What’s Wrong With the Education System? 3 Ways It Fails

A giant "F" written on a chalkboard in a classroom.

What’s wrong with the education system? Why is it failing to truly educate students? In The End of Average, Todd Rose says that judging individuals in comparison to the average has caused damage to the modern education system. Rather than give each student what they individually need to learn the most, we give them a standardized experience that forces them to conform or fail. Let’s discuss three ways that schools fail to treat students as unique individuals, consequently limiting their potential.

The Experience vs. Education Debate: Hire People, Not Diplomas

Two cartoon men at podiums representing the experience vs. education debate.

What’s wrong with current hiring practices? Why are many qualified people getting rejected? Todd Rose wades into the experience vs. education debate in his book The End of Average. He argues that skills outweigh degrees, and he advocates for an emphasis on credentials rather than diplomas in today’s workplace. Continue reading to understand Rose’s argument, and consider how it stacks up to your own experience and observation.

Why Autonomy Is Important in the Workplace (Todd Rose)

A young professional woman smiling with a window in the background, showing why autonomy is important in the workplace.

How much direction should managers give employees? Why is autonomy in the workplace important? At work, your manager might judge your performance with benchmarks calibrated to the average worker. Psychologist Todd Rose argues in The End of Average that individuality among employees is ultimately better for a company’s bottom line. Autonomy is a key that unlocks this door. Read more to understand why autonomy is important in the workplace.

Life Worth Living: A Guide to What Matters Most (Overview)

A young woman reading a book outside in an urban courtyard.

What does it mean to live well? How should we approach life? How should we think about death? The authors of Life Worth Living: A Guide to What Matters Most don’t claim to have the answers, but they offer some possible answers based on the life philosophies of several great thinkers. Even if you disagree with their ideas, you can use them as a springboard for figuring out what you believe. Continue reading for an overview of this book that will get you thinking about what truly matters in life and how to translate those beliefs into action.

Fostering Individualism in the Workplace: 2 Musts for Managers

A white-haired bearded man dressed in a tie that is happy with individualism in the workplace.

Do you leverage the unique aspects of your employees, or do you expect them to conform to the norm? Do you value degrees over skills? In The End of Average, Todd Rose says that judging people in comparison to the average does significant damage to society when people abuse averages in the workplace. He asserts that, if employees can use their individual strengths at work, they’ll be more productive and fulfilled. Keep reading to learn the merits of individualism in the workplace.

What Is a Life Philosophy, and Why Should You Have One?

A man pondering what life philosophy is with a cityscape in the background.

What is a life philosophy? Do you have one? Should you? In Life Worth Living, Miroslav Volf, Matthew Croasmun, and Ryan McAnnally-Linz define the notion of a life philosophy. Then, they explain why you should have a life philosophy by exploring the value it can bring to your life. Read more to learn what a life philosophy is and why it’s important to have one.

Philosophy of Happiness: Utilitarians, Buddhists, & Oscar Wilde

Three cartoon smiling people with glasses representing the philosophy of happiness.

What’s your philosophy of happiness? Is it a goal or simply a byproduct of certain aspects of your life? In Life Worth Living, Miroslav Volf, Matthew Croasmun, and Ryan McAnnally-Linz discuss happiness in the context of your philosophy of life. They explain various perspectives on the role that happiness plays in life. Continue reading to understand these various philosophies and see where your values line up.

Promote Existential Well-Being Through Your Life Philosophy

A woman with high existential well-being as she smiles on a farm ranch.

Are you happy to be alive? Are you thriving or just surviving? In Life Worth Living, Miroslav Volf, Matthew Croasmun, and Ryan McAnnally-Linz argue that a good life philosophy promotes existential well-being. It inspires you to take actions that make you feel good about your existence given your beliefs about the purpose and significance of life on Earth. Keep reading to learn more about the argument these three Yale professors make.

Material Well-Being: Views of Aristotle, Buddhists, & Nietzsche

A rich man and poor man standing next to each other in a city to represent material well-being.

What’s material well-being? How do different philosophies define it? In what sense do you have it? Yale professors Miroslav Volf, Matthew Croasmun, and Ryan McAnnally-Linz contend that one component of a good life philosophy is that it promotes material well-being. In their book Life Worth Living, they explain that different thinkers have different standards of material well-being. Keep reading to learn about these intriguing perspectives.

Perspectives on Moral Well-Being: How Do You Measure Virtue?

A young woman helping an older woman's moral well being by volunteering to help her grocery shop.

Do you believe that you’re essentially a good person? How do you measure your virtue? According to authors Miroslav Volf, Matthew Croasmun, and Ryan McAnnally-Linz, life is worth living when you have a good philosophy of life. A strong life philosophy promotes moral well-being—the sense that you’re generally a virtuous person—by defining right and wrong behaviors. Continue reading to learn about various perspectives on moral well-being.