Summary of “The Basic Problem: ‘Mine is Better’” by Vicent Ryan Ruggiero In “The Basic Problem: ‘Mine is Better’,” Vicent Ryan Ruggiero argues that even though it is natural to think “mine is better,” we need to govern this mindset because it can hinder our ability to become effective critical thinkers. Ruggerio outlines the natural progression of “mine is better” expressions from childhood claims, to teenage bragging, to the often internal boasting of an adult. While most of us realize we are not the only ones who think like this, Ruggerio points out that there are some types of people, egocentric and ethnocentric, who believe “mine is better” is a “special, higher truth about their particular situation,” and this way of thinking can become