The World's Best Book Summaries
Who were Ernest Hemingway’s friends in Paris? What was his relationship like with each of these people? In his memoir, Ernest Hemingway describes the friends and acquaintances he made while living in Paris in the 1920s. He knew many of the famous writers and poets in the area which Gertrude Stein nicknamed the “Lost Generation.” The following recollections are taken from his memoir A Moveable Feast.
What are empathy neurons? How can empathy result in the spread of bad habits? Mirror neurons are also referred to as empathy neurons and are responsible for keeping track of what others around us do, say, think, feel, and want. This instinct can also cause you to be positively or negatively influenced by those around you. Keep reading to learn more about mirror neurons, empathy and influence.
How did F. Scott Fitzgerald and Ernest Hemingway know each other? What was their friendship like? F. Scott Fitzgerald and Ernest Hemingway met and became good friends in Paris. The friendship was difficult on Hemingway because Fitzgerald was unstable and an alcoholic, but he stuck by his side nonetheless. Here’s what Hemingway wrote about his friendship with Fitzgerald in A Moveable Feast.
What is neuromarketing? How do marketing experts take advantage of psychology to manipulate you into buying? Neuromarketing is when marketers use brain research to find out how they can manipulate customers into buying more. Many of these practices rely on dopamine traps. Here are some of the most common neuromarketing traps and advice on how to avoid them.
What is the reason Hemingway’s memoir wasn’t published until after his death? What is the backstory of A Moveable Feast? Believe it or not, Hemingway actually forgot about the vignettes he wrote while in Paris until over thirty years after he wrote them. When he re-discovered them in an old trunk, he set out to write his final memoir which became A Moveable Feast. Here is a Ernest Hemingway’s backstory and an introduction to his memoir.
Why does reading history books have such an impact on people’s actions? What are the different types of historical works? According to Mortimer Adler in How to Read a Book, reading history books is so impactful because rather than reading about some fantasy world or dystopia, you’re learning from actual events and people who lived. It’s important to learn how people act in different times and places. Here’s how Mortimer Adler says you should read history books and why you should read them.
In A Moveable Feast, why does Hemingway say that hunger was a good discipline? Why was Hemingway so poor when he was living in Paris? When Ernest Hemingway was living in Paris, he often went hungry due to his lack of income. He was ashamed of himself and tried to hide his starvation from others. In the memoir, he describes how hunger affected his moods and his work.
How is reading imaginative literature different than reading expository writing? What four questions should you ask about the book? In How to Read a Book, Mortimer Adler says that reading imaginative literature such as novels, plays, and poetry should be approached differently than informational books. The main difference is that imaginative literature is trying to convey emotions and experiences. Here’s how you can read imaginative literature like a pro.
Have you ever noticed that the longer you have to wait for something, the less you tend to want it? How can you take advantage of delay discounting? Delay discounting means that the longer you have to wait for something good, the less appealing it seems. This causes you to crave instant gratification rather than working towards a long-term goal. You can also turn this around and use it to your advantage. If you make that cookie harder to access, you’ll want it less. Continue below for more on delay discounting.
In what ways are form and content co-dependent? How are television and other forms of content hastening the death of our culture? According to Neil Postman, the author of Amusing Ourselves to Death, we are allowing the form (television and other forms of media) to dictate the content of our public discourse. In essence, television is redefining public life, and by extension, our culture and society. Here are some examples of how form dictates content and what it means for our culture.