers.

• Introduction to Critical Thinking : Chatfield provides an overview of critical thinking, explaining what it is and why it is important. He covers the key skills and abilities involved in critical thinking, including reasoning, analysis, and evaluation.
• Understanding and Evaluating Arguments : The book covers the basics of argumentation, including the structure of arguments, the use of evidence, and the importance of coherence and clarity in writing. Chatfield explains how to identify premises, conclusions, and evidence and provides tips for evaluating the arguments of others.
• Logical Fallacies : Chatfield covers common logical fallacies and explains how to identify and avoid them in arguments. He provides a range of examples of fallacies, including ad hominem attacks, straw man arguments, and hasty generalizations.
• Reasoning and Evidence : The book discusses the importance of reasoning and evidence in constructing arguments, and provides tips for evaluating the strength of arguments. Chatfield explains how to analyze arguments and provides tips for evaluating the reasoning and evidence used in arguments.
• Mindsets and Approaches to Problem-solving : The book covers a range of critical thinking strategies, including lateral thinking, mental models, and the importance of creativity and intuition. Chatfield provides practical advice on how to apply these strategies in real-world situations.
• Real-world Applications : Throughout the book, Chatfield provides real-world examples and case studies to illustrate the key concepts and techniques in action. He covers a range of topics, including politics, business, and everyday argumentation.
• Writing and Communication : The book concludes by discussing the importance of effective writing and communication in critical thinking. Chatfield provides tips for improving writing skills, and explains how to construct well-supported arguments in written form.

In conclusion, Chatfield provides a summary of the key concepts and skills covered in the book and provides a roadmap for continued learning and development in critical thinking.

11. Being Logical: A Guide to Good Thinking Dennis Q. McInerny

“Being Logical: A Guide to Good Thinking” by Dennis Q. McInerny is a comprehensive guide to the principles of logic and critical thinking. The book is designed to help readers develop their reasoning skills, become more effective problem-solvers, and make better decisions in their daily lives.

• Introduction to Logic : McInerny provides an overview of logic, explaining what it is and why it is important. He covers the basic principles of logic, including the law of non-contradiction, the law of excluded middle, and the principle of identity.
• Fallacies and Common Mistakes in Reasoning : The book covers common fallacies and mistakes in reasoning, including ad hominem attacks, straw man arguments, and hasty generalizations. McInerny explains how to identify and avoid these fallacies in your own thinking and in the arguments of others.
• The Structure of Arguments : McInerny covers the basics of argument structure, explaining how to identify premises, conclusions, and evidence. He provides tips for constructing well-supported arguments and explains how to evaluate the strength of arguments.
• Inductive and Deductive Reasoning : McInerny covers the key differences between inductive and deductive reasoning, and explains how to use each type of reasoning in real-world situations. He provides practical tips and examples of how to apply these principles in your own thinking.
• Evidence and Proof : The book discusses the importance of evidence and proof in constructing arguments, and provides tips for evaluating the strength of evidence. McInerny explains how to use evidence to support your own arguments, and how to analyze and evaluate the evidence used by others.
• Writing and Communication : The book concludes by discussing the importance of effective writing and communication in logic and critical thinking. McInerny provides tips for improving writing skills, and explains how to construct well-supported arguments in written form.

In conclusion, “Being Logical: A Guide to Good Thinking” is an accessible and comprehensive guide to the principles of logic and critical thinking. Whether you’re a student, a professional, or just someone interested in improving your reasoning skills, this book provides a wealth of information and practical tips for becoming a more effective thinker.

12. Critical Thinking Skills: Developing Effective Analysis and Argument by Stella Cottrell

“Critical Thinking Skills: Developing Effective Analysis and Argument” by Stella Cottrell is a comprehensive guide to improving critical thinking skills. The book covers a wide range of topics, including argument construction, analysis, and evaluation, and provides practical tips and exercises for improving critical thinking skills.

