The first time I stumbled upon Thinking Through Writing by John Kaag and Jonathan van Belle was at a local café. Someone was reading it, and the title alone piqued my curiosity. I had been on a quest for the perfect writing book without much success, but this book seemed promising. The opening paragraphs, sharing an adage from John’s mother, “When you have an idea, write it down” really hits me. As someone recently obsessed with writing down every fleeting thought to quiet the relentless chatter in my mind, this felt like a sign for me.

Months of scribbling aimlessly had left me craving a proper writing structure, and this book came to me just in time. It introduced me to the concept of “The Writer’s Journal,” a practice that mirrored my random note-taking. The book turned out offer a great insights on refining raw snippets into coherent pieces. Amidst scrolling through social media and news, I’d often encounter arguments that sparked my interest. Instead of giving my piece of thoughts by responding to the argument in social media with limited characters that can barely hold all my arguments and I know for sure will invite a pointless online debate, I shied away from the chaotic online debates. This book provided a peaceful alternative to pour my thoughts into my journal, sidestepping the futile online confrontations giving space for my arguments to build better.

What really resonated with me was how the authors tackled modern communication. They highlighted the frequent dismissal of opposing views that plagues our digital conversations, leading to a breakdown in meaningful discourse. This book offered a fresh perspective on how thoughtful writing can bridge the gap between clashing opinions without descending into toxicity.

Thinking Through Writing serves dual purposes: it’s both a guide to effective writing and a primer on critical thinking. The authors share the mechanics of writing: how to refine thoughts, engage with texts critically, and structure words to craft a compelling message. They don’t just teach you to write well; they equip you with the tools to think deeply.

Beyond writing and thinking, the book addresses the often-overlooked physicality of these activities. It offers practical advice on managing the physical and psychological stress of creative endeavors, promoting a balanced approach to the craft.

Thinking Through Writing is a blend of creativity, practicality, and introspective reflection. It has transformed my chaotic inner dialogues into something beautifully expressive and infinitely more manageable. I can’t recommend it highly enough to anyone looking to enhance their writing skills or simply find a new way to channel their thoughts wisely. This book might just be the mentor you need to navigate the tumultuous waters of your own ideas.

The only downside is that this book wasn’t published earlier (LOL). It would have been invaluable to have it decades ago when I was still in college, allowing me to practice my writing skills much sooner. But I suppose nothing is ever too late, right?

Summary

How to Capture Your Ideas Before They Disappear

Countless ideas—original, terrible, or even brilliant but half-formed—vanish simply because we never take the time to record them.

The times may have changed, but the key principle remains: if you want to be a writer, act like one. Start by getting a notebook or pen that feels valuable. Not too pricey to replace, but just expensive enough that losing it would annoy you. The act of putting ink to paper should feel satisfying.

A simple way to begin? Write down what’s already in your head. Over time, as you revisit your notes, you’ll start noticing recurring themes in your thinking, ideas that keep coming up, thoughts you tend to ignore, and shifts in your perspective.

From there, writing evolves into something more than just capturing thoughts. It becomes a way to craft meaningful arguments. To do that effectively, you need to strike a balance: respect your audience’s concerns and interests while also being bold enough to challenge their perspectives.

Finding Your Voice in the Conversation

Every piece of nonfiction writing is part of a larger conversation. The goal is to state your thoughts and find your place in the debate, use your voice effectively, and leave a meaningful mark.

Engaging in critical debate requires two key skills:

1. Carefully analyzing and evaluating the ideas, arguments, and positions of others.
2. Expressing your own ideas with the awareness that they, too, will be scrutinized.

One important principle to keep in mind: avoid the trap of black-and-white thinking. It might make your argument feel bold or radical, but in reality, it often oversimplifies complex issues rather than contributing something truly valuable.

Philosophy professor Clancy Martin puts it best: “The point of right thinking is not to show off, but to make a contribution—in other words, to help.”

The Art of Close Reading: Learn from the Best.. and the Worst

Edward Albee, the celebrated 20th-century American writer, had a piece of advice for aspiring writers: don’t just read the greats. While masterpieces can inspire, they can also be intimidating, so much so that they might make you doubt your own abilities. Instead, balance your reading list with bad writing as well. Reading both the brilliant and the mediocre helps you see what works, what doesn’t, and where your own voice fits in.

Close reading is about uncovering deeper insights within a text. It starts with careful observation: paying attention to details, key terms, patterns, and structure. But the goal isn’t just to summarize what’s on the page. Instead, it’s about documenting your own evolving thoughts and interpretations. When annotating, resist the urge to simply restate what’s written. Engage with the material, question it, and let your own perspective take shape.

Asking the Right Questions: The Key to Sharp Analysis and Strong Writing

Great essays present information and explore compelling questions that drive the discussion forward. The best analytic questions push deeper into a subject, uncovering insights that go beyond the obvious.

Humans tend to approach the world in two primary ways:

• Analysis: This involves breaking something down into its component parts, examining how those parts interact, and reassembling them to gain a deeper understanding of the whole. It’s about sorting through observations and reorganizing them in an original way to reveal something new.
• Synthesis: This is about connecting ideas. Instead of dissecting one thing in isolation, synthesis places a topic in relation to other ideas, texts, or concepts, revealing its broader context and significance.

A good analytic question develops naturally from close reading. It’s the kind of question you ask yourself, the author, or a fellow reader to uncover deeper meaning in a text. The best ones have six defining traits:

1. They have a laser focus, zeroing in on a specific aspect rather than being too broad.
2. They don’t have simple yes or no answers.
3. They invite interpretation, allowing for different perspectives.
4. They spark controversy or discussion.
5. They can be answered using the text itself, rather than requiring outside speculation.
6. They are motivating, making both the writer and reader curious to explore the answer.

