Beyond Feelings: A Guide to Critical Thinking [Paperback]

Vincent Ruggiero (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0767415892 | ISBN-13: 978-0767415897 | Publication Date: July 14, 2000 | Edition: 6

This succinct, interdisciplinary introduction to critical reasoning successfully dares students to question their own assumptions and to enlarge their thinking world through the analysis of the most common problems associated with everyday reasoning. The text offers a unique and effective organization: Part I explains the fundamental concepts; Part II describes the most common barriers to critical thinking; Part III offers strategies for overcoming those barriers; Part IV offers a selection of contemporary issues that invite students to practice their skills.

Product Details

• Paperback: 227 pages
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill Humanities/Social Sciences/Languages; 6 edition (July 14, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0767415892
• ISBN-13: 978-0767415897
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,218,266 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Beyond Feelings is an Effective, Educational Tool, September 22, 2003

By 

unraveler "unraveler" (Nevada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Beyond Feelings: A Guide to Critical Thinking (Paperback)

This is a book in informal logic. It initially sets out to explain how our opinions are influenced by our environment (the process of socialization), and then proceeds to explain the logical stuff, which is the core of the book. There is a lot of content here, and every chapter could be expanded upon significantly with further clarifications and examples. However, the mission of the book is to give an introduction to the subject, and it succeeds in this mission. I used this book to teach a critical thinking course. I liked it and so did the students. It may seem a little dry at times, because the content is so condensed, but the book is quite effective nevertheless.

20 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Basic critical thinking made easy, June 24, 2001

By 

Thomas (Ruthton, MN USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Beyond Feelings: A Guide to Critical Thinking (Paperback)

Ruggiero sets down a good basis for beginning critical thinkers and is innovative in his categorizing of logical errors. His explanations of knowledge and relativism are insightful and great for a basic overview of those particular topics. He nearly contradicts himself in a few places, that is the only major flaw in this text. I agree with many things in this book and disagree with a few things too, but I believe that this book will open up the world of critical thinking and philosophy for anyone who is just beginning to delve into those areas. The readability of this book also adds to its appeal. I encourage anyone reading this book to reflect and reread much of it and practice critical thinking by not taking Ruggiero's word for everything, check it out for yourself.

27 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good medicine to reduce the affects of our culture, March 23, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Beyond Feelings: A Guide to Critical Thinking (Paperback)

Still popular somehow is the notion that we're too "coldly rational" (as John Allen Paulos says, "Is warmly rational an oxymoron?") But this seems to be far from the case. I find that most people are excitable, rash, and prejudiced, not calm, sober, and rational. In the quest to remain balanced and thoughtful one fix is not enough. Several times a year I find that I must read a book on critical thinking and logic to drive away the toxins of advertising, media hype, political speeches, etc.

Towards this goal "Beyond Feelings" is a good book. Buy it, while books on silly new age fads are legion, books on good thinking are rare and not often published.