The World's Best Book Summaries
What’s pidgin? Why and how does it come about? What’s a creole? Steven Pinker contends that language is biologically innate. The innatist theory provides a key insight into the field of linguistics: It explains the ability of people to spontaneously create new languages. Pinker uses pidgin as an example to illustrate this ability. Keep reading to learn the origin of pidgin and what it tells us about human abilities.
How is personal character formed? Why should we look back into history? What are the pros and cons of intellectual pursuits? In his book The Second Mountain, cultural commentator David Brooks contrasts the individualist approach to life with the relationalist approach. He argues that you should embrace relationalism—the worldview that prioritizes selflessness and service to others—to lead a deeply fulfilling life. Keep reading for The Second Mountain quotes that provide insight into the book’s themes.
How effective is word-of-mouth marketing? How do you get people talking about your company? Word-of-mouth advertising is as old as time, and it’s still hugely effective. In Oversubscribed, Daniel Priestley explains how you can take advantage of this method before the sale to build demand—and after the sale to keep customers excited about your product. Keep reading to learn an effective word-of-mouth marketing strategy you can use to get people talking and keep people talking.
Who really has the power in the United States? How did they get it? In The Power Elite, C. Wright Mills claims that the United States is controlled by a small group of powerful economic, military, and political elites. Writing in 1956, he suggests that the decisions, failures, and successes of the power elite are what truly determine the course of the country. Keep reading for an overview of this illuminating book.
Did you read The Body Keeps the Score? How well did you internalize the concepts? Experiences such as abuse, a severe car accident, and wartime combat can lead to a lifetime of flashbacks, nightmares, isolation, insomnia, hypervigilance, and rage. In The Body Keeps the Score, Bessel van der Kolk explores how diagnosing and treating trauma has evolved. Keep reading for nine The Body Keeps the Score quizzes that test your knowledge of the book.
What could wipe out humanity? How have civilizations been destroyed in the past? In The World Without Us, science journalist Alan Weisman asks what would happen if the human race vanished overnight. Although he states that the means of extinction are not necessarily relevant to the thought experiment, he speculates about how it might occur. Read more to learn about a few doomsday scenarios that might cause the extinction of the human race.
Do you struggle to get things done? Do you feel like you never make progress toward your goals? Are you ready to give up? According to John Maxwell, motivation makes it easier to reach your goals. But, it must be consistent to be effective. You probably already know that part but wonder how to stay motivated for the long haul. Maxwell offers two practical ways to do this. Read more to learn how to keep yourself motivated until you cross the finish line.
Do you ever use the word “hangry”? Do you think you should or shouldn’t? Do you take a functional or a purist approach to language? In The Language Instinct, experimental psychologist Steven Pinker argues that language is an innate, biological ability in humans—not just an element of human culture that gets passed from person to person. His theory explains his openness to language innovation. Continue reading to discover why, according to Pinker, we shouldn’t be afraid to toss out arbitrary grammar conventions.
How do you get enough people talking about your business to make it profitable? What if you saw yourself as a campaign manager instead of a salesperson? Daniel Priestley discusses why and how you should build an extreme level of demand for your products before starting to sell them. He then provides the steps for a successful marketing campaign: determine your supply, prime the market, reach critical mass, make the sale, and keep people talking. Keep reading to learn how to create a successful marketing campaign with these five steps.
Who are the power elite in America? What institutions wield influence over nearly everything? In The Power Elite, sociologist C. Wright Mills discusses how a small group of leaders has taken over a vast majority of American political and economic decision-making. He defines the power elite—who they are and how they operate—and he identifies the three institutions where the power elite emerged. Keep reading to learn who these people are and how they’ve consolidated their power.