Think to Win: The Power of Logic in Everyday Life

Rating:
Summary: Worthy Effort, But Needs Revision
Review: I bought this book after reading its 5 star reviews. Unfortunately, I cannot agree that this book is entertaining or powerfully effective at showing readers how to spot argumentative strategies.

To the author's credit, he does try hard to demystify the world of logic to ordinary readers. The first few chapters on arguments, premises, and fallacies are written concisely and in an easy-to-read manner.

After the chapter on fallacies though, the book runs out of gas. The author's material becomes very dry, and his examples are hard to follow. It's even difficult trying to explain what it is that the author was trying to convey in the last few pages of the book.

I honestly found "A Rulebook for Arguments" by Anthony Weston a lot more helpful, concise, and effective at showing argumentative strategies and fallacies. While I appreciate Dr. Cannavo's efforts, his book could certainly use another revision -- perhaps implementing Weston's simple but powerful style.

Rating:
Summary: A good place to begin your quest for truth
Review: Lesser sense reasoning is that reasoning used to boost one's own argument and support one's own beliefs. Greater sense reasoning is that reasoning used to discover truth. Although the title of this book suggests that it is concerned with lesser sense arguments, it's actual mission is to help people think better and, therefore, this is a greater sense logic book. Probably some PR or marketing person mispersuaded the author to title his book "Think to Win" in the hope that that title might increase sales. This book is a modest contribution toward a kind of "logical literacy" so much needed these days in the United States. As such, it can serve as a guide for people to use in practical everyday situations to evaluate what they are being told by politiciians and TV commentators as well as by their friends and neighbors. The book has no rules, few formulas, no diagrams, and no exercises. It would serve as a good, easy to read, light, orienting introduction to the elements of clear thinking. If you are not sure what is meant by begging the question, partial selection of the evidence, or false analogy, then this book is a good place to start to correct your deficiencies and begin your quest for truth.

Rating:
Summary: A critical thinking book disguised as self-help
Review: Not that there's anything wrong with disguising the contents of the book (at least in most cases). Suited for people with little background in Logic and critical thinking, this book is a treasure trove of effective advice and mind-sharpening tips for evaluating claims and arguments in real life situations.

The introduction to logical syllogisms and fallacies is engaging and fun, as opposed to the dry and boring textbooks on logic. The reader is never put down for believing in questionable ideas, but rather gvien the drive to examine his/her beliefs and seeing if it passes the acid test of logic. Truly a good book to own.