Book Description
This book helps readers bridge the gap between simply memorizing or blindly accepting information and the greater challenge of critical analysis and synthesis. It teaches them to respond to alternative points of view and develop a solid foundation for making personal choices about what to accept and what to reject as they read and listen. Chapter titles include: The Benefit of Asking the Right Questions; What are the Issue and the Conclusion?; What Are the Reasons?; What Are the Value Conflicts and Assumptions?; Are There Any Fallacies in the Reasoning?; How Good Is the Evidence: Intuition, Appeals to Authority, and Testimonials?; and What Reasonable Conclusions Are Possible?. For any critical reader who wants to enhance and develop better reasoning skills in order to make rational decisions.
Customer Reviews:
ok.......2007-09-23
did not come very quickly--wasn't even sent out until about 5 days after I placed the order. in very good condition though.
Great book.......2007-09-05
This book is a must have for every rhetoric class! Easy to read and understand, best tool for a student.
Good questions. Very helpful indeed........2007-04-03
I strongly agree with the author on pg 13, that "by the end of the book, you should know when and how to ask these questions productively (elaborated through individual chapters):-
1. What are the issues and the concclusions?
2. What are the ressons?
3. Which words or phrases are ambiguous?
4. What are the value conflicts and assumptions?
5. What are the descriptive assumptions?
6. Are there any fallacies in the reasoning?
7. How good is the evidence?
8. Are there rival causes?
9. Are the statistics deceptive?
10. What significant information is omitted?
11. What reasonable conclusions are possible?
Of course, a compilation of good questions doesnt qualify it to be a good book. Indeed, the samples and stories well illustrate the principles and concepts behind. The discussions on various fallacies are marvelous, including:-
Ad hominem: An attack, or an insult, on the person, rather than directly addressing the person's reasons.
Slipperly Slope: Making the assumption that a proposed step will set off an uncontrollable chain of undesirable events, when procedures exist to prevent such a chain of events.
Hasty Generalization: A person draws a conclusion about a large group of based on experience with only a few members of the group.
Causal Oversimplification: Explaining an event by relying on causal factors that are insufficient to account for the event or by overemphasizing the role of one or more of these factors.
Confusion of Cause and Effect: Confusing the cause with the effect of an event or failing to recognise that the two events may be influencing each other.
Neglect of a common cause: Failure to recognize that two events may be related because of the effects of a common third factor.
Post hoc: Assuming that a particular event, B, is caused by another event, A, simply because B follows A in time.
............
In short, an excellent food for thought. Highly recommended!
p.s. I like the following story on pg 137 the most.
"After carefully conditioning a flea to jump out of a box following the presentation of a loud noise, the researcher removed the first pair of legs to see what effect this had. Observing that the flea was still able to perform his task, the scientist removed the second pair of legs. Once again noting no difference in performance, the researcher removed the final pair of legs and found that the jumping behaviour no longer occurred. Thus, the investigator wrote in his notebook, "When all the legs of a flea have been removed, it will no longer be able to hear."
Asking the Right Questions: A Guide to Critical Thinking .......2007-03-09
An excellent book on the subject of reflective thought and criticism. Moreover, this book was more concise and illustrative than others I have read on the subject. This book includes many helpful case examples of short one and two paragraph essays which are analyzed critically for assumptions and fallacies in reasoning. If you needed to buy (and keep) just one book on the subject of critical thinking - this one should be it.
A balanced and informative guide.......2006-08-21
I found Asking the Right Questions (ARQ) to be a very balanced and thorough approach to critical thinking. I am an electrical engineer by profession... I am well-regarded by my peers as an careful thinker; however, I have found myself frustrated at times when discussing controversial issues with friends... some lines of thought don't ring true, but are nonetheless hard to refute. After reading ARQ, I found that these dilemmas are frequently either the result of not agreeing on the definitions of ambiguous terms (e.g. oppression, sexism, racism) or on some logical fallacy that was used. This has made a quite difference in my ability to discern the issues at hand.
