The World's Best Book Summaries
What’s the “so what” factor? How can you, as a writer, advocate for your readers? In Everybody Writes, Ann Handley discusses writing for your audience. She explains that your writing must help your reader by providing useful content and that it should build a strong relationship with your reader. Keep reading to learn more about these two critical aspects of writing.
What does the Mother archetype represent? How old are goddess-based religions? The Dragon, the Mother, the Father, and the Son are the characters in our most primal myths. They represent the broadest elements of human existence. One key aspect of these characters is that each has creative and destructive potential. Let’s take a look at the Mother archetype to understand what it represents and how it’s been reflected in society through the ages.
Would you like to have more peace in life? What could you do differently—and how could you think differently—to live well? The Stoic philosophers believed they knew the secret to the good life. Epictetus, one of the most influential of these philosophers, offers three pieces of advice: take life as it comes, treat others well, and be mindful of your mortality. Read more to learn how to live a good life as Epictetus envisioned.
What makes good writing? How do you determine the purpose of your writing? How much do creativity and accuracy matter? In Everybody Writes, Ann Handley offers a comprehensive guide to writing in today’s business world. She shares three ingredients for good writing that involve attention to your audience, creativity, and credibility. This formula works for all kinds of writing, within or outside of business. Read more to learn about these three elements of good writing.
What do Uncle Sam and Kronos have in common? How does the Father archetype balance out the Mother archetype? Along with the plot, characters are the basic building blocks of myth. Always present, they represent fundamental aspects of life and society. Jordan Peterson discusses the Father archetype in his book Maps of Meaning. Continue reading to understand what the Father represents and why this symbolism is so pervasive.
When things go wrong, do you look for someone or something to blame? If so, what good does that do? Placing blame is not a Stoic way to live. Philosophers such as Epictetus teach that it’s far better to accept things as they are. So, forget about pointing fingers in every direction—even inward. Continue reading to learn how acceptance is better than the blame game.
Do you write emails or social media posts? What about business letters or marketing copy? How might your writing be improved? In Everybody Writes, Ann Handley discusses what makes writing good and how to make your writing more valuable. She explains brand voice and how it can be adapted for various purposes. She also shares her writing process that’s useful for all types of writing. Continue reading for an overview of this practical book.
How do we create our very first stories? Are we born as blank slates, or is there a “collective unconscious” as psychologist Carl Jung suggested? Jordan Peterson’s answer to these questions is “yes and no.” We’re born with the mental problem-solving process as part of how our brains biologically function, but we learn our first stories by watching our parents. According to Jordan Peterson, stories help us figure out the world. Keep reading to learn how.
Do you think first before you act, or do you react in emotion? How might you think more objectively about something that’s happening to you? Stoicism emphasizes calm dignity and inner strength—that you don’t let anything upset or excite you so you can bring reason to bear in every situation. Epictetus teaches how to meet challenges with quiet rationality—to think first before you act. Read more to learn how to adopt this Stoic practice of rational action.
What are the final stages of the writing process? How do you know when your piece is ready for publication? In Everybody Writes, Ann Handley offers a comprehensive guide to writing everything you need to write in today’s business world. The book’s main focus is on writing for marketing purposes, but many of the principles can be applied to other types of writing as well. Keep reading for Handley’s advice on your third and fourth drafts and your final edits as you prepare for publication.