Overview
Critical thinking is the ability to analyze information objectively, filter out bias, and make better decisions under pressure—something every entrepreneur needs in 2025. In Critical Thinking: Think Smarter, author Mark Hartley equips readers with practical frameworks like System 1 vs. 2 thinking, SWOT, SMART goals, and Design Thinking to help them navigate a noisy, high-stakes world. Especially useful for founders and entrepreneurs, this book acts like a mental operating system upgrade.
Quick Breakdown
• What is "Critical Thinking: Think Smarter" about? A decision-making guidebook by Mark Hartley that teaches entrepreneurs how to think clearly using frameworks like System 1 vs. 2, SWOT, SMART goals, and Design Thinking.
• Why should entrepreneurs care in 2025? With AI chaos, info overload, and rapid market shifts, founders need clear thinking more than ever—this book offers tactical tools to cut through the noise.
• Is it beginner-friendly? Mostly yes, though some chapters dive deep into frameworks like PESTLE. If you're new to decision models, expect a few dense spots.
• How does it stand out? It’s less fluff, more action: decision trees, mental bias checklists, and real-world applications—especially helpful for teams or startup leaders in uncertain markets.
Let’s be real: 2025 is wild. Trump’s back. AI headlines are dropping daily. Your feed is a nonstop info dump—and somehow you’re expected to think clearly and make smart decisions through all of it?
Enter Mark Hartley’s Critical Thinking: Think Smarter. It’s not just a book—it’s a damn survival tool for entrepreneurs who can’t afford foggy thinking.
Hartley brings the heat right out the gate: 35,000 decisions a day, most of them unconscious. He walks you through how to shift from reactive to intentional using decision science (System 1 vs. 2), cognitive bias busting, and frameworks that stick.
Think:
Decision trees → like a choose-your-own-adventure for business. Map it out, follow the branches, see your likely outcomes before you leap.
SWOT & SMART goals → refreshers, yes, but Hartley makes them feel tactical again.
Design thinking → empathy, ideation, testing. This one hit hard—I passed the framework to a business friend whose renewal rates tanked. It didn’t fix everything overnight, but it gave him traction. A direction.
And hey, he doesn’t stop at mental models—there’s a whole section on beating bias, dodging deepfakes, and staying sharp when emotion tries to hijack logic. This is 360° decision hygiene.
But real talk? 16 chapters of frameworks might be a lot for beginners. Some sections (PESTLE after SWOT, I’m looking at you) felt like filler. And the case studies? Super polished. Ch. 14, with the corporate pivot stories, begged for more grit—more messy behind-the-scenes chaos, less Harvard Business Review sheen.
Still, when you hit the core chapters—where logic, strategy, and practicality collide—it’s pure value. Especially if you’re running a team or launching anything in uncertain times.
Don’t overthink this (ironically). It’s on KindleUnlimited for free or buy it. Whether you skim the playbooks or binge every framework, this book will make your brain sharper—and your decisions cleaner.
Grab it now. Your future self will thank you.
