How To Think: Understanding the Way We Decide, Remember and Make Sense of the World

Review Thought-provoking . . . [Minda] knows the mind like the back of his hand . . . [How to Think] is a comprehensive account of thinking and behaviour that showcases the sheer brilliance of the human brain―ReactionAn approachable and engaging book about cognitive psychology for the curious lay reader ... I recommend this book to anyone with an interest in cognitive psychology or simply understanding human behaviour―The Psychologist Product Description This book will get you thinking about thinking.We understand more about the brain than ever before and we also have more tools than ever before to help us think. This book will show you how your brain works, how your mind works, why we all make certain mistakes in thinking and why that's not always a bad thing. In order to understand how people behave, you need to understand how people think. And if you want to understand how people think, you need to have a basic understanding of cognitive psychology, cognitive science and cognitive neuroscience. This book explains cognition and the links between the brain, the mind and behaviour in a clear and straightforward way. Through interesting case studies and research examples, Minda shows how the brain is involved in mental activity, how memory works, how language affects thought, how good (and bad) decisions are made, and why we make predictable errors in our thinking. With practical applications for everyday life, this a book that helps us become better thinkers, better learners and better problem-solvers. In the current era of big data, algorithms and AI, Minda argues that knowing about how humans think-how you think-is more important than ever before. From the Back Cover This book will get you thinking about thinking.Humans are always thinking. We think about the past, the present and the future. But how do we really think? And can we learn to think better? · Do you find yourself relying on stereotypes when you are making decisions? · Do you sometimes make the same mistakes each time you try to solve a similar problem? · Do you ever have trouble looking past someone's appearance because they remind you of someone else? · Do you have trouble remembering the same simple things each day? · Do you remember useless things like an old advertising jingle and wonder why it's still active? To understand why you might have answered 'yes' to these questions about how humans typically behave, you need to understand how people think. And to do that, you need to have a basic understanding of cognitive psychology, cognitive science and cognitive neuroscience. Through relatable case studies and fascinating research examples, John Paul Minda shows how the brain is involved in mental activity, how memory works, how language affects thought, how good (and bad) decisions are made, and why we make predictable errors in our thinking (and why that's not always a bad thing). We understand more about the brain than ever before and we also have more tools than ever before to help us think. With practical applications for everyday life, this a book that helps us become better thinkers, better learners and better problem-solvers. In the current era of big data, algorithms and AI, knowing how to think as a human is more important than ever before. DR JOHN PAUL MINDA is a professor of psychology at the University of Western Ontario, Canada. He has been studying the mind and brain for over 20 years and has written extensively on the topic of how people think. He is the author of the textbook The Psychology of Thinking. About the Author DR JOHN PAUL MINDA is a professor of psychology at the University of Western Ontario, Canada. He has been studying the mind and brain for over 20 years and has written extensively on the topic of how people think. He is the author of the textbook The Psychology of Thinking.