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Beyond Feelings: A Guide to Critical Thinking
This succinct, interdisciplinary introduction to critical thinking successfully dares students to question their own assumptions and to enlarge their thinking through the analysis of the most common problems associated with everyday reasoning. The text offers a unique and effective Part I explains the fundamental concepts; Part II describes the most common barriers to critical thinking; Part III offers strategies for overcoming those barriers.
256 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1975
103 people are currently reading
1060 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
January 15, 2016
One of the best books (textbooks) on critical thinking I've read. A book for beginners, Ruggiero sets out to lay down the fundamentals of informal logic. The readability of this book is what I think sets it apart. It would easily allow it to be digested by those new to the studies of logic and critical thinking. He presents things in a conversational tone, while giving examples in application.
Highly recommended for those new to critical thinking or those experienced minds looking to clear off some of the barnacles that tend to form over time. Especially if you don't use or practice!
Highly recommended for those new to critical thinking or those experienced minds looking to clear off some of the barnacles that tend to form over time. Especially if you don't use or practice!
February 9, 2017
In my opinion, the problem of these books is that being critical towards one's own belief/ideology/philosophy is really very hard. Even in given examples, one can easily notice the presumptions of the author. In most cases, such books turn into patronizing texts preaching their own subjective way of thinking -in disguise of objective or critical or logical or scientific thinking (I'm not saying that these latter cannot be possible. I'm only pointing its difficulty). In addition, such introductory texts can really be annoying as they avoid or cannot handle more tangling issues (e.g. relativism, ethical preferences...)
It may be for basic introduction, but you should not expect more.
It may be for basic introduction, but you should not expect more.
July 18, 2022
This book started off really good, I was super excited about it, I even asked couple of friends to read it, I kept thinking "this book needs to be read more than once, it's really good", then I just stopped. I don't know, but I felt bored a couple of times, I had to start it again, so I did, and that put it on hold for a while now :'(, I finished almost half of the book!, but I just couldn't finish it .. so for the sake of clearing my currently reading shelve, I'll just mark it finished for now, with a promise to get back to it someday..
November 30, 2020
Apparently designed to introduce critical thinking skills to college students. A very helpful refresher.
July 14, 2019
The book talks about critical thinking in terms of common mistakes by following others, saving face, oversimplification, etc. The analysis makes sense and thorough. It had a lot of applications at the end of each chapter, and practical examples when elaborating each subjects of critical thinking.
I like the subject of this book and it's worth everyone having the habit of thinking critically. However, I found the author stated the obvious at many places in this book, maybe becasue of books like self-improvements normally bored me with common sense, simple assertments and lots of similar examples. Thus when I read it I became impatient and skipped most of the applications and some of the examples, I read it fast and only pay attention to something I don't know or not think enough about before. Another reason is that I think I already have strong critical thinking habit and skills, I had years of scientific training, which taught me not to gain conclusion easily.
The reason I chose to read this book is that I know how important it is to think critically in life, I've seen most of people around me or online don't have this technique, which made their view unsubstantially. I am feeling I need to realise the notion of critical thinking by read a book of its kind.
Overall, I think this book is worth a try, especially for people who are suffering from not thinking clearly. And it takes not too much time to finish.
I like the subject of this book and it's worth everyone having the habit of thinking critically. However, I found the author stated the obvious at many places in this book, maybe becasue of books like self-improvements normally bored me with common sense, simple assertments and lots of similar examples. Thus when I read it I became impatient and skipped most of the applications and some of the examples, I read it fast and only pay attention to something I don't know or not think enough about before. Another reason is that I think I already have strong critical thinking habit and skills, I had years of scientific training, which taught me not to gain conclusion easily.
The reason I chose to read this book is that I know how important it is to think critically in life, I've seen most of people around me or online don't have this technique, which made their view unsubstantially. I am feeling I need to realise the notion of critical thinking by read a book of its kind.
Overall, I think this book is worth a try, especially for people who are suffering from not thinking clearly. And it takes not too much time to finish.
January 16, 2018
I generally don't take the time to write reviews, but this book was so appallingly bad, I couldn't help myself. I was assigned this for an English class and had to drag myself through it. Ruggiero again and again makes binary assertions for philosophical quandaries that are not nearly so cut and dry.
