HOT READS FOR THE PRACTITIONER
Competencies: negotiation skills, influence skills, communication skills
Who benefits: anyone
Consultant Usage: develop more effective communication skills
What’s it about? I was attracted to this book for two reasons, neither having to do with the title (although one has to wonder what is in a book with such a provocative title).Â
No, I was attracted first because it promises to help me deal with know-it-all in-laws!
And second, the title suggested something that has bothered me for years. I have been underwhelmed by what school systems – high schools and universities – produce: children and young adults loaded with facts, figures, and formulas. But the majority have not learned to think, or at least think critically. Facts are deemed to be knowledge. Figures lie. Formulas often exist in vacuums.
In short, ideas exist on very shaky foundations. Unproven assumptions lead to ill-conceived or false conclusions. Beliefs supersede logic. People constantly end up in Arguments rather than presenting well thought-out arguments.
Pain In The Ass addresses these issues.Â
This is a very, very difficult book to review. For starters, it is a textbook in disguise. It doesn’t look like a textbook. It doesn’t read like a textbook. But I am sure it would serve well as a textbook in a Logic class, a Debate class and in various Law classes.
I learned from this book. I thought I knew about Deduction. If A then B. I was a big Sherlock Holmes fan. I knew this stuff. If prices go up (A) my disposable income will go down (B). Prices went up, my disposable income went down. Simple, I thought. Little did I think about the difference between logically valid and faulty content. Which means the argument is true but the results are false. The author’s humorous example: (A) If I am a man, then I am a woman; (B) I am a man; therefore I am a woman. Logically valid, patently absurd.Â
This is just one of nearly 100 forms of critical thinking skills presented in the book.
There are many reasons to read this book … and one or two reasons not to. Most important is the topic. Almost all of us are short on critical thinking skills. It is a perfect example of the first stage of ignorance: Not Knowing what we don’t know. It is a difficult topic that is easy to shy away from. The book itself is an easy read (on the surface). The examples are simple and helpful. The ideas are powerful and used by the best communicators (for good or evil). The book is essential to competency in influence skills, negotiation skills or certain forms of presentations.
What’s not to like? Well, when I finished the book I understood every word and could do almost nothing with what I read. If you do decide to tackle this gem, I suggest you read the book twice. The first time read it quickly and enjoy it. The second time go slowly, section by section and really, really study what he has written. Then find a way to practice what you are learning. Then practice some more until it is part of your thinking and understanding process. You will be richer for it.Â
Does this book have any practical value after one reading? Well, I see one immediate use. We are in the silly season, aka an Election Year. There is an old, old joke about how do you know if a politician is lying? His/her lips are moving. Well this book can help in sorting fact from fiction. The next time I hear a politician say “We must do this or (If A then B) ….â€, I will know his/her lips are moving. When he/she says “We can’t do both†… the lips are moving again.Â
It is all so logical, right Mr. Spock?
Catch you later.
Bill Bradley
Bill Bradley (mostly) retired after 35 years in organizational consulting, training and management development. During those years he worked internally with seven organizations and trained and consulted externally with more than 90 large and small businesses, government agencies, hospitals and schools.
