Fans pick 100 books like Beyond Feelings

By Vincent Ruggiero,

Here are 100 books that Beyond Feelings fans have personally recommended if you like Beyond Feelings. Shepherd is a community of 12,000+ authors and super readers sharing their favorite books with the world.

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Book cover of With Good Reason: An Introduction to Informal Fallacies

Peg Tittle Author Of Critical Thinking: An Appeal to Reason

From my list on learning how to think logically and critically.

Why am I passionate about this?

Of all my university courses, the one that had the greatest impact on me was called "Informal Logic." Accurate, but misleadingly dry and academic. One of the assignments in that course—and the one I remember most, of all my university assignments—was to prepare a "Crapbook": a collection of ten bits of crap—ads, arguments, whatever—that were full of crap (essentially, incorrect reasoning/logical fallacies). I loved it. So when, twenty years later, I was hired by a small university to teach Critical Thinking …  

Peg's book list on learning how to think logically and critically

Peg Tittle Why did Peg love this book?

There are many critical thinking/informal logic books that focus exclusively (or mainly) on fallacies, and although that's not all there is to critical thinking, and although it encourages an adversarial approach ("Let me tell you what mistakes you're making"), it is good to have at least one such book on hand. I like Engel's book because of its classification system (fallacies of ambiguity, fallacies of presumption, fallacies of relevance), because of its clarity, and because of its many illustrations and exercises.

By Morris S. Engel,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked With Good Reason as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Providing a concise introduction to informal logic, With Good Reason offers comprehensive coverage of informal fallacies along with an abundance of engaging examples of both well-conceived and faulty arguments, helping you gain proficiency in identifing, correcting, and avoiding common errors in argumentation.


Book cover of Logic and Mr. Limbaugh: A Dittohead's Guide To Fallacious Reading

Peg Tittle Author Of Critical Thinking: An Appeal to Reason

From my list on learning how to think logically and critically.

Why am I passionate about this?

Of all my university courses, the one that had the greatest impact on me was called "Informal Logic." Accurate, but misleadingly dry and academic. One of the assignments in that course—and the one I remember most, of all my university assignments—was to prepare a "Crapbook": a collection of ten bits of crap—ads, arguments, whatever—that were full of crap (essentially, incorrect reasoning/logical fallacies). I loved it. So when, twenty years later, I was hired by a small university to teach Critical Thinking …  

Peg's book list on learning how to think logically and critically

Peg Tittle Why did Peg love this book?

What can I say? Logic and Mr. Limbaugh is a crapbook (see my introduction) dedicated exclusively to Rush Limbaugh. Although dated (1995), this little book is extremely engaging, entertaining, and enlightening. And applicable to all the other Rush Limbaughs out there, past, present, and future. (Might there be a Logic and Mr. Trump manuscript-in-progress?)

By Ray Perkins Jr.,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Logic and Mr. Limbaugh as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Logic and Mr. Limbaugh is both an entertaining introduction to the elements of logic and a serious critique of the practical logic of a major conservative propagandist. Professor Perkins takes 50 examples of logical reasoning from Rush's statements, identifies the logical arguments, and points out fallacies.


Book cover of The Reasonable Woman: A Guide to Intellectual Survival

Peg Tittle Author Of Critical Thinking: An Appeal to Reason

From my list on learning how to think logically and critically.

Why am I passionate about this?

Of all my university courses, the one that had the greatest impact on me was called "Informal Logic." Accurate, but misleadingly dry and academic. One of the assignments in that course—and the one I remember most, of all my university assignments—was to prepare a "Crapbook": a collection of ten bits of crap—ads, arguments, whatever—that were full of crap (essentially, incorrect reasoning/logical fallacies). I loved it. So when, twenty years later, I was hired by a small university to teach Critical Thinking …  

Peg's book list on learning how to think logically and critically

Peg Tittle Why did Peg love this book?

