Straight and Crooked Thinking

By Robert H. Thouless

Book Overview

This new edition of a timeless classic demonstrates how the use of clear, rational thinking and logic can win any argument, however emotionally charged the topic in question. It describes the typical flaws of reasoning in argument and shows how language can be used to deceive - and how to avoid being deceived. It will show you how, by learning what is 'straight', rational language, and clear thought, you can disentangle emotionally charged rhetoric and hold your own in any argument or debate, no matter how challenging. Although written nearly 80 years ago, this book proves that certain principles remain timeless; it has shown many thousands over the decades how to cope with media spin and distorted reasoning - and now it will do the same for you.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1444117181
• ISBN13: 9781444117189
• Release Date: April 2011
• Publisher: Hodder Education
• Length: 192 Pages
• Weight: 0.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 6.6" x 7.8"

Customer Reviews

An excellent book, amazingly pertinent today

Although written at the end of the 1930's, the book is amazingly relevant today and one of the most clearly presented and well thought-out books of its kind that I've ever read. It is well worth your time.

Review of Straight and Crooked Thinking

This book should be required reading for anyone that takes public policy issues seriously. It explains the various techniques and ploys by which emotionally loaded words and various debating tricks can transform an intellectually honest debate into a propaganda campaign, and gives techniques to counter these ploys. I cannot recommend it highly enough.

Helps one to keep focussed on the main issues in a debate.

This is one of the most useful books that I have ever read. The author points out how debates are often lead away from the main issues by using arguments that appeal to emotion rather than to facts.He clearly describes how it is done and how to avoid being lead away from the issues by such devices. Important reading for anyone who has been in a debate and wonders why the opponent didn't sound convincing and yet you were unable to answer him/her!

An unforgetable book, I've used it's priciples since school.

This book was the single most valuable book which I ever read, since it explains how people distort agruments through emotions. The book clearly explains what is happening and then teaches you how to handle the situation.

Concise, much of substance and very usuable.

The single most useful book dealing with the techniques of discussion and argumentation that I've read. Still use its principles 10 years later !. Good to know what professional persuaders (politicians etc.) have in their armoury.