The World's Best Book Summaries
Why is virtue important? What difference does it make if you practice Christian virtues? What purposes do they fulfill in your life? Often, people view virtue as a killjoy, holding us back from fun and enjoyment. C. S. Lewis sees it differently. He asserts that, if we truly want to get the most out of life, we’ll practice Christian virtue. Continue reading to understand Lewis’s argument on the importance of virtue.
What is the meaning of the Aristotelian concept of “telos”? What is the basic idea behind the teleological argument? Aristotle had a “teleological” view of the world. He believed that everything had an end goal or purpose (a “telos” in ancient Greek). According to Michael Sandel, the author of Justice, Aristotle used this view to explain politics as a whole as well as the relationship between politics and individuals. Keep reading to learn about Aristotle’s telos doctrine and how it applies to justice and society.
Do you believe that you are responsible for your own actions, even if the outcomes aren’t what you intended? Do you feel justified in making excuses? Courage involves saying and doing the right thing. This includes taking responsibility for your words and actions, even when they lead to negative outcomes. Ryan Holiday writes about this aspect of Stoic courage in his book Courage Is Calling. Continue reading to understand how you must accept responsibility for what you say and do, no matter what.
How does the cycle of abuse work in an institution? Is “just following orders” a valid defense? In The Gulag Archipelago, Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn doesn’t excuse the brutal actions of officers and guards. However, he argues that they were under incredible pressure from the state to participate in violence and believes that most acted out of fear of their leaders, the desire for safety, and the need to conform. Read more to learn about corruption in the Soviet gulag system.
What’s the opposite of fear? When you do the right thing, how much does your motive matter? In Courage Is Calling, Ryan Holiday asserts that love is the driving force behind heroic acts of courage. He also warns that courageous acts done for the wrong reasons aren’t virtuous at all. Read more to learn why you should be motivated by love—and why doing the right thing for the right reason is so important.
Is it possible to compete with Facebook, Google, Amazon, or Apple? How fair is the market’s environment? In his book, Scott Galloway harshly criticizes the Four’s efforts to eliminate their competition, creating a landscape of big tech monopolies. While large, powerful companies always have a competitive edge, he argues that the Four wield their size and power unfairly to purposefully eliminate competitors from the market. Read more to learn how the Four purchase competitors, force competitors out of business, and engage in other questionable tactics.
More than 50 years after the Civil Rights Movement and more than 14 years after electing its first Black president, why is the United States still divided along racial lines? What is the new theory of racism? That’s the central question of Stamped From the Beginning by Ibram X. Kendi, which argues that contrary to common wisdom, racism doesn’t begin with prejudice and hatred. It begins with self-serving policies whose proponents justify their actions by inventing racist ideas. Below is a brief overview of the key takeaways from Stamped From the Beginning by Ibram X. Kendi.
Why are people rejecting technology? What dangers does technology pose? What are the solutions? Neo-Luddites are part of a movement that promotes technological reform and advocates much more careful consideration of the possible consequences of adopting any technology. While they don’t entirely reject technology, they worry about the broad and varied dangers it poses. Read on to learn why rejecting technology, and not embracing every new technology, might be a wise decision.
What are short-term mission trips? Why might these trips be unethical? In short-term mission trips, missionaries move for a short period to spread God’s word and help others in need. However, these intentions often hurt people since the missionaries neglect to give people what they really need to thrive. Let’s look at the history of short-term mission trips and how everybody can get the most out of these trips.
What are the functions of religion? What societal needs does it fulfill? Is religion necessary for these functions? Many contend that religion explains the existence of the universe, provides morality and social stability, binds people together, and gives rise to comfort and hope. While religion does serve these functions, some argue that these roles can be fulfilled by alternatives to religion. Keep reading for an overview of the functions of religion in society, drawing on ideas from Jonathan Haidt, Will and Ariel Durant, Richard Dawkins, Nassim Nicholas Taleb, and others.