Tools of Critical Thinking: Metathoughts for Psychology [Paperback]

David A. Levy (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1996 | ISBN-10: 0205260837 | ISBN-13: 978-0205260836

Tools of Critical Thinking: Metathoughts for Psychology is a text designed to improve one's thinking skills through the application of metathinking principles, which consist of a series of specific strategies, methods, and techniques for approaching all forms of inquiry, study and problem solving, with particular application to the field of psychology. Metathoughts are cognitive tools that can be successfully taught, learned, and utilized to consider issues from a variety of different perspectives and alternate points of view. The ideas in Tools of Critical Thinking are vividly brought to life with illustrative examples, clinical anecdotes, case vignettes, contemporary social problems and issues, challenging exercises, and clever satires -- all drawn from a diverse sampling of topics within psychology and packaged in a form that is engaging, easy to read, and eminently useful. Even ideas that potentially might be confusing, obscure, or elusive are organized and presented in a manner that is straightforward, understandable, and enjoyable.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

National critical acclaim for "TOOLS OF CRITICAL THINKING":

"A remarkable book which masterfully teaches how to make us better at solving problems, at understanding events, at making decisions, and even at being creative. Read, learn, and have a good time doing it."
-Elizabeth F. Loftus, University of Washington

"Levy's style combines erudition with simplicity and earnestness with humor....The result is a clear and compelling book, accessible to lay persons and mental health professionals alike."
-Thomas Szasz, University of New York at Syracuse

"David Levy's lucid and good-humored guide to thinking is impressive in its scope, practical in its applications, and involving in its pedagogy."
-David G. Myers, Hope College

"David Levy has condensed both the widsom of the ages and the findings of contemporary psychological science into a manageable set of principles ("Metathoughts") that will notably improve the general quality of thought across the broad expanse of scholarly and scientific endeavor."
-Robert C. Carson, Duke University

"Educators have criticized today's students for their poor reasoning skills and faulty problem-solving abilities. Levy's book will go considerable distance in closing these gaps by taking established scientific principles and making them accessible, useful, and entertaining!"
-Shelley E. Taylor, University of California at Los Angeles

"This book is a wonderful addition to the bookshelf of anyone interested in thinking clearly....Students, writers, and instructors alike will find this a gold mine of ideas about precise and clear thinking."
-Linda Riebel, Saybrook Institute

"...The finest book on critical thinking in the field."
-L. Anne Peplau, University of California at Los Angeles

From the Back Cover

This is a book designed to improve one's thinking skills through the application of metathinking principles, which consist of a series of specific strategies, methods, and techniques for approaching all forms of inquiry, study and problem solving, with particular application to the field of psychology. Metathoughts are cognitive tools that can be successfully taught, learned, and utilized to consider issues from a variety of different perspectives and alternate points of view. The ideas in this book are vividly brought to life with illustrative examples, clinical anecdotes, case vignettes, contemporary social problems and issues, challenging exercises, and clever satires—all drawn from a diverse sampling of topics within psychology and packaged in a form that is engrossing, easy to read, and eminently useful. Even ideas that potentially might be confusing, obscure, or elusive are organized and presented in a manner that is straightforward, understandable, and enjoyable.

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Allyn & Bacon (December 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0205260837
• ISBN-13: 978-0205260836
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6.8 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,208,468 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Dr. David A. Levy has extensive experience as a teacher, therapist, writer, and researcher. He is Professor of Psychology at Pepperdine University's Graduate School of Education and Psychology, where he has been teaching graduate courses since 1986. He received his B.A. degree in theater arts from UCLA, a M.A. degree in psychology from Pepperdine University, a second M.A. degree in psychology from UCLA, and his Ph.D. in psychology from UCLA, where he specialized in social psychology, with minors in psychological assessment and personality psychology. He served as Visiting Professor of Psychology in the Soviet Union, where he delivered lectures and workshops in psychology and psychotherapy at Leningrad (now St. Petersburg) State University, the Leningrad Academy of Science, and the Bekhterev Psychoneurological Institute. He was honored as a Harriet and Charles Luckman Distinguished Teaching Fellow at Pepperdine, and was a recipient of the Shepard Ivory Franz Distinguished Teaching Award and Charles F. Scott Fellowship at UCLA.

