Good Thinking: What You Need to Know to be Smarter, Safer, Wealthier, and Wiser

Think #2

by Guy P. Harrison

Critical-thinking skills are essential for life in the 21st century. In this follow-up to his introductory guide Think, and continuing his trademark of hopeful skepticism, Guy Harrison demonstrates in a detailed fashion how to sort through bad ideas, unfounded claims, and bogus information to drill down to the most salient facts. By explaining how the human brain works, and outing its most irrational processes, this book provides the thinking tools that will help you make better decisions, ask the right questions (at the right time), know what to look for when evaluating information, and understand how your own brain subconsciously clouds your judgment. Think you're too smart to be easily misled? Harrison summarizes scientific research showing how easily even intelligent and well-educated people can be fooled. We all suffer from cognitive biases, embellished memories, and the tendency to kowtow to authority figures or be duped by dubious 'truths' packaged in appealing stories. And as primates we are naturally status seekers, so we are prone to irrational beliefs that seem to enhance our sense of belonging and ranking. Emotional impulses and stress also all too often lead us into traps of misperception and bad judgment. Understanding what science has discovered about the brain makes you better equipped to cope with its built-in pitfalls. Good Thinking—the book and the practice— makes clear that with knowledge and the right thinking skills, anyone can lead a safer, wiser, more efficient, and productive life.

Genres: Self Help, Psychology, Nonfiction, Philosophy, Science, Audiobook

290 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 6, 2015

About the author

I have a deep passion for science, history, anthropology, and nature. My mission is to inform and inspire as many people as I can about the workings and content of our world and universe. Reality is infinitely beautiful and endlessly fascinating. It's tragic that some people never quite glimpse the wonder of it all. Please don't be one of those people. I want you to be fully alive and awake as a human being.

Science is a body of knowledge and a practical tool available for everyone everywhere. Professional historians, anthropologists, and archaeologists tell the human story--your story. Listen to them. You live in exciting times because so much remains to be discovered and understood. In a sense, your home is an alien world filled with mystery and surprises. Learn, explore, dream. The more we know, the more we can imagine. The more we can imagine, the more we can do.

I am a positive and constructive skeptic. Think of me as a human who warns humans about being human. I use my imperfect brain to talk and write about the human brain's imperfections. I try to overcome my irrational beliefs and subconscious miscues so that I may better teach others about the problems of irrational belief and subconscious miscues.

I believe that our world could be much better - and a lot less crazy - if more people simply understood how science works and appreciated the protective value of scientific thinking in everyday life.

I've held numerous positions in the news industry, including editorial writer, world news editor, sports editor, photographer, page designer, and columnist. I've traveled extensively, having visited 30 countries on six continents. I have also had some very rewarding jobs teaching history and science to bright kids. My degree is in history and anthropology (University of South Florida). I've won some nice international awards for my writing and photography, including the WHO (World Health Organization) Award for Health Reporting and the Commonwealth Media Award for Excellence in Journalism.

What I am most proud of in relation to my work is that my writing has touched and helped many people. I consistently receive messages from around the world and it's always rewarding to learn that my words have inspired one more person to think in new and better ways.

When I'm not staring at a blank computer screen hoping my subconscious will deliver the next word, I'm likely running, hiking, reading, or teaching critical life lessons to my children via repeated viewings of Star Trek. When normal people are consumed with thoughts of politics, economics, or the Kardashians, there's a good chance I'll be daydreaming about time travel, the Singularity, ancient Greece, microbial life, the possibility of extraterrestrial life, World War II, robots, interstellar space travel, viruses, Homo erectus, the Apollo Moon landings . . .

