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Thinking as a Science
Thinking as a Science is a book written by Henry Hazlitt that explores the process of thinking and how it can be improved through scientific methods. The book is divided into three parts, each focusing on a different aspect of thinking. The first part discusses the basics of thinking, including the importance of observation, analysis, and deduction. The second part delves into the concept of reasoning, exploring logical fallacies and how to avoid them. The final part explores the practical applications of thinking, including problem-solving and decision-making. Throughout the book, Hazlitt emphasizes the importance of critical thinking and the scientific method in all areas of life. He also provides numerous examples and exercises to help readers develop their thinking skills. Overall, Thinking as a Science is a valuable resource for anyone looking to improve their ability to think critically and logically.1916. Mr. Hazlitt, journalist, literary critic, economist, philosopher, was one of the most brilliant public intellectuals of our century. At the age of 20, when he finally got a job at the Wall Street Journal as a stenographer, he had already finished his first book, Thinking as a Science. The Neglect of Thinking; Thinking with Method; A Few Cautions; Concentration; Prejudice and Uncertainty; Debate and Conversation; Thinking and Reading; Writing One�������s Thoughts; Things Worth Thinking About; Thinking as an Art; and Books on Thinking.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.
256 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1916
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914 people want to read
About the author
Henry Hazlitt
90 books423 followersHenry Stuart Hazlitt was an American journalist who wrote about business and economics for such publications as The Wall Street Journal, The Nation, The American Mercury, Newsweek, and The New York Times.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
March 13, 2018
Written in 1916 when the author was only 24 years old.
The book is probably misnamed. It should more accurately be titled: "Exercises for the Mind: A user's guide to developing your brain for maximum effectiveness". I would probably put this book in the "self-help" category too.
I enjoyed this book and there is much to say about those who are avid readers (like many who belong to Goodreads):
"Learning to think by reading is like learning
to draw by tracing. In each case we make the
work of another man our basis, instead of observing
directly from Nature. The practice has
its value, it is true; but no man ever became a
great artist by tracing, and no man will ever become
a great thinker by reading."
Hazlitt also has much to say about taking time out from reading to actually think. He offers many helpful suggestions on how to organize your thinking process toward a determined purpose. He even provides a long list of topics the reader may wish to think about in greater depth.
One point Hazlitt makes is that choosing a book is a very big responsibility, since there is so much trash and we have so little time. In his day he cited data that said there were a total of 5,000,000 different books (titles) ever printed. He said if you read 25 books per year, you only get to read on book in every 3,600! For every book you choose to read, you must ask: Is this book one-in-a-thousand?
"Nine-tenths of our reading is on mere chance
recommendation, passing whim or by sheer accident.
We catch sight of a book on a library
table. Having nothing better to do we pick it
up; we start perusing it. Every book read in
this way means a sinful waste of time. To be
sure, a book read in this chance manner might
(accidentally) be very good—even better than
some you would have planned for; but this will
happen seldom, and is never a justification of
the practice. By going a round about way to
a place a man might stumble across a lost pocketbook,
but this would not justify taking round
about ways."
He practically invented the function provided by Goodreads.com 95 years ago:
"Perhaps the best way to do
this would be to make out a list of the books we
intend to read for the coming year, or say a list
of from a dozen to twenty-five volumes, and
then read them in the order listed...
If you cannot keep a list of books you intend
to read, at least keep a list of books you
have read."
Brilliant! Highly recommended for all members of Goodreads. The ebook version is available for free here:
https://mises.org/library/thinking-sc... (updated link)
The book is probably misnamed. It should more accurately be titled: "Exercises for the Mind: A user's guide to developing your brain for maximum effectiveness". I would probably put this book in the "self-help" category too.
I enjoyed this book and there is much to say about those who are avid readers (like many who belong to Goodreads):
"Learning to think by reading is like learning
to draw by tracing. In each case we make the
work of another man our basis, instead of observing
directly from Nature. The practice has
its value, it is true; but no man ever became a
great artist by tracing, and no man will ever become
a great thinker by reading."
Hazlitt also has much to say about taking time out from reading to actually think. He offers many helpful suggestions on how to organize your thinking process toward a determined purpose. He even provides a long list of topics the reader may wish to think about in greater depth.
One point Hazlitt makes is that choosing a book is a very big responsibility, since there is so much trash and we have so little time. In his day he cited data that said there were a total of 5,000,000 different books (titles) ever printed. He said if you read 25 books per year, you only get to read on book in every 3,600! For every book you choose to read, you must ask: Is this book one-in-a-thousand?
