More books that I’ve found helpful as a Canadian writer and editor:
Need to Know: Social Science Research Methods by Lisa J. McIntyre: This one might sound boring, but it changed my life and that isn’t an exaggeration. As a young university student coming from a somewhat sheltered upbringing, I desperately needed this crash course in finding accurate information.
Understanding the differences between deductive and inductive reasoning, being able to look for empirical evidence and recognize fallacies (false statements and faulty logic), and knowing how to ask the right questions are all useful skills. If knowledge is power, then knowing how to decipher the information the world throws at you is a superpower.
Classical Rhetoric for The Modern Student, by Edward P.J. Corbett and Robert J. Connors: Where do I even begin with this masterpiece? Whether or not you have any intention of writing an academic-level persuasive essay, Classical Rhetoric is a book I recommend every writer read. Honestly, I wish everyone would read it at least once, whether they’re a writer or not. There is a glorious sense of comfort that comes from being able to pick apart the “alternative truths” in a political speech or see right through the garbled logic in a piece of advertising copy.
Note:
Brittanica’s page on Fallacy has lots of good information on this subject, if you’re interested in learning more or if you didn’t understand what the heck I was saying in this post.
“What Is a Logical Fallacy?” on Grammarly is also a good resource.
