Think Better: Unlocking the Power of Reason - Paperback

by Ulrich L. Lehner (Author)

In a world dominated by half-truths, illogic, and intellectual laziness, Think Better helps readers understand what reason is and how to use it well.

Reason is a powerful tool not only for finding our way in an increasingly complex world but also for growing intellectually and emotionally. This short, accessible volume unlocks the dynamics of human reason, helping readers to think critically and to use reason confidently to solve problems. It enables readers to think more clearly and precisely about the world, and it tackles a number of profound philosophical questions without getting bogged down with jargon. Topics include knowledge, identity, leadership, creativity, and empathy.

Written in an accessible style that integrates philosophy, illustrations, personal anecdotes, and statistical data, this book is well suited for use in undergraduate, classical school, and home school contexts. It is an invaluable guide for anyone interested in gaining better reasoning skills and a more rational approach to life.

Back Jacket

How to Think Critically in a World of Half-Truths and Intellectual Laziness

Think Better unlocks the dynamics of human reason, helping us to think well and to use reason confidently to solve problems.

"A book that intellectually and morally serious people of all ages will want to read."
--Robert P. George, Princeton University

"Against the deranged and destructive expressions of post-truth and brazen public lying in recent years, Lehner insists that we all can and must improve our thinking and accountability to truth--and in this highly accessible text he tells us how. Individual people, churches, society, and the world will be much better off if this book has the impact that it deserves."
--Christian Smith, University of Notre Dame

"Lehner has written an engaging and deeply humane guide to human thought that addresses the practical problem of how to think better by engaging in philosophical reflection into the nature of thought itself. Accessible, witty, and wise, I can only hope this book makes its way into every freshman dorm room in America."
--Jennifer Frey, University of South Carolina

"A fresh and wondrous introduction to philosophical thinking. Philosophy is a way of living in the world that requires both humility and confidence, wonder and reason. This book beautifully shows us that path and can help us all walk it better. It will have a powerful, positive effect in our precise cultural moment and long into the future."
--Tom Morris, author of Plato's Lemonade Stand and The Oasis Within

"Think Better explains why reasoning is so important, and how we all can exercise our rational capabilities better. A mix of history, philosophy, practical advice, and personal experience, this book is perfect for the introductory college classroom and the lay reader looking to, well, think better. Warmly recommended."
--Ryan T. Anderson, president, Ethics and Public Policy Center

"Helps the reader to think clearly and critically and to understand how reasoning can help us acquire more knowledge of our world."--Zeina M. Barakat, Reviews in Religion and Theology

Author Biography

Ulrich L. Lehner (PhD, University of Regensburg; DHabil, Central European University) is the William K. Warren Professor of Theology at the University of Notre Dame in Notre Dame, Indiana. He is a trained philosopher, theologian, and historian and has published widely on the history of religion, culture, and thought. Among his more than 20 authored and edited books is the bestseller God Is Not Nice and the groundbreaking Catholic Enlightenment. Lehner lectures at universities worldwide and is frequently interviewed in the media. He has been featured on CNN and in the Washington Post and the National Review.