"Nine-tenths of our reading is on mere chance
recommendation, passing whim or by sheer accident.
We catch sight of a book on a library
table. Having nothing better to do we pick it
up; we start perusing it. Every book read in
this way means a sinful waste of time. To be
sure, a book read in this chance manner might
(accidentally) be very good—even better than
some you would have planned for; but this will
happen seldom, and is never a justification of
the practice. By going a round about way to
a place a man might stumble across a lost pocketbook,
but this would not justify taking round
about ways."
He practically invented the function provided by Goodreads.com 95 years ago:
"Perhaps the best way to do
this would be to make out a list of the books we
intend to read for the coming year, or say a list
of from a dozen to twenty-five volumes, and
then read them in the order listed...
If you cannot keep a list of books you intend
to read, at least keep a list of books you
have read."
Brilliant! Highly recommended for all members of Goodreads. The ebook version is available for free here:
https://mises.org/library/thinking-sc... (updated link)
May 30, 2020
Without question this goes at the very top of my “books I wish I had read 15 years ago” list. Way too much packed in here to do it justice. Perhaps later I’ll write a proper review. Some quick notes:
You will realize how stupid you are, and how your ideas and beliefs are not your own, that is you haven’t spent the countless hours it takes to really work things out for yourself, you have merely adopted positions that fit your identity.
Almost every topic is infinitely more complicated and nuanced than at first sight.
Almost nobody thinks anymore. Even people who write books these days are mostly writing derivative crap.
If we want to be thinkers, and have sharp intellects, and not merely recite what others have said, then we must devote time exclusively to thinking problems through from first principles.
Hazlitt recommends a 1:1 ratio of time spent thinking to reading.
Before reading a book on a topic, you should spend some time thinking on that topic and see what you already know, what you think you know, and most importantly what problems or contradictions you see that you would like to resolve.
Hazlitt, like Deutsch, sees all thinking as problem solving. Without problems, humans would have no need for thought.
You should keep a running list of what you consider the most important problems you want to solve, and constantly be moving closer to solutions. These could be existential, philosophical, political, economic, ethical, or anything. (They could also be mathematical or scientific of course but this book isn’t about those kinds of problems).
Some problems can be worked out in a half hour. Others will take years. Carry them with you. You do not need to have a strong opinion on everything. If asked about a certain political issue, responding with “I haven’t thought that issue through far enough to have a strong opinion on it” is ok.
That being said, once you think you have decided something, have the courage to declare it and defend it. Don’t waiver or caveat everything. If you’ve done some serious thinking, reading, and writing on an issue, then don’t use language like “It’s my belief that X” or “I could be wrong but isn’t X?” Or “Perhaps X”. Just come right out with what you believe.
While thinking on a topic you should concentrate all your focus on it. Sometimes creative and useful lines of reasoning do pop into consciousness when we are relaxing, like when in the shower, but usually these come after hours of effort full concentration on a subject.
There are several different techniques for approaching problems that are useful when you’re stuck on a problem. They are all discussed in the book.
As you read, you should read slowly and think over what you are reading. If you think you can anticipate the author’s argument, then stop reading and try to make the argument yourself. If you think the author is wrong, stop reading and talk out why you think the authors wrong. You should be able to write out a persuasive explanation. If you can’t, then chances are you don’t actually know that the author is wrong, you just wish it to be so.
If you read something intelligent or persuasive you are likely to forget it in time. If you turn the ideas around in your own mind and come up with your own firm solutions, you will never forget it.
Because there are about a hundred million books, and a human can only read 1 or 2 thousand at most, books should be chosen very carefully.
Solving problems that have been solved already long ago is not a waste of time, because you get practice in creativity. Creative solutions to problems is the name of the game. Nothing else matters.
If you are a careful thinker, you will have thought through all objections to your views far in advance, and you aren’t liable to be caught off guard in a debate or conversation. In fact, your views are nothing more than the collection of ideas that you haven’t been able to contradict yet.
But still, conversations with smart people will help you grow as a thinker and strengthen your arguments. If you are wrong about something, have the humility to admit it.
So much more. This book is a gem. For better or worse it has changed everything.
You will realize how stupid you are, and how your ideas and beliefs are not your own, that is you haven’t spent the countless hours it takes to really work things out for yourself, you have merely adopted positions that fit your identity.
Almost every topic is infinitely more complicated and nuanced than at first sight.
Almost nobody thinks anymore. Even people who write books these days are mostly writing derivative crap.