• Introduction to Critical Thinking : Cottrell provides an overview of what critical thinking is, and why it is important for success in all areas of life. She covers the key components of critical thinking, including analysis, evaluation, and argumentation, and explains how to apply these skills in real-world situations.
• Analysis and Evaluation : The book covers the critical thinking processes of analyzing and evaluating information, including tips for identifying key information and evaluating its reliability. Cottrell provides practical examples and exercises for improving analysis skills, and explains how to use these skills to make better decisions.
• Argumentation : Cottrell covers the basics of argumentation, including the components of an argument, the importance of evidence, and the role of assumptions. She provides tips for constructing effective arguments, and explains how to evaluate the strength of arguments.
• Logical Fallacies : The book covers common logical fallacies and how to avoid them, including ad hominem attacks, straw man arguments, and false assumptions. Cottrell provides examples of these fallacies in real-world arguments, and explains how to identify and avoid them in your own thinking.
• Writing and Communication : The book covers the importance of effective writing and communication in critical thinking. Cottrell provides tips for improving writing skills, and explains how to use writing to express your arguments and opinions effectively.
• Real-world Applications : Throughout the book, Cottrell provides real-world examples and case studies to illustrate the key concepts and techniques in action. She covers a range of topics, including politics, business, and everyday decision-making.

In conclusion, “Critical Thinking Skills: Developing Effective Analysis and Argument” is a comprehensive guide to improving critical thinking skills. Whether you’re a student, a professional, or just someone interested in improving your reasoning skills, this book provides a wealth of information and practical tips for becoming a more effective thinker. The clear, concise writing style and practical exercises make it a valuable resource for anyone looking to improve their critical thinking skills.

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

“Asking the Right Questions: A Guide to Critical Thinking” by Stuart M. Keeley and Neil Browne is a comprehensive guide to critical thinking and problem-solving. This critical thinking book covers a wide range of topics, including argumentation, analysis, and decision-making, and provides practical tips and exercises for improving critical thinking skills.

• Introduction : Keeley and Browne provide an overview of what critical thinking is, and why it is important for success in all areas of life. They explain the key components of critical thinking, including analysis, evaluation, and argumentation, and provide a framework for applying these skills in real-world situations.
• Analysis and Evaluation : The book covers the process of analyzing and evaluating information, including tips for identifying key information and evaluating its reliability. Keeley and Browne provide practical examples and exercises for improving analysis skills and explain how to use these skills to make better decisions.
• Argumentation : The authors cover the basics of argumentation, including the components of an argument, the importance of evidence, and the role of assumptions. They provide tips for constructing effective arguments and explain how to evaluate the strength of arguments.
• Logical Fallacies : The book covers common logical fallacies and how to avoid them.
• Decisions and Problem-solving : The authors cover the importance of critical thinking in decision-making and problem-solving and provide practical tips for improving these skills. They explain how to evaluate options, identify potential biases, and make better decisions in various real-world situations.
• Communication : The book covers the importance of effective communication in logical thinking and provides tips for improving writing and speaking skills. Keeley and Browne explain how to express your arguments and opinions effectively and how to communicate with others to reach a consensus.
• Real-world Applications : Throughout the book, Keeley and Browne provide real-world examples and case studies to illustrate the key concepts and techniques in action.

In conclusion, “Asking the Right Questions: A Guide to Critical Thinking” is a comprehensive guide to critical thinking and problem-solving. Whether you’re a student, a professional, or just someone interested in improving your reasoning skills, this book provides a wealth of information and practical tips for becoming a more effective thinker. The clear, concise writing style and practical exercises make it a valuable resource for anyone looking to improve their critical thinking skills.

14. The Critical Thinking Toolkit by Galen A. Foresman, Jamie Carlin Watson, Peter S. Fosl

“The Critical Thinking Toolkit” by Galen A. Foresman, Jamie Carlin Watson, and Peter S. Fosl is a comprehensive guide to critical thinking. The book covers the basics of critical thinking, including what it is and why it’s important, as well as more advanced topics such as how to develop critical thinking skills, how to evaluate arguments and evidence, and how to think more creatively.

