Cognitive Books - Page 14

Becoming a Critical Thinker: User Friendly Manual (5th Edition)

Sherry Diestler

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Editorial Review:

This book trains students to distinguish high-quality, well-supported arguments from arguments with little or no evidence to support them. It develops the skills required to effectively evaluate the many claims facing them as citizens, learners, consumers, and human beings, and also to be effective advocates for their beliefs. Chapter topics include the foundations of arguments, reality and value assumptions and ethics, inductive arguments and generalizations, reasoning errors, the power of language, media literacy, fairmindedness, and persuasive speaking. For critical thinkers who want to be discerning about the messages they read or hear; make decisions based on careful consideration of both facts and values; be alert to distortion in reporting and advertising; and, defend their own viewpoints.

Learning and Memory: Basic Principles, Processes, and Procedures (3rd Edition)

W. Scott Terry

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Editorial Review:

This text explores the core principles of learning and memory in a clear, reader-friendly style, covering animal learning and human memory in a balanced fashion. A strong emphasis on practical applications to the college student's everyday life is evident in examples throughout, such as the correlation between caffeine consumption and grade point average (Chapter 1), approach/avoidance coping for upcoming and completed exams (Chapter 5), and retrograde amnesia in football players (Chapter 7). The relationship between the fields of neuropsychology and learning and memory is also stressed throughout. There are new sections on neuroscience and education, perceptual learning, and the amnesic patient H.M., as well as new material on anxiety and learning, working memory, and childhood amnesia. The third edition has been thoroughly updated to reflect the latest research and has been freshened throughout with more relevant examples and better graphics.

Intellect: Mind over Matter

Mortimer J. Adler

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 2 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Philosophy in the grand style 5 out of 5 stars.
21 of 22 people found this review helpful.

Is the mind reducible to matter (i.e., mind = brain), or does the mind possess immaterial aspects. The brain (material make up) is necessary for the mind, but not a sufficient explanation of some mental operations. Adler does a very good job discussing the issues involved in this area (philosophial psychology or philosophy of mind), and does a superb job in arguing the immaterialist position (i.e., our minds are more than physico-chemical reactions).

This work, though brief, provides a good antidote to the poison of Neo-Darwinian mechanism (e.g., Steven Pinker's _How he Mind Works_).

Btw, this review comes from someone who holds the BA, Cum Laude, in philosophy from a top American university. My education was in the analytic/linguistic tradition, and I would trade all that for the education I have gotten from Mortimer Adler. It does seem unfair that I struggled through 4 years of abstruse philosophy, and someone could get a better philosophic! al education from reading Adler's: Intellect, Conditions of Philosophy, Ten Philosophical Mistakes, Aristotle for Everybody, Six Great Ideas, We Hold These Truths, Four Dimensions of Philosophy, How To Think About God, Truth in Religion, and Some Questions About Language (the only really difficult book by Adler)

Coercion: Why We Listen to what "They" Say

Douglas Rushkoff

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Total reviews: 50 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

An investigation into the influence techniques of the hidden persuaders--in the media, in politics, and in business--who are every day making more and more of our decisions for us, from a writer hailed as the "brilliant heir to Marshall McLuhan" by New Perspectives Quarterly.

They say that human beings use only ten percent of their brains. They say the corner office is a position of power. They say you haven't met your deductible.

Who, exactly, are "they"? More important, why do we listen to them?

In Coercion Douglas Rushkoff argues that we each have our own "theys"--bosses, experts, and authorities (both real and imaginary) who have taken over much of the decision-making power in our lives. Unfortunately, not everyone to whom we surrender this control has our best interests at heart. What's most troubling is that the more we try to resist their efforts at persuasion, the more effort they in turn put into finding increasingly sophisticated--and invisible--methods of coercion. Indeed, the last fifty years have been marked by a kind of arms race between these authorities and our selves.

Douglas Rushkoff is in a unique position to guide us through these hazardous societal influences. Having for years been the champion of the new media, the Internet, and the liberating forces of interactive technology, he now examines the process through which such innovations are being co-opted by the powers that be. Rushkoff's message is a wake-up call for anyone who has the uncomfortable sense that our actions are being shaped by forces beyond our control.