If we want to be thinkers, and have sharp intellects, and not merely recite what others have said, then we must devote time exclusively to thinking problems through from first principles.
Hazlitt recommends a 1:1 ratio of time spent thinking to reading.
Before reading a book on a topic, you should spend some time thinking on that topic and see what you already know, what you think you know, and most importantly what problems or contradictions you see that you would like to resolve.
Hazlitt, like Deutsch, sees all thinking as problem solving. Without problems, humans would have no need for thought.
You should keep a running list of what you consider the most important problems you want to solve, and constantly be moving closer to solutions. These could be existential, philosophical, political, economic, ethical, or anything. (They could also be mathematical or scientific of course but this book isn’t about those kinds of problems).
Some problems can be worked out in a half hour. Others will take years. Carry them with you. You do not need to have a strong opinion on everything. If asked about a certain political issue, responding with “I haven’t thought that issue through far enough to have a strong opinion on it” is ok.
That being said, once you think you have decided something, have the courage to declare it and defend it. Don’t waiver or caveat everything. If you’ve done some serious thinking, reading, and writing on an issue, then don’t use language like “It’s my belief that X” or “I could be wrong but isn’t X?” Or “Perhaps X”. Just come right out with what you believe.
While thinking on a topic you should concentrate all your focus on it. Sometimes creative and useful lines of reasoning do pop into consciousness when we are relaxing, like when in the shower, but usually these come after hours of effort full concentration on a subject.
There are several different techniques for approaching problems that are useful when you’re stuck on a problem. They are all discussed in the book.
As you read, you should read slowly and think over what you are reading. If you think you can anticipate the author’s argument, then stop reading and try to make the argument yourself. If you think the author is wrong, stop reading and talk out why you think the authors wrong. You should be able to write out a persuasive explanation. If you can’t, then chances are you don’t actually know that the author is wrong, you just wish it to be so.
If you read something intelligent or persuasive you are likely to forget it in time. If you turn the ideas around in your own mind and come up with your own firm solutions, you will never forget it.
Because there are about a hundred million books, and a human can only read 1 or 2 thousand at most, books should be chosen very carefully.
Solving problems that have been solved already long ago is not a waste of time, because you get practice in creativity. Creative solutions to problems is the name of the game. Nothing else matters.
If you are a careful thinker, you will have thought through all objections to your views far in advance, and you aren’t liable to be caught off guard in a debate or conversation. In fact, your views are nothing more than the collection of ideas that you haven’t been able to contradict yet.
But still, conversations with smart people will help you grow as a thinker and strengthen your arguments. If you are wrong about something, have the humility to admit it.
So much more. This book is a gem. For better or worse it has changed everything.
February 7, 2017
True to its title, the book pursues thinking as a science. Thinking here is not for amusement, but to solve a problem. The larger problems can be broken down into subsidiary problems. For example, what should be the sphere of the government? can be asked specifically as: should the government interfer with the freedom of contract? .To solve the problems, requires 'How to think' systematically. Different methods like historical, comparative, deductive, experimental,analogy etc are discussed.
The focus is shifted from thoughts to the thinker. After selecting the problem( which is interesting to the thinker), it must be concentrated upon. Concentration is required because otherwise, we will keep on picking up questions, exploring for a while and then abandoning it without much progress. Writing down the problem, talking about it are suggested as some ways to increase concentration. There is a interesting chapter on prejudices. The prejudice can be due to self interest, desire to imitate, inability to deal with inconsistences, of not being different. One can get rid of these, if he is committed to truth.
Hazlitt has different views on reading. His sole focus in on critical thinking. Reading is a tool to further this end. It is not a escape door. Firstly, we have to select which book to read on a subject. The book must be a comprehensive textbook. The reading of the book has to accompanied with thinking about the problems or suggestions. Once read, it can be read at most once. The rereading can be done after lapse of time because we would have also grown intellectually and experientially. There must also be an attempt to read books of different disciplines. This involves making a yearly list of what to read.( Like Goodreads)
Practice is the key to break free from old habits of neglected thinking. Starting with some minutes on a specific method, we can expand it further. The book does contain some valuable insights to the most important, yet ignored area called thinking.
The focus is shifted from thoughts to the thinker. After selecting the problem( which is interesting to the thinker), it must be concentrated upon. Concentration is required because otherwise, we will keep on picking up questions, exploring for a while and then abandoning it without much progress. Writing down the problem, talking about it are suggested as some ways to increase concentration. There is a interesting chapter on prejudices. The prejudice can be due to self interest, desire to imitate, inability to deal with inconsistences, of not being different. One can get rid of these, if he is committed to truth.
