The Art of Thinking Clearly

The Art of Thinking Clearly

Author: Rolf Dobelli

Publisher: Harper Collins

Published: 2014-05-06

Total Pages: 269

ISBN-13: 0062359800

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A world-class thinker counts the 100 ways in which humans behave irrationally, showing us what we can do to recognize and minimize these “thinking errors” to make better decisions and have a better life Despite the best of intentions, humans are notoriously bad—that is, irrational—when it comes to making decisions and assessing risks and tradeoffs. Psychologists and neuroscientists refer to these distinctly human foibles, biases, and thinking traps as “cognitive errors.” Cognitive errors are systematic deviances from rationality, from optimized, logical, rational thinking and behavior. We make these errors all the time, in all sorts of situations, for problems big and small: whether to choose the apple or the cupcake; whether to keep retirement funds in the stock market when the Dow tanks, or whether to take the advice of a friend over a stranger. The “behavioral turn” in neuroscience and economics in the past twenty years has increased our understanding of how we think and how we make decisions. It shows how systematic errors mar our thinking and under which conditions our thought processes work best and worst. Evolutionary psychology delivers convincing theories about why our thinking is, in fact, marred. The neurosciences can pinpoint with increasing precision what exactly happens when we think clearly and when we don’t. Drawing on this wide body of research, The Art of Thinking Clearly is an entertaining presentation of these known systematic thinking errors--offering guidance and insight into everything why you shouldn’t accept a free drink to why you SHOULD walk out of a movie you don’t like it to why it’s so hard to predict the future to why shouldn’t watch the news. The book is organized into 100 short chapters, each covering a single cognitive error, bias, or heuristic. Examples of these concepts include: Reciprocity, Confirmation Bias, The It-Gets-Better-Before-It-Gets-Worse Trap, and the Man-With-A-Hammer Tendency. In engaging prose and with real-world examples and anecdotes, The Art of Thinking Clearly helps solve the puzzle of human reasoning.


The Psychology of Thinking

The Psychology of Thinking

Author: John Paul Minda

Publisher: SAGE

Published: 2015-09-26

Total Pages: 364

ISBN-13: 1473933943

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How do we define thinking? Is it simply memory, perception and motor activity or perhaps something more complex such as reasoning and decision making? This book argues that thinking is an intricate mix of all these things and a very specific coordination of cognitive resources. Divided into three key sections, there are chapters on the organization of human thought, general reasoning and thinking and behavioural outcomes of thinking. These three overarching themes provide a broad theoretical framework with which to explore wider issues in cognition and cognitive psychology and there are chapters on motivation and language plus a strong focus on problem solving, reasoning and decision making – all of which are central to a solid understanding of this field. The book also explores the cognitive processes behind perception and memory, how we might differentiate expertise from skilled, competent performance and the interaction between language, culture and thought.


How to Think

How to Think

Author: Tom Chatfield

Publisher: SAGE

Published: 2021-06-02

Total Pages: 84

ISBN-13: 1529758807

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This is a book about thinking. Engaging and down-to-earth, it captures the habits and practices that are fundamental to clear thinking and effective study. In his warm and friendly style, Tom Chatfield shows you how to: Identify and examine your biases Engage in lively, curious skepticism See the value in emotion and use rhetoric persuasively Know when to say ′I don′t know′ Construct reasoned arguments and explanations Think critically about how you engage with technology. Short and punchy, the book views critical thinking as a skill to be continually practiced and developed. It equips you with a toolkit for clearer thinking, describing ten key concepts that help you to apply what you have learned. Including regular reflective exercises, key concepts, further readings, each chapter also offers recommendations for how to put the ideas it discusses into practice. This book is for undergraduate students and anyone looking to understand the core ideas behind critical thinking. Celebrating both self-reflection and collaboration, this book empowers you to pause, think twice and, above all, think well.


