My Personal Reading List:
The books I’ve listed on this page are either ones I’ve read and have on my bookshelf or those on my reading list. Many people ask me what I spend my time reading—a valid question. I read broadly and across disciplines and ideas. I prove one idea has many sides because on any given week I give time for an opposing view from yet another brilliant mind. I have values and beliefs, but am not stuck selfishly on a simple idea.
Ideas in books we choose to encounter, inevitably become part of our unconscious minds. I make a point to engage with popular books that resonate with many people. Why? This gives us the best insight into who humans are and how they feel. If there are ideas humans are excited about. as a social scientist, I want to see what the fuss is. I want to understand not tell them they are wrong.
Given our diverse histories, each person reading the same book will have a variance in how one interprets the ideas. If you apply the principles of critical thinking when reading, you are more likely to keep your interpretations intellectually ethical and come up with reasonable, fair, and emotionally intelligent conclusions. Here is my personal list.
If you buy via my Amazon links below, I get a small commission.
1. The Righteous Mind: Why Good People Are Divided by Politics and Religion" by Jonathan Haidt
Haidt, a social psychologist, examines how our moral intuitions shape our thinking and lead to biases that affect our understanding of ourselves and others. He argues that critical thinking requires an awareness of these intuitive biases and a willingness to engage with perspectives that differ from our own. While this book is not directly about critical thinking, it is a book that makes you think critically about your thinking. His scholarship teaches us that human morality and reasons for making decisions lie in our intuition more than the ability to think critically. This is why we have such a political and religious divide. A mind-blowing book filled with wonderful words that make you think.
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2. How the World Thinks: A Global History of Philosophy, by Julian Baggini
My opinion, this book is a must-read. Baggini, a British philosopher, won’t teach you CT directly but does so through his exploration of the world's diverse philosophical traditions and how different cultures think. New knowledge must be grounded in philosophy, where Western thought seeks absolute truth, and Eastern traditions embrace the unknown. Baggini examines how cultures from Eastern and Western to Indigenous, approach fundamental questions of life, existence, morality, and knowledge. He looks at Indian, Chinese, African, Islamic, and Indigenous philosophies, showing how each offers unique methods of thinking that shape culture and diversity. The book highlights the value of appreciating different worldviews to enrich our own perspectives and therefore CT. I have read this book a few times now and each time I go back I view the ideas in a different way.
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3. Pedagogy of the Oppressed by Paolo Friere
Now this book is not an easy read. In fact, it is very hard to decipher as it is written densely, in a theoretical style, filled with philosophical terms, academic language, and abstract concepts. Friere draws heavily on existentialist philosophy, Marxist thought, and critical theory, which can make his work seem intricate and somewhat inaccessible to readers unfamiliar with these ideas. BUT, in these modern times, it is a great book to use to think critically about what is happening politically and socially in Western times. It will need to be read over and over and it is really challenging. But work hard at it and do not make assumptions about what he may mean. And do not read it as though it is just a far-left text as it is a brilliant academic text which demonstrates how human beings can all become oppressors if we are not careful. I see this happening in society now. This book ignited my collective human spirit.
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4. 12 Rules for Life An Antidote to Chaos by Jordan Peterson
Jordan Peterson is a Canadian clinical psychologist and professor of psychology, widely known for his critiques of political correctness and his views on cultural and social issues. I've spent a lot of time trying to understand Peterson thoughtfully and openly, as people seem to either love or hate him. When I come across a polarizing figure like this, I see it as a challenge, and his book is worth reading. I have read it a few times already. Whether you like him or not, he has written over 100 scientific articles so he has a mind worth listening to at the very least. In reading his ideas, I’ve realised he has a brilliant mind, and he is misunderstood. Unlike most of us, he has read broadly, with a deep understanding of theory, complex texts, and philosophy. His mind deserves attention and respect first, then you may rightfully critique him.
In the book he draws on diverse sources, from biblical stories and ancient myths to scientific research and personal anecdotes, to illustrate his points. The book explores themes like self-discipline, personal responsibility, and the balance between order and chaos. With over 10 million copies sold and counting, it’s worth taking the time to read.
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AUSTRALIA https://amzn.to/3XKxrtx
More Titles (I have had enough of Amazon links HA!):
I will add to this list slowly as I have time.
The Art of Rhetoric by Aristotle - Popular to teach you how to speak with influence and persuasion. This book is an important book for critical-thinking educators and people who want to speak with persuasion.
Beyond Good and Evil by Friedrich Nietzsche - In the field of psychology, it is a must-read. Difficult to read, but just read slowly and thoughtfully, and come back and read it over and over until you understand.
The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy - Elon Musk said this is his favorite book and that he based his new AI tech Grok off this book so I was curious about his mind.
Identity Trap by Yascha Mounk - I bought this book because of the identity political chaos in our Western societies right now and wanted to learn more.
Difference and Repetition by Gilles Deleuze
Sapiens a Brief History of Human Kind by Yuval Noah Harari
Madness and Civilisation; Discipline and Punish; A History of Sexuality; The Archeology of Knowledge, by Michel Foucault. I read these books when I wrote my thesis. I read many more of Foucault’s works during my thesis years but this is enough as an example.
The Rites of Passage by Arnold van Gennep
Purity and Danger; Risk and Culture by Mary Douglas
The Master and His Emissary by Iain McGilchrist
Beware of Pity by Stefan Zweig
Meditations by Marcus Aurelius
Behave; Determined by Robert Sapolsky