ARQ uses a systematic list of questions to review the proposed thesis. These questions are designed to help you understand their conclusion, and evaluate their supporting evidence. Throughout the book, you are encouraged to set your own biases aside in favor of rationally evaluating the evidence. Furthermore, you receive some brief instruction on typical logical fallicies. In particular, Ad hominem attacks (i.e. attacks on the character of participants) are addressed; however, blatant character references are just beginning of an ad-hominem attack. Many times discussions get sidetracked by implicit accusations about a person's character. As an example, this statement (greatly simplified here) was used on me in the past, "you couldn't possibly be able to think critically, because your spiritual convictions make you biased." Until I read ARQ, I had a hard time realizing that this is actually a diversionary tactic used to sidetrack the discussion. If I accept this "evidence", the issue now becomes my credibility, instead of discussing my actual position on the issue.
Another good point the authors make is that that the mere existence of a logical fallicy should be not used as a means to halt discussion.
Finally, this book doesn't try to give you the "right answers" to controversial issues. They teach you how to find those answers on your own. In many cases, there are no right or wrong answers... simply a difference in the core values of the individuals.
I have been very pleased with the thoughtful approach that ARQ uses. I believe that every high-school and college student should be required to read it.
Customer Reviews:
Best Practice for the PE.......2007-01-05
This book best mirrors the type and layout of the PE exam questions. Solve every problem in it, then document your solutions ("How did I solve that type of problem"). This book is far more realistic in difficulty and layout than the "6 Minute" books. Get this book first, do the problems in it, then decide what other books you need.
Preparation for the PE Exam.......2005-12-14
Based on a co-worker's recommendation, I used this helpful book in preparation for the Fall 2001 PE Exam. The best feature of this book is that it mirrors the layout and content of the actual exam better than any other resource I encountered. The 120 questions are broken into six categories, and each question has solutions A to D. The first section includes 20 general problems that all civil engineering examinees will face in the morning half of the test. The five other sections cover the afternoon half of the exam with specific questions for the environmental, geotechnical, structural, transportation and water resources subgenres. Sample answer sheets appear in an appendix. Many of the problems include enough blank space for computations, making the completed problems useful for a final review a few days before the exam. The solutions in the back are complete and clear.
The cover price is high but hopefully transferable to an expense account. This book complements the Lindeburg Civil Engineering Reference Manual package and is strongly recommended for all civil engineering PE candidates. Mine is labeled `Revision 1' and was published in 2000, so I'm not sure if the PE exam has changed significantly since then. A friend of mine found this book useful for the Fall 2004 test.
Customer Reviews:
Good for the price........2007-07-11
Slightly bent and wrinkled but still usable, of course I got it used but it still worked for my English class.
Current issues and enduring questions.......2005-09-28
The book is just what I needed for class. Also I find it to be very helpful in writing papers
Customer Reviews:
A World of Ideas.......2001-01-22
The book is required for my english class.I just got it and have not had a achance to read it. What I can tell you is that the book arrived very quickly, which is exactly what I needed. Thank You.
Basic College Writing.......2000-04-25
This is an excellent book for transitioning students from high school to college. The selections are intellegent and demanding and cover several areas of study. The introduction gives a method for reading and evaluating that will serve the student for the remainder of his/her college career and beyond.
A collection of wonderful essays by key thinkers of the worl.......1998-11-21
This is a great book, with excerpts of many great writer's greatest essays. Writers include Lao Tzu, Machiavelli, Rouseau, Nietze, V. Woolfe, H. Woordsworth, H. Arnedt, C. Jung, M.L. King, F. Douglass and many many more.
Book Description
Inspire animated discussions of questions that concern kids - and all of us - with this innovative, interactive book. Open your students' minds to the wonders of philosophy. Allow them to grapple with the questions philosophers have discussed since the ancient Greeks. Questions include: "Who are your friends?" "Can computers think?" "Can something logical not make sense?" "Can you think about nothing?" Young minds will find the range of 40 questions to be both entertaining and informative. If you have ever wondered about questions like these, you are well on the way to becoming a philosopher!
Philosophy for Kids offers young people (ages 10 and up) the opportunity to become acquainted with the wonders of philosophy. Packed with exciting activities arranged around the topics of Values, Knowledge, Reality, and Critical Thinking, this book can be used individually or by the whole class. Each activity allows kids to increase their understanding of philosophical concepts and issues and enjoy themselves at the same time.
In addition to learning about a challenging subject, students philosophizing in a classroom setting as well as the casual reader of Philosophy for Kids will sharpen the ability to think critically about these and similar questions. Experiencing the enjoyment of philosophical thought enhances a young person's appreciation for the importance of reasoning throughout the traditional curriculum of subjects.