I initially thought McElroy's title referred to the counterargument to 'the reasonable man' standard in legal reasoning—the view that, given the sexism in our society, what is reasonable for a man to think is not the same as what is reasonable for a woman to think (classic example: it's reasonable for a woman to think that a man who is following her may have assault in mind; a man who is similarly followed might reasonably think the man wants to ask for directions). However, re-reading the preface, I see that she is responding to, and rejecting, the view that women are unreasonable. Excellent! Not only is this book a good guide to critical thinking, it has the added value of being "framed for women" (Joan Kennedy Taylor).    

By Wendy McElroy,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Reasonable Woman as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Have you, as a woman, ever felt frustrated while engaged in a discussion on some important topic? Do you feel constrained when attempting to express your ideas and views to others? Do you find yourself at a loss for words? Have you been labeled "unreasonable" by the men in your life? Have you been told you are too emotional or that women just tend to be that way? Well, help is on the way!

Wendy McElroy has broken through the wall of sexual stereotyping to offer the perfect guide to help women recognize their mental power, learn to reason effectively,…


Book cover of The Art of Logic in an Illogical World

Richard Hoshino Author Of The Math Olympian

From my list on mathematics and life.

Why am I passionate about this?

I have devoted my entire career to mathematics, and have a life filled with meaning and purpose through my roles as an educator, researcher, and consultant. I teach at the Vancouver campus of Northeastern University and am the owner and principal of Hoshino Math Services, a boutique math consulting firm. 

Richard's book list on mathematics and life

Richard Hoshino Why did Richard love this book?

The author explains the importance of abstraction in logic, demonstrating its three main components: paths made of long chains of logic, packages made of a collection of concepts structured into a new compound unit, and pivots to build bridges to previously disconnected places.

Eugenia Cheng does an excellent job of abstracting principles of logic to better understand challenging real-world societal issues such as affirmative action and cancer screening. I found it quite compelling to understand how and why she came to her positions on various issues, through her axiom that "avoiding false negatives is more important than avoiding false positives." I appreciated the expertise by which she weaved numerous hard topics, in both mathematics and social justice, into a coherent and compelling narrative.

By Eugenia Cheng,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked The Art of Logic in an Illogical World as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

How both logical and emotional reasoning can help us live better in our post-truth world

In a world where fake news stories change election outcomes, has rationality become futile? In The Art of Logic in an Illogical World, Eugenia Cheng throws a lifeline to readers drowning in the illogic of contemporary life. Cheng is a mathematician, so she knows how to make an airtight argument. But even for her, logic sometimes falls prey to emotion, which is why she still fears flying and eats more cookies than she should. If a mathematician can't be logical, what are we to do?…


Book cover of Building Arguments

Roy van den Brink-Budgen Author Of Advanced Critical Thinking Skills

From my list on learning how to think critically.

Why am I passionate about this?

I have been working in critical thinking since 1987. This work has taken me to many countries in the world, working with both teachers and students, business people and other decision-makers, and it continues to excite me greatly. I always stress that critical thinking shouldn’t be seen as just a set of technical skills, but that it should make a real difference to people. For example, I’ve used it in working with juvenile offenders who had committed violent crimes and was impressed by how it got them to look at their lives in a much more positive way. These books provide a range of ways into and around the subject.

Roy's book list on learning how to think critically

Roy van den Brink-Budgen Why did Roy love this book?

This book was one of the first to take critical thinking beyond a purely academic focus on informal logic, so that it deals with ‘real-world’ material (even including cartoon strips).

As the author explains, he was concerned that, though his students could learn from informal logic books how to identify and label errors in reasoning, they were unable to transfer this understanding to their own writing and to everyday material.

There are many useful exercises after each chapter, enabling the reader to apply their understanding of the content. The author hopes that the book is both rigorous and accessible, and this hope is indeed vindicated.