Reviews

[Book Shark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good Thinking: What You Need to Know to be Smarter, Safer, Wealthier, and Wiser by Guy P. Harrison


“Good Thinking" is a first-rate and practical follow up to his previous excellent book title “Think”. Where Think was about questioning everything, Good Thinking is about presenting practical ways to lead more productive lives by leading a lifestyle that is conducive to a healthier brain. Accomplished author, historian, anthropologist and just all-around good human being Guy P. Harrison provides the public with a useful gem. This beneficial 288-page book includes the following twelve chapters: 1. The Case for Good Thinking, 2. Where do Brains Come From?, 3. Explore Your Brain, 4. Who's Minding the Brain?, 5. Bringing Human Vision into Focus, 6. Don't Forget How Memory Works, 7. The Shadow Brain, 8. The Enemy Within, 9. Three Crazy Things That Live in Your Head, 10. An Alternate View of Alternative Medicine, 11. Good Thinking vs. Bad Ideas, and 12. Okay, So Now What?.


Positives:
1. The master of clarity and dare I say good thinking. Harrison’s books are a treat to read. Well-researched and conveyed in an engaging, enjoyable fashion.
2. A great topic, why good thinking is important and some easy guidelines to a healthy brain. “This book includes an expedition into the brain, specifically your brain.”
3. Excellent format, professional treatment. Each chapter begins with a chapter-worthy quote, highlights important sections, and good use of photos, diagrams to complement narrative.
4. A practical and useful book. There is sound and inspirational advice provided. “The invaluable bundle of critical thinking, skepticism, appreciation for science, and a basic understanding of the human brain fits nicely into one simple term: Good thinking.” “The only solution to the problem of bad thinking is good thinking and all it entails.”
5. A great defender of science and reason. “Sound information is nice to have, but knowing how to think matters most.”
6. Provides a list of twelve common mistakes to avoid.
7. How businesses use their knowledge of the brain for profit. “For-profit cable-news companies, for example, know that scaring their viewers keeps them watching.”
8. Sound research to back up points. “According to one study, Americans alone spend more than $34 billion per year on alternative medicines and therapies, most of which don't work and some of which are dangerous.”
9. The evolution of the human brain. “Once we had evolved big brains, something else unusual happened. Around 50,000 years ago, there was an explosion of cultural behaviors that we recognize today as purely human.”
10. An accessible look of the brain. “Here are some things you should know about your two hippocampi. Size is the first indicator of condition. The bigger, the better is the general rule. A small or shrinking hippocampus has been associated with memory problems and Alzheimer's disease.”
11. Outstanding facts. “The blood and oxygen demands are exceptional, if not outrageous. Based on a 150-pound person, the adult brain accounts for only about 2 percent of bodyweight but requires 20 to 25 percent of the body's blood supply.”
12. Very helpful advice on how to keep a healthy brain. “Many researchers are suggesting that excessive sugar in the diet may be linked to an increased risk of depression and dementia.” Even some great advice on when it’s best to do challenging brain work, find out!
13. Interesting findings regarding memories. “In short, our memories are creations that may or may not be based upon real events, and the brain's filing system is far from ideal.” “…not only can our memories be influenced and tweaked with ease, but it is also possible to have entire memories of events that never happened “implanted” in our brains.”
14. Practical societal advice. “More scientific specialized research is needed that relates directly to the use of eyewitnesses in law enforcement. Pure research efforts do not always transfer well to the criminal-law environment. “ “The IAT, introduced in 1998, can expose subconscious biases against not only racial groups but also such biases as those against sexual orientation, age, skin color, body weight, height, disability, and nationality.”
15. An excellent chapter that addresses most common and problematic cognitive biases: (1) confirmation bias, (2) anchoring bias, and (3) hindsight bias.
16. Putting alternative medicine in its place. “Ernst believes that the single biggest reason of all for alternative medicine's popularity is that many of the people who sell it are very good at lying.” “The public has to rely on the authorities of scientists and science-based medical professionals.”
17. The fascinating topic of conspiracies. The seven simple ways to beat bad ideas.
18. Thought provoking questions that amuse me. “What if we could transfer our memories to an AI program that continues to learn and remember experiences from that point? Would this form of mental cloning qualify as immortality?”
19. Explains why good thinking is important. “Good thinking can improve lives now, and it has the potential to make the world a better place for everyone.”
20. Comprehensive notes and formal bibliography.

