Your Deceptive Mind: A Scientific Guide to Critical Thinking Skills

By: Steven Novella, The Great Courses

Narrated by: Steven Novella

Length: 12 hrs and 39 mins

Publisher's summary

No skill is more important in today's world than being able to think about, understand, and act on information in an effective and responsible way. What's more, at no point in human history have we had access to so much information, with such relative ease, as we do in the 21st century. But because misinformation out there has increased as well, critical thinking is more important than ever.

These 24 rewarding lectures equip you with the knowledge and techniques you need to become a savvier, sharper critical thinker in your professional and personal life. By immersing yourself in the science of cognitive biases and critical thinking, and by learning how to think about thinking (a practice known as metacognition), you'll gain concrete lessons for doing so more critically, more intelligently, and more successfully.

The key to successful critical thinking lies in understanding the neuroscience behind how our thinking works - and goes wrong; avoiding common pitfalls and errors in thinking, such as logical fallacies and biases; and knowing how to distinguish good science from pseudoscience. Professor Novella tackles these issues and more, exploring how the (often unfamiliar) ways in which our brains are hardwired can distract and prevent us from getting to the truth of a particular matter.

Along the way, he provides you with a critical toolbox that you can use to better assess the quality of information. Even though the world is becoming more and more saturated information, you can take the initiative and become better prepared to make sense of it all with this intriguing course.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.

©2012 The Teaching Company, LLC (P)2012 The Great Courses

if it makes you angry, you need to listen

I started listening to this lecture a few months ago. I didn't get far before experiencing an overwhelming feeling of annoyance. I got the impression that the author was trying to inflate himself by pointing out how ignorant most people are. I thought he was a little too confident in his statements.
I don't remember why I was determined to revisit the course, but in doing so, soon considered the possibility that the author might be telling me something I just didn't want to hear. Having finished the course, I am convinced that this was at least partially the case. I also think that it would be a great high school requirement.
I am currently helping a friend with a pretty serious legal matter. The statistics which indicate that very few of my peers ( aka Jurrors) are scientifically literate is terrifying. It seems that knowledge of the presented logical fallacies alone would likely get the case thrown out.
Is there even an inherent pledge/oath/statement/belief on the part of our judicial system that commits itself to being bound by science?

Really great course

This was a very informative course, and was a surprisingly easy listen. I definitely recommend it.

Science Rules!

These set of lectures are fantastic! One of the best I have heard yet. Everyone should listen to these.

Important information

The first chapters were very powerful. I liked the final chapters but I has many fewer "aha" moments while listening to them.

An excellent experience

A perfect combination of accurate and clear explanations. Exceptionally enlightening, useful and enjoyable. Definately worth a second run through

Outstanding.

I intend to listen to it again very soon just to be sure I didnt miss anything.

A Must Read

Every single rational person should read this. if there were more stars I wouldn't have hesitated to give it. Easy to understand yet very deep in content.

Excellent book!!

This book should be required reading in high school AND college . I got so much from this book having read it a couple of times.

lectures were good

The lectures in this book were very good. The book moved along very easily and smoothly. I was actually a little disappointed when it ended.

Brilliant advice

Great rendering of how life should be viewed, with the principles of critical thinking as its backbone.