Customer Reviews

Asking the Right Questions: A Guide to Critical Thinking (5th Edition)

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book has been a tremendously positive influence on my life as well as on the lives of those to whom I have recommended it! Before studying "Asking the Right Questions," I was well educated, but nevertheless my thinking was often muddled and illogical. As a graduate student, this book helped me to better define my own ideas as well as understand the ideas of others. I learned how to engage in truly meaningful discourse with others about ideas and principles because I could apply a more rational approach. Differences of opinion became engaging rather than destructive or unproductive. This book and its philosophy gives me hope in the idea of the "democracy of ideas."

As a college professor, I use this book in all of my classes and require students to purchase it. We work on one skill a week as we learn the course content. Students regularly report that having a class focused around critical thinking is a unique and highly valuable experience. While I find it sad and disturbing that few college students are exposed to such skills regularly, I find it encouraging the ARQ provides an effective forum to help me teach these skills. The book is engaging, with many current examples and vivid illustrations. The reading level is appropriate for anyone in high school or higher. And because the content and skills are ones that are pertinent to any individual or college major or profession, it can be integrated into virtually any course. I especially think it would be an excellent foundation for the first-year seminars that are so popular on college campuses.

While I use this book in a classroom setting, it is one that an individual can easily benefit from. I recommended it to my mom, who said, "This book taught me more about evaluating ideas on tv, from politicians, and from other books than anything else I've ever done or read!" She found the examples and exercises quite engaging and helpful.

The ideas and philosophy of "Asking the Right Questions" have the potential to profoundly change an individual by making them a better, smarter thinker! I think it should be required reading for all of us.

...[5th edition] I actually took the class Introduction to Critical Thinking with Dr. Keeley, and much like his and Browne's book, it seems rather incomplete. I'll admit it's a good way to become introduced to the terminology used in CT -- but don't we learn most of this from parents and teachers at a young age anyway? (e.g. attacking a person instead of their reasoning isn't a good argument; in this book, it's called "ad hominem")

The biggest trend I noticed among Keeley's and Browne's students was that they come out spouting fallacies left and right, but not doing any real thinking for themselves or coming up with ideas.... The last chapter -- which actually talks about alternate solutions -- is way too short. I believe this should be the ultimate emphasis and focus of the book: not just finding fallacies, but also being able to offer new possibilities and solutions.

Also, simple logic fallacies themselves do not defeat an entire argument; they just mean that the supporting statements need to be reworked. If someone uses a faulty analogy, then they should look elsewhere for support; it doesn't mean their entire argument is wrong. But this seems to be what many of the "real world" examples given in this book do. E.g. "Ross Perot says X Y Z. That's a fallacy, therefore he is wrong." But that's the end of it -- no suggestions, no alternate conclusions, no evidence to suggest otherwise; just fallacies. While these work fine as examples of how NOT to structure YOUR OWN arguments, it fails when applying it to others' (aside from making you very unpopular and cynical among your acquaintances). These have little application outside of academia and the inflated egos of CT students who think themselves to be "experts" in the field. In the real world, while the ability to find flaws is important, people need to work toward real conclusions and solutions. Also, in the real world, people have to take into consideration their audience, which may not always be made up of undergraduate college students in CT classes.

But -- if all you're looking for is an introduction to the field of critical thinking, this book works well (hence 3 stars). It's a quick, easy read even for high school students. If you want real-life strategic thinking skills, look elsewhere....

I was looking for a book that would help young lawyers with their analytic skills, that would not be overly "text-like" and could be continually used as a quick reference. Browne & Keeley's "Asking the Right Questions" fullfiled all my expectations in that regard. I found it pleasantly short, very comprehensive, and packed with all the relevant issues. While college students will find it very helpful, attorneys and law students should include it as one of their professional bibles, along with Blacks Law Dictionary.

After reading ARQ and making its content an active part of my life, I was plucked from the world of passive sponges and dropped into the world of eager learners "panning for gold." I have never looked back.

This book has had a tremendous impact on my learning experiences, both in and out of the classroom. I have learned not to simply accept the facts presented to me, but to question them in a systematic and logical fashion. Additionally, I now see the immense value of questioning both the convictions I agree with most intensely and those I disagree with most intensely. This critical thinking process enables me to understand the values and assumptions that shape my person.

I would highly recommend ARQ to anyone wishing to learn the skills of an active, life-long learner.

