Chuck Clayton
Author of:
The Re-Discovery of Common Sense!

“Each decision you make, each path you take, each risk you take helps to define who you are and who you will become. Investing the time to think through, investigate, weigh options, and then choosing your decisions carefully creates a better life."

~ Chuck Clayton

Contact Information

Chuck Clayton
3859 W. Valley Mine Dr.
Tucson AZ 85745
(520) 743-1257
chuckclayton@comcast.net

Featured Review
Posted on Amazon.com

Great introduction to critical thinking
August 17, 2008

I have read several of Mr. Clayton's books, and I think this is the best. This book is an introductory book to critical thinking and can be read by just about any age group. It can be used to introduce someone to the practices of critical thinking, or, as for myself, a wonderful refresher course that could be read over a weekend. Mr. Clayton has also provided an excellent summary and worksheets in the appendix that make the book an easy reference when I want to apply critical thinking to a new idea. I also signed up on his website to get regular updates through a newsletter. I believe after reading this book, people should look into DeBono's 6 hats thinking methods and collective intelligence methods as a comparison to group think. Overall, a very good book and great resource.

~ Jack Brown

Do projects quickly!

Get out of your box!

The left brain, right brain crossover!

Praise for The Re-Discovery of Common Sense

Needed:
More Common Sense and Critical Thinking!

When you look at the shape the United States is in -- constant political attacks, a failing American health-care system, and the idiotic war in Iraq, to provide just a few examples -- it's clear that there's an appalling lack of critical thinking and common sense. Author Chuck Clayton provides what is essential a guide for re-learning the lost art of critical thinking. Basically, so many people don't think -- they just react emotionally, they take facts (often distorted) for granted without questioning them, or their brains are numbed by endless news of Hollywood types. Thinking critically takes time -- one has to learn key facts and compare them before making a decision. Despite my little soapbox here, the book is nonpolitical -- it simply gives lots of examples and quick examples to help people learn the fine art of critical thinking and common sense all over again. The benefits of critical thinking are really economic -- for the average person -- in terms of making smarter and more informed purchasing decisions for everything from cars to vacations.

~Jack J. Challem
(The Nutrition Reporter)

The Common Sense Manual!

Clayton's book comes at the right time in American society where whim has replaced thought in most decision-making. Bone-headed decisions in business, education and government seem to dominate the culture, often producing disastrous results. While written for the general audience, younger readers will benefit the most from it because the author has systematized routine, but important, decisions everyone makes with the aid of easy-to-follow step-by-step problem solving methods.

~Michael A. Piatak --Senior Product Engineer

This book helps good Decision Making!

Have you witnessed the "dumbing down" of America? Jay Leno's "Jaywalking" segment on television, while entertaining, is symptomatic of a deeper problem. The good news is the author takes the reader through many examples of how to make good decisions by thinking through them in a step-by-step manner. Many simple and practical examples are provided. This book is timely and is needed.

~ Mark Jepperson –Corporate Manager

Let's send this book to the US Congress!

If you ever read the paper or watch the news and ask yourself, "What the heck is wrong with our Federal Government?"...Read this book! The information contained in this entertaining easy to read book has the answers you have been seeking. This is must reading for anyone that has to make decisions.

~Steve Tyra –Humorist

“Either do or do not; there is no try.”
—George Lucas”

Chuck Clayton
For booking information call (520) 743-1257 or Email: chuckclayton@comcast.net

THE SECRETS OF GREAT
DECISION MAKING!

What type of decisions are you facing right now?

* Should you buy that high priced car with good gas mileage?
* Where can you take a great vacation and not break the bank?
* How do you plan an exciting future for yourself?
* Should you take that new position at work?
* How do you plan for a great retirement?
* What career should you pursue?
* What school should you attend?
* What home should you buy?

Work Smarter, Not Harder!

We continually have to make decisions in life. They are part of living. But, where do you get a “how to” guide that strips away the complexity of decision making and replaces it with an easy to understand format?

The Re-Discovery of Common Sense takes the mystery and mystique out of decision making and replaces it with an easy to use “step-by-step guide” that you will enjoy learning from. It teaches concepts, methods and provides resources for making almost any decision. It also teaches how to think critically. Easy to understand explanations, real life examples, cartoons, and fascinating quotes make the book educational, engaging, and fun.

You will learn the 7 steps of making any decision and the 8 steps of doing any project. You will also learn the key elements of critical thinking, the power of your multiple intelligences and much more.

Once you have learned the powerful tools and techniques of decision making and critical thinking you will learn how these skills can be applied to real life. Practical examples teach you how to get the best deals on vacations and cars. Other examples teach you how to lower your electric bills, how to do home projects and how to create an exciting future for yourself!

The book is geared for high school students and above. It is also for anyone needing strong decision making skills. Teachers and parents will find the book especially helpful for their students and children who need that little extra nudge to think more critically and make wise decisions in their lives.

