The World's Best Book Summaries
Are games art? Are games stories? Or are games metaphors? Can they be all three, and why does it matter? Game designer and author of A Theory of Fun for Game Design, Raph Koster, delves into these questions in his book. Koster wants to legitimize gaming because of the potential benefits games could have on society. Keep reading for Koster’s opinion on games’ role in society.
Is it okay to have a cheat day when on a food plan? Can diet cheats really set you back? According to Dr. Glenn Livingston in Never Binge Again, diet cheat days can be harmful to your food plan. When you break your diet to eat an unhealthy meal, your brain makes you feel bad and you tend to give up on your diet. Here is why Never Binge Again says that you need to stick to your food plan: all day, every day.
Is bias training a good solution to workplace bias? What incident forced Starbucks to reevaluate how they handle racism? How is moral credentialing a threat to racism progression? In her book Biased, Dr. Jennifer Eberhardt discusses bias training at work and uses the 2018 Starbucks incident as a case study. Many companies used biased training as a crutch because they don’t know how else to deal with racism but it may not be the perfect solution. Here’s some background on the Starbucks incident and a discussion on whether bias training is effective or not.
What is the history of sales? Why does Daniel Pink say that we are all salespeople? In his book To Sell Is Human, Daniel Pink says that all humans are salespeople, whether we like it or not. Pink discusses the transition from traditional sales (or selling sales) to modern sales (or non-selling sales). Pink says that sales aren’t always about making money, it’s often about “moving” others—this can even be in the form of trying to get likes on social media. Keep reading to learn about the history of sales and how sales has changed over the years.
Who was Witty Ticcy Ray? Why do many patients who suffer from superabundance illnesses dislike the idea of treatment? How did Oliver Sacks compromise with Ray? In his book The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat, psychologist Oliver Sacks discusses brain illnesses that cause superabundance. One of his patients was Witty Ticcy Ray, a patient with Tourette’s Syndrome who allowed his Tourette’s to become a major part of his personality. Here is Oliver Sack’s research on superabundance and his experience with Witty Ticcy Ray.
Is there such a thing as a game that would satisfy every player? Do different genders prefer different game types? According to Raph Koster in A Theory of Fun for Game Design, there is no such thing as a universal game. This is because everybody enjoys games differently based on factors such as intelligence type, personality, and gender. Here is why you shouldn’t try to make a universal game.
Want to know how to reduce bias in the workplace? How can employers commit to antiracism? In her book Biased, Jennifer Eberhardt suggests four methods for reducing bias at work. Those methods are understanding what triggers bias, using monitoring technology, building interracial relationships, and working to create a new normal. Learn about the four methods to reduce bias below.
Think selling is just for salespeople? Think again. Daniel Pink’s To Sell Is Human flips that assumption on its head. Whether you’re pitching an idea to your boss, convincing your kid to eat vegetables, or actually selling a product, you’re using sales skills every single day. In his book, Pink shows us that the old-school “always be closing” mentality is dead. Today’s world demands something different: connection, optimism, and a genuine focus on serving others. Read on to discover how to master the art of moving people.
Who was the Frisky Natasha in the book The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat? What long-term effects can syphilis have on the brain if left untreated? In psychologist Oliver Sacks’ research, he discusses an elderly woman who he calls the Frisky Natasha. Natasha had contracted syphilis over seventy years before and was suffering the long-term effects of brain damage. However, she seemed to be happy with her disease. Continue reading to learn about the case study of Natasha and the long-term effects of syphilis.
What are game mechanics? What are the most common gameplay paradigms? How do you innovate a game? A Theory of Fun for Game Design author, Raph Koster, explains that the holy grail of game mechanics should provide never-ending challenges, require a varied skill set, and have a difficulty curve that adjusts to your skill level. Unfortunately, a lot of games fall back on cliched game mechanics. Keep reading for Raph Koster’s explanation of game mechanics.