Hazlitt has different views on reading. His sole focus in on critical thinking. Reading is a tool to further this end. It is not a escape door. Firstly, we have to select which book to read on a subject. The book must be a comprehensive textbook. The reading of the book has to accompanied with thinking about the problems or suggestions. Once read, it can be read at most once. The rereading can be done after lapse of time because we would have also grown intellectually and experientially. There must also be an attempt to read books of different disciplines. This involves making a yearly list of what to read.( Like Goodreads)
Practice is the key to break free from old habits of neglected thinking. Starting with some minutes on a specific method, we can expand it further. The book does contain some valuable insights to the most important, yet ignored area called thinking.
January 2, 2021
I was from the "knowledge is power" camp whereby to acquire knowledge for self-development, one must take the time to read and read and read widely. And thinking is the by-product of reading. Hazlitt had a different approach. If the aim is to enhance one's thinking, one should read less and focus more on sharpening one's thinking by articulating the practice of thinking as a science. Only read when it's beneficial to enhance one's independent thinking. What an interesting concept. I'm not fully onboard on abandoning reading in favour of more thinking because reading books that pique my fancy that may add no value to my thinking skill. Nonetheless, it is a simple pleasure that I love doing.
October 10, 2017
its a mix of self-help, econ, psychology and individualism. i loved it. i recommend it to everyone, but in special to procrastinators, or folks with problems with thought process.
October 22, 2020
The book quotes Ralph Waldo Emerson: “What is the hardest task in the world? To think.”
This is interesting, but more interestingly, the book demonstrates by its most chapters why the task is indeed hardest; and the most interestingly, the book does very well to encourage, and to give sound advice for, performing such hardest task.
This is interesting, but more interestingly, the book demonstrates by its most chapters why the task is indeed hardest; and the most interestingly, the book does very well to encourage, and to give sound advice for, performing such hardest task.
April 7, 2024
TLDR
Thinking without a problem in mind is of not much use. Thinking without knowing how you are thinking is bad practice. Be aware of common thinking methods such as a priori, comparative, empirical, experimental, etc. Thinking is always done via a chain of associative thoughts. Concentration is picking the right associative thought from the many that arise at any given moment. Think as much as you read. **Above all, purposeful thinking is key.**
Thinking without a problem in mind is of not much use. Thinking without knowing how you are thinking is bad practice. Be aware of common thinking methods such as a priori, comparative, empirical, experimental, etc. Thinking is always done via a chain of associative thoughts. Concentration is picking the right associative thought from the many that arise at any given moment. Think as much as you read. **Above all, purposeful thinking is key.**
September 20, 2022
Henry Hazlitt was a self-educated man and great intellectual of the last century. This book was published in 1916. About the same time as another great book called The Scientific Management, which has influenced manufacturing and production worldwide for 100 years.
Im writing this becouse this book is of equally significant value as the one Frederick Winslow Taylor
wrote, but one is known extensively; only a few know this one. Of course, Scientific management is about optimising human labour and muscle; this book is about how to maximise your brain and thinking. I hope one is clear why one is widespread and the other unknown.
This book is about the science of thinking, or how to think when thinking. How to solve problems, the blind spots, the cognitive biases, etc. He didnt use those words back then becouse but an early explanation of the terms mentioned above. Perhaps a pioneer in Cognitive Science? Undoubtedly an early scholar.
This book should have been part of any educational system that wants to produce thinking human capital. Maybe that is the reason why it is not well known.
Im writing this becouse this book is of equally significant value as the one Frederick Winslow Taylor
wrote, but one is known extensively; only a few know this one. Of course, Scientific management is about optimising human labour and muscle; this book is about how to maximise your brain and thinking. I hope one is clear why one is widespread and the other unknown.
This book is about the science of thinking, or how to think when thinking. How to solve problems, the blind spots, the cognitive biases, etc. He didnt use those words back then becouse but an early explanation of the terms mentioned above. Perhaps a pioneer in Cognitive Science? Undoubtedly an early scholar.
This book should have been part of any educational system that wants to produce thinking human capital. Maybe that is the reason why it is not well known.
June 20, 2012
I like Hazlitt's somewhat dated but conversational style of writing. It's a very quick read that covers a lot of very basic (albeit probably not as common knowledge in 1916) ideas that can always use a good refresher.
The book brings up a few solid concepts in the final few chapters as well as posing some pretty hard hitting questions for a book written in the early era of modern science (Does god exist? What is the proper role of government? Is socialism morally flawed?)
