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3.72 AVERAGE
3.72 AVERAGE
so many arguments today are riddled with fallacies. I wish more people would read books like this. It was the last book I read in 2019 and makes me want to revisit logic
Rather insightful list on fallacies used when arguing. While I've known many of these thanks to a Critical Reasoning class a decade ago, I didn't remember the names for most of these argument types. I do however think it was a great piece and should be read by many. Is it an introduction? Not at all. Will it stop people from using these arguments? Not in the least. But at least I have something to refer people to when bad arguments are provided. It'll make my life easier--that's for sure.
4/5
4/5
funny
informative
fast-paced
Decently concise as a reference work, but the illustrations add nothing, are not unified thematically (as far as I can tell), and in some cases confuse the issue.
3.5 stars.
This was a really interesting little book that does a decent job of breaking down different types of bad arguments. The illustrations were clear examples that were fun and the text did a decent job of explaining them. For a book that's meant to be essentially a primer for regular people, I did feel like the language was a bit inaccessible and unclear at times, but for the most part, this wasn't a huge issue.
Overall it was a solid little book that I learned from. I'd recommend it to anyone else looking for a primer on what not to do in an argument and how to tell when someone else is doing that very thing as well.
This was a really interesting little book that does a decent job of breaking down different types of bad arguments. The illustrations were clear examples that were fun and the text did a decent job of explaining them. For a book that's meant to be essentially a primer for regular people, I did feel like the language was a bit inaccessible and unclear at times, but for the most part, this wasn't a huge issue.
Overall it was a solid little book that I learned from. I'd recommend it to anyone else looking for a primer on what not to do in an argument and how to tell when someone else is doing that very thing as well.
In high school, one of my favorite classes my junior year was US History AP. And there was one special lecture I remember that required all of us to readjust our thinking as we summarized and analyzed and critiqued such famous works like the Declaration of Independence. We learned the art of fallacies, and the different ways that it could be played out. We learned of the different ways that statements could be interpreted. And from then on, I learned a valuable skill in decoding and understanding what I read.
[b:An Illustrated Book of Bad Arguments|18753581|An Illustrated Book of Bad Arguments|Ali Almossawi|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1383614988s/18753581.jpg|26037796] is a fun and interesting way to look at how fallacies are constructed and deconstructed. I do appreciate the description for each type of fallacy, and the associated picture that help the reader understand what it is. Granted, this book is not exactly made for children, nor even your average adult, and thus I think it might be just a tad bit difficult and un-engaging to get the average person to remember their list of fallacies. But pairing this up with a good teacher or another good book about social science, then you might start to get somewhere. For me personally, it would act as a great reference book:
As disingenuous and corny as that sounds, that's about something I would genuinely do. So when I say that this book is a great reference tool, I mean that in the most sincere way.
[b:An Illustrated Book of Bad Arguments|18753581|An Illustrated Book of Bad Arguments|Ali Almossawi|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1383614988s/18753581.jpg|26037796] is a fun and interesting way to look at how fallacies are constructed and deconstructed. I do appreciate the description for each type of fallacy, and the associated picture that help the reader understand what it is. Granted, this book is not exactly made for children, nor even your average adult, and thus I think it might be just a tad bit difficult and un-engaging to get the average person to remember their list of fallacies. But pairing this up with a good teacher or another good book about social science, then you might start to get somewhere. For me personally, it would act as a great reference book:
"Hmm…I just read a really interesting chapter about US History. But some of those arguments seemed a little off-putting. I wonder what kind of fallacy that would fall under? A lightbulb goes off in my head. I know! I'll look at my handy dandy illustrated book of bad arguments. Pulls out book from personal library. By golly, I now know what fallacy that falls under!
As disingenuous and corny as that sounds, that's about something I would genuinely do. So when I say that this book is a great reference tool, I mean that in the most sincere way.
Great, brief sum-up of logical concepts and cute graphics to illustrate each one by example.
The illustrations don't really help, but that's because I don't actually think they're meant to strictly illustrate the argument.
The explanations are concise, though.
The explanations are concise, though.
Don't be fooled, this is no book for children. Despite the adorable and cartoonish illustrations, this book requires an engaged mind, and won't be helpful if you are looking for a book where you don't have to think at all.
Logical fallacies aren't simple, but this is a very nice and CONCISE way to learn about various types of fallacies, how they are connected, and how they are used in arguments.
The adorable animals are just an added benefit...
Logical fallacies aren't simple, but this is a very nice and CONCISE way to learn about various types of fallacies, how they are connected, and how they are used in arguments.
The adorable animals are just an added benefit...