From Question to Thesis: Building a Strong Argument

A thesis is essentially the answer to a well-formed question. It gives an essay its purpose: transforming a moment of doubt, curiosity, or discovery into a structured argument.

A strong thesis meets several criteria:

• It answers a strong analytic question rather than stating the obvious.
• It takes a stand, presenting a clear position.
• It is debatable, meaning it introduces an argument worth discussing.
• It is specific, staying within a manageable scope and supported by available evidence.

What a Thesis is NOT:

• A description. It must argue something, not just summarize facts.
• A “no-duh” statement. If it’s self-evident, it’s not worth debating.
• Needlessly aggressive or self-congratulatory. It should engage in meaningful discussion, not provoke just for the sake of it.

The Difference Between Fighting and Arguing

Many people confuse fighting with arguing, but they are fundamentally different. Fighting is an attempt to force someone to believe or do something through coercion, while arguing, when done properly, is about presenting a structured case that persuades through logic and reasoning. Unfortunately, we’ve largely lost the skill (or even the desire) to argue effectively.

An argument is a series of statements connected by a logical relationship. It always begins with a statement, but the challenge lies in distinguishing which statements play a supporting role (premises) and which statements are the ones being supported (conclusions).

One key question in evaluating an argument is whether the step from premise to conclusion is safe, meaning it does the conclusion logically follow from the premises?

Deductive vs. Inductive Reasoning

There are two main types of logical arguments:

• Deductive Arguments (Deduction): The gold standard of reasoning, a deductive argument guarantees its conclusion if the premises are true. If structured correctly, this type of argument leaves no room for doubt. The conclusion must be true. Deductive validity is the strictest form of logical safety.
  • Test for deductive validity: The counterexample method. If you can find an instance where the premises are true but the conclusion is false, the argument isn’t deductively valid.
• Inductive Arguments (Induction): This type of reasoning is less rigid. Instead of guaranteeing a conclusion, it establishes probability. The premises suggest a likely outcome but don’t eliminate all uncertainty. Inductive validity is used in statistical reasoning and probability-based thinking. It’s a “freer bird” compared to deduction, allowing for more flexibility but requiring careful evaluation of how strong the connection between premises and conclusion really is.

Mastering the art of argumentation means knowing when to use deductive certainty and when to lean on inductive probability. It’s not about overpowering someone. It’s about persuading through clarity, logic, and well-structured reasoning.

How to Make Your Argument Matter

A strong argument is compelling. If you want people to engage with your ideas, you need to give them a reason to care. The best arguments don’t just present information; they spark curiosity, challenge assumptions, and offer new ways of thinking.

Tactics for Motivating an Argument

There are several ways to draw readers in and make your argument feel urgent and relevant:

• Overturn Common Knowledge: Challenge a widely held belief with fresh evidence or a new perspective. If people assume something is true, showing why it isn’t can be a powerful hook.
• Expose an Inconsistency: Point out contradictions in existing ideas, policies, or beliefs. Highlighting gaps in reasoning makes people rethink what they thought they knew.
• Reveal an Intellectual Puzzle: Pose a thought-provoking question or problem that doesn’t have an obvious solution. If something seems paradoxical or counterintuitive, readers will want to see how you resolve it.
• Settle a Debate in the Literature: If scholars or experts have long argued over an issue, presenting a strong case for one side (or offering a fresh perspective) adds value to the discussion.
• Make a Surprising Argument: People love unexpected insights. If your argument goes against the grain in a way that still makes sense, it will naturally capture attention.
• Find a Hidden Gem: Uncover overlooked ideas in existing literature and bring them into the spotlight. Sometimes, the most interesting arguments come from details that others have ignored.
• Show Broader Implications: Even if your argument focuses on a narrow topic, demonstrate how it connects to larger issues. Extrapolation—the act of extending an idea beyond its original context—can make an argument feel more significant and impactful.

Overcoming Writer’s Block: Lower the Bar and Keep Writing

Every writer struggles with getting stuck, but the worst thing you can do is stop writing altogether. As Charles Bukowski put it, “Writing about a writer’s block is better than not writing at all.”

The trick is write about why you feel blocked. Don’t worry about quality. Let your standards sink lower and lower until they disappear. The key is to keep your hands moving and your thoughts flowing, even if what you’re writing feels pointless.

After a paragraph or two, you’ll start warming up to your own words. By giving yourself permission to write badly, you remove the pressure, and before you know it, real ideas begin to emerge. The only way out of writer’s block is through it.

Justification: How to Persuade Your Audience

A strong argument doesn’t just make a claim. It justifies it. Justification is about presenting reasons in a way that a reasonable audience can follow, ideally leading them to reach the same conclusion.

The Challenge of Justification

At a formal level, justification runs into a classic problem: every claim must be supported by another supportable claim, which itself requires justification, creating an infinite chain. But as a writer, this isn’t something to lose sleep over. The goal isn’t to justify everything to an impossible degree but to provide enough justification to make your argument persuasive.

The Art of Persuasion

The key is to give your audience sufficient reason to reconsider their stance. There are two main ways to do this:

1. Reinforce an existing belief. If your audience already leans toward your perspective, provide solid reasoning that strengthens their conviction.
2. Change someone’s mind. This is trickier, but a well-structured argument with compelling justification can make readers rethink their position even against their initial bias.

The stronger and clearer your reasoning, the more likely your audience is to take your argument seriously.

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Author: John Kaag and Jonathan van Belle

Publication date: 10 September 2024

Number of pages: 288 pages

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