The World's Best Book Summaries
Do you have any business partnerships abroad? Why might you need them? In Hit Refresh, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella discusses the importance of international business partnerships. Drawing on his own experience, he shares two ways you can benefit from such ventures. Continue reading to learn the advantages of global partnerships.
How did the Protestant Reformation get going in earnest? What revolutionary ideas did Martin Luther introduce? In The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism, Max Weber discusses the doctrinal developments introduced by Martin Luther and others that, according to Weber, produced the Protestant ethic. These doctrines caused people to live more systematically, ascetically, and rationally than ever before. Continue reading for Weber’s account of Martin Luther and the Reformation.
Do you realize how often you make assumptions? How often do you question their validity? The Stoic philosophers were big on reason. They identified assumptions as tools people use to bypass reason. So, they would encourage you to challenge your assumptions if you want to see things as they truly are. Read more to understand the importance of being aware of—and questioning—your assumptions.
What’s social movement theory? How is it being taught in schools? Is it part of an indoctrination machine—or even worse? Mark Levin believes that the teaching of social movement theory is part of a program of Marxist indoctrination in schools. He argues that it goes as far as encouraging revolution. Keep reading to understand the theory and Levin’s take on it.
What is toxic masculinity, and why does it matter? What can be done about it? It’s probably fair to say that toxic masculinity is talked about more than it’s understood. It’s important to understand what it truly means and how it harms both men and women. Continue reading for a brief overview of toxic masculinity and its effects.
What’s your approach to business competition? Should you build relationships with your competitors? When Satya Nadella took over as Microsoft’s CEO in 2014, he changed the way the company looked at its competitors. He saw competitor collaboration as a way to encourage innovation, benefitting the industry as a whole. In Hit Refresh, he tells the story and shares three principles of strategic partnerships. Read more to learn about Nadella’s approach to competitors and how it contributed to the transformation of Microsoft.
What’s Max Weber’s “iron cage”? Was his analysis and prediction about the modern world accurate? Max Weber’s classic work The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism discusses the socio-economic and religious roots of modern capitalism—and of our productivity-focused culture. He ends the book with a reflection on the materialist bent of the modern world. Let’s take a look at Weber’s view, Steven Pinker’s perspective, and some wisdom from a Chinese proverb.
How do your emotions affect your circumstances? How do they impact your well-being? In The Daily Stoic, Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman argue that getting in touch with your emotions is an important aspect of living a virtuous life. For the Stoics, clear thinking leads to well-regulated emotions and is negatively affected by unregulated emotions. Read more to understand why getting in touch with your emotions is so important.
Why do hurt people, hurt people? Can hurtful people change course by healing their own pain? James O’Brien would have counted himself among the “hurt people hurting people.” He started his own journey by exploring his childhood trauma in therapy. O’Brien claims that only by getting to the root of our pain can we learn to have empathy for others. Keep reading to learn O’Brien’s story of awareness and healing.
Should Critical Race Theory be taught in schools? Is the scholarship sound? What are the potential consequences? Mark Levin believes that teaching Critical Race Theory (CRT) in American schools is a bad idea. He explains his reasons for opposing CRT in general—and The 1619 Project specifically—in his book American Marxism. Continue reading to learn Levin’s argument.