Overthinking About Critical Thinking
From Magical Overthinkers by Amanda Montell & Studio71
May 13, 2026 · 40 min · Episode 51
About this episode
Amanda Montell and psychologist Peter Lamont discuss the complexities of critical thinking and the importance of recognizing one's own perspective limits.
What does “thinking critically” actually mean and why is everyone so convinced they’re already good at it? This week, Amanda is joined by psychologist and author of Radical Thinking, Peter Lamont to explore how all of our beliefs are shaped by a limited slice of what we notice and how we interpret it, which means disagreement is inevitable. Peter reframes critical thinking as something quieter and more uncomfortable: recognizing the limits of your own perspective and being willing to engage with people who see the world differently. From the role of the internet and social media to why curiosity might matter more than certainty, this episode is a grounded spiral about attention, interpretation, and learning to question your own thinking before anyone else’s. Further Reading: Radical Thinking: How to See the Bigger Picture by Peter Lamont - Join the "Magical Overthinkers Club" by following the pod on Instagram @magicaloverthinkers. - To access early, ad-free episodes and more, subscribe to the Magical Overthinkers Substack. - Pick up Amanda's book The Age of Magical Overthinking: Notes on Modern Irrationality, or listen to the audiobook. Thanks to our Sponsors: Sign up for your…
People in this episode
Host: Amanda Montell
Guest: Peter Lamont
Topics covered
- critical thinking
- perspective
- disagreement
- curiosity
- social media
- interpretation
Keywords
- critical thinking
- perspective
- disagreement
- curiosity
- social media
- interpretation
- learning
Sponsors
Shopify, bit.ly
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Magical Overthinkers Club
Books & works: Radical Thinking, The Age of Magical Overthinking: Notes on Modern Irrationality
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