• Critical thinking is the ability to analyze and evaluate information, arguments, and evidence in order to make informed decisions and draw sound conclusions.
• There are several key elements of critical thinking, including the ability to ask questions, evaluate evidence, identify assumptions and biases, and analyze arguments.
• Developing critical thinking skills requires practice, patience, and persistence. It is important to be curious and to seek out information and arguments from a variety of sources.
• In order to evaluate evidence effectively, it is important to be familiar with the types of evidence, including anecdotal evidence, statistical evidence, and expert testimony.
• Also, To evaluate arguments effectively, it is important to understand the different types of arguments, including deductive arguments, inductive arguments, and abductive arguments.
• It is also important to be aware of common logical fallacies, such as ad hominem attacks, straw man arguments, and false dilemma arguments.
• To think more creatively, it is important to be open to new ideas and perspectives, embrace uncertainty, and think outside the box.
• The authors also provide several practical tools and techniques for developing critical thinking skills, including the use of thought experiments, critical reading and writing, and Socratic questioning.

“The Critical Thinking Toolkit” is an accessible and comprehensive guide to critical thinking that is suitable for anyone who wants to improve their thinking skills. Whether you are a student, a professional, or just someone who wants to be more informed and make better decisions, this book will provide you with the tools and techniques you need to become a more effective critical thinker.

15. The Power of Critical Thinking by Lewis Vaughn

“The Power of Critical Thinking” by Lewis Vaughn is a comprehensive guide that provides a better understanding of critical thinking and its importance in our daily lives. The book offers practical techniques and strategies to help individuals develop their critical thinking skills and make informed decisions. The book’s aim is to help individuals gain the ability to think logically, rationally, and systematically and to overcome common biases and errors in reasoning.

• Introduces critical thinking and its importance in our daily lives.
• Offers practical techniques and strategies to help individuals develop their critical thinking skills.
• Aims to help individuals gain the ability to think logically, rationally, and systematically.
• Provides an understanding of common biases and errors in reasoning.
• Helps individuals make informed decisions.
• Explanation of critical thinking and its importance in decision-making
• Techniques and strategies to develop critical thinking skills
• Understanding of common reasoning errors and biases
• Examination of the role of critical thinking in everyday life
• Overview of ethical considerations in critical thinking
• Discussion of how critical thinking can be applied in practical settings such as education, work, and politics.

Throughout the book, Lewis Vaughn explores the various aspects of critical thinking, starting with a basic understanding of what it is and why it is important. He then delves into various techniques and strategies to develop critical thinking skills, such as questioning assumptions, analyzing arguments, and recognizing fallacies. The book also covers common biases and errors in reasoning, such as confirmation bias, hasty generalization, and ad hominem attacks.

Vaughn emphasizes the importance of critical thinking in personal life and the ways in which it can help individuals make informed decisions. He also highlights the role of critical thinking in practical settings, such as education, work, and politics, and the ethical considerations that come with it.

Overall, “The Power of Critical Thinking” is a comprehensive guide that provides individuals with the tools and knowledge they need to develop their critical thinking skills and make informed decisions. The book is written in a clear and concise manner, making it accessible to a wide range of readers, regardless of their prior knowledge or experience with critical thinking.

16. How to Think About Weird Things: Critical Thinking for a New Age by Theodore Schick and Lewis Vaughn

“How to Think About Weird Things: Critical Thinking for a New Age” by Theodore Schick and Lewis Vaughn is a comprehensive guide on how to think critically and apply that thinking to everyday life. The book aims to help readers develop their analytical skills and make informed decisions based on evidence, reason, and logical thinking.

The book covers a wide range of topics, including scientific reasoning, skepticism, pseudoscience, critical evaluation of beliefs, and the importance of thinking critically. The authors provide clear and concise explanations of various critical thinking techniques, such as argument analysis and hypothesis testing, which readers can apply in their own lives. The book also features numerous examples of how critical thinking can be applied to real-world situations and help us make better decisions.

• Scientific reasoning : The authors emphasize the importance of scientific reasoning in making informed decisions. They explain the scientific method and how it can be used to test theories and hypotheses. They also address common misconceptions about science, such as the idea that science is just a matter of opinion.
• Skepticism : The authors explain what skepticism is and how it can be used to evaluate claims critically. They also address common misconceptions about skepticism, such as the idea that skeptics are closed-minded or cynical.
• Pseudoscience : The authors explain what pseudoscience is and how it differs from science. They also provide examples of common pseudoscientific claims and explain why they are flawed.
• Critical evaluation of beliefs : The authors explain how to critically evaluate beliefs and arguments. They provide a framework for analyzing arguments, including how to identify premises, conclusions, and supporting evidence.
• Importance of critical thinking : The authors emphasize the importance of critical thinking in everyday life. They explain how critical thinking can help us make better decisions, avoid falling for scams and misinformation and improve our overall quality of life.