Tools of Critical Thinking

Tools of Critical Thinking

Author: David A. Levy

Publisher: Waveland Press

Published: 2009-09-09

Total Pages: 322

ISBN-13: 1478639121

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This innovative text is designed to improve thinking skills through the application of 30 critical thinking principles—Metathoughts. These specialized tools and techniques are useful for approaching all forms of study, inquiry, and problem solving. Levy applies Metathoughts to a diverse array of issues in contemporary clinical, social, and cross-cultural psychology: identifying strengths and weaknesses in various schools of thought, defining and explaining psychological phenomena, evaluating the accuracy and usefulness of research studies, reducing logical flaws and personal biases, and improving the search for creative solutions. The Metathoughts are brought to life with practical examples, clinical vignettes, illustrations, anecdotes, thought-provoking exercises, useful antidotes, and contemporary social problems and issues. Tools of Critical Thinking, 2/E is primarily suited as a core textbook for courses in critical thinking/problem solving, or makes an ideal supplement in a wide variety of undergraduate and graduate psychology courses, including introductory psychology, abnormal psychology (psychopathology), cross-cultural psychology, theories and methods of psychotherapy, research methods and design, theories of personality, clinical practicum, and contemporary problems and issues in psychology. Second Edition features: The application of critical thinking skills to cross-cultural psychology and issues of cultural diversity More than 60 new and updated reference citations related to a wide range of contemporary topics 140 multiple-choice test bank items and 20 short-answer/essay questions Comprehensive PowerPoint CD package as a pedagogical aid to augment lecture presentations Improved glossary of key terms, containing over 300 fully cross-referenced definitions The expanded use of humor, including parodies, cartoon illustrations, and clever satires


Critical Thinking: Think Clearly in a World of Agendas, Bad Science, and Information Overload

Critical Thinking: Think Clearly in a World of Agendas, Bad Science, and Information Overload

Author: Ian Tuhovsky

Publisher: Positive Coaching LLC

Published:

Total Pages: 177

ISBN-13:

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Here's How You Can Weather The Storm & Start Thinking Clearly! Let's see the facts. Your mind is under siege. Every single day, you are bombarded with thousands of news stories, hundreds of fake news articles, secret agendas, and bad science. You need to develop a defense mechanism that will allow you to hold your ground and improve your life. And the name of that defense mechanism? Critical Thinking! Imagine if you could develop a new skill that would Unleash Your Creativity Encourage Positive Curiosity Boost Your Problem-Solving Skills And help you navigate the foggy waters of mass media, online hysteria, and social media angst. Would You Be Interested In Developing Critical Thinking? Ian Tuhovsky, the author of this exceptionally-researched critical thinking book, has created a simple, easy-to-follow, critical thinking science guide that will change the way you perceive your world and react to it. When dealing with the subject of practical critical thinking, problem solving, and decision making, Ian leaves no stone unturned, in order to offer you a clear idea of the importance of critical thinking in your daily life. 5 Key Takeaways From This Game-Changing Rational Thinking Book: ✅ Learn More About Our Biases & Where They Stem From ✅ Understand The Bystander Effect, The Confirmation Bias, The Halo Effect, And More ✅ Discover How Our Biases Are Used Against Us ✅ Protect Yourself From Fake News And Bad Science ✅ Sharpen Your Critical Thinking Skills That's Not All! We have entered uncharted waters and it's extremely important to prepare yourself for the perfect storm of fake news, which is certain to develop during these chaotic and uncertain times. By the time you reach the back cover of this logic book on the basics of critical thinking, you will feel more confident when dealing with problems, and be laser-focused on the things that actually matter. What Are You Waiting For? Click "Buy Now" & Start Thinking Clearly - Today!


