Books Archives

The One-Minute Manager by Ken Blanchard: Book Overview

Managing people doesn’t have to be complicated or time-consuming. Ken Blanchard’s The One-Minute Manager proves that effective leadership can be simple, fast, and powerful. The book — and its updated version The New One-Minute Manager — introduce three core techniques that help managers bring out the best in their teams: goal setting, praising, and redirects. Each one takes just a minute but creates lasting impact. Keep reading to see how these strategies work and why they’re so effective.

Analytical Reading: Developing Your Own Views

What are the four components of analytical reading? What is the goal of reading a book analytically? Mortimer Adler’s How to Read a Book describes analytical reading as the third level of reading. At this level, the aim is to understand to book and its background as much as possible in an unlimited amount of time. Keep reading to learn about the four components of analytical reading.

Amusing Ourselves to Death: Discussion Questions

Are you looking to further your understanding of Amusing Ourselves to Death? How can you relate this thirty-six-year-old book to life today? Thirty-six years ago, Neil Postman wrote Amusing Ourselves to Death to warn society of a looming future like Brave New World. Postman believed that entertainment value would become more important than truth or intelligence. Continue reading for Amusing Ourselves to Death discussion questions.

The New One-Minute Manager: The 3 Core Principles

What lessons can you learn from Ken Blanchard’s book The New One-Minute Manager? How can you get the most out of your employees? The New One-Minute Manager teaches three core principles: one-minute goals, one-minute praisings, and one-minute redirects. You’ll learn how empowering your employees motivates them to work harder. Continue below for a brief overview of The New One-Minute Manager‘s core lessons.

Inspectional Reading: Understanding Key Points

How can inspectional reading help you comprehend a book better? How do you read inspectionally? Mortimer Adler’s book How to Read a Book describes inspectional reading as the second level of reading. At this level, a reader can understand the main concepts of the book by skimming it and reading its high-level content. Learn how you can understand a book in just 15 minutes with inspectional reading.

Amusing Ourselves to Death: Quotes by Neil Postman

What are the best Amusing Ourselves to Death quotes by Neil Postman? Do Postman’s observations from 1985 still hold true today? Although Postman’s book Amusing Ourselves to Death was published over thirty years ago, the messages still hold true today, if not more than ever. Postman warns us of a world that is more focused on entertainment than truth and value. Continue reading for some of Neil Postman’s quotes from Amusing Ourselves to Death.

Thomas Paine’s Best Common Sense Quotes

Are you looking for Common Sense quotes by Thomas Paine? What are some of the most noteworthy passages worth revisiting? Thomas Paine’s Common Sense provides both an intellectual backing and a roadmap for full American independence from England. While it is often read as a book that’s only concerned with questions related to America and England, Paine also lays out a comprehensive political philosophy. The following Common Sense quotes encapsulate the essense of his argument.

Tools of Titans by Tim Ferriss: Book Overview

Is Tim Ferriss’s book Tools of Titans about? What do you think highly successful people—those who are at the top of their game—do differently? In Tools of Titans, Tim Ferriss shares the habits and beliefs of 101 high-performing people, including tech investors, entrepreneurs, athletes, and entertainers. The premise of the book is that if you emulate the habits and beliefs of people who succeed the way you want to succeed, you too can be successful. In this brief overview of Tools of Titans, we’ve pulled out the main themes across all the people Ferriss interviewed.

Elementary Reading: Basic Comprehension Skills

What is the first level of reading from How to Read a Book? Why do many adults still read at an elementary reading level? In How to Read a Book, Mortimer Adler describes elementary reading as the most basic form of reading. Unfortunately, once you’re taught how to read as a child, you are rarely taught how to read better. This leaves many adults in the elementary reading stage. Here’s what it means to read at the elementary reading level.

The Clean Coder: Book on Coding Defines Top Skills

What is Robert C. Martin’s The Clean Coder about? What qualities, according to the author, distinguish a professional developer? In his book, The Clean Coder, expert developer Robert C. Martin explains how to be a programming professional—an honorable, reliable employee who produces quality work (or takes responsibility for the rare times she doesn’t). A professional’s most important responsibility is to meet their employer’s needs. Below is a brief overview of The Clean Coder: A Code of Conduct for Professional Programmers by Robert C. Martin.