Think for Yourself!

This book was written by an MD. When I first saw it in the bookstore Philosophy section my first thought was what makes an MD an expert in critical thinking? I was also somewhat put-off by the cover design. It looked like it was marketed for Soccer Moms. I quickly glanced through the pages, thinking the book was probably too elementary. I put it back on the shelf and walked away. Several weeks later I saw the same book again, only this time I decided to check it out a little closer. I bought it. I read it in one sitting and found it to be one of the best books I have ever read on critical thinking. I went out a bought one for each of my adult children. I highly recommend this book. The author's writing style is very engaging, upbeat, and the subject matter very complete and surprisingly easy to digest. He gives one of the best introductions for the scientific method I have ever read. It was a fun read.

"Think for Yourself" by Steve Hindes Surprisingly, Steve Hindes is a family physician, and a lecturer. Now to the book. Hindes introduces a dichotomy between our faculties of Intuition and our Analysis, and characterizes the culture we live in as a saturating irrationality, and I'm appreciative of that. Anyone who hasn't quite gone mad yet, understands that "things" ain't all they're cracked up to be. The Timeline of Western Culture begins with the formation of the Milky Way galaxy, which indicates that perhaps Steve Hindes has a grasp of the cosmic? I think so. I like the way in which the author has a very insightful understanding for many of the confused reasonings and expressions that articulate the voices of frustrated people who try to grasp and compare ideas. If the author is sympathetic to his audience, and truly knows them, it's a tremendous plus for him. By page 51, the author asks: "Is the Goal of the Discussion to Discover the Truth or Simply to 'WIN' the Debate?" Being able to make that distinction is a credit to the author, in my opinion. By page 59, the author introduces the distinction between "Clarifying Reality and Clarifying Fictions." Thank you, Steve Hindes, because I am tired of reading books on thinking/logic by academics who couldn't find their own hind end with a six-celled flashlight and a hand mirror. Here's a guy who really knows the distinction between TRUTH and FACT. Steve Hindes has done his homework. The author clarifies bias, self-interest, and then on page 66 introduces us to definitions for Intuition and ....FAITH. Now it gets exciting. Here's a quote: "Blind faith in political institutions can produce mindless orthodoxy and crude demagoguery. Blind faith in religious institutions has left a horrifying swath in the history of many societies." At this point, I'm wondering if author Steve Hindes is going to give mention to the profound definition of FAITH as given by the Apostle Paul, that so many are familiar with? It goes like this: "Faith is the substance of things hoped for; the evidence of things not seen." -Apostle Paul At any rate, at this juncture I am quite critical of author Steve Hindes for the subtlety with which he glosses over his own narrow-minded view of the religious topic. Look carefully at the quote from page 67. It defines ONLY "blind faith in RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS." Readers may note that there is a vast distinction between having faith in a "religious institution" as the author infers, and what the author omits, is having a FAITH, blind or otherwise, in GOD. I carefully read the following pages to see if the author engaged the idea of divinity in the context of being an object of faith. There is a powerful difference, you see, between the author's implication, that faith is an act between an INDIVIDUAL & "a PUBLIC INSTITUTION" and the understanding of many people, who indeed place their fa

Pay careful attention to the title of this book. It is not HOW to Think for Yourself. This is not a how-to book. However this book will inspire you and explain why it is important to think for yourself. It will give you a basic definition of what critical thinking is and explain why it is important to everyone and in everyday life. I found the chapter/timeline of milestones in human thought unique and filled with patterns, some scary. I also found Mr. Hindes treatment of religion throughout the book honest, straightfoward, and objective. The later chapters were also good in that they asked the reader to examine their own foibles rather than feel superior simply because they read a book on thinking.

I'm now addicted to the Speaker's Corner series books. Having read and posted a review of Gary Hart's God and Caesar in America, I purchased Think for Yourself! an essay on Cutting Through the Babble, Bias and Hype. Let me start by saying that I dropped two philosophy classes in college, for the if/then statements were killing me! I hopped aboard a flight to Portland with Hindes book in my bag and began reading at takeoff. Arriving in Portland my mind was swimming with ideas! Think begins with a crisp, clean, and simplified timeline on the history of logical thought. I've seen tomes on this subject, and in a matter of 40 pages, I gleaned more about the history than I had in two semesters of drudgery. Then comes the analysis... Hindes carefully constructs the basis for logical thinking, in a user friendly manual great for everyone. I'm sure you've seen other reviews that state "everyone needs to read this book", but let me be clear - this "manual for thinking" SHOULD be read by anyone who stays abreast of current news, is in a position in life where tough choices need to be made, or is in a professional position (like sales or management) that requires constant interaction and decision making. From the outside looking in, Think my appear daunting with chapters entitled (The Scientific Method in Everyday Though, and Rhetoric: The Tools of Persuaion, Available for Hire) yet I found myself engrossed, educated, and even laughed a few times at Hinde's easy reading style and carefully placed quips. Hindes also doesn't shy from controversy and his chapter entitled "Religion, Tradition and Moral Codes" will leave you thinking hard about whether Science is just another Religion. Bottom line - another great book and one for the shelves of anyone interested in public policy, logic or thought. BUY IT