Thinking Clearly with Data

Thinking Clearly with Data

Author: Ethan Bueno de Mesquita

Publisher: Princeton University Press

Published: 2021-11-16

Total Pages: 400

ISBN-13: 0691215014

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An engaging introduction to data science that emphasizes critical thinking over statistical techniques An introduction to data science or statistics shouldn’t involve proving complex theorems or memorizing obscure terms and formulas, but that is exactly what most introductory quantitative textbooks emphasize. In contrast, Thinking Clearly with Data focuses, first and foremost, on critical thinking and conceptual understanding in order to teach students how to be better consumers and analysts of the kinds of quantitative information and arguments that they will encounter throughout their lives. Among much else, the book teaches how to assess whether an observed relationship in data reflects a genuine relationship in the world and, if so, whether it is causal; how to make the most informative comparisons for answering questions; what questions to ask others who are making arguments using quantitative evidence; which statistics are particularly informative or misleading; how quantitative evidence should and shouldn’t influence decision-making; and how to make better decisions by using moral values as well as data. Filled with real-world examples, the book shows how its thinking tools apply to problems in a wide variety of subjects, including elections, civil conflict, crime, terrorism, financial crises, health care, sports, music, and space travel. Above all else, Thinking Clearly with Data demonstrates why, despite the many benefits of our data-driven age, data can never be a substitute for thinking. An ideal textbook for introductory quantitative methods courses in data science, statistics, political science, economics, psychology, sociology, public policy, and other fields Introduces the basic toolkit of data analysis—including sampling, hypothesis testing, Bayesian inference, regression, experiments, instrumental variables, differences in differences, and regression discontinuity Uses real-world examples and data from a wide variety of subjects Includes practice questions and data exercises


The Psychology Book

The Psychology Book

Author: DK

Publisher: Penguin

Published: 2015-02-02

Total Pages: 723

ISBN-13: 1465439293

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Learn about human nature, behavior and how the mind works with The Psychology Book. Part of the fascinating Big Ideas series, this book tackles tricky topics and themes in a simple and easy to follow format. Learn about Psychology in this overview guide to the subject, great for beginners looking to learn and experts wishing to refresh their knowledge alike! The Psychology Book brings a fresh and vibrant take on the topic through eye-catching graphics and diagrams to immerse yourself in. This captivating book will broaden your understanding of Psychology, with: - More than 100 ground-breaking ideas in this field of science - Packed with facts, charts, timelines and graphs to help explain core concepts - A visual approach to big subjects with striking illustrations and graphics throughout - Easy to follow text makes topics accessible for people at any level of understanding The Psychology Book is the perfect introduction to the science, aimed at adults with an interest in the subject and students wanting to gain more of an overview. Here you’ll discover key concepts by psychologists who have significantly enhanced our understanding of the human mind and behavior. Learn about everyone who’s contributed to the big ideas in psychology, incorporating the ideas of today’s scientists as well those of the ancient philosophers and pioneers. Your Psychology Questions, Simply Explained If you thought it was difficult to learn psychology and its many concepts, The Psychology Book presents the key ideas in a clear layout. Learn about the key personalities of the 19th and 20th centuries whose work has made significant contributions to our understanding of human behavior. Fantastic mind maps and step-by-step summaries explain the line of thought clearly for students of psychology and for anyone with a general interest in understanding the human mind. The Big Ideas Series With millions of copies sold worldwide, The Psychology Book is part of the award-winning Big Ideas series from DK. The series uses striking graphics along with engaging writing, making big topics easy to understand.


What We Think About When We Try Not To Think About Global Warming

What We Think About When We Try Not To Think About Global Warming

Author: Per Espen Stoknes

Publisher: Chelsea Green Publishing

Published: 2015

Total Pages: 322

ISBN-13: 1603585834

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"Today, about 98 percent of scientists affirm that climate change is human made, and about 2 percent still question it. Despite that overwhelming majority, though, about half the population of rich countries, like ours, choose to believe the 2 percent. And, paradoxically, this large camp of deniers grows even larger as more and more alarming proof of climate change has cropped up over the last decades. This disconnect has both climate scientists and activists scratching their heads, growing anxious, and responding, usually, by repeating more facts to 'win' the argument. But, the more climate facts pile up, the greater the resistance to them grows, and the harder it becomes to enact measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and prepare communities for the inevitable change ahead. Is humanity up to the task? It is a catch-22 that starts, says psychologist and climate expert Per Espen Stoknes, from an inadequate understanding of the way most humans think, act, and live in the world around them. With dozens of examples, he shows how to retell the story of climate change and apply communication strategies more fit for the task."--Publisher's description.