Guy P. Harrison

This is basically a bunch of short essays, so it doesn't need to be read in order. In fact, it gets a bit repetitive if you read it straight through. I really like that each section includes a list of resources so you can find out more about any given topic. If you are familiar with skepticism, you'll probably find this book a bit too basic, but it's a good starting point for anyone wanting to be more skeptical. Even for someone who holds one or more of the 50 beliefs, it's good glimpse at why people don't believe the same things you do.

Favorite quote by Guy P. Harrison from the introduction:
"We should not be afraid to doubt and question, even when those around us do not."… (mer)

Not a bad introduction to critical thinking, but something didn't totally work for me. The concepts are sound, though I do think he leans in a bit too much toward biological determinism, but that isn't a core part of the book. He covers several tenets of critical thinking, but it seems somewhat superficial; this is intended to be accessible to lay readers but he needs to give his readers more credit and delve a little deeper. There are a number of parts that I would like to assign for my students to read, because he explains in accessible language what they struggle to understand. Recommended, but only as a beginning.… (mer)