A proven critical thinking framework updated with AI-era tools and applications

Now in its Second Edition, Think Smarter: A Critical Thinking Framework and Toolset for Problem-Solving and Decision-Making delivers a fully revised guide to the skill executives and hiring managers prize most. Michael Kallet, founder of HeadScratchers and a trainer who has coached tens of thousands of professionals at Boeing, Hormel Foods, PetSmart, and Edwards Life Sciences, expands his proven framework with new AI-focused content and downloadable Thinksheets.

New to this edition are two entirely new sections: a dedicated Thinking Coach section and a Critical Thinking and AI section featuring AI prompts, Thinksheets, and questions designed to stress-test AI-assisted reasoning. The book also introduces expanded coverage of the Conclusion process through a two-step Ideation and Validation Premises model, plus new material on Fuzzy Criteria and the relationship between assumptions and personality styles.

Readers will also find:

• Over twenty-five practical critical thinking tools refined through two decades of corporate workshops and training engagements across major organizations
• Downloadable Thinksheets for the Clarity, Conclusions, and Decisions sections that reinforce structured thinking through regular hands-on practice
• AI prompts and critical thinking questions that equip professionals to evaluate and improve AI-generated outputs in everyday workplace decisions
• A two-step Ideation and Validation Premises model that strengthens the Conclusion process with a more rigorous analytical approach
• Modern real-world examples woven throughout every chapter, connecting each of the foundational tools to current professional challenges and scenarios

Think Smarter is written for business professionals, managers, and corporate leaders who need a practical system for sharper decisions and faster problem-solving. It also serves L&D practitioners and business school instructors seeking a curriculum-ready critical thinking resource built for an AI-augmented workplace.