The Thinking Toolbox: Thirty-Five Lessons That Will Build Your Reasoning Skills

by Nathaniel Bluedorn, Richard Lapierre (Illustrator), Hans Bluedorn

The Thinking Toolbox has been the best selling text for teaching critical thinking skills and introduction to logic for over 20 years. "The Bluedorns have certainly achieved their goal of creating a logic textbook that is neither boring nor distant, but rather informative, approachable, enjoyable, and valuable." - Jordan J. Ballor at the Acton Institute --Acton Institute web site "I think the best part of The Thinking Toolbox would be the examples because they are hilarious. . . . I would highly recommend this book. It's useful and great comedy at the same time." Sarah (age 11) --student This book is like a toolbox, full of different kinds of tools you can use for different thinking tasks. Just as you use the wrench in a regular tool box to fix the sink, so you can use the tools we give you in this book to solve thinking problems. - When it is dumb to argue - Using the scientific method - Five rules of brainstorming - Who has a reason to lie? - How to analyze opposing viewpoints - How to analyze evidence and sources - How to list reasons why you believe something - And much more We wrote this book for children and adults who want to learn logic and critical thinking skills. The Thinking Toolbox follows the same style as The Fallacy Detective with lessons and exercises and an answer key in the back. Parents and teachers, as well as anybody who wants to learn logic, will find The Thinking Toolbox easy to use and practical. - Fun to use not dry like a math textbook - Can be used after The Fallacy Detective - Introductory teaches skills you can use right away - Self-teaching format - For ages twelve and older - Over 60 cartoon illustrations by Richard LaPierre

Genres: Logic, Nonfiction, Philosophy, School, Education, Childrens, Christian

295 pages, Paperback

First published January 30, 2005

Reviews

[Amy Meyers · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought the Fallacy Detective was more coherent and enjoyable. This seemed like a cornucopia of general topics relating to improvement of the mind and logic, such as brainstorming, listing pros and cons of an argument, the difference between an argument and a disagreement, and the differences between fact, inference, and opinion (my favorite parts). I may also not rate it quite as high because we took a long school break in the middle of the book, so maybe I didn't remember some of the parts which made it seem less connected. But overall, this was very good for what it is, and for its audience, as an introduction to logical thinking and the inductive scientific method. For serious classical students, I think they should go on for another year or so with a text like Isaac Watts's Logic and/or Improvement of the Mind and/ or Memoria Press's curric on Aristotelian Logic. But thanks to the Bluedorns for engaging writing style and putting together lots of miscellaneous "thinking" topics that I wanted my kids to learn and wouldn't have found all together in our everyday curriculum.

[Anjanette · Rating 5 out of 5]

My grown children still talk about this
book and “The Fallacy Detective.” Time well spent…

[Laurel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is good practice for beginning critical thinking skills, as well as developing basic systems of organization of statements and facts for further analysis. It’s not too in depth, which makes it a good starting place for pre-teens to begin these tasks.

It not as in depth as The Fallacy Detective, which is an excellent book. It’s definitely not as complex and so therefore, I recommend people read THIS book before reading The Fallacy Detective.

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

We enjoyed this. It’s a great introduction to the scientific method and how to handle opposing viewpoints. We found it tends to talk down to the student, though it’s written for ages 13 and up.

[Ryn Conley · Rating 4 out of 5]

always a fun one to reread…I read this first when I was in middle school, and it’ll remain one of my favourite logic textbooks for its wit, brevity, and simplicity.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this for a talk I'm giving on Logic and Critical Thinking. It is a great book, especially for training young people to think clearly and reasonably for themselves as well as to regard critically the claims of others.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun and simple book for learning basic thinking tools, logic, etc.

[Caleb Meyers · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is not traditional logic. It's more about general study skills and thinking habits.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading during morning time 2021...krb 8/26/21

[Rana · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an enjoyable read that makes learning fun. The authors have a great sense of humor and use great sometimes real-life and sometimes just memorable far-out-there examples to teach various logic concepts. I highly recommend it as well as their other book, The Fallacy Detective, for homeschool text books on learning a Christian view of logic. They look like they are recommended for about age 13 to adult and can be self-teaching books. As a homeschool parent, I actually enjoyed reading both books with my children and going through the exercises together. This way we all spent quality time as a family learning --one of my favorite things about homeschooling. <3

[Andrew Hoy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I used this as part of a semester "Introduction of Logic" class with seventh-grade students. While this book doesn't get into the technical aspects of formal or informal logic, it does serve as a helpful primer for thinking logically. Through this book, students are challenged to address questions such as, "When is it dumb to argue?", "What is strong evidence?", "What is logical about science?" and much more. The greatest strength of the book is the exercises at the conclusion of each chapter. The exercises challenge the students to engage with and apply the content introduced in the chapter.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

I advise the print version that has the graphics which are helpful. Really great way to teach your middle school and even high school kids how to interact in thoughtful ways with people and information. It is entertaining and funny which greatly adds the appeal. I would even advise for adults. It’s just a fun way to learn critical thinking skills.

[Vui Lên · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sách đơn giản, dễ hiểu để giúp trẻ làm quen với logic, lập luận.

Minh hoạ, câu chuyện, cấu trúc sách cũng đủ thú vị và có tính ứng dụng cao. Thầy cô, ba mẹ mua để giúp cho con hiểu về tư duy cũng tốt mà mua cho con đọc cũng rất ổn luôn.

[Jacks · Rating 4 out of 5]

https://www.goodreads.com/review/edit...#

[Vanessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good for teaching the kiddos.

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This book was very good! I enjoyed the format with which the authors explained logic and deducting skills.

[Cheryl]

Conflates creationism with science. Too bad; I liked the companion book just fine. March 2025

[Margaret Craig · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting

It is a good book to help children to critically think and problem solving skills. I would recommend it because it is funny as well as educational.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am reading through this (and discussing) with my 11-year-olds. My 7-year-old is sitting in and he's able to understand and answer, so maybe he'll be formally included! They're all really liking the lessons and think they're "funny". I like to watch the little gears in their heads turning.

[Celeste Batchelor · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some interesting thoughts on how to increase logical thinking. Some of it is corny. A bit young for my teens and is probably better geared towards 10-14 years old.

[Verena · Rating 3 out of 5]

This had some great stuff in it. Some of it was just too dorky and some just not that well thought out. I'm glad we read it though.

[Kenyan · Rating 3 out of 5]

the chapters are nice and short. they are also frequently entertaining.

[Ryan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great starter for debate students. Not as fun as The Fallacy Detective, but still quite humorous for a logic textbook.

[onysha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good companion to "The Fallacy Detective." Most of the info here can be found elsewhere, but the quirky thinking exercises and funny questions are special to this book. I definitely recommend it.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is so engaging and makes concepts in critical thinking easy to understand for young people.

[Eliza Noel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I marked another school subject off my list of schoolwork to get done this week :)
The Bluedorn's books on logic are quite entertaining.

[K · Rating 3 out of 5]

I preferred the more serious and true examples and exercises to the humorous, concocted ones. I think this book would be more suitable for middle-schoolers than high-schoolers.

[Zeke · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was super funny but it was also educational. But all over it was fun to read.

[Clarissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

On the next year's school to-read list.

[Rick Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great additional resource for a Jr. High or early High School Logic course.