The book includes activities, teaching tips, a glossary of terms, and suggestions for further reading.
Grades 4-12
Customer Reviews:
Too open ended for kids.......2007-08-26
I bought this book to read with my nine-year old daughter. Lots of great questions posed, but we found they weren't explored deeply enough for our satisfaction. One could argue that this is precisely the purpose of the book, ie to encourage further discussion, but we're both quite new to the field of philosophy and lack the training and tools for a deep evaluation of the issues. Another book, Philosophy Rocks (Law), offers far deeper analyses (of admittedly fewer questions), but left us far more satisfied and inspired.
It really is fun!.......2007-07-25
While I have always been moderately entertained by the metaphysical, it has never been something I would quite describe as 'fun'. Until now that is! The chapter on existentialism tickled me rotten and the 'Wittgenstein game' caused uproar at my son's birthday party! If you want to keep the kids entertained for the day (and simultaneously teach them concepts of modal realism) look no further...
A+ for David White's "Philosophy for Kids".......2006-06-11
I'm not a teacher, but I am a student of philosophy who knows a great book when she reads one, and Professor White's "Philosophy for Kids" fits the bill. I appreciate this book not only because I think it's effective in getting youth to think about significant scholarly issues (this, I admit, it probably accomplishes quite well). Rather, I give PFK an A+ for its amazing ability to introduce *any* curious person to some of mankind's most timeless and pressing questions--and some of his most insightful thinkers--regardless of the age or academic background of the reader.
Organized into sections according to four major branches of philosophy--ethics, epistemology, metaphysics, and logic--the book eases you into an exciting exploration of a myriad of connected but diverse philosophical questions. White's "leads" at the beginnings of the chapters, or "Questions," are always attention-grabbers, and I find the question-and-answer format helpful for framing the philosophical issue in a practical, concrete way before diving into a more rigorous investigation of the many facets of the Question and how they relate to one or more major philosophers. Far from being heavy-handed or tyrannical, these opening "situations" are thought-provoking engagements for the student. What a refreshing change from dry, overly cerebral, merely explanatory summaries of what a particular philosopher wrote about x, y, and z! The reader gets a stunningly broad introduction to major philosophical thinkers, their questions, and their answers without even realizing it. When a textbook is so inviting that it whets your appetite to read the more difficult, original works of both ancient and modern philosophers, you know you have something special.
The practical questions and answers are often amusing, but never trite. Many gently encourage self-reflection and make dense philosophical ideas actually personal and relatable, and in my opinion, philosophy and self-reflection are always a winning combination.
From an educational view, I think that Part IV on logic, or critical thinking, is alone worth the price of the book. This section helps students start to analyze the very foundations of what it means for a statement to be true, for a thing to be defined, for a thing to be caused. These kinds of cognitive skills are absolutely elemental--and essential--to further study in philosophy (as well as all sorts of endeavors), and so this section of the textbook is pure windfall for both student and teacher.
All of the "little things" also make this book stand out from the rest and show great craftsmanship in layout and details: many of the quotes located at the end of the Questions are exceptionally eloquent (all are relevant food for thought), the black-and-white illustrations of the philosophers are delightful, and even the cover and font are just downright attractive (and especially striking given the work's real potential as a formal textbook). Although I don't have much formal teaching experience, my impression is that the "Teaching Tips" at the end of the book could serve as a real catalyst for refining one's skills at facilitating and fielding classroom discussion. I especially liked the additional exercises and challenges White suggests in "Further Thoughts" and "Teaching Tips"; they constitute a wonderful continuation of the practical "question and answer" protocol highlighted throughout the book.
In summary, the excellence of this lovely textbook certainly speaks to the high caliber of an experienced teacher who knows much about philosophy (and life) and cares deeply about both. One can only desperately and impatiently hope for more luminous correspondence with a mind and heart like his, whether in the form of another book ... or through a different venue.
The Author is Great.......2005-11-21
I'm 14 and took a philosophy class for gifted students with the author teaching. He's a certifiable nutcase. He's also amazingly funny and intelligent. Buy this book or discriminate against insane geniuses everywhere.
