Big Ideas for Young Thinkers: 20 Questions about Life and the Universe

What is justice? What is freedom? What is bias? ... And who gets to have big ideas?

Studies show that children ask caregivers 300 questions a day during meals, trips to the market, and before bedtime. This book teaches children to think critically and discuss ideas in a world that needs bright young thinkers. Jamia Wilson expertly explores the difficult questions kids may ask by relating them to real-life examples and introducing a diverse range of thinkers and luminaries. Drawing on influences from ancient Greeks right up to modern-day American writers, the idea of philosophy - and who gets to have big ideas - is reimagined.

Choose a question or page to explore and discuss at a time. Relate to the real-life experiences, explore big ideas from a range of thinkers, and decide where you stand on the issue at hand. For example, try to recall your earliest memory. Can you remember a lot or a little? Do memories make us who we are? Or do we pick and choose them to suit who we are? This is a multi-layered book to be explored again and again.

Extra info in the book includes a manifesto for talking about difficult topics and managing disagreements, a glossary of terms, a timeline of key thinkers, and an index of themes.

Chapters are organised into five sections: Identity, Life, Truth, Culture, and Creativity. Questions include:

• Who am I?
• What is race?
• What is gender?
• What happens when we die?
• What is right and wrong?
• What is bias?
• What is freedom?
• What is justice?
• What is memory?

A mind-expanding book to challenge young thinkers, which reimagines philosophy for ages 9 and up.