The World's Best Book Summaries
How were societies originally structured? How and when were governments first formed? In The Origins of Political Order, political economist Francis Fukuyama discusses the earliest social structures: families and tribes. He explains how their dynamics were an obstacle to the formation of states and thus influenced political development. Continue reading to learn about the origins of government.
What is C. S. Lewis’s book Mere Christianity about? Why is it so enduring? C. S. Lewis explains and defends Christian beliefs to a skeptical modern audience through a series of essays—originally delivered as a series of radio addresses in the United Kingdom between 1941 and 1944. Broadcast to a population in the midst of World War II, Lewis’s discussions struck a chord with a wide audience. Keep reading for an overview of the book that covers Lewis’s views on moral laws and their Creator, the Christian understanding of God, Christian virtues, answering God’s call to virtue, and the example
Why is the Federal Reserve bad for the economy? In what ways is it harmful and even unethical? Even if you don’t believe there’s a sinister conspiracy behind the Fed, you might be interested to know that there are plenty of other reasons why it should be abolished. That’s the assertion of Edward Griffin, who calls out four major problems with the system. Continue reading to learn about these four ways the Fed does more harm than good.
What does it mean to be brave? What’s the opposite of courage? How is bravery different from heroism? Ryan Holiday’s Courage Is Calling teaches us the meaning of courage using principles from the ancient Greek philosophy of Stoicism. Holiday argues that every person has the innate ability to be courageous. The first step is to understand what that means. Read more to learn how the Stoics explain what true bravery is.
What’s dual-task interference? How is it keeping you from being more productive? Can you avoid it? Dual-task interference is what happens in your brain when you multitask. This interference results in less efficiency and productivity. When you understand the science, you’re better equipped to keep this phenomenon from happening. Keep reading to learn how to maintain your focus and increase your productivity by avoiding dual-task interference.
Is Jesus divine? How does the dual nature (humanity and divinity) of Jesus work? What difference does this dual nature make for people? C. S. Lewis argues that the Christian faith requires, not simply surrendering to God’s moral laws, but following a perfect example. Lewis writes that only Jesus is capable of setting this perfect example of surrender because he is both human and divine. Keep reading for an exploration of Lewis’s intriguing argument for why we should follow the example of Jesus.
How does the Federal Reserve affect the economy? Does it help or harm? Helping to stabilize the economy is allegedly a key part of the Fed’s mission, but Edward Griffin argues that, in fact, it tends to destabilize the economy. It does this in two ways: amplifying normal business cycles and protecting banks from bad investments. Continue reading to learn about the Fed’s negative impacts on the economy.
How do you know the right thing to do? What good can come from fear? According to Ryan Holiday, you should do things that scare you. If an option puts a bit of panic in you, it’s probably the right thing to do. Also, you’ll grow when you do the right thing in spite of your fear. Continue reading to learn more about why you should do things that scare you. We also include some guidelines on how to courageously do the right thing at work.
When you get stuck on a task, what do you do? How can understanding brain science help you get going again? Regardless of the work you do, it involves some degree of creativity. That requires mental energy, and sometimes the energy just isn’t there. Business consultant David Rock explains the basics of what a mental block looks like and proposes three steps to reactivate your creativity. Continue reading to learn how to overcome mental blocks by understanding how your brain works.
What matters to God? What is God chiefly concerned with? In Mere Christianity, C. S. Lewis asserts that we should cultivate Christian virtue. He argues that virtue is essential to human thriving. Most importantly, though, God cares about the kind of people we are. Here’s C. S. Lewis’s take on what matters to God and why that should matter to us.