If A then B (Extra book)

How could I not read one of my favorite NYU faculty friend’s new book!  Well for those who want a pretty straight forward learning opportunity with a glimpse into the history of logic, this book is for you!  Professor, and Faculty in Residence at NYU, Heidi White and her colleague teaching in Liberal Studies, Michael Shenefelt, offer a really fun look into the history and context of logic in their book If A then B, How the World Discovered Logic (and yes, the author signed my copy at her book reading during the fall semester!!)!  It has been many years since my Logic 101 course while attending Fordham University, about oh…28 years ago (eeks, I am getting old).  The authors provide a brief introduction into “what is logic” with some easy to read language and how logic was framed by the geography on the flow of ideas.  The reader then gets some overview on Aristotle, “the greatest of the greek logicians” as claimed by the authors.  Other chapters include: the stoics; logic vs. anti-logic; inductive logic; the “ten classic tricks”; symbolic logic and the digital future; and faith and the limits of logic.  My favorite aspect of the book is how the authors provide a simplistic overview of the “deceptive forms for reasoning” with clear examples to help the reader who may not have a great understanding to concepts of logic.  For example, “begging the question,” “the big lie,” “cause and effect,” and “loaded question.”  I learned a great deal that I should have learned from that Fordham course…  Thanks Professor White and congratulations to you and your colleague on making logic fun to read with basic ideas and detailed explanations.  Well written!  This is a great gift for any high school senior venturing off to the hallowed halls of higher education.