Wonder-ful Resource.......2004-07-28
I used this book to help me frame out the philosophy segment of my middle school gifted and talented class. The book is organized in terms of branches of philosophy: values, knowledge, metaphysics and critical thinking. Under each heading are thought-provoking questions that draw the reader in. Each of these is followed by a brief activity that links the question to kids' lives. After they are hooked in, the author explains the idea being discussed, and introduces the philosopher responsible for the idea. This structure of focusing first on the practical implications and then working backwards to the idea worked very well to catch and hold students' interest. The way the book is organized also makes it more flexible. Each question provides an independent lesson. You can skip around, and answer as many as you like. The length of each lesson also supports the ease of use, although with many you may want to extent it with the For Further Thought section.
If you want to try something fresh with your students, but philosophy intimidates you, don't worry. There is even a section in the back called How to Philosophize if you are not a Philosopher, which is loaded with practical advice, suggestions for classroom procedures, and specific teaching tips for each of the questions discussed. It even includes typical student reactions.
Overall, the students enjoyed the activities and questions in this book. It was not always easy for them to accept that there are no easy answers, but they were definitely engaged and challenged by the material. I found it to be a wonderful, helpful, handy, practical resource for introducing young people to philosophy.
Amazon.com
One of the titles for the younger crowd in the Beginners Books series, My Book About Me has an unusual interactive twist--you make it up as you go along. On each page there's something new to complete, from "I weigh ___ pounds" to "My teeth. I counted them. I have ___ up top. I have ___ downstairs." It's a simple idea, but with a surprising amount of educational value--getting children to name their home country, to recognize and draw in the color of their own eyes, learn their telephone number and address, to name favorite clothes, foods, and colors, and more. Finally, there's a two-page spread where each owner of the book can write his or her own story. Illustrator Roy McKie's style is halfway between the P.D. Eastman of Are You My Mother and the mainstream Seuss of Cat in the Hat and Thidwick: The Big-Hearted Moose. (Ages 4 to 8) --Richard Farr
Book Description
Illus. in full color. Encourages children to find out about themselves, while having fun writing and drawing their own biographies.
Customer Reviews:
successful sense of self.......2007-09-29
i was always jealous that my older sister had this book about herself, growing up...i bought a copy for my nephew...saving it for when he gets to elementary school...it has easy to follow illustrations and questions that will make a child feel proud as they write in the answers...how many footsteps to the mailbox...whats your eye color...are you a lefty, etc...YOUNGER KIDS CAN COMPLETE WITH ADULT HELP...older ones can do on their own!!!
my book about me.......2007-07-27
as a child i loved this book and my children all three have enjoyed it also. It's a blast to do with your child and if you make a point of doing one a year you can make a fabulous library that not only they will enjoy but also their children will love. the best way to buy a toy or a book, i have found is to find something that i loved as a child, if its still around then someone doing something right.
Amazing and a great idea.......2007-07-04
I had done this book as a little girl way back when....I have a 10 year old son that saw this book when he was about 5 and we ordered him a copy. He loves looking back at the simple things like how many door knobs I had and how many he has. We just had a little girl and one of the first things he asked me to get her was her own book, we can't wait until we can watch her fill it out! It is a great way to preserve the most simple memories! I recommend this book to everyone!
FUN.......2007-03-25
THIS BOOK WAS GREAT FUN FOR MY CHILDREN AND NOW ALSO FOR MY GRANDCHILDREN
My Book About ME.......2007-02-13
purchased a copy for eacn of my 3 grandsons, all approaching their 3rd birthdays. My own 3 children each had this wonderful Dr. Seuss classic and loved reading it over the years. Indeed, they still have their worn and tattered copies and continue to chuckle over them to this day.
Book Description
This study guide is for all serious students of firefighting. John Norman offers lessons learned from an extensive and honored career by developing a thorough understanding of the third edition of Fire Officer's Handbook of Tactics. This practical study guide gives updated questions and new sections that offer training, development, and guidance that can benefit every person in the fire force.
The study guide's format includes multiple choice and short answer questions. The Fire Officer's Handbook of Tactics Third Edition Study Guide also includes a 100-question final examination, answers with corresponding textbook page numbers, and tear-out answer sheets for easy classroom use.
Customer Reviews:
Good study guide.......2007-09-24
I thought that the study guide reinforced what was taught in the hardcover edition. The questions are often seen on promotional tests.
