Has
thinking become a lost art? Are we drawing conclusions and making
decisions without thinking through all the parts of the issues?
Jacobs
notes, “Relatively few people want to think.” (17) It
might make us uncomfortable. Our peers might not like our conclusions
and disapprove of them. Thinking complicates our lives. And make no
mistake, it is work!
Jacobs
emphasizes that thinking is an art. He does not provide specific
instructions in logic, inductive or deductive reasoning. He does not
offer strict rules. He does suggest good, practical habits that can
help the thinking process, such as the importance of self knowledge.
Rather
than being a slave to pure logic, I like that Jacobs says thinking
involves the entire person. Our feelings have an impact on our
thinking. So do the our relationships with others, our moral views
and our biases.
In
light of recent American politics, the part of the book I found the
most fascinating was about the “outgroup.” Some do not want to be
outside the safety of a community that provides security, even if it
is at the expense of thought. (35) Rather than think through an
issue, the individual parrots the views of those offering the
security.
I
recommend this book to those who want to understand thinking and how
to think without being confronted with the rules of logic and
reasoning. You will find many insightful revelations about how you
and others think, presented in a very readable form.
Food
for thought: Dare to think.
My
rating: 4/5 stars.
Alan
Jacobs teaches in the Honors Program of Baylor University. He has
written many books as well as articles for a range of publications.
(Author photograph: Holly Fish.)
Currency
(Penguin Random House), 160 pages.
I
received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. My
comments are an independent and honest review.
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