Think Better

by Ulrich L. Lehner

In a world dominated by half-truths, illogic, and intellectual laziness, Think Better helps readers understand what reason is and how to use it well.

Reason is a powerful tool not only for finding our way in an increasingly complex world but also for growing intellectually and emotionally. This short, accessible volume unlocks the dynamics of human reason, helping readers to think critically and to use reason confidently to solve problems. It enables readers to think more clearly and precisely about the world, and it tackles a number of profound philosophical questions without getting bogged down with jargon. Topics include knowledge, identity, leadership, creativity, and empathy.

Written in an accessible style that integrates philosophy, illustrations, personal anecdotes, and statistical data, this book is well suited for use in undergraduate, classical school, and home school contexts. It is an invaluable guide for anyone interested in gaining better reasoning skills and a more rational approach to life.

Genres: Philosophy, Audiobook

192 pages, Paperback

Published November 16, 2021

Reviews

[Kari · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Reason without knowledge is very much like a dull knife: it can’t cut through the layers of information to get to the truth of the matter. By figuring out how knowledge works, we learn how to sharpen the knife of reason and how to use it properly.”

I was excited to read this book, because I admire those who are able to use logical reasoning and share their ideas in an eloquent way that also respects those with different viewpoints. This is an area where I think most of us (myself definitely included) need some work, and I was excited to learn “how to sharpen the knife of reason and how to use it properly.”

Right off the bat, there were a few concepts that I’m not sure I agree with, and others I would have loved to do more research on to figure out whether I agree or disagree. While I know a lot of research went into this book, there wasn’t quite the breadth of footnotes and citations I would have expected when claiming something as fact. Instead, the author seems to take some of these concepts as universally absolute.

There were several concepts in the book that I found fascinating, like how faulty syllogisms can be used to manipulate thinking and how invalid analogies can be used to incite emotion in a dangerous way. I’m glad the book also talked a bit about how the data we look at has usually been filtered in some way, and that consumers of information need to know how to sift through the pieces and methodologies and biases to understand what it all means. In today’s “fake news” world, these are ideas and skills that are extremely important to understand.

I do wish, however, that the book went a bit deeper into the HOW of it all. I appreciated the use of language and story the author uses to make the concepts accessible to the average reader. For someone just beginning a metacognitive journey, this book would probably be a good starting point. As someone who has done this, though, I wanted to dive deep into learning about how we process information and how we can reason more effectively with ourselves and with others. Knowing how to sift through and assess information, how to self-reflect in a meaningful way, how to effectively discuss topics when another person isn’t using logical thinking, how to get out of a cycle involving circular reasoning and confirmation bias… these would all have been practical bits of information with direct relevance and opportunity for application.

Overall, the book was much more a philosophical endeavor than a neuroscientific look at how humans think and reason. I kind of wish we were given more on where these two branches meet instead of (what felt like many) arguments as to why philosophy gives a better explanation on thinking and reasoning abilities.

Thanks to NetGalley and Baker Academic & Brazos Press for this advanced readers copy of the book!

[Traci Rhoades · Rating 5 out of 5]

At times, it lost me in philosophical musings. However, what remained was super useful. There's a reason we make the judgments we do, and we can get better at it.