Fire Officer's Handbook of Tactics study Guide.......2007-06-27
Very informative considering that I have ambitions of becoming an officer someday.It give's you a different perspective about what we do and how to handle situations that we come across from someone else's point of veiw.
fire officers handbook of tactics study guide.......2007-01-19
very tough book to understand but very helpful
Average customer rating:
- Duplicate information
- outdated and not so helpful
- great for the truly green
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The Crafts Business Answer Book & Resource Guide: Answers to Hundreds of Troublesome Questions About Starting, Marketing, and Managing a Homebased Business Efficiently, Legally, and Profitably
Barbara Brabec
Manufacturer: M. Evans and Company, Inc.
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Handmade for Profit!: Hundreds of Secrets to Success in Selling Arts and Crafts
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ASIN: 0871318334 |
Book Description
Topics include startup, managing, and marketing of a homebased crafts business.
Customer Reviews:
Duplicate information.......2007-08-27
This is a very good resource. It is easy to understand and use. However, don't make the mistake of also purchasing "The Craft Business Answer Book", by the same author. The description makes it sound like the book contains different information, but it doesn't. The covers are different, but the books are basically the same.
outdated and not so helpful.......2007-07-09
i found this book to be dry and not helpful for my home craft business purposes. It is now very much out of date also.
great for the truly green.......2000-02-28
I have not been in the crafts business long, and I must say I found this book far more informative than others offered online. Highly recommended for newcomers like myself.
Book Description
This long-awaited revision of a bestseller provides a practical discussion of the nature and aims of software testing. You'll find the latest methodologies for the design of effective test cases, including information on psychological and economic principles, managerial aspects, test tools, high-order testing, code inspections, and debugging. Accessible, comprehensive, and always practical, this edition provides the key information you need to test successfully, whether a novice or a working programmer. Buy your copy today and end up with fewer bugs tomorrow.
Download Description
The Art of Software Testing, Second Edition is a revision of the bestselling guide from a leading computer expert and author. It provides a practical discussion of the purpose and nature of software testing, offering the latest methodologies for the design of effective test cases.
Customer Reviews:
I can imagine how difficult it is to write short and good..........2007-05-13
I read about a dozen of books about testing, and I put this one into a reference for my workers. This is short and very robust. My highest rank.
Very good reference for Testing Software.......2006-11-11
This book is very interesting to learn or to progress (I have 10 years of experience in software developpement) in Art of Testing. The only tedious point is that the author are not really integrate the new principales of Test Driven Development in its book. So, I advise to read a book on this subject before or after.
Benoit, a French Programmer ;-)
Updated classic--Inadequate Value for the Money.......2006-06-29
It's hard to give the appropriate number of stars to this edition. On the one hand, this is one of the classics of the field, and deservedly so. In it's first edition, this may have been the first great book on testing, and there is something about the "first great book" on any topic that makes it a lasting value decades later: DeMarco on Structured Analysis, Brooks on the wicked complexity of software project management, Booch on object-oriented design, K&R on C. And so I think it goes with The Art of Software Testing. It's a short book, and full of good ideas that will stay with you.
But.
This revised edition is simply a terrible value. At the full list price, you'd be paying something like fifty cents a page...and, let me tell you, a book had better revolutionize my life for that kind of money. I'm a dedicated capitalist sell-out software developer, but this kind of pricing arouses even _my_ hacker sensibilities. Also, the value of the revision is questionable: there may be a chapter on Extreme Programming, but it seems to me that the best material in this book is still the classic text that survives from the 1st ed. So, my recommendation is that you simply _buy_ the first edition, new or used, at a fraction of the price. Then, you get nearly all of the benefit, plus the cachet of having the "classic" on your shelf. You can put it right next to "The C Programming Language" and "The Mythical Man-Month." Then, your visitors will know you're a serious software developer...and, you know what? They'll probably be right.
I also like and recommend Kaner, Falk and Nguyen, "Testing Computer Software," for a more in-depth and up-to-date treatment of testing issues.
Excellent value for money.......2006-03-15
This book is expensive, however it is well worth its price. A top 10 book for IT professionnals.
The Bible of Software Testing.......2005-09-15
This should be the first book anyone should read about software testing. Having read it, all other books become mostly immaterial. To put it in another way, if there is ONE book you should read about software testing, then this should be the ONE.
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- Burning Bright
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