Looking for good textbooks on critical thinking

[Tualha]

Hello,

Can anyone recommend good, comprehensive textbooks on the subject of critical thinking, that contain many examples and practice questions? I'm looking for introductory books, and books a little beyond introductory. Preferably covering critical thinking in general, instead of focusing on a particular set of applications, such as medicine. Preferably undergraduate level, but by all means mention good graduate level ones, too.

Thanks to all.

[Bakemaster]

Critical thinking is something that's difficult to teach via exercises and practice questions, in the way that you might teach language arts, philosophy, or formal logic. Consider instead a collection of essays such as A World of Ideas: Essential Readings for College Writers (ed. Lee A. Jacobus), which is commonly used in undergraduate-level college writing and critical reasoning courses. In addition to familiarizing yourself with a body of famous works that are often referenced and discussed during college, you may find many of the essays in that book (or others like it) entertaining, challenging, and transformative. It's one of my college texts that I didn't sell or give away after the class had ended.

[firechicago]

That's a little bit of a contradiction in terms, since usually critical thinking is the tool you need to apply in order to understand the material in the textbook. (How do you open the crate if the crowbar you need is inside the crate?)

It's also true that different fields tend to have their own tools and methods for critical analysis, so "critical thinking" can be very field specific.

Generally texts on logic and rhetoric might help, but really critical thinking is best achieved by reading widely and dealing with a wide variety of arguments.

[Tualha]

The Jacobus book does look like an excellent read, and thank you for the recommendation, Bakemaster (why the devil is the server converting "Bake master" to that?); it's now on my to-buy list. However, firechicago raises a point that definitely applies to me at this stage of my education. I have difficulties with critical thinking and critical reading, indeed sometimes at the "Dunning-Kruger" level where I can't even tell that I'm missing things or how much I'm missing. I'm hoping that most of this is due to lack of education in these skills, and that little or none is due to my Asperger's (since whatever portion is due to that, will be much harder to do anything about).

So, interesting as the Jacobus looks, it'll have to wait until I have a better grip on the necessary skills.

Funny thing about the Amazon page on that book: there are five reader reviews, and without exception, they read like Ebay reviews: they're all about the physical condition of the book or how quickly it was shipped. There's nothing at all about the content! What's with that?! Don't these people read Amazon reader reviews? I've noticed a similar trend in the reviews of some of the critical thinking books I've been evaluating on Amazon. Pitiful...

[Atmosck]

Funny thing about the Amazon page on that book: there are five reader reviews, and without exception, they read like Ebay reviews: they're all about the physical condition of the book or how quickly it was shipped. There's nothing at all about the content! What's with that?! Don't these people read Amazon reader reviews? I've noticed a similar trend in the reviews of some of the critical thinking books I've been evaluating on Amazon. Pitiful...

That's the unfortunate thing about buying textbooks and old books online. In the case of textbooks, it's usually students getting it for a class, so they don't care so much about the content, because they don't have a choice in the matter. If you're buying some old book, like Plato's Republic, for example, Amazon is a silly place to talk about it's quality as literature or philosophy, as you would with a contemporary book. The Republic is easy to find for free, and the only difference between two different versions of it on Amazon is the quality of the binding etc. as well as any extra material like an introduction, and the quality of the translation.

If you're looking to learn how to think critically and you feel like writing instruction isn't doing it for you, I'd strongly recommend taking a philosophy class. I know you're asking for books, but this is the kind of thing that is really tricky to present effectively in writing, like something more factual like history would be. Also, I'm assuming you're an undergraduate. I would say take a philosophy class, and preferably one that is sophomore- or upper-level, where you'll be asked to write papers and maybe present arguments orally (because Philosophy 101 will just be "this is what a handful of important philosophers believed"). It certainly depends on the professor, but chances are you'll be forced to think critically, and that is really the best way to learn.

[++$_]

The following book seems decent, judging from the preview on Google books: http://books.google.com/books?id=Rot3obO0iRoC

There are probably other good ones as well. However, I have to admit that I am skeptical of the value of these books for learning critical thinking. They probably can't hurt, but to really learn to think well I think you need to present your thoughts to excellent critical thinkers and listen to their feedback.

Mr. Bakerstein (why the devil is the server converting "Bake master" to that?)

Because we are perfectly normal people here, that's why! Perfectly normal! *twitch*

[Bakemaster]

...interesting as the Jacobus looks, it'll have to wait until I have a better grip on the necessary skills.

One of the great things about really good essays is that you can read them multiple times and get new things out of them every time. If you're not working against a strict schedule, it's probably best if you go through your first reading just for enjoyment and to familiarize yourself with the work, the same way you would read a novel or a magazine. That allows you to concentrate on analysis and critical thinking on your second read-through, which could be months or even years later, because you know what to expect and can put things into better context when you first read them.

And the name thing is just a cheesegrater.

[Jorpho]

I think the exercise book I used in my epistemology course long, long ago was simply "Becoming a Critical Thinker". Unfortunately I can't recall who the authors were, and given the loose structure of the class, we never actually used that book very much. (We did cover some of Corben's "The Struggle to Understand", but that's more of a history book.)

[Tualha]

Thanks to all for your input. I guess you could call me a "lapsed undergraduate" -- I intend to finish, but have forgotten much, and lack confidence, so I want to study some things on my own first. This will hopefully give me some idea whether my ideas of studying law or journalism are really practical.

There are one heck of a lot of books out there on the subject. I've been looking them up on Amazon and following the links to related books, and so far I have over 100.

