An Illustrated Book of Bad Arguments

Even with amusing illustrations, this is still a tough topic. As a former computer programmer, program analyst, etc., I was intrigued by the idea of an illustrated book on fallacious reasoning written by a programmer, but it's not as simple and easy as it sounds. The order of presentation of each of the fallacies was sometimes confusing in that some examples of faulty reasoning referenced in the explanations had not yet been introduced. Assumes readers have previous knowledge/familiarity with formal principles of logic, reasoning, critical thinking, and classical philosophy. This book would be a great tool for generating classroom discussions on critical thinking using current political and scientific debate. I would not recommend this book as an unguided introduction to a person with no prior knowledge on the subject.

Presented in an easily understandable format. The cartoon illustrations lends itself to a subject that is both relevant and necessary in today's world, making it an enjoyable read. The descriptions of all types of bad arguments by way of real-life examples goes further in bringing clarity to the subject.

Interesting to read and I even did some highlighting....thought it would be more of a funny book, but I learned about myself and relating to others. Interesting surprise and I sent the link to a friend! One downside, maybe the end could have used the humorous cartoons that are portrayed on the cover.

I teach logic and critical thinking at a community college. I'm always on the lookout for fun ways to teach my students informal fallacies. This book does a good job on some, but some of the cartoons fail to help convey the meaning and some are just distracting. Not a bad book, but could have been better. I'd say it's a good, fun introduction to someone who just wants to learn a few fallacies, but does not pass muster for a class.

I teach logic and critical thinking at a community college. I'm always on the lookout for fun ways to teach my students informal fallacies. This book does a good job on some, but some of the cartoons fail to help convey the meaning and some are just distracting. Not a bad book, but could have been better. I'd say it's a good, fun introduction to someone who just wants to learn a few fallacies, but does not pass muster for a class.

This is more of a fun review than a comprehensive introduction to the subject. Or so I believe. I'm not sure the illustrations help one remember the various concepts - perhaps they will work better for other people. I am a scientist involved with outreach to the public, so I have encountered several of these logical fallacies. The terminology used in this field has specialized meanings, as is so often the case in various fields. It occurs to me that formal logical debate has somewhat gone out of style. This is a shame, as it would simplify our election process.