Organized into six chapters, this guide investigates philosophical perspectives from divergent traditions that share a common theme of liberating a person from their own self-centering biases and limited point of view when interpreting the information that comprises reality. With a refreshingly irreverent attitude toward hierarchical authority and other cultural conventions, it

• shares practical strategies for sound decision-making and creative thinking around purpose and meaning in both individual and group contexts;
• outlines a rebellious attitude for thinking critically about evaluating information, media bias, and information literacy education more broadly;
• demonstrates how Socrates' philosophically therapeutic approach can be adapted for critical thinking that's grounded in intellectual humility, open-mindedness, and frank assessment of one's values and assumptions about what matters in life;
• explores Zen Buddhism's playful, rule-breaking approach to critical thinking, including Bruce Lee's Taoist admonition to "Be Water," Buddhism's invitation to "widen one's window on oneself and the world" through an emphasis on de-centering the self, and the importance of reflecting on the nature of impermanence;
• discusses Friedrich Nietzsche's critique of the hegemony of dominant cultural values as universal "shoulds" and recommends Nietzsche's "bespoke" theory of practical wisdom centered on positive psychology, self-trust, and individual and group self-expression as a more suitable basis for sound-decision making;
• culminates in a discussion of intersectional anarchist perspectives on leadership and meaningful work, proposing direct democratic decision-making as a practical framework for inclusive decision-making in teams and organizations;
• includes extensive artwork and "zine"-style illustrations of philosophical concepts that can serve as the basis for critical thinking zines, lesson plans, presentations, professional development workshops, or even entire courses on critical thinking; and
• concludes with reflections on the unique cultural role librarians can play in democratizing information and fostering critical thinking.