Negatives:
1. There is some overlap with his previous book Think.
2. I was hoping for a chapter on societies that have had the most success in developing good thinking. One can come to our own conclusions but I would have been curious to know what Mr. Harrison’s perspective was.
3. Being an avid reader, I’m familiar with a lot of the references made.
4. I really enjoy hearing from people that confirms my own beliefs but it would also be nice to hear from those folks that I disagree with. As an example, I would have been curious to hear from those who support the homeopathic industry.


In summary, this book is another wonderful addition to my library. Harrison provides sound and inspirational advice on how to lead a more rational life. I’m familiar with a lot of the material presented in this book but I always learn something new and useful. Make a sound decision and get this book, I highly recommend it.

Further recommendations: “Think: Why You Should Question Everything”, “50 Popular Beliefs People Think Are True” and “50 Reasons People Give for Believing in a God” by the same author, “Critical Thinking” by Wayne Bartz, “An Appetite for Wonder” and “The Magic of Reality” by Richard Dawkins, “Demon-Haunted World” by Carl Sagan, “Faith vs Fact” by Jerry A. Coyne, “This Explains Everything” edited by John Brockman, “Nonsense: A Handbook of Logical Fallacies” by Robert J. Gula “The Science of Miracles” by Joe Nickell, “Do You Believe in Magic” by Paul A. Offit, “Tales of the Rational” by Massimo Pigliucci, “Voodoo Science” by Robert Park, “Science Matters” by Robert M. Hazen “Fool Me Twice: Fighting the Assault on Science” by Shawn Lawrence, “Lies, Damned Lies, and Science” by Sherry Seethaler, and “Science Under Siege” by Kendrick Frazier.

[SundayAtDusk · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a rambling, repetitious book that proposes science is God, and one cannot believe in anything unproved by science, if one wants to be known as a "critical thinker". The author also preaches humility, which was amusing; since after reading the book, the "about the author" page, and some of Mr. Harrison's website, one has the feeling he would not recognize humility if it hit him in the face. Read instead Carl Sagan's The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark. Even though it needed better editing and had a bit of a doomsday mentality, Dr. Sagan still did a much better job of doing what Guy Harrison tried to do with this book.

(Note: I received a free copy of this book from Amazon Vine in exchange for an honest review.)

[Thomas Edmund · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was a little worried picking up Good Thinking, the premise seemed a lot audacious and I was unfamiliar with the author so I had a brief concern that I was just going to be sold their particular brand of "good" thinking.

My worries were misplaced, its rare to find an author with both critical thinking chops and a passion for change and this book fulfills both purposes. Harrison skewers many in his thesis, but does so in what I think is a reasonably compassionate albeit firm way.

Overall I wouldn't necessarily recommend Good Thinking to those just starting a journey of critical thinking, nor those already neck deep in a PhD, Good Thinking sits as a useful middle of road tome on critical thinking.

[Camille · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had Good Thinking sitting on my bookshelf for a long time now because, honestly, I felt intimidated by the idea of trying to understand how the brain works. I finally picked it up thinking it would help me understand the pandemic of irrational people I suddenly feel surrounded by—but it turns out, the call was coming from inside the house. Harrison’s writing is funny, accessible, and quietly brilliant—he made me laugh while gently pointing out my blind spots. This isn’t a book that hands you easy answers. What it did was nudge me toward an uncomfortable awareness, and I was grateful and appreciative for the introspection. I found myself questioning my habits, my conversations, even my memories. It’s a lot to digest, but it’s the kind of challenge that leaves you thinking—and living—a little better. Highly recommend for anyone brave enough to turn the mirror inward. I still think people are nuts - but this book gives me the tools of Good Thinking for how to navigate both the internal and external madness in the world around me.

[Scotterwick · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very good book for general readers. As with his previous books, Guy P. Harrison's style is very friendly and accessible, not overly complicated or difficult to grasp. The title is a bit misleading when it says "wealthier." As Guy stresses in the book, good thinking won't make you more money necessarily, but it can save you money by not spending it on nonsense. Just a distinction I think is worth mentioning up front.