Great decisions make a great life. The Re-Discovery of Common Sense—A Guide to the Lost Art of Critical Thinking is a practical book that will teach you powerful skills for becoming successful both personally and professionally!

Now, a few words for Educators and Parents!

If you are a Educator (or concerned parent) of High School students please consider the following training system.

Are your students:

If you answered yes to any of these questions then please consider "The Secrets Of Great Decision Making Training System" for your students learning needs.

The Secrets of Great Decision Making
Training System

will help your students make great decisions, save money, do projects quickly, free up time to do fun things, lower their frustrations and create a great future for themselves.

This powerful training system includes a book (The Re-Discovery of Common Sense) and its workbook to teach your students how to make great decisions, solve problems and think through tough situations.

The Re-Discovery of Common Sense is an easy to read guide. It eliminates the mystery of decision making and provides a easy step by step process. It also teaches how to do projects quickly and effectively. It’s cartoons, practical examples, and fascinating stories make a tough subject non-intimidating. The book is entertaining and educational. Your students will enjoy learning!

The book has two purposes. First, It provides strong fundamentals for critically thinking about any subject. And, it acts as a reference guide. Each chapter teaches a definitive subject presented in a clear, crisp and practical manner. Few words are wasted.

The Re-Discovery of Common Sense Workbook helps reinforce the ideas in the book. It provides practical examples your students will enjoy doing. This helps students internalize what they have just learned.

Great Decision Making Skills not only improve student's decisions, they improve confidence, attitude towards school, and productivity!

"A Must Have Primer on a Great Topic--Book Critic Mallory

"Jan Dynes author of Refraction recommended this book to me, for my son and I bought it at the L.A. Book Festival with the workbook. My somewhat directionless son actually enjoyed the way the material was presented and read each page and did each step and he is a changed kid. A big thank you to Chuck Clayton and books that mold and make a difference!"

Important Notice!

Why was this Training System Created?

There is a serious lack of Critical Thinking in our country and the world. For example, Alan Greeenspan in his book "The Age of Turbulence" writes:

“A dysfunctional U.S. elementary and secondary education system has failed to prepare our students sufficiently rapidly to prevent a shortage of skilled workers and a surfeit of lesser-skilled ones, expanding the pay gap between the two groups. Unless America’s education system can raise skill levels as quickly as technology requires, skilled workers will continue to earn greater wage increases, leading to ever more disturbing extremes of income concentration.”

On the other side of the coin Greenspan says:

“It is not accident that human beings persevere and advance in the face of adversity. Adaptation is in our nature, a fact that leads me to be deeply optimistic about our future.”

What do we take away from this? The simple answer is that each of us must choose our own future and that future will affect our collective future.

To create a great future we need a clear path to travel. The difficulty of choosing that path is increased because of ever expanding options in everything we do.

In a highly stimulating environment it is too easy to spin our wheels. How do we choose a path that improves our life both individually and collectively?

Fortunately there is hope!

The message is clear. Those who will succeed and prosper in the coming years will have the following skills and backgrounds:
Decision making

These skills can be boiled down to one skill. It is a major skill that we all need to be successful in whatever career we choose.

The skill is powerful, transferable to any field, and has made countless people enormously successful and prosperous through the ages. If your students learn to use it well you can become extremely successful in their professional and personal lifes. It is:

The Lost Art of Critical Thinking!

What is Critical Thinking?

 I am glad you asked!

Critical Thinking is the ability to make and carry out informed decisions by efficiently utilizing your lifetime knowledge, experience, common sense, reasoning, intuition, feelings, and confidence.

People can learn critical thinking skills on their own through trial and error. However, trial and error takes much longer than if properly taught and coached.

It is painfully clear that most people aren’t taught critical thinking skills in a formal manner, or for that matter, in any manner. Critical thinking skills can be learned at any age though good books and from informed teachers, coaches, mentors and parents who care. The younger the students, the better, however, we all need these skills. To help fill the void, this book has been created.

Would you like to learn more?

From The Introduction of
The Re-Discovery of Common Sense

The purpose of this book is to teach you how to think critically. You will be embarking on a journey of discovery. You will learn concepts, methods, and resources to make informed decisions, complete projects, and achieve objectives. You will also learn how to answer questions and solve problems quickly and effectively.

Critical thinking is an art. Like all art, the strength of the work depends on the skills of the artist. You will become the artist who uses critical thinking as a creative palette to accomplish what you strive for.

This book is designed to help you tap into your wealth of knowledge and experience and to strengthen these areas further. It is A Guide to The Lost Art of Critical Thinking. Learning strong critical thinking skills is simply The Re-Discovery of Common Sense!

Knowledge, Experience, Common Sense and Critical Thinking

There are three elements to becoming a powerful thinker. Each is important. Together they are an unstoppable combination.

