Ebook: Logic: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short Introductions)

As described by several others among these ratings, Priest's book is an easy to read and engaging introduction to some basic concepts of logic. It is not--and does not claim to be--a comprehensive survey. It would not serve as the textbook for a full course in logic, but can be an affordable supplement in other courses, or even read by someone simply curious about the study of logic.

HOWEVER, it is unfortunate that Priest also chose to go beyond his stated topic by setting up as his examples of logical errors all of the standard arguments about the existence of God (even though he later admits that the actual arguments are often more sophisticated than the versions he shoots down). Another Amazon reviewer has described this at length and given the book one star. The book is overall much better than that. But ANY good textbook book has an obligation to provide balance and range among its examples, political religious, or whatever. Otherwise the examples themselves can function to indoctrinate. (This is common practice in totalitarian cultures.) Questions about God are certainly open to debate--especially in a philosophy class. But by using the arguments for the existence of God merely as his examples of poor reasoning, Priest provides no opportunity for thoughtful debate and does seem to promote a dogmatic subtext.

Other than that, it is a very good book!