By Drew E. Hinderer,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Building Arguments as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Building Arguments' offers a fresh new approach to informal logic - successfully combining an accessible style with a rigorous, systematic treatment of argument: -It integrates reasoning and writing, teaching readers to argue effectively and communicate ideas in persuasive prose. -It combines fundamental topics of critical thinking into broader discussions of reasoning. So where other books may treat fallacy identification and avoidance, induction and deduction, and validity and soundness as ends in themselves, 'Building Arguments' presents these topics in a practical yet philosophically sound context. -It includes entertaining and relevant examples and exercises drawn from sports, popular advertising, current events, and…


Book cover of When Critical Thinking met English Literature: A Resource Book for Teachers and Their Students

Roy van den Brink-Budgen Author Of Advanced Critical Thinking Skills

From my list on learning how to think critically.

Why am I passionate about this?

I have been working in critical thinking since 1987. This work has taken me to many countries in the world, working with both teachers and students, business people and other decision-makers, and it continues to excite me greatly. I always stress that critical thinking shouldn’t be seen as just a set of technical skills, but that it should make a real difference to people. For example, I’ve used it in working with juvenile offenders who had committed violent crimes and was impressed by how it got them to look at their lives in a much more positive way. These books provide a range of ways into and around the subject.

Roy's book list on learning how to think critically

Roy van den Brink-Budgen Why did Roy love this book?

This book takes a different approach to the more general accounts of critical thinking, by focusing on how it helps us to appreciate literature.

The author does this by showing how using critical thinking can deepen our understanding of literature, including drama (Shakespeare, Beckett), poetry (such as Donne, Larkin, Marvell, Owen, and Wordsworth), and first-person narratives.

The book sparkles with wonderful applications of critical thinking, enabling us to appreciate texts such that we see them in a new way, with all sorts of insights being suggested and developed. Her plea that we should also look at screenplays by using a critical thinking perspective is very convincing.

Read this book and your reading of literature will be significantly enriched. 

By Belinda Hakes,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked When Critical Thinking met English Literature as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

This book gives teachers of English Literature an engaging new way into texts, using the skills and approaches of A level Critical Thinking. It also provides teachers of Critical Thinking with useful and stimulating resources with which to practise the skills required at A level. It will also help teachers looking for ways to engage students not drawn to literature, and any teacher trying to improve the analytical skills of their English students. Topics Include- Critical Thinking does poetry - with a little help from John Donne, Andrew Marvell and Philip Larkin - Much Ado About...the credibility of evidence- Hamlet,…


Book cover of Critical Thinking: An Introduction to the Basic Skills

Roy van den Brink-Budgen Author Of Advanced Critical Thinking Skills

From my list on learning how to think critically.

Why am I passionate about this?

I have been working in critical thinking since 1987. This work has taken me to many countries in the world, working with both teachers and students, business people and other decision-makers, and it continues to excite me greatly. I always stress that critical thinking shouldn’t be seen as just a set of technical skills, but that it should make a real difference to people. For example, I’ve used it in working with juvenile offenders who had committed violent crimes and was impressed by how it got them to look at their lives in a much more positive way. These books provide a range of ways into and around the subject.

Roy's book list on learning how to think critically

Roy van den Brink-Budgen Why did Roy love this book?

This book appealed to me when I first read it many years ago because of the way in which it explains the skills of critical thinking in a very approachable and interesting way.

It does this by using simple and everyday examples such that the reader develops the skills through applying the theoretical aspects of critical thinking to them. In addition, there are plenty of ‘self-tests’ for the reader to check and reinforce their learning.

It is clear that the author’s experience with teaching students gives him a good understanding of how critical thinking should be approached.

By William Hughes, Jonathan Lavery,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Critical Thinking as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

William Hughes's Critical Thinking, recently revised and updated by Jonathan Lavery, is a comprehensive and accessible introduction to the essential skills required to make strong arguments. Hughes and Lavery give a thorough treatment of such traditional topics as deductive and inductive reasoning, logical fallacies and how to spot them, the importance of inference, how to recognise and avoid ambiguity, and how to assess what is or is not relevant to an argument. But they also cover a variety of topics not always treated in books of this sort - special concerns to keep in mind when reasoning about ethical matters…


Book cover of The Mad Scientist Next Door

Nicole Audet Author Of Parents For Sale

From my list on helping children learn great life lessons.

