The World's Best Book Summaries
What is the male gaze? How are women objectified in art? The male gaze is the practice of portraying women in the visual arts from a perspective of a male viewer. According to art critic John Berger, through the assumed male gaze, the depicted women are perceived as objects of sexual desire owned by the spectator. Continue reading to better understand the male gaze in art.
What can we learn from European art history? How has art shaped social order? According to art critic John Berger, throughout history, the way we see art has been manipulated by a privileged minority to preserve their social and economic dominance. He argues that understanding the dominant form of art from this period in Europe is key to understanding Western history and social order. Keep reading to learn more about Berger’s ideas.
Who was Sun Tzu? What’s the key premise of Sun Tzu’s philosophy? In The Art of War, Sun Tzu, a Chinese warrior and philosopher, details the nature of competition and psychology of leadership and provides strategies for how to approach both. Although Sun Tzu’s principles are geared toward actual military conflict, they can be useful in all areas of conflict or competition, even at a personal level. Keep reading for Sun Tzu’s principles of war and the rationale behind them.
How did the evolution of the brain make humans so intelligent? What makes humans so special compared to other species? Humans are arguably the smartest creatures on Earth, and it all has to do with the human brain. Evolution played a key role in humans’ brain development, which created three distinct human characteristics that set humans apart from other species. Learn how the evolution of the brain made humans so unique, according to Dr. John Medina.
What are Sun Tzu’s teachings about attaining victory? Can you really win a war without fighting? Much of Tzu’s teachings revolve around the concept that victory without direct fighting is the most advantageous way to win. Part of attaining this type of battle-free victory involves five factors of successful military operations: the Way, the weather, the terrain, the leadership, and discipline. Sun Tzu’s five factors can help you assess the likelihood of victory in any circumstance. Let’s consider each in turn.
Does victory necessarily have to involve fighting? How does one win a war without fighting? Winning without fighting, Sun Tzu argued, is the best outcome of any war. If the surrender comes before a battle is fought, all the better. Here’s why fighting should be your last resort, according to Sun Tzu.
What is Sun Tzu’s theory of war? Under what circumstances should you advance and retreat? According to Sun Tzu, if victory is not certain, you should not engage in conflict. Before you advance, you must attain an advantage over your opponent. In The Art of War, Sun Tzu describes several tactics for securing an advantage. Here are Sun Tzu’s tactics to gain an advantage in a battle.
How did humans come into existence on Earth? Why do monotheistic religions challenge Stephen Hawking’s evolution theory? In his book Brief Answers to the Big Questions, Stephen Hawking gives a brief overview of how humans got here. He begins his timeline in the present day and goes back to the singularity that created time. Here’s Stephen Hawking’s evolution timeline—and why many religions disagree with him.
What did Sun Tzu mean by “all warfare is based on deception?” How can deception help one secure a military advantage? As a well-known translation of Sun Tzu puts it, “all warfare is based on deception.” According to Sun Tzu, the author of The Art of War, deception is the key to gaining a military advantage over your opponent. Here’s how to use deception to get the upper hand over your opponent.
What is “attack by strategem”? Why is it best to attack by strategem rather than force? Sun Tzu said that the best outcome in a war is to take your opponent whole and intact instead of obliterating it completely—that’s the premise of attack by stratagem. If the battle is won, but the opponent’s forces and country are obliterated, that’s a lesser victory than if you are able to overcome them and force a surrender. Keep reading to learn about the attack by stratagem tactic.