The idea that critical thinking and feelings have to exist separately is disturbing and so deeply full of logical fallacies.
The idea that critical thinking and feelings have to exist separately is disturbing and so deeply full of logical fallacies.
October 11, 2013
It's a good book not only for a guide to critical thinking, I found the last chapter is also very useful which is talking about how to persuade others.
I recommand this book not only because it is helpful for any one to form his own opinion or keep critical thinking, but also that in our country, our education system lack these books or effective discussion seriously.
I recommand this book not only because it is helpful for any one to form his own opinion or keep critical thinking, but also that in our country, our education system lack these books or effective discussion seriously.
January 21, 2020
NOTE: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/ggoZ1s8-Ob...
Recommended!
I am not expecting to have a habit of critical thinking after finishing this book. But I do have some concept about critical thinking in my brain.
Recommended!
I am not expecting to have a habit of critical thinking after finishing this book. But I do have some concept about critical thinking in my brain.
November 3, 2019
Though I know nothing about this book's background or the author, I can still perceive a vivid image of a aged professor instrusting his undergraduates. By this aspect, I can tell why there are so many complaints about this book on the Amazon. The professor is indeed orthodox and wordy. He stated the principles again and again, showed the examples one by one by one. The principles and guidelines in the book are actually quite simple and well-understood, which means the book could be much more shorter.
In spite of all these, the principles and guidelines showed in the book are genuinely valuable and making-sense. The most significant point is its systematicness. Part of the principles we might sometime already knew by intuition, however, systematic learning can help us generalize and exert these skill and improve efficiently.
I wonder if the critical thinking is a basis course in the American College, if so, it interpret a crucial difference from Chinese College, in where the prevailing practise are passing any severe topics in the daily life, even more avoiding teaching critical thinking in convenience of ......
In spite of all these, the principles and guidelines showed in the book are genuinely valuable and making-sense. The most significant point is its systematicness. Part of the principles we might sometime already knew by intuition, however, systematic learning can help us generalize and exert these skill and improve efficiently.
I wonder if the critical thinking is a basis course in the American College, if so, it interpret a crucial difference from Chinese College, in where the prevailing practise are passing any severe topics in the daily life, even more avoiding teaching critical thinking in convenience of ......
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May 24, 2021Try to picture a pot of mixed self-help guides, career advice, ads by therapists, and popular "crowd psychology" books. Yes, it is this book.
What I'm trying to say is: this book, in some ways and for certain people, CAN be helpful. It is more like a cheat sheet for everyday common-sensical knowledges.
What I'm trying to say is: this book, in some ways and for certain people, CAN be helpful. It is more like a cheat sheet for everyday common-sensical knowledges.
Want to read
November 29, 2021@2015-08-25 11:35:35
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January 20, 2023好书，甚是精细。看的很粗略，对我来说，感觉很多观点不新鲜略初级。
March 7, 2024
Discussing and pointing out myriad reasoning biases and errors, but rather verbose.
February 19, 2025
This was my textbook, so I only read a bit of it, but what I read was fantastic. The world would be a lot less annoying if everyone had to read this.
January 1, 2024
This is a simple introduction to Critical Thinking which successfully achieves its aims of avoiding jargon and of being accessible to readers from a wide range of backgrounds
I appreciated the way that the book divided the issues up, especially the central sections’ attempt to classify thinking problems into Errors of Perspective, Procedure, Expression and Reaction. This enabled a couple of dozen biases and fallacies to be grouped and explained in bite-sized chunks.
I also appreciated the way that each chapter concluded with practical exercises for readers to think through and apply what they had learned in each chapter.
One of the aspects which I was less appreciative of is that the book sometimes over-simplifies. For example in Chapter 7 we hear about how arguments can be valid (correctly formed) and sound (true). This is an important distinction but technically it applies to deductive arguments. Proponents of inductive (probability) arguments use terms like ‘cogent’ and ‘strong,’ rather than ‘valid’ and ‘sound.’ By not mentioning this, the book is over-simplifying to the point of becoming arguably inaccurate.
However, apart from that small caveat the book provides a clear introduction to a complex set of issues within thinking skills. This makes it particularly suitable for readers beginning to learn Critical Thinking. Readers who want a more extended discussion of concepts, and/or want to engage with the jargon and technicalities of reasoning will probably find other books on Critical Thinking more conducive, such as Robert Carroll’s, Becoming a Critical Thinker.
