Thinking 101: How to Reason Better to Live Better

Woo-Kyoung Ahn

Psychologist Woo-kyoung Ahn devised a course at Yale University to help students examine the biases that cause so many problems in their daily lives. Called “Thinking," the course quickly became one of the university’s most popular. In Ahn’s class, students examine “thinking problems”—such as confirmation bias, causal attribution, and delayed gratification—and how they contribute to our most pressing societal issues and inequities.

Thinking 101 draws on decades of research from other cognitive psychologists, as well as from Ahn's own teaching and groundbreaking studies. She presents it all in a compellingly readable style that uses fun examples from K-pop dancing, anecdotes from her own life, and illuminating stories from history and the headlines. As Thinking 101 shows, with better awareness of our biases, we can improve our lives and tackle real-world problems. It is, quite simply, required reading for everyone who wants to think—and live—better.