Cheesegrater?

[Jorpho]

"Cheesegrater" is forum lingo for word filters. There has been much amusement with them in the past, such as replacing LOL with "The cheese is burning me".

[Bakemaster]

This will hopefully give me some idea whether my ideas of studying law or journalism are really practical.

Let me guess: You looked up a list of jobs sorted by salary and security, and chose the first and last entries?

[Tualha]

This will hopefully give me some idea whether my ideas of studying law or journalism are really practical.

Let me guess: You looked up a list of jobs sorted by salary and security, and chose the first and last entries?

Bwaha! Good one. No, I've just been watching too much West Wing and have become infected with certain insidious memes that lead me to want to try to do my society some good. I'll probably get over it.

I've just altered my focus on what's most crucial to study. I took a practice GRE verbal section and got 11 out of 35 wrong in reading comprehension. Clearly I'm in Dunning-Kruger territory here, because I thought my reading comprehension was fine. I guess my next step should be to test the same skills at the SAT level, to calibrate things a bit. Then I have to figure out how to remedy it.

[Jahoclave]

Wait, there are good books on critical thinking for undergraduates? When the hell did that happen? I'm supposed to teach that and I haven't found anything that works yet. Then again, I guess there's not much that would in a class for disinterested freshman.

Though, I don't think there was ever really any one book I picked it up from. Then again, I pretty much just developed it through reading and writing, but I did an English degree so it was kind of expected. Though, if you look at some intro to Critical Theory you can practice it. Feminism is probably a good place to start with that.

[Tualha]

These nine all seem to be good, based on editorial reviews, reader reviews, and (when possible) looking at the text on Amazon. Vaughn looks particularly good. Prices are at Amazon.

Barnet and Bedau. Critical Thinking, Reading, and Writing: A Brief Guide to Argument, 7th ed. Bedford/St. Martin's, 2010. Paperback, 592 pages. $35.23.
Cederblom and Paulsen. Critical Reasoning, 7th ed. Wadsworth, 2011. Paperback, 432 pages. $131.95.
Kelley. The Art of Reasoning, 3rd ed. W. W. Norton, 1998. Paperback, 704 pages. $69.30.
Kirby. Thinking, 4th ed. Prentice Hall, 2006. Paperback, 352 pages. $53.87.
Moore and Parker. Critical Thinking, 9th ed. McGraw-Hill, 2008. Paperback, 592 pages. $85.71.
Nosich. Learning to Think Things Through: A Guide to Critical Thinking Across the Curriculum, 3rd ed. Prentice Hall, 2008. Paperback, 256 pages. $26.77.
Vaughn. The Power of Critical Thinking: Effective Reasoning About Ordinary and Extraordinary Claims, 3rd ed. Oxford University Press, 2009. Paperback, 608 pages. $60.91.
Wright. Critical Thinking: An Introduction to Analytical Reading and Reasoning, 1st ed. Oxford University Press, 2001. Paperback, 390 pages. $50.56.

[ST47]

Science. All of science.

[Jorpho]

Science. All of science.

That's really not remotely helpful. Particularly considering that banging your head against thermodynamics and the like is unlikely to help you confront the real macroscopic world on a day-to-day basis.

[Jahoclave]

Science. All of science.

That's really not remotely helpful. Particularly considering that banging your head against thermodynamics and the like is unlikely to help you confront the real macroscopic world on a day-to-day basis.

Yeah, besides, English is better. It's in our course goals to teach critical thinking. So there. Neener Neener.

Though, take up writing things. It's actually a process of thought and can help you really figure how well you actually have thought through something and how well you understand it. Taking that extra step can be a great help. Plus, with good writing skills comes great grade returns. Seriously, as somebody who grades essays, it's really just about being better than your fellow classmates.

[Tualha]

Actually, I've been wondering what other majors do a good job of teaching critical thinking. While I do enjoy reading, I'm not sure I want to take on the immense amount of reading an English major would entail; especially because (I assume) much of the material is not on subjects that relate to my goals.

I'm considering history, philosophy, political science, and journalism as majors. I suspect all of these would involve a fair amount of critical thinking theory and practice. Can anyone comment from their experience?

[Bakemaster]

Of the majors you mentioned, polysci is definitely the top in my mind for building critical thinking ability. You can do it in the other majors, and some programs maybe do a great job of it, but a program in those majors may be very good and still not really spend much time working on critical thinking. The problem with philosophy is that you'll spend so much time learning systems and schools, you probably won't get much guidance in the critical thinking area. You'll be expected to show talent for critical thinking from the onset. History is colored by what everyone else has already decided are the implications of an event, and journalism programs may be too heavy on methods and practices.

In my inexpert opinion, based on what I've seen of polysci coursework, teachers, and student body, you are more likely to have your critical thinking emphasized in that major than in the other three. But if you were more interested in another major, it's only a matter of finding the right school with a program in that major that offers the focus you desire.

[Jahoclave]

Yeah, journalism is right out. And, in all my history classes for my minor there wasn't much in the way of critical thinking, and really the reason I impressed profs there is I applied critical theory work that I was doing in English to history. Though, I can't say much in the way of poly sci and philosophy. Though, a lot of the Frankfurt school guys contributed into the development of critical theory.

[Jorpho]

I'd be tempted to suggest psychology, as one could potentially learn much about judgement bias there, but as a major psychology does not seem like a good choice.

[Tualha]

Thanks to everyone for all your informative comments