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The Power of Logical Thinking: Easy Lessons in the Art of Reasoning...and Hard Facts About Its Absence in Our Lives Paperback – April 15, 1997

by Marilyn vos Savant (Author)
3.6 out of 5 stars 25 customer reviews
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Product Details

  • Paperback: 228 pages
  • Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin (April 15, 1997)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0312156278
  • ISBN-13: 978-0312156275
  • Product Dimensions: 6 x 0.5 x 9 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 14.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #230,300 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 33 people found the following review helpful
the lady with the high IQ
By Michael R. Chernick on January 23, 2008
Format: Hardcover
Marilyn Vos Savant is known for her provocative articles in Parade Magazine and also gets publicity for her high IQ (a little too much publicity). But what really made her world famous was the reaction to her solution to a reader's question about a probability problem. Her answer was simple and direct but received the wrath and scorn of many mathematicians that thought she had blundered. This problem is now called the Monty Hall problem and discussion of it can be found in statistical journals and introductory textbooks. I use it in my elementary statistics classes to arouse the interest of my students.
This book is about the way that most people make decisions in their daily lives without logical thinking. Counterintuitive problems like the Monty Hall problem bring this home. Marilyn had confidence in her answer and stuck to her guns when many argued against her using only their degree credentials as support of their position.

Personally, I participated in the debate. When I read her article and saw my fellow mathematicians and statisticians condemning her, I wrote to her with an argument in her defense. Alas, she got so many letters that mine did not appear in her column. She seemed to delight in publishing more of the nasty critical letters than the ones in her defense. I guess she felt capable of defending herself inspite of her lack of an advanced degree in mathematics or statistics.

At this point I think she is milking it a bit as the same problem or a slight variation of it continues to show up in her column from time to time.

This book has a wonderful theme and it is played out in three parts, 1. how our mind plays tricks on us, 2. how numbers and statistics can mislead and 3. how politicians exploit our innocence.Read more ›
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26 of 28 people found the following review helpful
Enjoyable read and introduction to logic and fallacies
By Harold McFarland HALL OF FAMEVINE VOICE on December 15, 2001
Format: Paperback
After a basic introduction to some logical fallacies such as the statistical implications of some drug tests, this book moves to the now famous Monty Hall problem. This seemed like a simple problem on the surface. On a game show you are given the choice of three doors behind one of which is a fabulous prize. You pick one and afterwards the host turns around one of the wrong door. Then he offers you to keep the door you originally chose or to change doors. Do you stay or change? This simple problem caused a great deal of controversy and numerous letters after Marilyn Vos Savant stated that it would be better to switch. Her explanation is here as well and letters from various scholars as to why she was wrong. Turns out, she was right.
With that background to catch your interest (and it does so very well) she then moves on to other topics and how statistics can be used to support just about any position. Of particular fascination are the ways in which our intuition leads us to one conclusion but logic and mathematics prove that conclusion to be wrong. As a good example, she covers politics and how the political engine uses our intuitional errors and statistics to prove both sides right!
I will have to say that she does a good job of explaining the problems and conclusions in a style that even someone who does not understand mathematics very well can still comprehend. There are several other books that cover similar topics and if you like this one then you might also try them. I loved Innumeracy and found it fascinating to read through.
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12 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Excellent, although not cohesive, intro to statistics
By Robert L. Miller on August 10, 1998
Format: Hardcover
This is really two books, one about the "Monty Hall" problem, and another one all about politics, campaign promises, and other ways the popular press gets it wrong. Is there a tie between the two? Yes. This could have been an excellent tome on how our emotions and our "wants" and our intuition often leads us astray, and how advertising, entertainment, and politics capitalizes on that. But somehow there is little connection between the two. I didn't find Vos Savant's ego to be the main theme of this book, in fact, she downplays herself many times. But other books, by authors like Sagan, Randi, Shick, Dawkins, and Shermer, cover this ground better.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Truly Mind-Expanding
By R. Schultz VINE VOICE on April 8, 2009
Format: Paperback Verified Purchase
This is one book that can really change your outlook and your life. Its first sections are largely based on replies Marilyn vos Savant made to the statistical puzzles her readers submitted to her "Ask Marilyn" column in "Parade" magazine. However Marilyn has added a lot of new insights to the responses she gave over the years. Many of her explanations of the math involved in these problems are counter-intuitive and therefore very surprising. They make us reassess a whole range of real-life situations we've probably been misjudging most of our lives, to our daily detriment. That's what makes this book so riveting - and so important.

The book starts with what has become the on-going cause celebre of "The Monty Hall Dilemma." Some years ago, a reader innocently asked about the best strategy to employ on the "Let's Make a Deal Show" when guessing which of three doors hid a valuable prize. Marilyn's answer provoked a firestorm of protest. Many of the people who most vehemently disagreed with her answer were mathematics or physics professors. Marilyn's original answer was correct, and finally, after many rounds of point and counter-point, she managed to convince most of her critics. However, people continue to explore the implications of her statistical analysis. Some have even found imbedded in Marilyn's answer to this question a challenge to the way experiments in the field of quantum mechanics have traditionally been interpreted. The discovery of the nature of reality could hinge on an understanding of "Let's Make a Deal" strategy! Portions of this continued exploration into the problem's implications are presented in the book's first chapter and in a lengthy Appendix.Read more ›
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

Four Stars

Good deal

Published 2 months ago by NorFoker
The section on politicians and statistics is eye-opening, Leonard ...

The section on politicians and statistics is eye-opening, Leonard Pitts wrote some years ago in his newspaper column a piece titled "the Lost Art of Critical Thinking" and... Read more

Published 3 months ago by Veda smith
Clintonian Issues revealed, so ancient modern political history.

Book is now 20 years old. Some of the foundational thinking as far as mathematics and stats are of course still valid. Read more

Published 9 months ago by revtexdave
up date binding

please up date binding on this book for it is a hard back . thank you

0312156278
FNSku X000H5CFN9
Title The Power of Logical Thinking: Easy Lessons in the Art... Read more

Published 11 months ago by Annette Grant Cady
Great Book - Clear Thinking!

This is a great book. Very interesting. I will help you see how she logically thinks.

Published 13 months ago by Amazon Customer
stimulating

Marilyn Vos Savant walks us thru the arguments we use, exposing weaknesses and errors. I enjoyed reading and acknowledging my own weaknesses...

Published 23 months ago by J. Lugo
don`t offer noting if she`s such a ginius she talk more to the point...

don`t offer noting if she`s such a ginius she talk more to the point don`t on internet like nook google books

Published on March 31, 2013 by Pen Name
A must read for every geek and data guru

I wish I had 300 more pages of it. Great for learning about statistics and general aspects of looking at issues with logic. Read more

Published on October 1, 2012 by Michigan User (AP)
very disappointing

If you are looking for information around developing and improving critical/logical thinking, this is not the book you want to read. Read more

Published on August 4, 2011 by love2read
Overrated

This book was very disappointing. There were some good parts, to be fair. The Monty Hall problem is one where she outthought many of the math PHDs in America. Read more

Published on December 1, 2010 by J. Davis

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