In conclusion, “How to Think About Weird Things: Critical Thinking for a New Age” is an excellent guide to critical thinking and how it can be applied in everyday life. The authors provide clear and concise explanations of critical thinking techniques and real-world examples of how they can be used. Whether you’re a student, a professional, or just someone who wants to make informed decisions, this book is an essential guide to improving your critical thinking skills.

17. Thinking Critically by John Chaffee

“Thinking Critically” by John Chaffee is a comprehensive guide to the practice of critical thinking, intended for students and general readers alike. In the book, Chaffee outlines the skills and knowledge necessary to analyze and evaluate arguments effectively and make well-supported decisions. The book is organized into four sections, each of which covers a different aspect of critical thinking.

Section 1: Introduction to Critical Thinking

• The purpose of critical thinking
• The importance of critical thinking in today’s world
• Common obstacles to critical thinking and how to overcome them

Section 2: Analyzing Arguments

• How to identify and distinguish between different types of arguments
• The role of evidence and reasons in arguments
• How to assess the strength and weaknesses of arguments

Section 3: Evaluating Reasoning and Evidence

• The criteria for evaluating reasoning and evidence
• How to evaluate reasoning and evidence in different contexts
• The importance of considering alternative perspectives

Section 4: Applying Critical Thinking in Everyday Life

• How to apply critical thinking to personal and social issues
• How to critically evaluate media and advertising
• The role of critical thinking in making informed decisions

The book includes a variety of pedagogical features, such as review questions, exercises, and suggestions for further reading, to aid in understanding and retention of the material.

Overall, “Thinking Critically” provides a comprehensive overview of the key elements of critical thinking and offers practical guidance for how to apply these skills in everyday life. The book is well-written and accessible, making it a valuable resource for anyone looking to improve their critical thinking skills.

Lastly, the 17 books on critical thinking that we’ve highlighted in this blog are a great resource for anyone looking to improve their reasoning skills and make informed decisions. Each book offers a unique perspective and approach to critical thinking, making it easy to find one that fits your learning style and needs.

Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced critical thinker, these books are sure to challenge your assumptions and provide you with the tools you need to think more deeply, solve problems more effectively, and make better decisions. So why not choose a book from this list and start your journey to become a more informed and critical thinker today!

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What are the Top 20 Best Critical Thinking Books?

There are many great books on critical thinking, including but not limited to Thinknetic’s “The Habit of Critical Thinking,” Rebecca Stobaugh’s “50 Strategies to Boost Cognitive Engagement,” and Jonathan Haber’s “Critical Thinking: Part of the MIT Press Essential Knowledge.” 

What is Critical Thinking?

Critical thinking is the ability to objectively analyze and evaluate an issue in order to form judgment, which is vital in today’s world. While critical thinking begins in early childhood and is taught at the primary and secondary education levels, it is always best to keep your critical thinking skills sharp.

Why is Critical Thinking Important?

Critical thinking fosters creativity and out of the box thinking, which can be applied to any area of life. People are usually introduced to critical thinking in early childhood when, as infants and toddlers, we explore our world and its limits. Our first problem solving skills come in our earliest years.

The Top 20 Books on Critical Thinking

The following books can all be found on Amazon.com, and a link is provided for each.

1.) Critical Thinking ; Logic Mastery (Series by Thinknetic)

Most of these books are available on Kindle Unlimited. You can purchase them individually or as a set.

2.) Critical Thinking and the Analytical Mind by Marcus P. Dawson

3.) Critical Thinking: The 12 Rules for Intelligent Thinking by Jason Dyer

4.) 50 Strategies to Boost Cognitive Engagement by Rebecca Stobaugh

This valuable book for teachers of any grade level – from elementary to college – helps build a culture of thinking that transforms any classroom into an environment of active learning and student engagement.

