The World's Best Book Summaries
What is wuwei? Why does Confucius think everyone should have it? Confucius, in The Analects, urges people to live decent, moral lives. One way to do this is to go with the flow of righteousness and do nothing that’s against it. This is the philosophy of wuwei, Confucianism’s doctrine of inaction. Read more to learn what Confucius teaches about wuwei.
What is ren? Do you practice it? What difference would it make if you did? In The Analects, Confucius defines a good person as someone who strives to improve the world. He believes that good people must be altruistic. In other words, they act to help other people and don’t simply seek personal gain through their behavior. Continue reading to learn about the Confucian virtue of ren and how to practice it in your life for the betterment of the world around you.
What is shu? How can it guide your behavior in life? What’s Confucius’s recipe for morality? For Confucius, virtue is paramount in life. The Analects contain practical advice for how to become a good person. Confucius discusses the principle of shu, and he shares four more qualities you should embody if you want to be a force for good in the world. Keep reading to learn the Confucian way of morality.
Why is Vermont’s “Death With Dignity” law so controversial? What are the pros and cons of physician-assisted death? Vermont has become the first state to remove the residency requirement for physician-assisted death, sparking renewed debates around “Death with Dignity” laws. This change means that terminally ill individuals from outside the state can now seek life-ending care in Vermont. In this article, we’ll discuss the details of the law and the pros and cons.
What was the Human Genome Project (HGP)? What are the future implications of the HGP? The Human Genome Project, the largest genetic study ever undertaken, was an ambitious attempt to fully sequence human DNA. In the 20 years since the project’s completion, its accomplishments have reached well beyond the field of genetics, including information technology and medical ethics. Keep reading to learn about the Human Genome Project, the outcomes, and the future of the project.
Do you feel unaligned with your values? How can you find worthy values to live by? A crucial part of feeling happier is determining what your values are. To achieve this, you need to take three steps: accept yourself as you are, assess your current beliefs and values, and identify gratifying experiences. Keep reading to learn how to find your values that fit your standards.
What is the book The Confidence Game by Maria Konnikova about? How do con artists get away with manipulating their victims? How can you see past their games? Psychologist Maria Konnikova claims that con artists have existed for as long as human communities have. Con artists are people with an uncanny ability to gain someone’s trust, swindle them, and disappear before the victim even grasps what’s happened—a ruse known as a confidence game, or “con.” Read below for our The Confidence Game book overview to get the main ideas.
What is the psychology behind con artists’ behaviors? What traits are con artists predisposed to? In The Confidence Game, Maria Konnikova says that many con artists become manipulative and vindictive because they show signs of narcissism, psychopathy, and Machiavellianism. Showing signs of all three together can create a master manipulator. Below we’ll look at the psychology of con artists to dive into their minds.
How do people become con artists? What are the steps to a confidence game? Con artists will do everything in their power to manipulate you. But the truth is, most of them follow the same five steps. You can learn these steps so you can spot when you’re being conned and avoid the consequences. Continue reading to learn how to become a con artist to avoid being played.
What are common emotional manipulation tactics that con artists use? How do con artists persuade you to do what they want? In The Confidence Game, Maria Konnikova writes that con artists will persuade you to do something by making an action seem more appealing and removing any potential reasons not to take the action. They rely on two main manipulation tactics: alpha and omega tactics and superiority bias. Find out more about these emotional manipulation tactics so you don’t fall for them.