The Critical Thinker

Practical ideas in your inbox, about reasoning, about language, and about images. A newsletter for curious minds.

By Ali Almossawi

· Over 6,000 subscribers

“Clever explorations of thought grooves, complete with excellent illustrations, a podcast, and videos. The exact opposite of a Gish Gallop!”...

“Clever explorations of thought grooves, complete with excellent illustrations, a podcast, and videos. The exact opposite of a Gish Gallop!”

Benjamin Errett, Get Wit Quick

The Critical Thinker

The Distractions We're Remembered By
Daydreaming, boredom, and creative breakthroughs
Jun 17 • Ali Almossawi

Pictures of Facts
The Rashomon effect; edited reels in Glass Onion, Memento, and Rashomon
May 29 • Ali Almossawi

The Handmade Things We Value
Reflections from a Kyoto shop
Apr 29 • Ali Almossawi

Signed Book Giveaway
Dec 1, 2023 • Ali Almossawi

What’s the #1 Cognitive Bias That Derails Investors? (With Barry Ritholtz)
Oct 2, 2025 • Ali Almossawi

The Sunk Cost Fallacy and How It Influences Our Decisions
Jan 11, 2024 • Ali Almossawi

The Motte and Bailey Fallacy
Nov 2, 2023 • Ali Almossawi

The Fields Medal Winner Who Thought He Was a Slow Learner
Nov 21, 2024 • Ali Almossawi

Why We Think Only Others Get It Wrong
Jul 10, 2025 • Ali Almossawi

On Not Knowing What We Know
Mar 31 • Ali Almossawi

You Must Leave the Cave to See the Cave
Mar 5 • Ali Almossawi

Arguments Drawn on Napkins
Feb 15 • Ali Almossawi

Groupthink
Jan 22 • Ali Almossawi

Moral Exclusion
Jan 8 • Ali Almossawi

The Hidden Lives of Quiet People
Dec 11, 2025 • Ali Almossawi

Wishful Thinking: Why We Believe What We Want to Believe
Nov 25, 2025 • Ali Almossawi