I am a college professor who has assigned ASKING THE RIGHT QUESTIONS to a wide range of students in a wide range of courses. First year college students have used the book to analyze and evaluate arguments about contemporary business issues. College juniors and seniors have used the book to analyze and evaluate arguments related to gender issues. Business executives have used the book to analyze and evaluate complex arguments related to corporate social responsibility.

I have assigned this book in my college courses for the past fourteen years. The book would be a great gift for students who are going to college or are returning to college for an advanced degree. Many of my students tell me the book has changed the way they read and argue. The book is practical and engages students.

If you are an active learner and want to encourage others to engage in active learning, buy this book.

ASKING THE RIGHT QUESTIONS has been a phenomenal influence in my life. From start to finish, it helped me to rid myself of one of my foremost enemies: sloppy thought.

The book is superbly organized, well written, and extremely easy to follow. Additionally, the fifth edition's graphics add an extra dose of spice to enhance the book's readability.

I have found that after reading ARQ, I have been able to apply its critical thinking tips to all of my college classes, from history to English and from econ. to law. Furthermore, by enhancing my critical thinking skills, I have been more effective as a consumer and a citizen as well. Most importantly, however, ARQ inspired me to question the evidence for many of my previously-held beliefs en route to becoming a lifelong learner.

I have recommended this book to many friends, classmates, and even former teachers. I would encourage any person who is interested in developing her or his mind to read ARQ. Not only doe! s it provide readers with the skills necessary to be a critical thinker, but it also imbues them with the spirit of intellectual curiosity that only true learners possess.

Issue: Is this book good?

Conclusion: Yes, it is good.

Reasons:

1. It heightens your ability to think critically about situations and controversies, which make it very valuable to any reader.

2. Dr. Keeley is a good teacher, and by good I mean he has a very effective teaching style that has a deep impact on students to critically think. (didn't want to be ambiguous there!)

This book does have a profound effect on your ability to think more clearly and efficiently. Dr. Keeley and Dr. Browne make the book easy to understand, so that if you are not lucky enough to have them personally in a classroom setting as I do, you will begin to habitually ask the right questions and formulate better opinions on issues.

Every day each of us is faced with a myriad of decisions, some big, some small. Learning to successfully navigate the waters of decision making does not come naturally; rather, it requires important tools. Asking the Right Questions provides such tools. Whether I am reading a book, watching the news, or simply interacting with others, I am constantly using the skills taught in this book to evaluate other's arguments, to form my own opinions, to construct my own arguments, and to better understand the world around me. In fact, I cannot think of a single aspect of my life where the skills taught herein are not invaluable. One of the strengths of the book is that it is interactive. Not only does the book teach you to think and read actively, but the authors demand such engagement as you go along. I would recommend this book to anyone who wishes to possess essential tools for evaluating all the information we are bombarded with daily. It's a great book.

Of the hundreds of books I have digested over the years, none to date have delivered as profound an impact on my ability to analyze, reason, or even listen, as Asking the Right Questions. Unlike books that merely teach facts, this book goes beyond instruction and delivers a robust set of skills that, when practiced, are not easily lost or forgotten.

The title aptly describes the lessons to be learned between the covers. The reader is confronted with the Herculean task of learning how to listen to a speaker or author. Once the content of the message is understood, the reader is then provided with specific questions that are intended to help the listener critique the speaker's conclusions. The lesson does not stop there, however. The reader is consistently reminded to turn the skills of critique inward, so that we apply the same standards of criticism to our own thought.

Why are any of the skills taught in Asking the Right Questions important? The lessons learned are invaluable for anyone who wants to be a critical participant in our economy or democracy. More specifically, however, Browne and Keeley give us a set of questions that are not restricted to any one discipline. Instead, the questions can be used, not only in everyday conversations, but can be broadly applied to many different domains (i.e. politics, science, or the humanities).

If you are searching for a book that challenges you to become a more critical consumer of information, then delve into this readable guide to critical thinking.

Everyday we spend money on a myriad of items, products and services. Purchasing ARQ will be one of the most valuable expenditures you will ever make in your life. I am almost ineffable to describe exactly how the book has changed my life. I am a more successful college student, a more prudent consumer, a better citizen and in essence, a "better" person. Even now, as a college graduate I reference the book often and use the techniques it gives you on a daily basis. There is no doubt about it, if you take it seriously, it will change your life. But, beware, as one scholar put it, "once you leave home, you can never go back." Specifically, once you learn and begin using the tools ARQ will equip you with, life becomes more complicated as you become more aware of the uncertainty and ambiguity inherent in everything. Nonetheless, I would never wish to go back, even if I could. "Perplexed Socrates" is a life more worth leading I believe, than "Happy Hog". Don't you?