Knowledge

This includes what you learn from books, teachers, parents, coaches, and mentors. Classes, lectures, discussions and self-study give you much of the knowledge you need to be successful.

Experience

There is no replacement for experience in life. As important as knowledge is, it can’t by itself prepare you for the challenges faced in the real world.

Completing tasks are part of your existence. They are always different than what you have been taught through books, lectures and other sources. Experience allows you to gain a deeper understanding and confidence in yourself and your approach to new tasks.

Common sense

Common sense is the glue that binds knowledge and experience together. Common sense helps strengthen reasoning, intuition, feelings and confidence. It helps you become a powerful thinker who is able to use the full potential of your critical thinking skills.

And, there is a money back guarantee! If you are not completely satisfied with your purchase mail it back within 30 days for a complete refund!

Some Key Questions and Answers about:
The Re-Discovery of Common Sense

Q: What is the purpose of the book?
(Time to answer: ~1 minute)

Q: What are the steps of Decision Making?


 

Q: Is the book easy to read?


Q: In your book you say that Critical Thinking is our most powerful strength. Can you explain why?


 

From the Introduction of the
Re-Discovery of Common Sense Workbook

Introduction

This workbook is a companion to the book: The Re-Discovery of Common Sense—A Guide to the Lost Art of Critical Thinking.  

The purpose of this workbook; as with The Re-Discovery of Common Sense; is to strengthen your Critically Thinking Skills. It will help you create a critically thinking mindset. It will also help reinforce the concepts you have already leaned!

We all have busy schedules today. The Re-Discovery of Common Sense and this workbook strive to respect that fact. Consequently, both are written to be clear, concise, and easy to understand and apply.

As with: The Re-Discovery of Common Sense; this workbook teaches you to apply concepts, skills, and resources to make informed decisions, complete projects, and achieve objectives. You will also learn how to answer questions and solve problems quickly and effectively. Once you understand the basic mindset of critical thinking you will be able to apply these skills to all aspects of your life.

Organization

The workbook is organized by individual chapters. Questions have been designed to strengthen your critical thinking skills. Each chapter builds on the previous ones.

Starting in Chapter 7 and completing in Chapter 12, there are five Real Life Exercises that address everyday challenges we all face. Each exercise has been carefully constructed to teach a particular aspect of critical thinking. The examples are: 

Appendix A has been added as a Bonus. It provides The Top 25 Skills of a Critical Thinker!

 Recommended Methods to Use This Workbook

There are a three recommended Methods to use this workbook. Actually there are four methods. (if you use a combination!). Choose the one that fits best with your learning style. The methods are as follows:

Method 1

Read The Re-Discovery of Common Sense cover to cover. Don’t attempt any exercises provided in this workbook yet. Then, read each individual chapter (Starting with Chapter 1) and then do the exercises for Chapter 1. Next, read Chapter 2 and do the exercises for Chapter 2. Continue with this method throughout the book.

Benefits

The benefits of this method is you are exposed to the information three times. The first time is when you read the book through. The second time is when you read each chapter again. And the third time is when you do the exercises. Many studies have shown that it frequently takes at least seven times to see information before it is internalized. By using Method 1 you are well on your way to learning critical thinking skills. If you use the book as a reference guide in the future, you will soon be seeing much of the information seven times or more!

Who should use the workbook this way?

If you have had little exposure to critical thinking skills, method one may be right for you.

Method 2

Read a chapter of The Re-Discovery of Common Sense (Starting with Chapter 1) and then do the exercises for Chapter 1. Next, read Chapter 2 and do the exercises for Chapter 2. Continue from there!

Benefits

Method 2 takes less time than Method 1.

Drawbacks

You may not internalize as much information with only two initial exposures to the material.

Who should use the workbook this way?

There are three reasons to consider using Method 2.

Method 3

This method is similar to method 2. You will only read the book once, however you will read it cover to cover. Then do all of the exercises in the workbook.

Benefits

It takes less time than Method 1 or 2.

Drawbacks

You may not internalize as much of the information.

Who should use the workbook this way?

There are three reasons to consider using Method 3.

Author’s Request

This is a living document. Your input is invaluable to continually improve this workbook. Please e-mail me with any recommendations to make this workbook better for others. When it is reprinted, I will incorporate suggestions that will strengthen the material.

chuckclayton@comcast.net

How do you get started?

There are three packages to teach The Secrets of Great Decision Making. Choose the one that best fits your student's (or your) needs.

Thanks for stopping by!

Please contact me with any comments or suggestions:
chuckclayton@comcast.net

"There is nothing more uncommon than common sense!"

~Frank Lloyd Wright

Contact Information:

Chuck Clayton
3859 W. Valley Mine Dr.
Tucson AZ 85745
(520) 743-1257
chuckclayton@comcast.net

August 17, 2008