Tools of Critical Thinking: Metathoughts for Psychology

by David A. Levy

This innovative text is designed to improve thinking skills through the application of "Metathoughts" (literally, thoughts about thought). Metathoughts arise from critical analysis of the way we think. These specialized tools and techniques are useful for approaching all forms of inquiry, study, and problem solving. Levy applies Metathoughts to many large issues in contemporary social and clinical defining psychological phenomena, recognizing the strengths and weaknesses in various schools of psychological thought, evaluating the usefulness of psychological theories, and improving cognitive processes to explore new avenues of insight. For each Metathought, Levy offers practical examples, illustrations, anecdotes, clinical vignettes, and contemporary social problems and issues.

Genres: Psychology, Education

272 pages, Paperback

First published December 30, 1996

Reviews

[Dennis Nehrenheim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Context & Why I read this book
In 2021 I am on a quest to read everything I can about rationality. "Critical thinking" was a perfect fit.

What is the book about as a whole?
"Tools of Critical Thinking" is about improving one's thinking using metathoughts("thoughts about thought"). The author presents at least 25 of these metathoughts in the form of tools and techniques to aid critical thinking and improve ones study, inquiry, and problem solving.

The book's structure
The book has a carefully thought-out structure. It has 5 main parts; each consists of chapters, which present one meta thought. The parts cluster the metathoughts into a common perspective:
1. Conceputalizing Phenomena
2. Explaning Phenomena
3. Common Misattributions
4. Investigating Phenomena
5. Other Biases and Fallacies in Thinking
Every chapter provides vivid examples, poses practical exercises to complete and ends with a quick summary, notes & references and even relevant glossary terms for the chapter. Additionally, several appendices (for more detailed examples, exercise "solutions", ....), a big glossary of terms uses, an even bigger reference section, a subject index, and a separate name index are provided.

One lesson
There are so many lessons that it's impossible to pinpoint the biggest one; so I just pick a random one related to the **Attribution Bias** (we tend to overemphasize the impact of the environment when analyzing our own behavior and discount it when interpreting other peoples behavior). So as of the author's suggestion, I will try to remember that at any given time, how people behave depends both on what they bring to the situation ("who" they are), as well as the situation itself ("where" they are).

Reading Recommendation / Who should read this?
I didn't have high expectations when I bought this book. I anticipated it to be yet another book that boringly lists some vague "biases"; like many did before. But I was really positively surprised by how well and easily digestible this book is written. It includes extremely helpful examples. So if today you were to ask me for a book recommendation on cognitive biases, mental fallacies and our shortcomings in rationality I would very likely refer you to this book and this book only!

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Find my other book reviews at: https://www.dennisnehrenheim.com/read

[Dustin Raymer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book to be very helpful as a psychology student. It pinpoints many fallacies and self serving biases that are both conscious and unconscious. It's similar to cognitive priming, once you are aware of it, it becomes apparent. I found the both to be both helpful and entertaining with a touch of humor and satire that made the read much more enjoyable than textbooks.

[Tobias Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Damn you know when someone's thinking just fills all these gaps that you had in your own? This book advanced some of the arguments from Thomas Szasz, but rephrased them in ways that go deeper.

I can imagine so many cases where titling someone's experience as "Major Depressive Disorder" is useful... but I can't believe it's the default, unquestioned path.

Think about how much that label would forcibly shape your identity, and put boundaries on what you think is possible for your thoughts/emotions/behaviour.

Psychiatric nosology is something that should at LEAST be thought about intensely before it gets imposed on people. Like ahhh just spitballing, but what about a system that chooses whether to diagnose on a case-by-case basis, regardless of whether someone fits the criteria in the DSM?

[Debbie Aliya · Rating 5 out of 5]

To the 300+ people who want to read this, WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR???
This book just keeps on rewarding readers, and repeat readers and repeat repeat readers.
Want to reduce your confusion? Want to be able to name explicitly the problem when a fact stinks? This is your guide. Read it now. Needed more than ever. Keep yourself and your humanity by learning how to recognize incorrect reasoning. Tune your Bullshitometer.

[Debbie Aliya · Rating 5 out of 5]

To the 300+ people who want to read this, WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR???
This book just keeps on rewarding readers, and repeat readers and repeat repeat readers.
Want to reduce your confusion? Want to be able to name explicitly the problem when a fact stinks? This is your guide. Read it now. Needed more than ever. Keep yourself and your humanity by learning how to recognize incorrect reasoning. Tune your Bullshitometer.

[Hailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great!

[Jami · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent book for anyone interested in psychology. Once you read the fallacies it is impossible not to see them everywhere.

[Dliu · Rating 3 out of 5]

reads like a textbook or workbook. but interesting nonetheless, if you're into practical applications of cognitive psychology