Think Like A Freak Analysis

The human mind is a unique organ; it allows one to think critically—cognitive and metacognitive thinking. If one was unable to think, he or she will not be able to write or speak coherently. Nonetheless, on a daily basis, human beings make pivotal decisions—some tend to be life changing—especially in the political world. Thus, it is vital for society to realize that its successes and hardships depend on an educated citizenry—critical thinkers. Why does society need critical thinkers? Before one could answer this question, he or she must ask himself or herself the following: Why should one “think like a Freak?” “Thinking like a Freak,” encourages one to ask questions. In fact, Socrates, an ancient Greek philosopher, was accused and sentenced …show more content…
In fact, after the publishing of both books, Levitt and Dubner realized that readers began to develop critical thinking questions—this lead to the creation of Think Like a Freak. Levitt and Dubner want one to understand that in life, he or she is not expected to know everything; yet, he or she should take advantage of the educational resources that are available. The sources enable him or her to expand his or her knowledge. In order to acquire knowledge, it is crucial for one to ask questions that require him or her to think critically. Remember, human beings think every day, this is called cognition, but he or she should train his or her brain to think about what he or she thinks—metacognition. “Thinking about thinking,” is not an easy task, mainly because at times one feels embarrassed that he or she does not have certain knowledge, and this is a common barrier, especially when it comes to “thinking like a Freak.” For that reason, in the very beginning of Think Like a Freak, Levitt and Dubner invite readers to embark on a thought-provoking journey. It is a voyage where one is taught that critical thinking is a never-ending process that revolves around questions and answers—the enhancement of one’s …show more content…
Levitt and Dubner want one to realize that he or she should teach his or her mind to analyze problems—both large and small—from a critical perspective. For example, consider the following scenario: Your team is playing in a FIFA World Cup Final, and a penalty shootout will determine the winner. You (the person reading this now) will take the final penalty kick. If you make the penalty kick, you will be FIFA World Cup champion. Nevertheless, if you miss, you will forever be remembered as the “footballer who made his or her nation cry.” Levitt and Dubner use this scenario to force one to recognize that in life, anything can be questioned, especially from a critical standpoint. For instance, the FIFA World Cup scenario can be used to answer the following question: What is the difference between the selfish vs. communal incentive? Using the scenario, one can claim that the individual taking the decisive penalty kick is thinking the following: “If I kick the ball towards the center of the goal, my chances of winning the World Cup for my country are high; yet, only 17 percent of kicks are aimed towards the center of the goal. Therefore, I will kick the ball either left or right of the goalkeeper, mainly because I want to avoid humiliation.” Here, it is evident that the footballer’s choice to aim for the left or right of the goalkeeper is a

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