His first chapter alone is worth reading, as it makes a good case for good thinking and skepticism. Then he teaches you about the brain and common errors in thinking and why they occur. He also gives you basic information about eating nutritiously and exercising to take care of your brain's health. He discusses how our brains can trick us visually and auditorily, how our memories aren't all that reliable, and other logical pitfalls we're all susceptible to. His chapter on alternative medicine is spot on and also fair and friendly. He does not come off as biased or unreasonable, here, and it's a worthwhile read.

Guy has an unstoppable enthusiasm and positivity for this stuff, and it is contagious. If you can handle him being a bit corny, particularly in the chapters on the brain early on, and if you can handle him being a little repetitive here and there, especially in the last chapter, you'll really enjoy this book and hopefully, you'll also get a lot out of it. I recommend his previous books, too, especially 50 Popular Beliefs That People Think Are True.

[Ian Liberman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Guy Harrison has put out a series of books that gives us the tools and knowledge to be better humans in regards to how we perceive reality and truth. Good Thinking is another outstanding book in this series. This time Guy has provided us with a everything you ever wanted to know about the human brain from a physiological to psychological profile and how this affects our behavior and beliefs. As usual, his amazing communication skills, provides us with ability to understand and comprehend the fascinating content. You will learn how the brain is easily fooled to perceive things falsely while also being exposed to techniques in critical thinking and skepticism to counter those false perceptions. You will discover how cognitive dissonance and confirmation bias directs us into believing areas of pseudoscience, conspiracy theories and the supernatural. Guy discusses many areas related to cognitive concepts . You will discover how the evolution of the brain in animal and human history lead to historical precedents in time. I could not put this book down. I read it in two sittings This is now my favourite book by Guy Harrison and I know I will reread it again.

[Dragonlady · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everyone comes equipped with a brain preinstalled but few of us understand or appreciate the evolutionary forces that forged the way we use it and that lack of understanding can lead to making critical mistakes during the decision making process. Luckily, Harrison has penned an approachable owner’s manual that explains in part why people make bad choices, the way the brain works, why and so much more. At a time when we are bombarded by massive quantities of information, being capable of sorting out fact from fiction, genuine science from pop peplum and recognizing how our brains can trick us is vital. Harrison gently encourages skepticism coupled with critical thinking while exposing the way the brain works to reinforce our beliefs regardless of evidence to the contrary. Drawing upon the latest scientific research about both the physiological and psychological aspects of our brains, Harrison not only provides a blueprint to better decision making but how to take care of them. This enjoyable, informative guide should be in every home and public library.

[John Behle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rugged reminders on how onerous, how much of a daily challenge it is to make good decisions. We live in a modern culture that lulls us in to making the quick, easy, profitable (to others), often unhealthy, non-choice. From picking out soap to safe driving, to making career choices, we resist good thinking. Our brains develop, quickly, lazy do-loops of rote.

Harrison, in his wrap up chapter, states the toughest life long decision we must make is whether or not to have children. There is nothing harder, and no-going-back-on, than raising and training a loving, balanced human.

This book has made me take longer to look at the choices I make. I ask "why" three times before any bite of food. I drive more defensively, use my turn signals and look out for every distracted driver.

I choose to love more the cherished people in my life.

[Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Anatomy learning is fun for me, so my favourite part was shrinking down for the brain tour and explanations on how it all works in the first half of the book. Second half is choc full of some quite long explanations and examples of critical thinking ( checking facts, questioning) , or lack of thinking in a few instances, most of which I found reasonably interesting, at least enough to keep me reading, with just the odd check to see if we were there yet .
All in all, I learnt something, and I may be a little more of a sceptic in the future.

