The World's Best Book Summaries
What does the history of LSD look like? What role does LSD play in modern Western culture? In How to Change Your Mind, Michael Pollan looks at the complicated role of psychedelics—most importantly LSD and psilocybin—in modern Western culture. As we’ll see, this is a history fraught with tension between experimenters and authority figures, a conflict between freedom and control. Find out more about the history of LSD, dating back to 1938.
What’s postmodernism? What’s deconstruction? What’s the difference between cultural hierarchy and class hierarchy? In Cynical Theories, Helen Pluckrose and James Lindsay show how, over time, social justice went from a positive force to its current form. The first phase featured liberals and Marxists taking a material approach. In the second phase, postmodernism, the focus shifted to culture. Read more to learn about the tenets of postmodernism and how it shaped social justice.
Why did Charles Darwin believe all organisms share a family tree? How does natural selection work? What criticism did Darwin’s ideas receive during his lifetime? On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection revolutionized the way people look at life on Earth. In the book, Charles Darwin explains his theory of evolution and the genealogy of species as he understood it. He also responds to a few contemporary arguments against his ideas. Continue reading for an overview of this groundbreaking book.
How did Jimmy Carter’s political career start? What are some of the defining moments that shaped his career and formed his legacy? Biographer Jonathan Alter takes us on a journey through Jimmy Carter’s political career that starts well before his presidency. Alter discusses what drew Carter to politics in the first place, and he describes the various stops on the winding road that ended at the White House. Read more to learn about Carter’s career from the Georgia State Senate to the US presidency.
How has social psychology changed over the years? Why is it important to study human interaction? The roots of social psychology begin in the 1930s when scientists became interested in studying social interactions. Because of these studies, we have a better idea of why people act in certain situations and what relationships say about humanity. Learn more about social psychology’s history, according to The Psychology Book.
What’s the history of social justice ideology and approaches? How have the goals and methods changed over time? Past movements for equality used to fight for concrete issues. Helen Pluckrose and James Lindsay contend that contemporary activists and scholars are now more concerned with policing language and culture, shutting down rational debate, and challenging the very foundations of liberal society. Read on to understand how this incredible transformation came about.
What are the origins of psychology? Where did early ideas about consciousness come from? Psychology is the study of human thought and behavior, as well as the mental processes that underpin them. In its infant form, psychology dealt with the concept of human consciousness before experimentation and behavioral observation. Below we’ll explore that transition by discussing the history of basic psychology.
How did Jimmy Carter reshape the role of the vice president? Why was the Department of Energy created? What are the highs and lows of Carter’s foreign policy? Supporters of Jimmy Carter would probably rather talk about his post-presidential years than his time in the White House. However, biographer Jonathan Alter thinks the Carter Administration deserves another look. While mistakes were made, Alter believes Carter’s achievements should be acknowledged. Continue reading for Alter’s assessment of Jimmy Carter’s presidency.
Why did the US want China as an ally in the 20th century? After the two nations normalized diplomatic relations, what were the sticking points? In The Avoidable War, Kevin Rudd explains the complex factors contributing to hostility between the US and China. One chapter in this fascinating history is the normalization of relations between the two countries. Read on for an overview of China-US diplomatic relations in the latter part of the 20th century.
What was Solomon Asch’s conformity experiment? Why do people fold under peer pressure? The Psychology Book notes that one of the most influential experiments in social psychology is the Asch Paradigm. Created by Solomon Asch, the experiment was founded to see how easily people conform to others in a group, even if they know they’re wrong. Let’s look at what this experiment tells us about human conformity, with additional insight from the Stanford Prison experiment.