The Art of Logic in an Illogical World

As a teacher of argument, rhetoric, and writing, I study and teach the art of logic. Reading Eugenia Cheng’s book, The Art of Logic in an Illogical World made me feel like I was new to the topic–in the best possible way.

Cheng uses principles of mathematics, which is her field of study, to establish baselines for her arguments. I would never choose to do anything math relate—it has been the bane of my existence since tenth-grade geometry—but Cheng lays out foundational mathematic precepts as rules of logic in a way that makes me excited. We live in what some people have called a post-truth world, but Cheng skillfully illustrates how logic and the facts that comprise logic are not only a part of argument resolution but integral.

Her examples are timely; she references common conversations about immigration and privilege alongside current events such as the case of the United Airlines passenger who was removed from an overbooked flight. These subjects coupled with her humor brings the book to life.

The Art of Logic in an Illogical World is the kind of book you read slowly, take notes on, and then talk about with someone else because Cheng’s points are so meaningful and relevant they must be shared.