> From: ubergoo@hotmail.com
> I am currently reading and selecting books for a reading list. I would
> like to include a book on critical thinking, seeing through logical
> fallacies, separating emotion, sentiment and cliches out of arguments...
> sort of thing. I searched Amazon.com and found 2 or 3 that look good, but I
> would like to hear your recommendations and opinions.
Maybe 'The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark' by Carl Sagan fits into your query. It is not primarily a 'textbook' about logic (although it contains elements of that); Rather, this book is an active attack on all kinds of mysticism and sloppy emotional/sentimental thinking, and exposes the illogicalities, but also the cruelty and dangers, in a large set of examples of non-rational acting and thinking. I like this book. I think this book will remove a lot of prejudices and sloppy thinking in someone who reads it who is already halfway 'converted' to rationalism.
(Sagan, the 'white knight' slaying the memes of irrationality in his readers, and leading them to the 'light' :-) of rationality.)
Best greetings, Menno (rubingh@delftnet.nl)