5.) Critical Thinking: The MIT Press Essential Knowledge Series by Jonathan Haber

6.) The Critical Thinking Toolkit by Galen A. Foresman, Peter S. Fosl, and Jamie C. Watson

7.) Critical Thinking: A Beginner’s Guide to Developing Reasoning Skills by Morris Cullen

Amazon Link: https://amzn.to/3DX6t7w

A great resource for those still unfamiliar with the concept of critical thinking, this book will help the reader conquer feeble thought patterns and utilize reason.

8.) Critical Thinking Beginner’s Guide: Learn How Reasoning by Logic Improves Effective Problem Solving by Carl Patterson

This book contains the tools to think smarter and level up intuition to reach your potential and grow your mindfulness.

9.) Thinking Guide for Busy People by Harvey Smart

10.) Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman

This New York Times Bestseller won the Nobel Prize in Economics.

11.) Overthinking is NOT the Solution by Robert J. Charles

12.) Communication Skills Training by Ian Tuhovsky

13.) Self-Discipline: How to Build Mental Toughness and Focus to Achieve your Goals by John Winters

A great book for those who don’t feel in control of their lives and want to change their path.

14.) Critical Thinking Mastery by Carl Patterson

15.) Master Your Emotions by Thibaut Meurisse

16.) Rethinking How We Think by Charles M. Johnston, MD

This book details the integrative meta-perspective and the cognitive growing up on which our future depends.

17.) Critical Thinking by Brooke Noel Moore and Richard Parker

18.) Critical Thinking in Psychology, edited by Robert J. Sternberg

19.) Thinking in Systems and Mental Models by Marcus P. Dawson

A guide for decision making and problem solving, this book introduces chaos theory and the science of thinking for social change.

20.) Critical Thinking by Tom Chatfield

This valuable resource serves as a guide for effective argument, successful analysis, and independent study.

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Critical thinking and goal setting, can critical thinking be taught, how to teach critical thinking in the digital age: effective strategies and techniques, critical reading strategies, download this free ebook.

Home » Blog » Books » 18 Best Critical Thinking Books (#6 It’s Good!)

18 Best Critical Thinking Books (#6 It’s Good!)

If you’re reading this you probably already have lots of stuff on your plate.

I know well how hard it can be to find a balance between your daily tasks and personal development.

Yet, critical thinking is a crucial skill that has to be refined.

Think about how Warren Buffett or Ray Dalio can consistently beat the market .

You need to be able to make up your mind by yourself to win, especially in widely competitive markets.

Reading is the easiest and most accessible way for you to develop your critical thinking skills.

I’ve compiled a list of the best critical thinking books that are true game-changers.

Read on to discover why!

Table of Contents

1. Antifragile: Things That Gain From Disorder

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Nicholas Taleb is one of the most influential philosophical voices of our time , and this book will literally change the way that you look at everything in your life. It’s all about how ‘disorder’ is actually good for us. This book is chock-full of life lessons about letting things go and learning how to go with the flow.

Antifragile: Things That Gain From Disorder helped me learn to see the beauty in the chaos. As a Type-A personality, I’m often in a position where I stress out about things that I can’t control. When I learned how to embrace uncertainty, my whole worldview changed. This book will change the way that you do business, but it will also touch every other aspect of your life. You’ll start to change the way that you think, let go of that control, and begin to feel happier amid chaos.

2. Wait, What?: And Life’s Other Essential Questions

James E. Ryan’s book on asking probing questions is a must-read for 2019. Often there are plenty of life lessons right at our fingertips, but we’re not asking the right questions. This book will teach you to peel back the surface layer and really start to ask those questions that matter the most.

Thinking outside of the box is one of the number one skills that any entrepreneur must master to really understand their true potential. Too often our questions box us into areas that we don’t need to be confined in. That’s why this book is so empowering. While everyone else is looking for the answers, you need to be asking the right questions. Critical thinking is all about shifting the picture, and this book totally does that!

3. Enlightenment Now: The Case for Reason, Science, Humanism, and Progress

How many times have you turned on the news and been totally appalled by what you see in the headlines? Let’s get real, gore and sensationalism sell, but Steven Pinker knows that the real news is that the world is getting better. His book Enlightenment Now: The Case for Reason, Science, Humanism, and Progress is a celebration of optimism.

