Critical Thinking: Your Guide to Effective Argument, Successful Analysis and Independent Study - Softcover

This primer on critical thinking expertly introduces reasoning, argumentation, rhetoric, and bias, and how understanding those concepts can make us better readers, researchers, and writers. Chatfield chooses just the right combination of formal writing and casual address, creating the feeling that readers are learning from a trusted, witty friend. (Michelle Glatt)

Tom Chatfield’s Critical Thinking contains sensible, grounded examples, and illustrations...serving as a useful primer to the subject. This is a book happy to be written on, queried and argued with. The exercises sprinkled throughout are well judged and encourage a deep reading. The consistency of tone and design make it an impressive achievement, bringing light and clarity to an area which can present as murky and vague. I recommend it strongly. It will certainly be a useful addition to the teaching materials my school already uses, but its appeal goes well beyond classroom walls due to its breadth, depth and the clarity of its outlook...I would be very happy to see students and colleagues alike walking around campus with dog-eared, annotated and bookmarked copies of Critical Thinking. (Tim Jones)

I can’t stress enough what an excellent addition this is to a rather - what I thought, anyway – saturated market. Well done to all involved! It’s a very comprehensive text, and one which I’d happily recommend to staff and students alike. I’ll certainly be drawing inspiration from it when building class resources in future.

(Sunny Dhillon 2017-12-13)

Some people are naturally gifted critical thinkers (and, if you’re a researcher, it’s pretty hard to advance without some skill in that area) but for those who need to rethink their thinking or want a crash course in how to develop and hone their analysis skills, Tom Chatfield’s new book is well worth picking up... The engaging workbook-style layout helps keep the information being imparted consistently interesting and fun to absorb. (Joseph Rydholm)

I was pleasantly surprised to discover how accessible and engaging this book is. Some other texts on the topic can be daunting and challenging to read, with concepts not always being easy to grasp. However, the subject is presented in a user friendly way. (Andrew Southgate)

Tom Chatfield’s Critical Thinking is probably the most essential book I’ve ever read. Not because it offers groundbreaking insights, but because it makes you stop and think, in a world whose pace is ever-increasing. If you’re new to academia, the book prepares you for the challenges of evaluating established theories and forming cohesive, convincing and sound arguments of your own. (Ludwig, 1st Year International Management)

The book provides you with hands-on skills that are directly applicable. Not only are they put forth through real-life example arguments, but they are strongly reinforced by academic arguments and grounding. [Chatfield] deconstructs complicated concepts to its simplest form and renders it accessible to anyone that wishes to delve into their own mind and practices. (Luca, 2nd Year Management)

Critical thinking is a greatly valued skill for employability and Chatfield emphasises the importance of being skeptical. Information presented to us should be questioned and evaluated, especially in a world where vast amounts of information are available at our fingertips. The book successfully achieves its aim of helping one be able to think critically for themselves in order to both benefit your own work and challenge the works of others. (Marina, 1st Year Management)

Tom Chatfield has excelled at the way to interact with the independent learner in this book by explaining not just the skill of critical thinking, but the reasons behind its need in the day-to-day life. ‘Critical Thinking’ will leave one with a universal skill which is crucial to any millennial in the modern world. A perfect guide to better learning and beyond.

(Yan, 1st Year Computer and Management Sciences)

This is a very comprehensive, well elaborated and clearly structured book. It provides readers with systematically organized concepts and skills to improve their critical thinking in an easily accessible way, laying a vital foundation for their future academic study, professional work and life. It is especially helpful for the first-year college students who are about to embark on their academic life.

(Shuo Zhao, CAES, Surrey International Institute (SII), Dongbei University of Finance and Economics (DUFE), Dalian, China)

Shortlisted for the British Book Design and Production Awards 2018, Educational Books category

Do you need to demonstrate a good argument or find more evidence?  Are you mystified by your tutor's comment 'critical analysis needed'?  What does it really mean to think well - and how do you learn to do it?

Critical thinking is a set of techniques. You just need to learn them.

So here’s your personal toolkit for demystifying critical engagement. I’ll show you how to sharpen your critical thinking by developing and practicing this set of skills, so you can...

• Spot an argument and get why reasoning matters
• Sniff out errors and evaluate evidence
• Understand and account for bias
• Become a savvy user of technology
• Develop clear, confident critical writing.

Designed to work seamlessly with a power pack of digital resources and exercises, you'll find practical and effective tools to think and write critically in an information-saturated age.  No matter whether you're launching on your first degree or arriving as an international or mature student, Critical Thinking gives you the skills, insights and confidence to succeed.

In your critical thinking toolkit

1. Watch the 10 commandments videos – life rules to change how you think
2. Smart Study boxes share excellent tips to whip your work into shape
3. BuzzFeed quizzes to test what (you think) you know
4. Space to scribble! Journal your thoughts, questions, eureka moments as you go
5. Chat more online with #TalkCriticalThinking

Lecturers, request your electronic inspection copy here.

SAGE Study Skills are essential study guides for students of all levels. From how to write great essays and succeeding at university, to writing your undergraduate dissertation and doing postgraduate research, SAGE Study Skills help you get the best from your time at university. Visit the SAGE Study Skills hub for tips, resources and videos on study success!