Make Up your own Mind: Critical Thinking for Teens: How to Know What to Believe, Spot Manipulation, and Recognize Who Influences You

Previously published as Smart Thinking for Teens by Daisy Bright.

Everyone wants you to think something. Your friends. Your family. Teachers. Influencers. Advertisers. Politicians. The news. And, of course, the endless scroll of people online who are absolutely certain they’re right.

But how do you work out what you actually think?

Make Up Your Own Mind is a practical, straight-talking guide to critical thinking for teens who are growing up in a world overflowing with opinions, information, arguments, headlines, and people trying to get their attention.

It’s not about telling you what to believe. It’s about giving you the tools to decide for yourself.

Inside, you’ll learn how to:

Spot bias, spin, and manipulation Question claims without questioning absolutely everything Tell the difference between evidence and opinion Recognize shaky arguments and misleading information Understand how social media, groups, and other people influence what you think Build stronger arguments of your own Change your mind when the evidence deserves it Form your own opinions with more confidence No lectures. No telling you what the “right” opinion is. And no expectation that you should already have everything figured out.

Better questions. Clearer thinking. Your own conclusions.

If you’re going to have an opinion, you might as well make sure it’s yours.