The World's Best Book Summaries
What are some basic economic terms you should know? How does Thomas Piketty define them? Before discussing income and wealth inequality in-depth, Thomas Piketty establishes the broader intellectual framework that supports his analysis in Capital in the Twenty-First Century. He does this by defining some key economic terms. Read more for a list of basic economic terms and definitions you should know.
Is abstracted empiricism a constructive approach to social science? What are its flaws? In The Sociological Imagination, C. Wright Mills contends that not all ways of doing social science are equal. He believes that his way (sociological imagination) is the only one that serves the main purpose of social science—preserving freedom. He offers a critique of other approaches, especially abstracted empiricism, asserting that they fail to protect a free and open society in the way sociological imagination does. Keep reading for Mills’s evaluation of abstracted empiricism.
What is grand theory in sociology? How well does it uphold the main purpose of social science? In The Sociological Imagination, C. Wright Mills contends that not all approaches to social science are equal. He believes that his approach (sociological imagination) is the only way to preserve freedom. He offers a critique of other approaches, including grand theory, asserting that they fail to protect a free and open society in the way sociological imagination does. Let’s take a look at what grand theory is—and how Mills thinks it fails to deliver.
What can social scientists do to improve their work? How can they do a better job of connecting personal and social problems? In The Sociological Imagination, C. Wright Mills advocates for a different way of doing social science. Sociological imagination involves the development of one’s own methods, which Mills argues makes it easier to make a connection between personal and social problems. He believes that using sociological imagination can help social scientists more easily recognize their own bias, understand others’ perspectives, and maintain a broad scope. Keep reading to better understand the three benefits of sociological imagination.
What if the general public were more scientifically aware? What’s the path to get there? In The Demon-Haunted World, Carl Sagan shares his concern about science illiteracy, especially in America. He believes that a general public that’s equipped with more knowledge about scientific principles and methods would be a positive force in the world. He outlines two ways to increase science literacy: improving science education (including instilling more enthusiasm for science) and increasing funding for scientific research. Let’s take a close look at this advice from Sagan.
What makes an effective presentation? What are some things you should keep in mind when putting together a slideshow? An effective presentation is one that’s put together with the audience in mind. If you are creating slides, simplify things as much as possible: make sure the text is easy to read and digest, minimize distractions (e.g. animated slide transitions), and avoid superfluous language. Here are a few useful tips for a good presentation.
Where does knowledge come from? Why does Deutsch believe knowledge comes from guessing? The book The Beginning of Infinity says that knowledge is infinite and people are responsible for finding it. But there are still different theories on how we gain such knowledge. Below we’ll go through the different theories on where knowledge comes from and why we should stay open-minded about knowledge.
What kind of voice should you use during public speaking? How loud should you speak? What about speed? Managing your voice in public speaking is one of the hardest things about it, especially if you have little experience speaking for a large audience. Many beginner speakers practice saying their script but pay little attention to their voice, which is where things tend to go awry. Here are some tips for managing your voice in public speaking.
What is fallibilism? Why does David Deutsch warn against parochialism? In The Beginning of Infinity, David Deutsch argues that there’s no limit to knowledge and that nothing is absolute. He urges us to remember that nothing can be proven true, which is called fallibilism. Read below to learn more about fallibilism and how science advances through mistakes.
What’s the best way to organize a presentation? Should you deliver your point at the beginning or at the end? If your presentation doesn’t follow a clear structure, your point will likely get lost in the ramble. According to communication expert Jay Sullivan, the author of Simply Said, your should organize your presentation into six parts: 1) opener, 2) conclusion (yes, the conclusion comes second), 3) your premise (what’s in it for them?), 4) supporting evidence (why should they believe you?), 5) recap, and 6) action steps. Here’s how to structure a presentation to make sure your message gets across.