Writing Analytically with Readings

David Rosenwasser, Jill Stephen

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Editorial Review:

WRITING ANALYTICALLY WITH READINGS is two books in one, a guide to writing with a reader, that teaches you how to have ideas and develop them in an academic setting and beyond. The writing guide offers a book-length treatment of analysis, a form of thinking and writing required in virtually all college courses. The writing guide is accompanied by a thematically-arranged collection of readings and images-material for students like you to write about and to use as models and lenses in doing your own writing about the world.

The Mature Mind: The Positive Power of the Aging Brain

Gene D. Cohen

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Total reviews: 15 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

The Golden Years are being redefined. The fastest-growing segment of the population, those beyond the age of fifty, are no longer content to simply cope with the losses of age. Mental acuity and vitality are becoming a life-long pursuit. Now, the science of the mind is catching up with the Baby Boom generation. In this landmark book, renowned psychiatrist Gene Cohen challenges the long-held belief that our brain power inevitably declines as we age, and shows that there are actually positive changes taking place in our minds. Based on the latest studies of the brain, as well as moving stories of men and women in the second half of life, The Mature Mind reveals for the first time how we can continue to grow and flourish. Cohen's groundbreaking theory-the first to elaborate on the psychology of later life-describes how the mind gives us "inner pushes" and creates new opportunities for positive change throughout adult life. He shows how we can jump-start that growth at any age and under any circumstances, fine-tuning as we go, actively building brain reserves and new possibilities. The Mature Mind offers a profoundly different and intriguing look at ourselves, challenging old assumptions, raising bold new questions, and providing exciting answers grounded in science and the realities of everyday life.

Introduction to Logic and Critical Thinking

Merrilee H. Salmon

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 2 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

"It pushes buttons!" 5 out of 5 stars.
11 of 12 people found this review helpful.

This book was required reading for a college philosophy class. Unlike other boring textbooks, Salmon's unique approach to teaching critical thinking encourages classroom discussion and the application of practical situations. Each topic is related in text to many real-life examples, famous literary works, and quotes from the great philosophers. This "worldliness" makes Critical Thinking not only interesting, but actively engages the reader.

In a small aspect, a few examples may seem opinionated. When an example quoting the Bible was being debated in class as fallacious, my professor commented, "I like this book... it pushes buttons!"

The most important aspect is that the information will help you in any career. Whether a doctor, lawyer, business person, engineer, or even a scientist, these Critical Thinking concepts can be applied to many situations. You will be surprised how inductive reasoning can be applied to uncover new information. The topics of deductive reasoning can help construct better arguments for debating. Most importantly, you will find an easy, yet entertaining read.

Editorial Review:

Designed for students with no prior training in logic, INTRODUCTION TO LOGIC AND CRITICAL THINKING offers an accessible treatment of logic that enhances understanding of reasoning in everyday life. The text begins with an introduction to arguments. After some linguistic preliminaries, the text presents a detailed analysis of inductive reasoning and associated fallacies. This order of presentation helps to motivate the use of formal methods in the following sections on deductive logic and fallacies that mimic deductive arguments. Lively and straightforward prose assists students in gaining facility with the sometimes challenging concepts of logic. By combining a sensitive treatment of ordinary language arguments with a simple but rigorous exposition of basic principles of logic, the text develops students' understanding of the relationships between logic and language, and strengthens their skills in logic and critical thinking.

Children's Thinking (4th Edition)

Robert S. Siegler, Martha W. Alibali

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Editorial Review:

This book offers a unified account of the major research findings and theories on the development of children's thinking from infancy to adolescence; and also considers their practical implications. It examines the change processes through which development occurs, as well as the nature of the changes in language, perception, memory, conceptual understanding, and problem-solving that mark cognitive development. Eight central themes presented in the first chapter integrate and unify the presentation. The authors examine Piaget's theory of development, information-processing theories of development, sociocultural theories, perceptual development, language development, memory development, conceptual development, problem solving, social cognition and the development of academic skills. For anyone involved in the thinking processes and development of children.

