Thinking 101 by Woo-Kyoung Ahn

In December of this year, I was lucky enough to attend the 50th anniversary of the Yale Model UN conference, where I represented Malta in the EU committee. While I participated in the conference I was also able to attend multiple lectures during “Yale Day.” “Yale Day,” is a time when the students apart of the conference get to explore the campus, take official tours, and hear some of the professors speak. Along with friends I chose to listen to a psychology professor speak about confirmation bias, and was instantly infatuated with her ability to captivate a room of otherwise restless and “know it all” teenagers. At the end of her lecture she remarked to the room of a book she wrote call “Thinking 101,” which is comprised of many of her other key lectures. I immediately went in search of it, but found it quite quickly in a local coffee shop.

"Thinking 101" by Woo-Kyoung Ahn is a vibrant and brilliant exploration into the common human cognition and provides practical and understandable insights into how people can think more effectively. Working off her expertise as a professor of psychology at Yale University, Ahn writes and teaches about cognitive biases and heuristics that frequently play into our decision-making and perceptions of life. The book transforms complex psychological concepts into accessible and engaging content that can be digested by a broad audience. Through a series of relatable examples, anecdotes, and thoughtful experiments, which can be red in any order, Ahn explains how our minds are wired and why we often fall into thinking “traps,” such as overconfidence and misconceptions about probability, and how this can effect us in life, school, etc.

In my opinion, what sets "Thinking 101" apart from other instructive books, is not just its clarity and educational value, but also its applicability. Each chapter ends with advice on how to overcome specific mental traps, making it a useful guide for anyone looking to enhance their thinking skills. Ahn’s engaging style and the practical nature of her teachings, make the book a enthralling read for students, professionals, and casual readers. It serves as a reminder that understanding the intricacies of our thought processes is a crucial step towards self improvement and better decision making. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is willing and would like to enhance their own cognitive abilities.