Books Archives

Deep Work: Review and Background (Cal Newport)

Thinking about reading Deep Work by Cal Newport but want to know more about the book first? How was the book received when it came out? Do Newport’s methods work? Cal Newport’s book Deep Work teaches rules that readers can use to optimize their days and become more productive. His method is to split your day into chunks of time and to learn to focus on a single task at a time. This Deep Work review takes a look at the book’s context, background, and critical reception

How to Read a Book: Review and Background

Are you thinking of reading How to Read a Book but want to know more about it first? In what context was it written and how was it received? How to Read a Book was written by Mortimer Adler and Charles Van Doren in 1940. It was one of the first books to teach the art of reading for comprehension rather than speed, and so it became an immediate bestseller. However, it may not still live up to its name in the modern day. Continue reading for our How to Read a Book review.

Debunking the Arguments in Listening to Prozac

What is the book Listening to Prozac about? Who is the scientist that challenged the claims made in the book? Listening to Prozac is a landmark book written in support of antidepressants drugs by Dr. Peter Kramer. The book is based on three main arguments rooted in questionable science. Dr. Irving Kirsch used new evidence-based research to refute these arguments in his journal—” The Emperor’s New Drugs: Exploding the Antidepressant Myth.” Read on for Dr. Irving Kirsch’s arguments as to why Listening to Prozac is flawed.

Superforecasting: Review, Context & Critical Reception

Budgeting and Planning: Why Is It So Important?

Is Phillip Tetlock’s Superforcasting worth reading? What was Tetlock’s inspiration in writing the book? The idea for Superforecasting came from Tetlock’s experiences with the Expert Political Judgment and Good Judgment Project forecasting experiments, during which Tetlock and his team discovered that some people are significantly better at predicting the future than others. Tetlock and Gardner set out to explore exactly what sets “superforecasters” apart from regular people; Superforecasting is the result. This Superforecasting review takes a look at the book’s intellectual context, background, impact, and discusses its key strengths and weaknesses.

Adler and Van Doren: What Is Good Reading?

According to the authors of How to Read a Book, what is good reading? Why is it important to read for comprehension rather than passively? In their book, Adler and Van Doren assert that good reading is active rather than passive. They talk about the importance of reading for comprehension rather than just grasping the surface level and they believe that the best books challenge you and force you to grow. Continue below to learn what good reading is, according to Adler and Van Doren.

Basic Economics: Book Overview (Thomas Sowell)

Have you ever wondered how an economy works—how millions of people can buy and sell goods and services without a master coordinator? Why do we use money, rather than bartering our services with each other? Why do some nations prosper, while others stay poor despite vast natural resources? In his book Basic Economics, Stanford economist Thomas Sowell answers all of these questions and more. Containing no math, he instead explains intuitive principles that will help you understand how market transactions work and the effect of policies on the economy. Below is a brief overview of Basic Economics: A Citizen’s Guide

How to Read a Book: Using External Resources

How and when should you use external resources when you’re reading a book? Is it okay to rely on outside help, or should you try to read a difficult book on your own? In their book How to Read a Book, Adler and Van Doren believe that you should struggle through a book as much as you can on your own. However, when you really need help understanding the material, there are some tools you can use to aid your understanding. Below are the external resources that Adler and Van Doren recommend using.

Contagious: Jonah Berger’s Best Marketing Tactics

What powerful marketing tactics can you find in Contagious by Jonah Berger? Why is it that some new products and ideas gain widespread popularity while others fail to “catch on”? In Contagious, Jonah Berger argues that the driving force behind products and ideas catching on—or, in his words, becoming “contagious”—is word of mouth. Things catch on when lots of people talk about them, and Berger’s best marketing tactics will help you find out how to make that happen. Keep reading for the best marketing tactics from Contagious by Jonah Berger.

How to Identify the Most Important Sentences in a Book

How can you tell which are the most important sentences in a book? What are the best ways to unpack complicated sentences? In How to Read a Book, authors Adler and Van Doren suggest identifying an author’s most important sentences to find their leading proposition. Once you’ve identified the primary proposition, paraphrase it in your own words to make sure you really understand its meaning. Keep reading to learn the best way to find and unpack an author’s most important sentences.

The Gifts of Imperfection: Review (Brené Brown)

Are you thinking of reading Brené Brown’s book Gifts of Imperfection? What is the book about and how can it help you? Brené Brown is famous for her works regarding shame, worthiness, and vulnerability, among other topics. Her book The Gifts of Imperfection was an instant bestseller, but that doesn’t mean it’s free from flaws. This review of The GIfts of Imperfection covers the book’s content, structure, and more. Continue below for our Gifts of Imperfection review.