Worth the read if only as an illustration of Hazlitt's intellect at such a young age.
The book brings up a few solid concepts in the final few chapters as well as posing some pretty hard hitting questions for a book written in the early era of modern science (Does god exist? What is the proper role of government? Is socialism morally flawed?)
Worth the read if only as an illustration of Hazlitt's intellect at such a young age.
January 15, 2017
Short lesson in best practices in thinking. Mostly describes common thinking patterns and either discusses how to improve them and why, or why we should forgo them.
Easy to read, ideas and concepts explained carefully. So immersive that I read it cover to cover (only 250 pages) in one sitting. Easily the best book I've read in a while.
Other than chapters 2 and 3 being a bit strenuous, its a sensational book which I'd recommend for anyone.
Easy to read, ideas and concepts explained carefully. So immersive that I read it cover to cover (only 250 pages) in one sitting. Easily the best book I've read in a while.
Other than chapters 2 and 3 being a bit strenuous, its a sensational book which I'd recommend for anyone.
July 3, 2020
Excellent essay attempting to bring method to the art of thinking. While we all have meandering thoughts , the author is talking about thinking with a purpose, with a definite goal in mind, such as to solve a problem or understand a phenomenon. He gives many ideas on how to think systematically and broadly about a subject. For instance,
1) « a priori » thinking, which is thinking about how things ought to be.
2) evolutionary thinking, where you learn the history of thoughts on a subject and then build upon it.
3) déductive reasoning, where you think through a problem theoretically, using logic only.
4) empirical: using observation
5) experiment: empirical, but where you control the conditions
6) comparative: thinking about analogous problems
7) other sciences: take a problem in finance, and think about it from an economic, social, and medical perspective for example:
Mr. Hazlitt also addresses the importance of concentration, i.e, the sustained attention to a specific problem or subject.
He advises on writing as an aid to thinking and reflection. Another important thing he harps on is to disassociate reading from thinking. Reading can aid thinking or quell it altogether, depending on how you read, and it is important to not associate the two intimately for risk of endangering original thought. He also gives a nice analogy on reading: « Learning to think by reading is like learning to draw by tracing », to underline this point. The originality is missing, in both cases.
Absolutely worth revisiting for all the neat little snippets of sagely self-help on thinking, especially systematically and persistently.
1) « a priori » thinking, which is thinking about how things ought to be.
2) evolutionary thinking, where you learn the history of thoughts on a subject and then build upon it.
3) déductive reasoning, where you think through a problem theoretically, using logic only.
4) empirical: using observation
5) experiment: empirical, but where you control the conditions
6) comparative: thinking about analogous problems
7) other sciences: take a problem in finance, and think about it from an economic, social, and medical perspective for example:
Mr. Hazlitt also addresses the importance of concentration, i.e, the sustained attention to a specific problem or subject.
He advises on writing as an aid to thinking and reflection. Another important thing he harps on is to disassociate reading from thinking. Reading can aid thinking or quell it altogether, depending on how you read, and it is important to not associate the two intimately for risk of endangering original thought. He also gives a nice analogy on reading: « Learning to think by reading is like learning to draw by tracing », to underline this point. The originality is missing, in both cases.
Absolutely worth revisiting for all the neat little snippets of sagely self-help on thinking, especially systematically and persistently.
September 28, 2025
Overall, well worth the read. This feels like it probably should've been required reading somewhere in the highschool junior to college sophomore range, or is perhaps the kind of book a man ought to give his teenage son. It might be a bit dated in some regards and it has the confidence and stridence of having been written by a man in his 20s, but as a knowledge worker (dare I say professional thinker?) I think Hazlitt much nails a lot of things that do and don't work, and a lot of the Big Questions in human life that he was thinking about remain open and worth thinking about.
Also ties nicely to the American Pragmatists of his era, for whom I have a certain fondness. In that regard, as well as its straightforward practicality (encouragement to aim your thinking at problems and to think in effective ways) and individualism (encouraging people to think things through for themselves before consulting experts or going and experimenting), a pleasingly American book.
Also ties nicely to the American Pragmatists of his era, for whom I have a certain fondness. In that regard, as well as its straightforward practicality (encouragement to aim your thinking at problems and to think in effective ways) and individualism (encouraging people to think things through for themselves before consulting experts or going and experimenting), a pleasingly American book.
January 27, 2022
Evidentemente, los seres humanos pensamos, pero no necesariamente lo hacemos bien. Por esta razón, "El pensar como ciencia" de Henry Hazlitt, nos propone unas pautas para que seamos más eficaces a través de diferentes métodos instructivos.
