About Mary Bartling:

I’m a Humanities geek with a Doctor of Liberal Arts degree. And, I’m here on my soapbox preaching about the benefits of literature and in-depth reading. One of these benefits is the development of critical thinking skills. The ability to think critically, and therefore independently, is something we could use a lot more of.

It’s my belief that the development of critical, independent thinking should be at the forefront of education. Critical thinking skills train the mind to crave knowledge beyond the hard facts presented in textbooks. They cultivate an ability to see how the various branches of knowledge influence one another. Familiarity with Humanities (literature for example) actually improves students’ understanding of the STEM subjects prized so highly these days. Not to mention scientists’ work within these fields.

But no matter who you are, where you live, or how you make a living, critical thinkers have an easier time adapting to an ever-changing world. Having insights into people whose lives are different than our own makes us less fearful of the world around us. So we’re less likely to fall prey to the divide and conquer strategies designed to keep us fighting each other and the powerful in power.

Needless to say, I don’t agree with every thought expressed in every book I read — nor should I. That’s rather the point. Those thoughts are out there, though. And fresh insights cultivate independent thinking… a result of giving each book the careful reading it deserves. Readings like those you’ll see here on This Book is Banned.