Asking the Right Questions: A Guide to Critical Thinking

But the fun doesn't stop there, once you enter this seductive realm, you begin to see the value on asking questions. Once there, able to ask questions, the thinking doesn't necessarily become "crystal clear" but certainly closer to what may be the "right answer."

Dr.'s Browne and Keeley are fine scholars who have contributed to academic excellence for years. I look forward to future editions of "Asking Right Questions" and their work.


Don't be a sponge!   August 27, 1999
13 out of 13 found this review helpful

After reading ARQ and making its content an active part of my life, I was plucked from the world of passive sponges and dropped into the world of eager learners "panning for gold." I have never looked back.

This book has had a tremendous impact on my learning experiences, both in and out of the classroom. I have learned not to simply accept the facts presented to me, but to question them in a systematic and logical fashion. Additionally, I now see the immense value of questioning both the convictions I agree with most intensely and those I disagree with most intensely. This critical thinking process enables me to understand the values and assumptions that shape my person.

I would highly recommend ARQ to anyone wishing to learn the skills of an active, life-long learner.


Reading the Right Books   August 26, 1999
14 out of 14 found this review helpful

Of the hundreds of books I have digested over the years, none to date have delivered as profound an impact on my ability to analyze, reason, or even listen, as Asking the Right Questions. Unlike books that merely teach facts, this book goes beyond instruction and delivers a robust set of skills that, when practiced, are not easily lost or forgotten.

The title aptly describes the lessons to be learned between the covers. The reader is confronted with the Herculean task of learning how to listen to a speaker or author. Once the content of the message is understood, the reader is then provided with specific questions that are intended to help the listener critique the speaker's conclusions. The lesson does not stop there, however. The reader is consistently reminded to turn the skills of critique inward, so that we apply the same standards of criticism to our own thought.

Why are any of the skills taught in Asking the Right Questions important? The lessons learned are invaluable for anyone who wants to be a critical participant in our economy or democracy. More specifically, however, Browne and Keeley give us a set of questions that are not restricted to any one discipline. Instead, the questions can be used, not only in everyday conversations, but can be broadly applied to many different domains (i.e. politics, science, or the humanities).

If you are searching for a book that challenges you to become a more critical consumer of information, then delve into this readable guide to critical thinking.