[Stephanie Kotterer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic, easy read about the brain and all the influence and importance it has in our lives. This should be on everybody's reading list if you are interested in reaching your full potential, living well and healthy and want to know all the little tricks your brain plays on you in daily life. Good thinking is 100% the only way to go in this fake - news saturated, chaotic and scary world

[Sara Goldenberg · Rating 1 out of 5]

When I got this book from the library I thought maybe he was Christian ... upon reading it, it was obvious what he didn't think. He is Godless, plain and simple.


I closed it and packed it to return. I'm not going to read his other books.

[Michael Gabriel Raphael · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has brought my understanding of critical thinking to new level. It explores how all thinkings are associated with our brains, and gives good advices on how to save yourselves from bad and impulsive decisions. I highly recommend this book!

[Patrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good stuff but nothing new here.

[Charles M. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Author discusses a study of the human brain and through understanding of its functions how one can better use it to fuller capacity.

[Tai Odunsi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Guy's advice will help you stay "woke"

[Wayne Bass · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good thinking will lead to better thinking. This is the simple but profound and potentially world changing proposition offered by Guy P. Harrison in his wonderful and highly relatable book entitled, appropriately, "Good Thinking." Reaching back a ways in time and space for an opening quote for the beginning of Chapter-1: The Case for Good Thinking, Harrison quotes some wise words from Rene Descartes: "For it is not enough to have a good mind; the main thing is to apply it well." (Discourse on the Method of Rightly Conducting the Reason, and Seeking Truth in the Sciences -- 1637). From there, the stage is set to properly present some basic questions followed by rational answers and productive advice concerning our brains and "minds," and how and why we often don't perform all that well when it comes to "thinking." According to Harrison, the concept of "good thinking" is "The invaluable bundle of critical thinking, skepticism, appreciation of science, and a basic understanding of the human brain..." On that last point, the book gives us in the first few chapters a minimal but sufficient understanding of the basic anatomy & physiology of the human brain in a highly readable narrative format. (I am convinced that we should all know at least that much about our brains!) Then what about the resulting "minds" that are produced by our brains? How in-control are we really of the thoughts and actions our brain-minds produce? Here is where Harrison gets going with the genuinely helpful and productive pointers. Develop those critical thinking skills and actively use them on a consistent basis. Raise the shields to repel magical and unrealistic appeals to our emotional and whimsical sides. Watch out for our powerfully seductive "shadow brain" that is tirelessly tugging the puppet strings of our everyday thoughts and actions. Be ever aware of how our memory can fool us with its convincing trickery. And be aware of the main biases that seem to reside, ready made, in the evolutionary heritage of our thinking apparatus. I regularly re-read various sections of this book -- I am a notorious yellow highlighter -- just to make sure my neurons remain well-connected with some of my favorite information. One of my favorite quotes (among many) from this book is found on the last page: "By leading a life rooted in reason, you can show others the benefits. By explaining the brains' wondrous, surprising, and challenging processes, you can help change the world one mind at a time." Indeed -- good thinking by individuals can lead to good thinking by entire societies. I highly recommend this book to one and all.

[SeaShore · Rating 2 out of 5]

The first six chapters cover can help the reader with studying the brain. He explains how the brain evolved to where it is today for many reasons. The labelled diagrams/illustrations of a cross-section of the human brain and then he describes the physiology of each part; adding that when there are defects, disorders result. This accounts for the many neurological diseases. The diagram of a neuron (3.2) illustrated by Sheree Harrison, is included. The brain comprises about 86 billion neurons. The good thing is the brain rewires itself daily. Neurons die and new neurons are reborn.
As a skeptic he then ventures to list numbers and statistics of various institutions especially religious institutions where pastors have requested donations to buy such things as airplanes using the donations of their parishes; so, this is the reason why he reminds humans to think wisely, which he calls "Good Thinking."


