The World's Best Book Summaries
What are the five questions you should ask yourself when looking at statistics? How can you tell when a statistic is being manipulated? It is important to perform a statistical evaluation before you trust any statistic you’re given. Many statistics are manipulated to fulfill an agenda but even manipulated statistics can provide you with valuable information. Continue on to learn how to perform a statistical evaluation.
How do scientists come up with evolutionary hypotheses? What is the adaptationist program? Proper evolutionary reasoning undertakes the adaptationist program, which is a method of investigation that essentially makes hypotheses testable. This method can be used to help make important medical discoveries. Keep reading for more on evolutionary hypotheses and the adaptationist program.
What is virtual ownership? How do advertisers use virtual ownership to manipulate you into buying a product? How can you avoid it? Virtual ownership is the feeling of ownership of an object before you actually own it. Advertisers take advantage of this aspect of human nature through advertising and trial periods. Keep reading to learn more about virtual ownership.
Why do we feel a strong urge to repay favors, even from strangers? How does altruism lead to happiness? Is it possible to feel good while faking altruism? Reciprocal altruism theory states that we treat others as we have been treated by them. In other words, we may help others at a cost to ourselves, in hopes that others will repay the favor. This altruistic behavior came from evolution because by doing good for others, we are doing good for ourselves. Keep reading to learn more about the reciprocal altruism theory.
How can you work to overcome the power of free? What positive impacts can the power of free have? If something is “free,” it may cause you to make an irrational purchase, or to wait in a 45-minute line for it. But would you have really done those things if they weren’t free? Learn how to overcome the power of free and harness it for good. Continue reading to learn more about the power of free.
Why don’t mammals reproduce asexually? Why are sperm so much smaller than eggs? Why do male mammals typically have to fight to inseminate a female? Reproduction in mammals varies depending on species. The main reason mammals reproduce sexually is to promote genetic diversity, otherwise, an entire species could be wiped out with one sickness. Keep reading to learn more about reproduction in mammals.
What are the three main factors that affect our happiness? What part of the happiness formula are in our control? The happiness formula states that our happiness is a function of our affective style (S), the conditions of our lives (C), and our voluntary activities (V)—or H=S+C+V. Some factors in the happiness formula are out of our control, but some are completely in our control to improve upon. Continue reading to learn more about the happiness formula.
How do you get a good statistical sample? How do some people manipulate their sample selection to mislead others? In How to Lie With Statistics, Darrell Huff explains the criteria for getting a good statistical sample size. Good sampling in statistics is important because bad sampling can lead to unintentional (or intentional) bias and misleading numbers. Keep reading to learn how to get a good sample and avoid bad sampling.
What do emotions have to do with evolution? Why do we diagnose overly anxious people but not people who don’t feel anxiety at all? How can sadness actually benefit us? According to the authors of Why We Get Sick, emotions are a maladaptive psychological process. In the Stone Age, anxiety was necessary to keep us alive and sadness prevented us from repeating losses. Keep reading for more information about the evolutionary functions of emotions.
How can social norms promote acts of selflessness? Why do people try harder when they’re not being paid? Experiments have shown that when given free stuff, people are less likely to be greedy and more likely to selflessly leave some for others. When those items cost even a small amount of money, people are more likely to greedily purchase more. This could have serious implications for society. Keep reading to learn how “free” things can increase acts of selflessness.