The World's Best Book Summaries
Do you wish that people valued and respected you more? What can you do to make that happen? Jordan Peterson argues that others will treat you with more respect if you simply stand up straight. There’s a deeply-ingrained biological reason for this. Understanding the science behind it and leveraging it to your advantage can cause you to behave differently. As a result, people will treat you differently. Read more to learn how to gain respect.
What’s the story of Xerox’s innovative efforts? Where did they go wrong? People can spend years working hard to achieve success, then relax once they get there. John Brooks explains how this complacency can make you blind to threats and weaknesses. He describes how Xerox’s commitment to innovation led to its success—and how its subsequent neglect of innovation led to its decline. Continue reading to learn what happened to Xerox.
What are the dangers of poor parenting? Do the children really outgrow the effects of poor parenting when they become adults and learn to think for themselves? Most parents mean well, but their parenting practices don’t always align with those well-meaning intentions. According to Jordan Peterson, the effects of poor parenting are wide-ranging and can last throughout a child’s lifetime. Continue reading to better understand Peterson’s argument.
Where can panic on Wall Street lead? What’s a “flash crash”? In his essays on Wall Street, John Brooks discusses how letting gut reactions override logical thinking can lead to dire results. He uses the 1962 stock market crash as an example. Continue reading to learn about this incident and what it teaches us about economics and human behavior.
Why do we lie? What’s really behind our efforts to conceal the truth? How does lying compromise your personal integrity? We may lie to get what we want or to make a certain impression. However, lying may not be the best strategy to achieve either of those things. According to Jordan Peterson, when we lie to others, we also lie to ourselves. In his book, 12 Rules for Life, he says“Tell the truth—or at least don’t lie” for lying obscures your personal truth. Here’s why we lie, according to Peterson.
Who was David Lilienthal? What can you learn from his story about working with purpose and transitioning from one career to another? The people of Wall Street may have a reputation for pursuing profits at all costs, but John Brooks says that there are those who’ve managed to balance this pursuit with a sense of purpose. Brooks profiles David Lilienthal, former chairman of the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) and, later, chairman and CEO of the Development & Resources Corporation (D & R). Brooks traces Lilienthal’s career trajectory and how he navigated the transition from public servant to big businessman. Continue
Do you set goals for yourself? What’s the key to setting effective personal goals? According to Jordan Peterson, you should set your goals based on who you want to become, not who other people are. He argues that, if you compare yourself to other people, you’re using an unfairly harsh standard. With this in mind, here’s how to set personal goals, according to Peterson.
Why did the UK devalue its currency in 1967? What events led up to that decision? Could the fallout have been even worse? In 1964, the British pound was struggling. Currency hedgers and speculators were betting against it. An alliance of central banks tried to save the pound from devaluation. It worked, but only temporarily. The UK moved to devalue the pound in 1967. Continue reading to learn more about this historic devaluation of the pound.
What was the Salad Oil Scandal? How did it—and the JFK assassination—lead to a Wall Street bailout? It was November 1963. Ira Haupt & Co. was in trouble. The firm had borrowed millions to invest in a company that turned out to be a fraud. Ira Haupt & Co. was about to go bankrupt, and its shareholders’ money was at risk. Keep reading to learn about this historic scandal and subsequent bailout.
What book gave Bailey a record number of aha! moments? What helped her get more into books about history and economics? Bailey could tell you all about it. Currently based in Scotland, she’s a book guide writer at Shortform. We interviewed her recently to learn a bit about her relationship with books.