Methanol Technology and Applications in Motor Fuels Book

True to its title, the book pursues thinking as a science. Thinking here is not for amusement, but to solve a problem. The larger problems can be broken down into subsidiary problems. For example, what should be the sphere of the government? can be asked specifically as: should the government interfer with the freedom of contract? .To solve the problems, requires 'How to think' systematically. Different methods like historical, comparative, deductive, experimental,analogy etc are discussed.

The focus is shifted from thoughts to the thinker. After selecting the problem( which is interesting to the thinker), it must be concentrated upon. Concentration is required because otherwise, we will keep on picking up questions, exploring for a while and then abandoning it without much progress. Writing down the problem, talking about it are suggested as some ways to increase concentration. There is a interesting chapter on prejudices. The prejudice can be due to self interest, desire to imitate, inability to deal with inconsistences, of not being different. One can get rid of these, if he is committed to truth.

Hazlitt has different views on reading. His sole focus in on critical thinking. Reading is a tool to further this end. It is not a escape door. Firstly, we have to select which book to read on a subject. The book must be a comprehensive textbook. The reading of the book has to accompanied with thinking about the problems or suggestions. Once read, it can be read at most once. The rereading can be done after lapse of time because we would have also grown intellectually and experientially. There must also be an attempt to read books of different disciplines. This involves making a yearly list of what to read.( Like Goodreads)

Practice is the key to break free from old habits of neglected thinking. Starting with some minutes on a specific method, we can expand it further. The book does contain some valuable insights to the most important, yet ignored area called thinking.