Idea Mapping: How to Access Your Hidden Brain Power, Learn Faster, Remember More, and Achieve Success in Business

Jamie Nast

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Total reviews: 16 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

Praise for Idea Mapping


"Nast's work in Idea Mapping enables those with creative minds to clearly lay out their thinking process and those who are more process-minded to become creative. If your organization is looking for a pragmatic, step-by-step guide to idea mapping, this is it."
--Chris Brown, Executive Vice President, DTE Energy Resources

"I have used idea maps for thirty years and have taught MBA students, employees, and my children how to harness their power. I strongly recommend this book and believe you will feel it to be one of the best investments you have ever made in your own growth."
--Stephen C. Lundin, coauthor, FISH!

"This is a book that everyone should read. It's an interactive, thought-provoking book about the brain and learning that will expand your mind. Nast, an accomplished and well-respected instructor, has guided me into a new realm of learning experiences and possibilities. I'm sure you will feel the same upon reading her insightful work."
--Simon Tai, CEO, Buzan Centre Taiwan and S&J Media Intergration Co. Ltd., Host of News Discovery on NEWS 98 Taiwan

"Nast shows you a revolutionary method to capture your thinking processes. Don't underestimate the simplicity of idea mapping because therein lies its genius."
--Scott Hagwood, four-time USA Memory Champion, author, Memory Power

"The ability to visually capture and organize thoughts and ideas has enabled millions of people around the world to do their work with greater creativity and productivity, run their businesses more strategically, and manage complex projects more efficiently--even map out a sales process or new product roll-out. Nast's very practical, readable book will get you quickly up to speed on one of the simplest but most powerful ways to organize your ideas, your work, and yourself."
--Mike Jetter, cofounder and CTO, Mindjet Corporation, coauthor, The Cancer Code

"The principles Nast writes about in Idea Mapping have become a staple for me over the past fourteen years. I was turned onto the concept of idea mapping in 1992 and have been a student and practitioner ever since. This has absolutely transformed the way I learn, design learning, and prepare for public speaking. I have never been more confident in my recall, knowing the content is nicely tucked away in my brain as it was designed to be. Get ready for a life-changing experience for yourself and those you influence."
--Will Flora, Senior Manager, Chick-Fil-A University, Atlanta, GA

The Object Stares Back: On the Nature of Seeing

James Elkins

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 15 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

CONTAINS DISTURBING PICTURES 3 out of 5 stars.
6 of 13 people found this review helpful.

I haven't read much of this book, because it contains images of the most awful thing I have ever seen, the 'death by a thousand cuts'. These pictures still haunt me, and the author uses them, claiming that they are disturbing because they represent somebody who is halfway between being alive and dead - I disagree - they are disturbing because they are scenes of an atrocity inflicted on a living being. (The victim was a woman who allegedly committed adultery in China, I'm not sure when the photos were taken but they look quite old).
Those four pictures have destroyed any faith I ever had in human beings, they will probably do the same to you if you are unfortunate enough to ever see them.

James Elkins, The Object Stares Back 2 out of 5 stars.
2 of 3 people found this review helpful.

James Elkins gives a lot of interesting speculation on the experience of seeing, but unfortunately, he fails to give much linkage of his subject to the experience of making and seeing art, which is curious in that the author is an art historian. He attaches a lot of importance to the idea that conventional seeing is a form of "blindness," that is, that conventional day-to-day seeing is extremely limited, but, again, he seems to be uninterested in the ways that artists remove these limits, both for themselves and their audience. So much of the writing is about how the author himself sees and does not see, that eventually I became bored, as one usually does listening to one person talk on and on about his own limited experience of a subject.

Editorial Review:

This arresting, provocative book on how we see--reminiscent of Diane Ackerman's A Natural History of the Senses--mixes science, philosophy, psychology, and art history, and offers startling, insightful observations likely to alter forever the way we perceive the world. 87 photos & illustrations.