There are many great books on critical thinking, including but not limited to Thinknetic’s “The Habit of Critical Thinking,” Rebecca Stobaugh’s “50 Strategies to Boost Cognitive Engagement,” and Jonathan Haber’s “Critical Thinking: Part of the MIT Press Essential Knowledge.”
With all the books on critical thinking available, how do you best determine which you should read? The rest of this article will break down the top 20 books on critical thinking followed by the Amazon link and a short description of each.
What is Critical Thinking?
Critical thinking is the ability to objectively analyze and evaluate an issue in order to form judgment, which is vital in today’s world. While critical thinking begins in early childhood and is taught at the primary and secondary education levels, it is always best to keep your critical thinking skills sharp.
Why is Critical Thinking Important?
Communication is key to healthy relationships and communities. Critical thinking enables individuals to express their thoughts, ideas, and beliefs in constructive ways. In relationships, critical thinking is vital to avoid frustration and miscommunication.
Critical thinking fosters creativity and out of the box thinking, which can be applied to any area of life. People are usually introduced to critical thinking in early childhood when, as infants and toddlers, we explore our world and its limits. Our first problem solving skills come in our earliest years.
However, critical thinking doesn’t always come so naturally. Fortunately, there are countless resources to improving our critical thinking skills – including the following books mentioned in this article.
The Top 20 Books on Critical Thinking
The following books can all be found on Amazon.com, and a link is provided for each.
1.) Critical Thinking ; Logic Mastery (Series by Thinknetic)
The first entry on our list is actually a series of 5 books by Thinknetic.net. Each of the five books contain essential critical thinking skills and teach the reader how to change their way of thinking and apply critical thinking to every aspect of their lives. The five books in the series are as follows:
- Critical Thinking in a Nutshell
- The Critical Thinking Effect
- Conquer Logical Fallacies
- The Habit of Critical Thinking
- The Socratic Way of Questioning
Most of these books are available on Kindle Unlimited. You can purchase them individually or as a set.
Amazon Link: https://amzn.to/360UA40
2.) Critical Thinking and the Analytical Mind by Marcus P. Dawson
Amazon Link: https://amzn.to/3LUuqyS
This book teaches the reader the art of making decisions and solving problems while thinking clearly and avoiding cognitive biases and fallacies in systems.
3.) Critical Thinking: The 12 Rules for Intelligent Thinking by Jason Dyer
Amazon Link: https://amzn.to/3jDVk2h
The description of this book includes skills to improve your problem solving and decision-making skills. It also contains valuable information on how to overcome shyness and social anxiety – conditions that hinder many people in both personal and professional capacities – and increase self-confidence.
4.) 50 Strategies to Boost Cognitive Engagement by Rebecca Stobaugh
Amazon Link: https://amzn.to/3OaDYbl
This valuable book for teachers of any grade level – from elementary to college – helps build a culture of thinking that transforms any classroom into an environment of active learning and student engagement.
5.) Critical Thinking: The MIT Press Essential Knowledge Series by Jonathan Haber
Amazon Link: https://amzn.to/3ji6329
In this essential book, Jonathan Haber explains critical thinking, how the term first emerged in society, its definition, and how to teach and assess critical thinking skills.
6.) The Critical Thinking Toolkit by Galen A. Foresman, Peter S. Fosl, and Jamie C. Watson
Amazon Link: https://amzn.to/3vcISMi
This comprehensive book takes a wide view with critical thinking perspectives in psychology, sociology, philosophy, and political science. It applies critical thinking to subjects such as race and gender, symbols in rhetoric, and cognitive biases.
7.) Critical Thinking: A Beginner’s Guide to Developing Reasoning Skills by Morris Cullen
Amazon Link: https://amzn.to/3DX6t7w
A great resource for those still unfamiliar with the concept of critical thinking, this book will help the reader conquer feeble thought patterns and utilize reason.
8.) Critical Thinking Beginner’s Guide: Learn How Reasoning by Logic Improves Effective Problem Solving by Carl Patterson
Amazon Link: https://amzn.to/3rAJevd
This book contains the tools to think smarter and level up intuition to reach your potential and grow your mindfulness.
9.) Thinking Guide for Busy People by Harvey Smart
Amazon Link: https://amzn.to/3JsjzdU
This book helps the reader avoid the most common but subtle decision-making mistakes and make better decisions.
10.) Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman
This New York Times Bestseller won the Nobel Prize in Economics.
Amazon Link: https://amzn.to/3Ob1RQ3
11.) Overthinking is NOT the Solution by Robert J. Charles
This book lists 25 ways to reduce stress, eliminate negative thinking, develop mental clarity and master your emotions.
Amazon Link: https://amzn.to/3LOsKHm
12.) Communication Skills Training by Ian Tuhovsky
This practical guide outlines how to improve social intelligence, presentation, persuasion, and public speaking. An Amazon bestseller.
Amazon Link: https://amzn.to/3LQu64d
13.) Self-Discipline: How to Build Mental Toughness and Focus to Achieve your Goals by John Winters
Amazon Link: https://amzn.to/3NSLIhX
A great book for those who don’t feel in control of their lives and want to change their path.
14.) Critical Thinking Mastery by Carl Patterson
Amazon Link: https://amzn.to/3xnnBlo
A beginner’s guide to increase intuition, improve communication, and solve problems.
15.) Master Your Emotions by Thibaut Meurisse
This book is described as a practical guide to overcoming negativity and better managing your emotions.
Amazon Link: https://amzn.to/3DX424Q
16.) Rethinking How We Think by Charles M. Johnston, MD
Amazon Link: https://amzn.to/3LQvfZz
This book details the integrative meta-perspective and the cognitive growing up on which our future depends.
17.) Critical Thinking by Brooke Noel Moore and Richard Parker
Amazon Link: https://amzn.to/36ZTy8Y
This textbook helps build the ability to discern between subjective opinions and judgments and objective facts in the era of “fake news.”
18.) Critical Thinking in Psychology, edited by Robert J. Sternberg
Amazon Link : https://amzn.to/3upkK9R
This textbook is a guide for psychology students to think critically about key topics such as experimental research, statistical analysis, and ethical judgments.
19.) Thinking in Systems and Mental Models by Marcus P. Dawson
Amazon Link: https://amzn.to/3Kv2JMQ
A guide for decision making and problem solving, this book introduces chaos theory and the science of thinking for social change.
20.) Critical Thinking by Tom Chatfield
Amazon Link: https://amzn.to/3v4GIOr
This valuable resource serves as a guide for effective argument, successful analysis, and independent study.