Why am I passionate about this?

My journey as a writer began in correlation with my career as a family doctor. After reading Dr. Jacques Ferron’s, books, I knew I wanted to be an author as well as a doctor. While pursuing my medical career, I wrote medical articles and books. My husband and I have also been featured in Chicken Soup for the Soul of Quebecers with the story Witness of the Last Breath. This is the story of the last night of my daughter-in-law dying of lung cancer. Before she died, I promised Marie-Noëlle that I would pursue my writing career to change the world one young reader at a time. And I did.

Nicole's book list on helping children learn great life lessons

Nicole Audet Why did Nicole love this book?

The author of this short and easy-to-read chapter book goes beyond the story. I recommend this book because I like the last page of the book title “Notes for Adults.”

In busy life, it is easy to let our children read by themselves. It is easy to forget that books contain valuable lessons. It is easy to miss the opportunity to challenge reading skills and make the children read between the line to develop their critical thinking skills.

In this book, the author proposes before, during and after reading activities to support literacy skill. Wow! If you do all of them, this book is worth the money you have paid for it.

All parents and teachers should aim to develop children’s critical thinking.

By Clare De Marco, Rory Walker (illustrator),

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Mad Scientist Next Door as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 5, 6, 7, and 8.

What is this book about?

Ella's next door neighbour, Mr Willis, is seriously mean. She stays out of his way as much as possible. But when she accidentally catapaults her baby brother's favourite teddy bear into Mr Willis' garden, Ella is forced to go over to his house. And Ella is in for a SHOCK!

Race Ahead with Reading is the perfect introduction to reading chapters with brand new page turning reads in five short bite size chapters, to encourage children to take the driving seat with their reading.


Book cover of Thinking Like a Lawyer: A Framework for Teaching Critical Thinking to All Students

Sara Blanchard and Misasha Suzuki Graham Author Of Dear White Women: Let's Get (Un)Comfortable Talking about Racism

From my list on for kids (and parents) on anti-racism.

Why am I passionate about this?

We are two biracial (Japanese and White) mothers with very mixed-race children, who believe that when we learn about our nation’s history and look more deeply at our personal experiences with race and identity, we gain the power to effect personal and systemic change. Some of that starts with the books that we read to, and with, our kids. We discuss these topics and more on our weekly award-winning podcast, Dear White Women. We hope that you love the books on this list as much as we do!

Sara's book list on for kids (and parents) on anti-racism

Sara Blanchard and Misasha Suzuki Graham Why did Sara love this book?

At first glance, you might not see why we think it’s a book for parents that addresses anti-racism. But digging deeper, you’ll see that one of the things we advocate for is developing the skills for introspection - to ask ourselves the tough questions, to challenge our own beliefs and assumptions, and think critically about the information that constantly surrounds us. Those skills are a fundamental part of our own anti-racism practices. Unfortunately, critical thinking is not a skill that’s been well taught, or evenly taught, throughout the schools in our country - so it’s important for each of us to help ourselves, and our children, learn this most foundational skill to succeed in the 21st century.

By Colin Seale,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Thinking Like a Lawyer as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Critical thinking is the essential tool for ensuring that students fulfill their promise. But, in reality, critical thinking is still a luxury good, and students with the greatest potential are too often challenged the least. Thinking Like a Lawyer:

Introduces a powerful but practical framework to close the critical thinking gap. Gives teachers the tools and knowledge to teach critical thinking to all students. Helps students adopt the skills, habits, and mindsets of lawyers. Empowers students to tackle 21st-century problems. Teaches students how to compete in a rapidly changing global marketplace.

Colin Seale, a teacher-turned-attorney-turned-education-innovator and founder of thinkLaw, uses…


Book cover of With Good Reason: An Introduction to Informal Fallacies
Book cover of Logic and Mr. Limbaugh: A Dittohead's Guide To Fallacious Reading
Book cover of Critical Thinking and Popular Culture: Reading and Writing the American Experience

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