The book contains valuable instruction on thinking clearly, It is written in an engaging and witty style.
The ART of THINKING - Chats on Logic consists of three parts: acquiring factual knowledge, examining what has been acquired by the rigorous application of understanding and finally trasforming that understanding into wisdom.
Some, but not all of the rules of logic are included with the expectation that, if there is enough interest and opportunity, more will be explored.
The target audience is adults of school leaving age who may have accumultated a substantial range of facts but wish to develop better processing faculties to deqal with and apply those facts. Others will find the book invaluable in bringing discipline to their thinking, even those at a more mature age.
The book's underlying purpose is to show the connection between thinking and the liberating power of truth.The contents are carefully structured:
PART 1
The Raw Materials of Factual Knowledge
1. Observation
2. Testimony
Part 2
Asembling the Building Blocks: Understanding
3. First Linkages
4. Types of Truth
5. Understanding Oneself
6. Language
7. The Power of Proof
8. Food for Thought (and Vice Versa)
9. Uniting False Disjunctives
10. Definitions
11. Division
12. Thinking Tools
13. Oposition and Composition
14. Communication: Terms, Propositions and Syllogisms
Conclusion
The major points of focus are amply illustrated with pertinent and pointed examples.
Because the book's theme is THINKING, the author has included the disembling of some widely held myths showing how poor thought processes and unquestioning acceptance has lead to poor - untenable - conclusions.
The chapter on the preparation of food, 8, is particulrly revealing.
An entertaining text which can be kept handy as a reference source.