I appreciated the way that the book divided the issues up, especially the central sections’ attempt to classify thinking problems into Errors of Perspective, Procedure, Expression and Reaction. This enabled a couple of dozen biases and fallacies to be grouped and explained in bite-sized chunks.
I also appreciated the way that each chapter concluded with practical exercises for readers to think through and apply what they had learned in each chapter.
One of the aspects which I was less appreciative of is that the book sometimes over-simplifies. For example in Chapter 7 we hear about how arguments can be valid (correctly formed) and sound (true). This is an important distinction but technically it applies to deductive arguments. Proponents of inductive (probability) arguments use terms like ‘cogent’ and ‘strong,’ rather than ‘valid’ and ‘sound.’ By not mentioning this, the book is over-simplifying to the point of becoming arguably inaccurate.
However, apart from that small caveat the book provides a clear introduction to a complex set of issues within thinking skills. This makes it particularly suitable for readers beginning to learn Critical Thinking. Readers who want a more extended discussion of concepts, and/or want to engage with the jargon and technicalities of reasoning will probably find other books on Critical Thinking more conducive, such as Robert Carroll’s, Becoming a Critical Thinker.
July 11, 2013
This a text book to teach the fundamentals, context, errors and strategies of critical thinking. It is very methodical, but that is exactly what is needed to expose how the human mind needs methodical strategies to analyze and understand situations, and not be influenced by errors in logic, perceptions or arguments. I wish this book is taught in high schools or at junior college level in all disciplines. It will require very competent coaches to help discuss the subtle issues. It is easy reading, if you have some familiarity with the subject. Given that it suggests well thought out and controversial subject matter for the exercises, it could be a great book for two friends to read and go at the exercises to see how well they understood the critical thinking concepts, errors and strategies. It is a must read.
April 3, 2013
This is a textbook for a class I am taking. While reading the first few chapters I found it hard. But once I became comfortable with the author's style it was much easier to read. I found the information to be well worth the effort of reading it. I hope to be a better person for having taken the time to do so.
October 11, 2013
It's a good book not only for a guide to critical thinking, I found the last chapter is also very useful which is talking about how to persuade others.
I recommand this book not only because it is helpful for any one to form his own opinion or keep critical thinking, but also that in our country, our education system lack these books or effective discussion seriously
I recommand this book not only because it is helpful for any one to form his own opinion or keep critical thinking, but also that in our country, our education system lack these books or effective discussion seriously
September 16, 2013
A good book taking one on a detailed tour of critical thinking: the role of personal biases, opinions, various kinds of evidence, logical errors, and even how to do scholarly research. An introduction, yes, but society needs to improve its critical thinking skills. I would like to see this subject taught in schools.
August 18, 2017
Not finished. It's somewhat dense to read, worth taking the time to really think about the ideas presented. I will continue to read it in the future- someday I will finish and probably start again from the beginning.
August 1, 2014
Why am I reading this?! I was expecting to see what indeed the buzz word, "critical thinking", means, but only to find it just a way of thinking that any highly educated person uses everyone. Furthermore, three chapters inside, I realised that this is a textbook for secondary schoolers...
November 22, 2015
An introduction to understanding logical fallacies and improve your debating skills, it was quite well written and impartial with its use of examples. Some of the materials were repeated which was a bit annoying but in general quite a good book to reduce the influence of the intelligentsia.
February 21, 2016
A great book of guidance to critical thinking. A good reminder for us to ponder, how our perspectives are affected by others, how our thinking process is with fallacy, how our ways of expression is inappropriate.
May 1, 2016
I thought it was an academic book, or at least a textbook, but it is a self-help book. The knowledge is shallow and general. It will make you disappointed about critical thinking. If you want to seriously study about critical thinking, don't read this book. Choose a textbook instead!
December 11, 2010
A great book guiding you to the world of critical thinking! Wonderful!
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May 22, 2012Honors Critical Thinking. Very useful textbook for a practical class.
May 27, 2014
outline is enough for reading. The practice of discussion might be helpful if applied
April 14, 2016
This good book deserve read twice. learn to think reasonable.
December 10, 2016
pretty good for a text book
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews