Book review: Elements of Critical Thinking by Albert Rutherford

Rating: 4/5

Elements of Critical Thinking is part of the series The Critical Thinker by Albert Rutherford. It is a well structured book that doesn't go too deep, but lays a good foundation on the basic elements of critical thinking.

If you consider yourself a critical thinker, this book probably won't tell you anything new and will be a quick read, but it may help you consider different points of view or remember some basic elements.

For example, the chapter on critical reading and writing made me realize that when taking notes, I was relying too much on collecting quotes from the original text, and not writing down the gist in my own words. I was perfectly aware of the need to distill ideas in my own words as part of making learning your own, but I needed the nudge from the author to retake this practice.

Some key points from the book:

• Recognize your own biases and limitations. Be willing to learn from others who think differently. Remain open to changing your views when presented with compelling evidence.
• Don't accept claims at face value. Question and verify information.
• Develop note-taking habits.
• Apply the "trust but verify" principle to your intuition. Quick thinking has its place, but you should engage "slow thinking" when facing important decisions. Test your gut feelings against evidence and logical analysis.
• Use frameworks to make better-reasoned judgments.

In summary, a solid introductory text that will give you an overview of what critical thinking is about and how to get started.