There has never been a time in the history of the world where we have had more financial security, health or overall peace. It might not seem like that’s the case, but Steven Pinker lays down some indisputable facts. If you need a fresh perspective on what’s going on in the world , check out this game-changing book.

4. A More Beautiful Question: The Power of Inquiry to Spark Breakthrough Ideas

Just like Wait, What?: And Life’s Other Essential Questions , this book by Warren Berger focuses on asking the right questions, instead of searching for all of the answers . In my experience, people like those who ask probing questions and really show a sense of empathy. It shows that you care about them, are invested in what they have to say, and will take their words to heart.

Also, when you ask questions with an open mind, you run the risk of cracking your mind open even more! Let me explain. If you ask someone a question about their beliefs and truly listen to their answer, you might change your mind on something. If you make one business resolution this year, try to ask the right questions and work on really being a superstar listener!

5. Critical Thinking Skills: Developing Effective Analysis and Argument

Did you know that there’s a science to crafting a compelling argument? Stella Cottrell knows! This book gives you the nuts and bolts that you’ll need to craft your very own arguments and sharpen up those critical thinking skills to levels that you didn’t even know were possible.

While other books focus on more ambiguous aspects of critical thinking, Stella Cottrell leans heavily on the way that effective critical thinking is measured and how you can reflect on your own process to fine-tune your skill sets. This is an excellent book for people who really want to become better listeners, thinkers, and stretch their cognitive muscles to the maximum!

6. The Five Elements of Effective Thinking

Okay, I don’t know about you, but I love numbered lists. It helps me understand exactly what I’m getting out of a book or article. Edward B. Burger’s The Five Elements of Effective Thinking delivers on its promises completely. You know exactly what you’re getting from this book, and it does not disappoint.

You’ll get step-by-step directions on how to become a better critical thinker , a more successful entrepreneur, and how to change your thought patterns. There is not enough emphasis put on changing thought patterns. Most of our greatest demons and challenges are in our own minds , and it’s important to remember that only by changing up our thought patterns, we can effectively become the engineers of our own lives. Really, it’s that powerful of a technique!

7. The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark

This oldie but goodie by Carl Sagan and Ann Druyan first came out in 1997, but you should read it in 2019. Why? Even if you read it back in 1997, it’s time for a refresher course. If you’ve never read it, it’s high time to read this classic book by Carl Sagan and Ann Druyan.

This book takes direct aim at pseudoscience, citing the advances in technology as a reason why more and more people are turning to debunked theories. It’s a bit of a radical book, and will no doubt upset some people. I found it even more fascinating in the second read because social media has taken over our lives to such a significant degree. That means that many people are sitting in their information bubbles and only getting the information that they want to absorb.

This book is even more timely now!

Pseudoscience can be fun, but it can also take away from the tasks at hand. Relying on pseudoscience or gimmicks instead of putting in the hard work can be the difference between a successful entrepreneur and an unsuccessful one. This book is an excellent warning to stay on the ball.

8. Predictably Irrational: The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisions

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I love Dan Ariely’s work, so I was really excited to read this book. I was not disappointed! We like to think that we are totally in control of all of our decisions . Sadly, we are influenced by all sorts of external forces and emotional states that go all the way back to caveman days.

Ariely really digs deep into the science behind this, citing primitive urges and psychological states to boost his argument. The book isn’t all doom and gloom though. We can overcome our irrational urges and start making decisions that make sense. We just need to understand where and when the irrational is coming out. That way we can combat it effectively!

9. A Rulebook For Arguments

If you’ve had just about enough of critical thinking books that don’t get down to brass tacks quickly enough, you need to check out Anthony Weston’s epic soon-to-be classic A Rulebook For Arguments. This book lets you put your desire to amp up your critical thinking skills into actionable form. It is effortless to follow, gives straightforward advice, and is a fast read!

This is an excellent book for busy entrepreneurs because you can get through it in a matter of a few hours, and start to put the lessons that you learn from Weston into effect as soon as the following week. If you read only one book on this list, make it A Rulebook For Arguments

10. Thinking Fast And Slow

Thinking Fast And Slow by Daniel Kahneman lets us examine how we put the world together and learn to reason better all of the time! We have two thought patterns; fast and slow. Understanding the advantages and disadvantages of each is critical to becoming more of a rockstar critical thinker.

