Critical Thinking - A Primer

A family memoir unlike any you have ever read. This book recounts the author's life journey toward critical thinking, how it began and grew exponentially over time. There is humor, happiness, adventure, tragedy and sadness, a family dealing with critical health issues and the scourge of polio, although there is much to be thankful for in the life of four brothers and their families growing up in Kentucky and then moving on to other parts of the country to share their life experiences with family and friends. It is the hope of the author that through this lens readers will be led to understand critical thinking in their lives and how they can cultivate it within their families.  

"The first discussion of critical thinking dates back 2400 years to the “father” of the concept, Socrates, and it has grown to mean several types of thinking. Your understanding of this true definition will grow throughout this work, so let’s start simply.

I believe critical thinking is stored in the brain in the same place as the will to live, the will to die and reasoning. All three require choice, by definition. To think is to compare A and B. To think critically, you must choose one or the other. Thinking is passive. Critical thinking is active. Advanced critical thinking involves thinking about an infinite number of options and choosing one. Thinking about writing a book is passive. Writing a book requires active advanced critical thinking. I think simple critical thinking is a reflex. Advanced critical thinking requires constant daily work and choices systematically cultivated."  - William C. Tyler, author