Becoming a Critical Thinker: A User Friendly Manual

by Sherry Diestler

This book trains students to distinguish high-quality, well-supported arguments from arguments with little or no evidence to support them. It develops the skills required to effectively evaluate the many claims facing them as citizens, learners, consumers, and human beings, and also to be effective advocates for their beliefs. Chapter topics include the foundations of arguments, reality and value assumptions and ethics, inductive arguments and generalizations, reasoning errors, the power of language, media literacy, fairmindedness, and persuasive speaking. For critical thinkers who want to be discerning about the messages they read or hear; make decisions based on careful consideration of both facts and values; be alert to distortion in reporting and advertising; and, defend their own viewpoints.

Genres: Nonfiction, Self Help

400 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 1993

Reviews

[Jamie Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read for college

[Gunel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting reading passages that can be used in classroom 👍

[Robin · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a school book, so it isn't an amazing piece of literature, but it is informative and easy to understand. Definitely useful for my Political Science class.

[Basma Aal · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book except for the last 2 chapters. I read it for my Critical Thinking course. It was a great book. delivered its content in a very simple way. It is very informative book.

[Dina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great reference for developing critically thinking skills. Gives you self-reflective exercises and Stop and Think scenarios....

[Melissa Luna · Rating 5 out of 5]

awesome

Great book simple reading, very helpful for my class. Pursuits we'll with the Pearson online lab. The interactive aspects are amazing

[John · Rating 2 out of 5]

Textbooks. Yeah. It was put together well, though.

[Suzanne Singman]

It was a school book for one of my daughters. I really enjoyed it. Not only did I learn about critical thinking and remember not to take arguments personally and to focus on the issues, not personalities, which is so important these days. But, also the articles were very interesting.

It is a text book, so there are questions and 'quizes' in the middle of the chapter, and suggested papers to write. I didn't do any of those things, which may have helped me understand, but I was reading it for fun, not for a class.

[Gloria · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book as part of Lumerit's Critical Thinking course. It was an excellent read. Very informative. I highly recommend everyone read it.