This book gives you actionable steps to take to improve your thought process . In my experience, learning how to process information more effectively is the key to thinking critically and understanding the world around us. This book is a must-read for anyone who deals with a lot of negotiations, as it teaches empathy as well as critical thinking!

11. How to Think About Weird Things: Critical Thinking for a New Age

Do you love this title as much as I do? I’m always thinking of so-called weird things. That’s such a huge part of being an entrepreneur! Theodore Schick and Lewis Vaughn are the authors of this book, and it will stretch your mental muscles to the point of exhaustion. If you are looking for a book that will revolutionalize the way that you think , How to Think About Weird Things: Critical Thinking for a New Age is the book for you!

I’m all about testing my mental limits , so I loved this book. Others will want to just take a few lessons from the book, or start slowly. It’s a lot to take in, but if you implement small changes, you’ll find yourself become more and more comfortable thinking outside the box. There are some varsity-level ideas in this book, but it’s really worth the read!

12. Think Smarter: Critical Thinking to Improve Problem-Solving and Decision-Making Skills

Michael Kallet’s epic book Think Smarter: Critical Thinking to Improve Problem-Solving and Decision-Making Skills is the beginner’s guide to learning how to be a better critical thinker. Experts can still learn a little something from this book too! The steps that Kallet gives are totally actionable and make sense. It sticks to technique and gives you the exercises that you need to improve your critical thinking.

This book helped me not only in business but in life also. I’ve been able to apply the techniques learned here to family dynamics, rifts between friends, and negotiations. If you need to adjust your perspective, give this book a try!

13. Mistakes Were Made (But Not by Me): Why We Justify Foolish Beliefs, Bad Decisions, and Hurtful Acts

Mistakes Were Made (But Not by Me): Why We Justify Foolish Beliefs, Bad Decisions, and Hurtful Acts by Carol Tavris and Elliot Aronson is that bitter pill that we don’t want to take. The secret is, that little pill is really good for us. This book will hit home for a lot of people, but you will also come out on the other end a little wiser and more compassionate. That’s because it challenges us to look at ourselves and do a lot better in life.

Our brains are made to justify actions that just should not be explained . We tend to see fault in others, but not ourselves. It’s not really our fault that we’re wired this way, but we can work to be better. Mistakes Were Made (But Not by Me): Why We Justify Foolish Beliefs, Bad Decisions, and Hurtful Acts might just be the most important book that you read this year. It’s also one that can help you in your business partnerships, familial relationships, and friendships. Once you stop seeing yourself as infallible, you’ll open up a whole new world!

14. Brain Power: Learn to Improve Your Thinking Skills

Karl Albrecht knows that the brain is a muscle that needs to be worked out just like any other muscle. His book Brain Power: Learn to Improve Your Thinking Skills is the ultimate guide to giving your brain a serious workout . The techniques that he outlines will sharpen your mental clarity, help you cope with stress better, and even improve your memory.

As entrepreneurs, our power lies in our ability to think outside of the box . We really shouldn’t take our brains for granted. This book contains exercises that totally work. If you do them regularly, you will start to see substantial improvements in your cognitive function. I know that I set aside a little bit of time every day to work on my brainpower. You should do the same thing. You’ll be amazed by the results!

15. The Great Mental Models: General Thinking Concepts

“The quality of your outcomes depends on the mental models in your head. And most people are going through life with little more than a hammer.”

That’s part of the description of this book, authored by Farnam Street ‘s founder, that explores the concept of Mental Models, patterns of thoughts to be used weapons against mental laziness and to see things as they are so that you can make the best decision possible.

I was introduced to the concept of mental models by a friend that organized a weekly meetup to discuss each week a different model.

Each one of these models is used by world-class thinkers and will help you make better decisions. Highly recommended book!

16. Super Thinking: The Big Book of Mental Models

This book was published just the last year and it quickly became a best-seller.

It is a comprehensive account of all the most common mental fallacies and how to tackle them to see things more clearly and consequently make better decisions.

