Method Matters
by Brandon Quinn
Genre: Nonfiction / Self-Help
ISBN: 9798864308332
Print Length: 234 pages
Reviewed by Jaylynn Korrell
Think it through, achieve your goals—an impassioned study on the art of critical thinking
The path to achieving your goals is often riddled with roadblocks, but there is a path forward. And it’s a critical one.
In Method Matters, Brandon Quinn explains how critical thinking may be the missing piece to achieving those seemingly unattainable goals. With ample personal and historical examples as well as step-by-step formulas, Quinn gets people from points A to Z with this helpful, resourceful guide.
The real-life examples used to connect his ideas to a bigger picture are the best parts of this book. There is a delicate mix of personal examples from Quinn as well as historical examples that provide readers with a bit of a break from the more intellectual ideas. These little story breaks are a welcomed scenic route on the path of critical thinking, and they really help drive Quinn’s points home. I enjoyed the deep dive into the Cuban Missile Crisis and how critical thinking was the key to avoiding a potential war. And the story of John Snow! It’s special to hear of his contributions to the medical community and how critical thinking and determination played a significant role in achieving some great goals.
But goals don’t always have to be as big as finding the cause of Cholera. Quinn suggests that smaller goals, like just leading a more efficient life, should also be on your radar. Recognizing when a situation is raising a red flag can contribute to an easier life should you just perk your ears up to the opportunity.
Quinn doesn’t shy away from sharing his own failures either. An example that sticks out to me is the time when a good friend invited him to a party and he assumed it was at his friend’s house. Despite the numerous instances that should have alerted him to the actual location of the party, like the invitation itself or the hints from his friend, he didn’t consider thinking critically and just continued to live life on auto-pilot. As you might guess, it results in him being late—hours late. With this example, he shows a relatable side but also takes the opportunity to walk us through his missteps and the opportunities for critical thinking he missed.
Not only does Quinn explain the steps to using critical thinking to achieve goals, he goes into some of the things that are likely holding you back. Quinn asks his readers to dive deeper and consider what biases and blocks they may have. This is particularly additive to the conversation and goes to show that we’re in good hands with this author.
Method Matters is helpful for those who need their eyes opened to the topic, but some of the thought processes outlined could happen automatically for some. Because of this, some ideas can feel over-explained and simple, especially toward the beginning. The numbered steps and premises are definitely a good structural tool, but they can feel monotonous when explaining some common sense ideas. The book does a much stronger job in driving more practical and useful ideas in the second half.
Most readers will leave this book with a new, valuable tool to their goal-achieving tool belt. This is especially true for people who feel like they are at a standstill in life and that they need to unlock something with a key they already have.
The importance of thinking critically is apparent in the facts presented, the history shared, and in the passion with which Quinn speaks on the subject. He does a great job narrating his experiences, and the purpose of the text is undeniable. Method Matters is a convincing argument for why your goals are more attainable than you think.
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