Mindfully Rational offers a new way to think about critical thinking in a world saturated with information, disagreement, and distraction. Good reasoning is not just a matter of knowing the rules of argument or evidence. It also depends on noticing what we are attending to, what we are defending, and how our habits, emotions, and social environments shape what seems obvious to us.

Drawing on philosophy, psychology, and contemplative science, the book shows how mindfulness can strengthen critical thinking without replacing careful thought. Mindfulness helps us pause before reacting, recognise defensive patterns, sit more comfortably with uncertainty, and engage more constructively with people who see things differently.

Through accessible explanations, real-world examples, and reflective exercises, Mindfully Rational develops practical tools for evaluating evidence, making better decisions, navigating group dynamics, avoiding overconfidence, and reasoning well with others. Written for general readers, professionals, educators, and students, it will appeal to anyone interested in clear thinking, better disagreement, and the cultivation of intellectual humility, open-mindedness, and wiser judgment.

Andy McKilliam has a PhD in philosophy from Monash University, Australia and is a researcher at the University of Luxembourg. His work focuses on consciousness, the philosophy of psychology, and the philosophy of science. He has taught critical thinking to thousands of students and professionals.

Craig Hassed is an internationally recognised mindfulness expert and pioneer in bringing practical and experiential mindfulness into the classroom and professional settings including training doctors, judges, leaders, corporations, health professionals and educators. Craig also researches the effects of mindfulness and has authored several books on mindfulness and its applications.

Jakob Hohwy is a professor of philosophy and director of the interdisciplinary Monash Centre for Consciousness and Contemplative Studies in Melbourne, Australia. Jakob is an expert in cognitive philosophy, and the author of The Predictive Mind (OUP 2013) and The Self-Evidencing Agent (MIT Press 2026).