La cuestión es que delante de cualquier problema, tanto sea matemático como de la vida, seamos capaces de analizar, razonar y de encontrar la solución.
En general, creemos que sabemos reflexionar, pero la verdad es que la mayoría de veces divagamos y, por lo tanto, no sabemos encontrar una solución a nuestros problemas. Hazlitt, enseña a focalizar nuestros pensamientos en la dirección correcta.
Hay capítulos tan interesantes como: "La concentración", "El pensar y la lectura", "Escribir los propios pensamientos", "El pensar como arte", "Libros sobre el pensar", "Cómo estudiar", etc.
Yo he necesitado dos lecturas del libro. Una la hice más sencilla y rápida, pero como vi que no había memorizado los conceptos esenciales, hice una segunda lectura más profunda, y tomé notas para reflexionar mejor y no olvidar las nociones que propone Hazlitt.
Estoy segura de que muchas de las ideas del libro, las utilizaré para mejorar la comprensión de mis lecturas y sobre todo para utilizar mis pensamientos dirigidos con método.
La cuestión es que delante de cualquier problema, tanto sea matemático como de la vida, seamos capaces de analizar, razonar y de encontrar la solución.
En general, creemos que sabemos reflexionar, pero la verdad es que la mayoría de veces divagamos y, por lo tanto, no sabemos encontrar una solución a nuestros problemas. Hazlitt, enseña a focalizar nuestros pensamientos en la dirección correcta.
Hay capítulos tan interesantes como: "La concentración", "El pensar y la lectura", "Escribir los propios pensamientos", "El pensar como arte", "Libros sobre el pensar", "Cómo estudiar", etc.
Yo he necesitado dos lecturas del libro. Una la hice más sencilla y rápida, pero como vi que no había memorizado los conceptos esenciales, hice una segunda lectura más profunda, y tomé notas para reflexionar mejor y no olvidar las nociones que propone Hazlitt.
Estoy segura de que muchas de las ideas del libro, las utilizaré para mejorar la comprensión de mis lecturas y sobre todo para utilizar mis pensamientos dirigidos con método.
August 9, 2025
Could've been much shorter, but the ideas are very relevant. Hazlitt's early work focused more on how to act, with a clear theme of independence (way to will power, and this book which essentially pushes the reader to pursue original thought), and this is a great book to help you build habits to have intellectual sovereignty.
February 13, 2021
This book will improve your approach to thinking about anything; immensely useful for students. As a philosophy student it has inspired me in my approach to researching and writing. Highly recommended.
August 23, 2021
Un libro excelente. El tema tratado y la forma de tratarlo - clara, amena y concisa- ya justifican su lectura; sin embargo, el verdadero tesoro de este libro son sus obras referenciales y sus recomendaciones de lectura.
December 22, 2021
How to think and how not to think is foremost in his message. How to think all the way to the end of a problem is expressed in this book. Written so many years ago and is still prevalent today is amazing.
July 8, 2023
Author offers to explain the thinking process and what it involves, memory, imagination, reasoning. I am learning from it though do not yet know whether I will acquire any new habits he recommends. If I do I will upgrade my rating later.
January 19, 2019
Wish there were more than the 2 books available from this author. Great concepts to understand how to best use our minds.
December 13, 2019
A classic.
November 28, 2020
A good intro on how to think, read, write, etc. It has plenty of tips for getting the most out of those things, while avoiding error, from one of the most important jornalists of the 1900s
April 13, 2024
Was alright. Can tell it was written a hundred years ago and is a bit preachy (but I guess all of these so called self-help books are), but it had a few decent ideas that I can get on board with.
April 13, 2024
Not a book for formed thinkers yet a good way for young adults to be introduced to proper thinking. I enjoyed it and will probably recheck it in the future.
June 28, 2025
Teaches you how to think. Great for beginners.
August 10, 2021
Hazlitt uses timeless principles to give general advice on thinking, reading, and writing effectively.
While clearly applicable to his time some thinking is required to apply the same principles to today's digital age.
While clearly applicable to his time some thinking is required to apply the same principles to today's digital age.
November 10, 2012
يشرح الكتاب وبشكل كامل ومفصل التفكير كعملية، وليس كأفكار تأتي وتذهب. يقع الكتاب في 10 فصول,
1. الإقصاء, أو إهمال عملية التفكير بتحديد نمط معين للتفكير وإقصاء ما يعارضه لسبب أو لآخر، والواقعية\ السلبية المحضة التي تقضي على أي محاولة للتفكير بشكل عام و التفكير الإبداعي الخلّاق بشكل خاص.
