I’m excited to share some good news with you today. After months of research, writing, and careful editing, Independent Mind: A Practical Guide to Critical Thinking and Intellectual Independence is nearly complete. I’m currently in the final review and polishing stage, and the book will be officially released very soon. However, because some of you have been following along with these blog posts and expressed interest in the project, I’ve decided to open pre-orders on Gumroad right now.

Why Pre-Order?

This is more than just early access. By pre-ordering now, you’re helping support the final stages of this project and ensuring you receive the book the moment it’s ready.

As many of you probably know, I have never done a “pre-order” book release with any of my 5 previous books — this is something very new for me but it seemed like the right thing to do this at time.

Independent Mind was written for people who are tired of feeling manipulated, overwhelmed by conflicting information, or swept along by group pressure and emotional narratives. It offers a clear, practical path to developing the mental habits and tools needed for true intellectual independence.

What You’ll Get When You Pre-Order:

• Immediate access to the book as soon as it is released (likely within the next week)
• High-quality PDF and EPUB versions
• The complete 10-chapter system, including:
  • Understanding how your brain actually works (System 1 vs System 2)
  • Spotting cognitive biases and logical fallacies in real time
  • Media literacy and propaganda detection skills
  • Tools for resisting groupthink, social pressure, and gaslighting
  • Probabilistic thinking and source vetting methods drawn from intelligence practices
  • Daily habits to make independent thinking your new normal
• All appendices, including the Anti-Manipulation Checklist, 30-Day Habit Builder, and Source Vetting Guide

This book is designed to be a practical handbook you can return to again and again — not just theory, but usable tools for everyday life.

Why This Book Matters Right Now

Over 20 years ago, I began learning that the world was not at all as I had been led to believe. When I became an intelligence officer in the Air Force, my desire to learn how to think and analyze information properly became a professional responsibility. Unfortunately, I had very little training or education for how to do exactly that. By the time 2020 came, I received the same wake up shock that many others did about how completely corrupt our sources of information really were.

The 2020 awakening shock was one I was not ready for but ultimately, it led to my research and writing of this book.

We live in an age where trust in institutions has eroded, information moves faster than verification, and powerful forces compete for control of your attention and beliefs. Learning to think clearly and independently is no longer optional — it has become essential for protecting your mind, your decisions, and your peace.

Independent Mind was created to help you do exactly that and it is my very practical guide that will give you all the tools you need to learn the skills we were never taught in our schools or society.

Pre-Order Details

Price during Pre-Order: $12 via Gumroad (Regular price will be $14 after official launch)

Formats: PDF + EPUB (optimized for reading on any device)

Pages: ~ 220 in ebook format

Delivery: You will receive the final version immediately upon release

Upcoming Book Formats 📖

When this book is fully released, it will be available in PDF / EPUB (Gumroad), Kindle and paperback (Amazon) and audiobook (ElevenReader). Check out my full product information page here on my website for much more information on what this book will contain. For those who prefer the DRM-free PDF and EPUB, you can pre-order using the promo link above from Gumroad. Amazon and ElevenReader versions will not be available as pre-orders.

Gumroad ebooks offer the advantage that you can send the EPUB or PDF version to your Kindle device / app or read it on Apple Books, Google Play Books or other reader apps. This gives you more flexibility than just ordering through Amazon.

Countdown To Release! ⏰

Thank you to everyone who has followed these blog posts and supported this project along the way. I’m confident this book will be a valuable resource for anyone who wants to think more clearly, resist manipulation, and make better decisions in an increasingly chaotic world.

I’ve learned a lot in the research and writing process for this book and wish I had learned it all many years ago!

If you’ve been waiting for a practical guide to strengthen your mind and regain confidence in your own judgment, this is your opportunity to secure the book early.

I look forward to sharing the finished product with you very soon.

— Chris Michals

PS: The timer below is only an estimate, don’t be surprised if I release the book sooner than what it indicates!

Contact!

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