The Little Book of Thunks: 260 Questions to Make Your Brain Go Ouch!

by Ian Gilbert

A Thunk is a beguiling question about everyday things that stops you in your tracks and helps you start to look at the world in a whole new light. The author guides you through the origins and uses of Thunks and demonstrates how this powerful little book can develop philosophical thinking for all ages. Remember there are no right or wrong answers to these questions. How liberating is that?

Genres: Nonfiction, Education, Ebooks, Philosophy

104 pages, Hardcover

First published March 15, 2007

About the author

Ian Gilbert is an educational innovator, award-winning writer, entrepreneur and inspirational speaker, delivering training to schools and colleges in the UK and Europe for the 'Independent Thinking' organisation, which he founded in 1994.

Reviews

[Maggie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A perfect way to be inspired on a wet August afternoon. A thunk - a question to encourage thinking simple idea but perfect. I enjoyed the research and the links and have changed my Autumn scheme of work so I hope my students are read for brain ache. Excellent -thank you I love a new idea

[Dan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fair concept for a book. This book can be used as a useful tool for introducing young children to philosophy.

However, I would say that the inconsistency of the quality of questions stops it scoring more highly for me. Some of the questions are truly thought provoking, particularly for children. Others, unfortunately, are not.

Still worthwhile.

[Sweetcharitybooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great approach to developing creative, analytical and critical thinking skills in children. The beauty of this (and P4C) is that it is actually easy to get even very young children to develop - and enjoy developing - a skill set that is necessary for the changing demands of the 21st century. Approaches like this succeed, where the lip-service often paid to 'critical thinking', 'problem solving' and 'reflection' in traditional/conventional education tends to fail or is introduced far too late in a child's life just because Piaget said so. I appreciate this book because it is part of a real revolutionary movement in education rather than yet another rhetorical reinforcement of an outdated model.

[BambiiBooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

A cute and charming book to add variety to your book shelf . I found the questions interesting and pondering however some questions seem non thought provoking and there for the sake of it . Otherwise a cute good book .

[Donna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book with some interesting thunks. Could probably find similar ideas for free off the Internet.

[Tanja · Rating 4 out of 5]

Makes your brain hurt ;) Loved it!

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great conversion piece

Great conversion piece, we had lots of debates and laughs with this book. My partner and I will share this book with others

[Samantha]

I haven’t given a rating as I’m not the target audience here. I hadn’t realised, but this book is aimed squarely at teachers of young children and seems an excellent way of introducing ideas of philosophy to them, and encouraging open discussion without a right/wrong answer scenario.