Do You Think What You Think You Think?: The Ultimate Philosophical Handbook

by Julian Baggini and Jeremy Stangroom

Book Overview

Explore the gray areas in your gray matter with philosophical brainteasers from armchair philosopher and bestselling author of The Pig That Wants to Be Eaten, Julian Baggini. Is your brain ready for a... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0452288657
• ISBN13: 9780452288652
• Release Date: August 2007
• Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group
• Length: 192 Pages
• Weight: 0.55 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.0" x 0.4" x 5.3"

Customer Reviews

Philosophy for beginners

i received this book from my girlfriend as a gift on my last birthday, it was slightly disappointing (i was wading through really dense stuff at the time). while she knows that i'm rabid about philosophy and learning anything, she has no real interest in the topic... which plays right in to what this book does. in the tradition of "the pig that wants to be eaten", "beyond bumper sticker ethics", and various books like them, this book doesn't try to appeal to the rigorous student or even the second year under-grad; this book is best served as a first course or as a sample. as someone that is planning to pursue a doctorate in philosophy in a few years, i found this book to be something that grabbed my attention and directed me to a problem i had ignored: bringing new minds into philosophy. while it is true that everyone doesn't have to be a philosopher, restricting the search for new ideas can only hurt everyone in the long run. i found many of the questions lacking options, instead, polar opposites are often the only choices. some of the explanations are a little weak and some of the conclusions were almost offensive... until i reminded myself that this book is (clearly) intended for mass consumption and not intended as a daunting pillar of philosophical wisdom. if you are seeking some light reading or a good source of conversation material for that next neighborhood block-party, this book deserves your attention. if you're a weekend philosopher that likes to keep his mind sharp or you're just feeling burnt out (we've all been there), this may be a nice piece to rejuvenate you.

Publishers Weekly didn't get it...

I wish the Publishers Weekly review could be deleted. It's obvious that the reviewer never had a philosophy class in college. The point of the book is to teach the reader to question everything and that everything is subjective. Brittney Spears IS as good as Mozart or better...depending on who you ask. How that person replies depends on everything, where are they from, how old are they, what experiences have they had? "If Atlas is holding up the planet, who's holding up Atlas?" Everything is cyclical...nothing is black and white. Get it?

You have to THINK to read this, and worth every effort!

Wow! Delightful! This book is a series of games, almost like puzzles, that shed light on how you think...and how you stack up to other readers who have done these exercises online. If you're of scientific bent, you'll recognize that the sample is perhaps too small to make strong conclusions about where you "stack up" But no matter, because the self examination that results in doing these games is amazingly informative, and unusual for most of us. Here are some examples: 1. You'll choose between "agree or disagree" in a list of beliefs about how the world works... or... in another game, what's right, and what's "wrong" morally, then learn how consistent (or inconsistent) your belief system is. 2. You're given a series of simple logic puzzles (no math required) and it will be revealed how we sometimes may think we're being logical but can be distracted from the real thing and many more! A formal education is not a requirement, but some real thinking is. You'll be surprised! The writers' tone is neither abusive nor superior, but rather witty and fun! I ended up with a short list of things I'd like to ponder further, and the inspiration to do so. If you are interested in how the mind works, and in learning about your own thought processes, this is a terrific book. I'd recommend it for every writer, of any form, for those interested in cognitive science or in psychology, and for anyone who wants to get and stay sharp, at any age. You do not have to have a strong educational background to enjoy this book, but you do have to be unafraid to think and examine your own thinking! Fun!

I Know That I Know That I Love This Book

I greatly enjoyed "Do You Think What You Think You Think" on every level. The book is a series of philosophical excercises that delve into your own logic, ethical, spritual and philosophical beliefs. It does a good job of not saying any one way of thinking is right or wrong, but helps you gain insight into your belief system while pointing out gross contradictions to how you think. Once I picked up this book I was addicted to it and finished it within a day. I've also recommended it to many friends and will continue to do so.