Ask anyone who regularly teaches critical thinking which they would prefer, if they had to choose: (1) that all students understand basic elements of statistical reasoning and hypothesis testing, or (2) that all students understand basic symbolic logic.

The vast majority will strongly prefer (1) over (2), as they should. Basic statistical numeracy, and a basic understanding of how it is deployed in scientific reasoning, is an essential component of the "mindware" that can really improve one's critical thinking about many issues one might encounter on a daily basis.

The books in this section are designed to help readers acquire a basic understanding of these concepts.