How to Think

Dr Tom Chatfield is a British tech philosopher and author. He writes, broadcasts and consults internationally, with a special interest in critical thinking, AI and future skills. His books exploring digital culture—including Wise Animals, How To Thrive in the Digital Age, and Fun Inc.—are published in over thirty languages, while his critical thinking textbooks, published by Sage, are used by universities, institutions and companies around the world. Over the past decade, Tom has developed award-winning online courses for universities and businesses, and been a guest faculty member at the Said Business School and visiting associate at the Oxford Internet Institute, both at the University of Oxford. He has collaborated with organizations including Allianz, the BBC, Google, and the UN. Past speaking appearances include TED Global and the US National Academy of Sciences. A launch columnist for BBC Future, he writes widely in the international media and guest lectures at universities in the US, UK and Europe.

Inspiring, practical and engaging, this book raises, explores and addresses some of the fundamental questions and issues we face when making sense of and responding to the world around us. Using accessible language and relatable examples, it offers us practical tools to develop critical thinking skills, not just for academic study but also for life.

• Introduction: Thinking about thinkingChapter 1: Attention and reflection: Building habits for better thinkingChapter 2: Working with words: Close reading and clear writingChapter 3: The importance of assumptions: Examining what has been left unsaidChapter 4: Giving good reasons: The importance of arguing your caseChapter 5: Seeking good explanations: Investigating the reasons behind thingsChapter 6: Creative and collaborative thinking: Finding a process that works for youChapter 7: Thinking about numbers: How not to lie with statisticsChapter 8: Technology and complexity: The 21st-century contextChapter 9: And finally...A toolkit for clearer thinking: Ten key concepts