Super Thinking authors are no newbie in applying the same concepts contained in this book. Weinberg is the Founder and CEO of Duckduckgo, while McCann is a well-respected statistician and researcher.

17. Poor Charlie’s Almanack: The Wit and Wisdom of Charles T. Munger

When it comes to applying critical thinking few people are quotes as much as Charlie Munger .

Munger co-founded with Warren Buffett investment firm Berkshire Hathaway. This Almanack is a comprehensive look at how he makes decisions based on his stories and lessons.

If you’re looking to sharpen your critical thinking skills, this book is a must-have. After all, the quickest way to learn something is learning from the best, right?

18. T he Skeptics’ Guide to the Universe: How to Know What’s Really Real in a World Increasingly Full of Fake

Steven Novella’s book The Skeptics’ Guide to the Universe: How to Know What’s Really Real in a World Increasingly Full of Fake is the ultimate antidote to a culture that is steeped in fear. It helps us all collectively understand what we need to be afraid of, and what is just overhyped noise .

Being an entrepreneur means having the gift of clarity of thought. You can’t do your job if you are paralyzed by fear all of the time! This book really puts things into perspective. This book shows you how to separate fact from fiction. Just like Enlightenment Now: The Case for Reason, Science, Humanism, and Progress it makes the case for not buying into the hype. Things are a lot better than they seem. All you need to do is use your intuition and brainpower to determine what is real and what is not . This book will give you the tools to be able to do that.

Let’s be honest, there are enough things to fear in this world . We don’t need to make emergencies out of everything under the sun. This book was really helpful in reminding me that I needed to keep my feet planted on the ground. When you’re launching a business, you only have a limited amount of energy to spare on different things. Make sure that you’re not wasting your valuable resources by worrying about things that aren’t problems.

All of these books have positively touched my life. I couldn’t recommend them highly enough. If you want to be successful in life, having some fine-tuned critical thinking skills is an absolute must! They will set you apart from the pack and positively affect your overall life! Take some time over the next few days and get into one of these books. You will be so happy that you did!

What are your favorite Critical Thinking books? Share your favorite book in the comment section below.

Angelo Sorbello

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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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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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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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• 12 Common Barriers To Critical Thinking (And How To Overcome Them)
• How To Promote Critical Thinking In The Workplace
• What Is The Role Of Communication In Critical Thinking?  

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.

Critical Thinking vs Problem Solving: What’s the Difference?

• Is Critical Thinking Overrated?  Disadvantages Of Critical Thinking
• 25 In-Demand Jobs That Require Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving Skills
• Brainstorming: Techniques Used To Boost Critical Thinking and Creativity
• 11 Principles Of Critical Thinking  
• How to Set Long-Term Career Plans After a PhD: 13 Actionable Tips

Jenny Palmer

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.

Further Reading...

From Good To Great: 20 Examples Of Exceeding Expectations

How To Become a Polymath in 4 Steps  

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5 Creative and Critical Thinking Examples In Workplace  

7 Best Critical Thinking Books of All Time

Our goal : Find the best Critical Thinking books according to the internet (not just one random person's opinion).

• Type "best critical thinking books" into our search engine and study the top 4+ pages.
• Add only the books mentioned 2+ times.
• Rank the results neatly for you here! 😊 (It was a lot of work. But hey! That's why we're here, right?)

(Updated 2024)

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Last Updated: Monday 1 Jan, 2024

• Best Critical Thinking Books

Thinking, Fast and Slow

Daniel Kahneman

Predictably Irrational

The hidden forces that shape our decisions.

The Demon-Haunted World

Science as a candle in the dark.

The Art of Thinking Clearly

Rolf Dobelli

Factfulness

Ten reasons we're wrong about the world - and why things are better than you think.

Hans Rosling

How to Think About Weird Things

Critical thinking for a new age.

Theodore Schick

Asking the Right Questions

A guide to critical thinking.

M. Neil Browne

• The 5 Best Books On Critical Thinking | Game-Changer www.game-changer.net
• The 17 Best Books on Critical Thinking (to Read in 2023) upjourney.com
• The 5 Best Books on Critical Thinking for Einstein-Esque Performance bloomsoup.com
• Best Critical Thinking Books theartofliving.com

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