Dr. Levy holds professional licenses both in psychology and in marriage and family therapy. He has worked in a wide range of private practice and inpatient psychiatric settings, he has supervised clinical interns, and he has utilized his expertise in psychological testing (particularly the MMPI) in forensic cases.

His numerous theoretical and empirical research studies have been published in scientific journals and presented at professional conferences. His book, "Tools of Critical Thinking: Metathoughts for Psychology," garnered widespread acclaim in both academic and clinical settings for its innovative approaches to improving thinking skills. Levy co-authored (with Eric Shiraev) "Cross-Cultural Psychology: Critical Thinking and Contemporary Applications," which became an internationally best-selling textbook. Levy is the author of "Family Therapy: History, Theory, and Practice," which was the first textbook on the topic available to Russian readers. His Levy Optimism-Pessimism Scale (LOPS) has been utilized internationally in a variety of research contexts, and he is a member of the Board of Editors for the Journal of Humanistic Psychology.

Levy is also the author of numerous satirical articles, including "The Emperor's Postmodern Clothes: A Brief Guide to Deconstructing Academically Fashionable Phrases for the Uninitiated," "How to Be a Good Psychotherapy Patient," "Psychometric Infallibility Realized: The One-Size-Fits-All Psychological Profile," "Stinks and Instincts: An Empirical Investigation of Freud's Excreta Theory," and "A Proposed Category for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM): Pervasive Labeling Disorder."

As a media consultant, Levy has appeared on dozens television and radio broadcasts (including CNN, CBS, NBC, PBS, A&E, and E!), providing psychological perspectives on current events, and examining issues and trends in the mental health fields. He has also worked as a professional director, producer, writer and actor in motion pictures, television and stage. He received an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Performance in a Network Television Series, and he was a guest star on the television series "Cheers," where he portrayed the leader of Frasier's low self-esteem group.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I HAVE read this book, May 20, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (Los Angeles) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tools of Critical Thinking: Metathoughts for Psychology (Paperback)

The topic of critical thinking has always interested me, but I must confess that my curiosity in this particular book actually was piqued by its synopses and reviews (especially those below). So, in the philosophical tradition of skepticism (and as one who strives to be a good "critical thinker"), I decided to check it out for myself. To say that I was impressed would be a gross understatement. Levy's book surpassed my wildest expectations. I found myself concurring wholeheartedly with the comments of Drs. Szasz, Loftus, Taylor, Peplau, et al. (all of whom are highly respected, tenured faculty at prestigious institutions of higher learning and noted experts in relevant fields). In short, the book is a masterpiece. It is not only informative, enlightening, and a sheer pleasure to read, it is also (in stark contrast to philosophy courses in "logic") actually USEFUL as applied to real life. But don't take my (or anyone else's) word for it. See for yourself. You won't be disappointed.

26 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I use this to help teach software testers., October 8, 1999

By 

James Bach - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tools of Critical Thinking: Metathoughts for Psychology (Paperback)

I teach software testers how to explore and analyze products. I recommend this book to all my students.

I found it entertaining and insightful. But, the main thing I like about the book is that it's set up so that every chapter is a standalone tool for analysis. You can read and use one chapter without having to read any of the others. I collect books on critical thinking, and this is the only one I feel I can recommend to casual students of the art.

32 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Simplistic workbook aimed at psychology undergrads, January 11, 2001

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Tools of Critical Thinking: Metathoughts for Psychology (Paperback)

I came across this book by accident and ordered it due to the strength of the online reviews. However, had I had a quick browse of it first I wouldn't have.

I expected a serious attempt at systematically categorizing fallacies in thinking. What it actually is is a very rudimentary workbook for undergraduate psychology students that introduces some common failures in reasoning in a very simplistic way. For that purpose it may be fine. If you have already done much thinking or reading in this area you are likely to find this book dissapointing, and in a number of areas surprisingly naive.