Thinking Critically About What Matters
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€59.99
A01=Kevin Michael Klipfel
A01=Lyndsay Klipfel
anarchism
Author_Kevin Michael Klipfel
Author_Lyndsay Klipfel
Category=GLM
critical thinking
eq_isMigrated=1
eq_isMigrated=2
eq_nobargain
forthcoming
Friedrich Nietzsche
information literacy
media bias
philosophy
Socrates
Zen Buddhism
Product details
- ISBN 9798892553360
- Weight: 340g
- Dimensions: 152 x 229mm
- Publication Date: 31 May 2026
- Publisher: Association of College & Research Libraries
- Publication City/Country: US
- Product Form: Paperback
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With a refreshingly punk attitude of irreverence toward hierarchical authority and other cultural conventions, Thinking Critically About What Matters investigates philosophical perspectives from divergent traditions that share a common theme of liberating a person from their own self-centering biases and limited point of view when interpreting the information that comprises reality. The authors, an academic information literacy librarian with a background in philosophy, and an educational consultant and former K-8 teacher, present an actionable approach to critical thinking that will give you the philosophical tools you need to creatively embody these philosophical perspectives in your own life and work. Organized into six chapters, this guide
- outlines a rebellious attitude for thinking critically about evaluating information, media bias, and information literacy education more broadly;
- shares practical strategies for sound decision-making and creative thinking in both individual and group contexts;
- demonstrates how Socrates’ philosophically therapeutic approach can be adapted for critical thinking that’s grounded in intellectual humility, open-mindedness, and frank assessment of one’s values and assumptions about what matters in life;
- explores Zen Buddhism’s playful, rule-breaking approach to critical thinking, including Bruce Lee’s Taoist admonition to “Be Water,” Buddhism’s invitation to “widen one’s window on oneself and the world” through an emphasis on de-centering the self, and the importance of reflecting on the nature of impermanence;
- discusses Friedrich Nietzsche’s critique of the hegemony of dominant cultural values as universal “shoulds” and recommends Nietzsche’s “bespoke” theory of practical wisdom centered on positive psychology, self-trust, and individual and group self-expression as a more suitable basis for sound-decision making;
- culminates in a discussion of intersectional anarchist perspectives on leadership and meaningful work, proposing direct democratic decision-making as a practical framework for inclusive decision-making in teams and organizations;
- includes extensive artwork and “zine”-style illustrations of philosophical concepts that can serve as the basis for lesson plans, presentations, professional development workshops, or even entire courses on critical thinking; and
- concludes with reflections on the unique cultural role librarians can play in democratizing information and fostering critical thinking.
Kevin Klipfel has published widely on learner-centered approaches to authentic engagement, and has extensive experience as a faculty member in academic libraries working with students, faculty, and incarcerated individuals on research and critical thinking skills. He received his BA with Honors from SUNY Buffalo State College, where he was named the "Outstanding Philosophy Major" of his graduating class by the faculty in the Department of Philosophy. He received his master's degree in philosophy from Virginia Tech, where he was subsequently a lecturer in moral, political, and existential philosophy, and a "Favorite Faculty" nominee, a student-nominated award. He is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where his master's research on authenticity, motivation, and information literacy learning won the Dean's Achievement Award for the Best Master's Paper in his graduating class at the School of Information and Library Science.
Lyndsay Klipfel is an educator and consultant who works directly with families and organizations to implement bespoke curriculum to facilitate social-emotional learning and foster critical thinking skills. She received her M.A. from California State University, Chico, where her Action Research paper studied academic motivation in underserved communities. She taught for many years in Los Angeles K-8 schools before the launch of her private practice.