2. إيجاد منهج التفكير,تحديد منهج أو اسلوب معين، شخصي ، عملي ومنطقي للتفكير، رغم ان التفكير يحدث غالباً دون وعي للعملية القائمة بحيث يُخلق منهج او مسار خاص للانسان دون بحث او دراسة للاسلوب،تلعب عملية الإقصاء دوراً في اتخاذ منحى بعينه دون الآخر حسب شخصية المفكر ومايشعر به وليس بالضرورة الافضل طبقاً للمسألة بحياد. تحديد المشكلة أولاً لإيجاد حل، تحديد أجزاء وأطراف المشكلة وابعادها، وإشارة إلى أهم وأشهر مناهج التفكير ووسائل تحديد المنهج، بأخذ أول حل يطؤأ على بالك ثم تحليله ببحث جميع العوامل التي قد تؤدي الى فشل الحل، المقارنة التفكيك والتجزيء.. كل هذه الأمور التي تحدد المنهج وتعينك على ايجاد طريقتك الافضل في التفكير تستخلصها في هذا الفصل مع التوسّع في الامثلة لوصول المعلومة..
إن لم يكن الشخص مستعداً للتفكير لن تقنعه أية وسيلة أو منهاج ليفكر.
3. تحذيرات مهمة , كانت بشكل عام عن المراقبة ، المقارنة، والتجربة.
4.تنبيهات هامة ايضاّ، نقطة اثارت اعجابي كانت التفكير بشكل صامت والتفكير بصوت مسموع والمقارنة بينهما ، حيث ان التفكير بصوت يساعد على ايجاد حل أسرع إضافة الى ابقاء افكارك ضمن السياق ..أيضاّ تحسين خياراتك ومفرداتك اللغوية. كنت اعتقد ان التفكير الصامت مقارب للتحدث لأننا نفكر بكلماتحتى اننا قد نسمعها في عقولنا الا اننا لاننطقها؟ لكن تبين أن هذا الرأي خاطئ فالتفكير -الصامت- يغلب عليه الصور والذكريات المرئية\بصرية أكثر من الكلمات الفعلية مما يؤدي الى سرعة وسهولة الانحراف عن مسار التفكير.
أيضاّ تسجيل الافكار الطارئة او الخارجة عن السياق اثناءالتفكير يقلل من انحراف التفكير ويزيد الركيز على المشكلة حيث تستطيع العودة لاحقا لملاحظاتك.
من الامور المساعدة على ابقاء تركيزك وعدم انجرافك وراء اي مصدر إلهاء إغلاق العينين، رغم اننا نعتقد ان الاصوات هي اكبر عامل إلهاء و ازعاج، الا ان ما يقطع تركيزك فعليا هي الحركة حولك وما تراه كخلفية ..
5. التحيز بلا يقين او إثبات، أكبر واهم عامل يؤثر على عملية التفكير وعلى تكوين الاراء والشخصية حتى، كيف تكوّن رأياّ وكيف تغير رأيك.
6.المناظرات والحوارات، التدرب عليها واجراءها فعليا عملية مهمة جدا للتفكير ومحاولة تجريب وتقريب المناهج المختلفة للتفكير حول اي مسألة.
7.التفكير والقراءة.
8. تدوين الافكار.
9. اشياء تستحق التفكير.
10. فن التفكير.
واخيرا فصل ملحق يحوي قائمة بعناوين كتب في التفكير..
الكتاب ممتاز جدا، ومن الكتب التي تعود لقراءتها لتجد انك تستفيد شيئا جديدا ومهما في كل مرة.
1. الإقصاء, أو إهمال عملية التفكير بتحديد نمط معين للتفكير وإقصاء ما يعارضه لسبب أو لآخر، والواقعية\ السلبية المحضة التي تقضي على أي محاولة للتفكير بشكل عام و التفكير الإبداعي الخلّاق بشكل خاص.