Harrison was born in 1963 and this book was published in 2015 . I'm reading this book in 2022 and saw that Guy P. Harrison writes for Psychology Today.
From 1992 to 2010 Harrison wrote for Cayman Free Press in the Cayman Islands as a journalist, editor and photographer. As a journalist he has interviewed people such as Jane Goodall, Chuck Yeager, Edward Teller, Paul Tibbets and Armin Lehmann. From 2014–2015 he did medical writing for Kaiser Permanente. He has a blog at Psychology Today named 'About Thinking.' The book is okay -simple reading, easy understanding -

You must question, doubt, review, reconsider and think before betting, buying, joining or doing anything with significant consequences. Good thinking is the crucial second pass over your shadow brain's (subconscious mind's) ideas and conclusions.
He reminds everyone to ask yourself lots of questions before joining groups; look for hidden biases.
He stresses the importance or critical thinking or just , think before you act; think before you talk and the importance of the scientific method to discern what is real from what is false. He lumps belief in ghosts, miracles, UFO's etc in one 'box' of people whose beliefs shift this way because of the shadow brain and our experiences. He discusses something called 'hindsight bias ' with examples from Sports such as Super Bowl reactions by a loss -the blame game.

"The shadow brain is a world class architect of revisionist history." He adds that it feeds us a reconstructed view of our past, tailored and doctored to accommodate current and circumstantial needs -also, allowing the host to duck responsibility claiming something negative without having to lie.

Surely, knowledge is crucial to good thinking and decision-making.

Having a bout of high fever mixed with fear of dying made him put aside juggling with alternative medicines, medical quackery and fraudulent healthcare. This included herbology, reflexology, use of rhinoceros horns -allowing quacks and crooks to profit off gullible people. However, even real medicine that works won't work for everyone. Do the research and do your homework.

He adds that time is the unsung hero of human health because with time, we will survive most illnesses and disease.
In Chapter eleven on Conspiracy theories, one example he discusses is the murder of President Abraham Lincoln by John Wilkes Booth

Our human nature makes us want to figure out riddles, solve mysteries and complete puzzles. For conspiracy theories, it adds magnified gossip.

The fact that John Surratt turned up at the Vatican after he fled the United States helped cause false speculation that the Pope was involved in the Lincoln assassination.

Otto Eisenschiml, who was not a historian. He was an Austrian-born chemist who emigrated to the U.S. in 1901 and became an oil company executive in Chicago. After nearly a decade researching Lincoln’s assassination, he published Why Was Lincoln Murdered in 1937, claiming that Secretary of War Edwin Stanton masterminded Lincoln’s assassination.

Unlike with the Kennedy assassination, a majority of Americans are in agreement with the consensus of professional historians that John Wilkes Booth murdered Abraham Lincoln and led the conspiracy to assassinate other members of the administration without outside direction.

Pointers.
*Always note that your first thought is not always your best thought.
*Always ask questions and recognize that your claim might be plain dumb.
*Sometimes two choices are not defined clearly and note that you have other options. Think on these things after a good restful sleep.
*Admitting you don't know everything, will help you to observe and listen more by stepping outside of yourself (step outside the box- I think.) Is this fantasy, we must ask?
*Watch out how runaway nonsense can impact politics.

Lest we forget, the twentieth century vaccine against whooping cough and measles in children was a major breakthrough.
The brain evolved for survival in the wild not for processing information -See J. Eric Oliver and Thomas J. Wood, "Larger Than Life."

In Chapter 12, the author quotes:
“Human existence may be simpler than we thought. There is no predestination, no unfathomed mystery of life. Demons and gods do not vie for our allegiance. Instead, we are self-made, independent, alone, and fragile, a biological species adapted to live in a biological world. What counts for long-term survival is intelligent self-understanding, based upon a greater independence of thought than that tolerated today even in our most advanced democratic societies.”
― Edward O. Wilson, The Meaning of Human Existence
Wilson died at age 92 in 2021

[Rupinder · Rating 5 out of 5]

A masterclass in skepticism and rational, evidence-based living. The author explains in great detail our mental blind spots, biases, and logical fallacies that are exploited by scamsters, gurus, and quacks in today's world. While the diagnosis is excellent, the book provides you highly useful tools for thinking logically and rationally to drive the decisions we make on a daily basis. This book deserves a much wider readership.

[Jason · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book will offend 'magical' thinkers.