2. إيجاد منهج التفكير,تحديد منهج أو اسلوب معين، شخصي ، عملي ومنطقي للتفكير، رغم ان التفكير يحدث غالباً دون وعي للعملية القائمة بحيث يُخلق منهج او مسار خاص للانسان دون بحث او دراسة للاسلوب،تلعب عملية الإقصاء دوراً في اتخاذ منحى بعينه دون الآخر حسب شخصية المفكر ومايشعر به وليس بالضرورة الافضل طبقاً للمسألة بحياد. تحديد المشكلة أولاً لإيجاد حل، تحديد أجزاء وأطراف المشكلة وابعادها، وإشارة إلى أهم وأشهر مناهج التفكير ووسائل تحديد المنهج، بأخذ أول حل يطؤأ على بالك ثم تحليله ببحث جميع العوامل التي قد تؤدي الى فشل الحل، المقارنة التفكيك والتجزيء.. كل هذه الأمور التي تحدد المنهج وتعينك على ايجاد طريقتك الافضل في التفكير تستخلصها في هذا الفصل مع التوسّع في الامثلة لوصول المعلومة..
إن لم يكن الشخص مستعداً للتفكير لن تقنعه أية وسيلة أو منهاج ليفكر.
3. تحذيرات مهمة , كانت بشكل عام عن المراقبة ، المقارنة، والتجربة.
4.تنبيهات هامة ايضاّ، نقطة اثارت اعجابي كانت التفكير بشكل صامت والتفكير بصوت مسموع والمقارنة بينهما ، حيث ان التفكير بصوت يساعد على ايجاد حل أسرع إضافة الى ابقاء افكارك ضمن السياق ..أيضاّ تحسين خياراتك ومفرداتك اللغوية. كنت اعتقد ان التفكير الصامت مقارب للتحدث لأننا نفكر بكلماتحتى اننا قد نسمعها في عقولنا الا اننا لاننطقها؟ لكن تبين أن هذا الرأي خاطئ فالتفكير -الصامت- يغلب عليه الصور والذكريات المرئية\بصرية أكثر من الكلمات الفعلية مما يؤدي الى سرعة وسهولة الانحراف عن مسار التفكير.
أيضاّ تسجيل الافكار الطارئة او الخارجة عن السياق اثناءالتفكير يقلل من انحراف التفكير ويزيد الركيز على المشكلة حيث تستطيع العودة لاحقا لملاحظاتك.
من الامور المساعدة على ابقاء تركيزك وعدم انجرافك وراء اي مصدر إلهاء إغلاق العينين، رغم اننا نعتقد ان الاصوات هي اكبر عامل إلهاء و ازعاج، الا ان ما يقطع تركيزك فعليا هي الحركة حولك وما تراه كخلفية ..
5. التحيز بلا يقين او إثبات، أكبر واهم عامل يؤثر على عملية التفكير وعلى تكوين الاراء والشخصية حتى، كيف تكوّن رأياّ وكيف تغير رأيك.
6.المناظرات والحوارات، التدرب عليها واجراءها فعليا عملية مهمة جدا للتفكير ومحاولة تجريب وتقريب المناهج المختلفة للتفكير حول اي مسألة.
7.التفكير والقراءة.
8. تدوين الافكار.
9. اشياء تستحق التفكير.
10. فن التفكير.
واخيرا فصل ملحق يحوي قائمة بعناوين كتب في التفكير..
الكتاب ممتاز جدا، ومن الكتب التي تعود لقراءتها لتجد انك تستفيد شيئا جديدا ومهما في كل مرة.
August 19, 2011
I highly recommend this book for anyone who has a desire to obtain any level of understanding in Economics, Politics, Philosophy, Religion, or any other similar field as well as to any who wish to solve a problem. It also warrants a high recommendation for any who wish to enrich their minds, or stimulate their intellectual processes. I do not agree with the author in everything he said, but he has accomplished a landmark achievement, and I make a final recommendation of this book to any and all who have acquired the ability to read. It's worth the time you put into it.
November 9, 2012
Very much an early 20th century informative book (long sentences) and may be sound a bit strained for a modern reader, but I still recommend it. Many suggestions on how to make your thinking, and reading, useful. Among his recommendations are making a to-read list and actually planning your reading, and thinking about the book you have just read for a few days before starting something else. This allows you to actually absorb the book, rather than just mark up a bunch of "reads."
October 20, 2013
I was surprised by how engaging this book was, especially since it was written early on in the 20th century. But it is still very applicable to today and I found myself learning so much from it. Well, rather I felt it was a pretty deep book that I'll have to reread to fully get all the knowledge from it but I don't mind it because the subject is fascinating and Hazlitt's prose is so accessible.
September 21, 2021
A practical guide to thinking with a focus on rules that will guide the reader to better methods of thought. Topics covered include concentration, prejudices, reading, and writing. The final chapter includes recommendations for further reading. I read this in college and, even though it was written more than a century ago it is clear, lucid, and has ideas that are just as relevant today.
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