The World's Best Book Summaries
What is the difference between placebo and nocebo? To what extent do a patient’s beliefs about medical treatment influence its outcome? Placebo is the healing effect conferred by a fake medical treatment. Nocebo, on the other hand, is the opposite of placebo—whereby the negative beliefs about a medical treatment produce ill health effects. Here’s a look at the psychology behind placebo and nocebo.
Does plastic ever degrade? Have we taken care of the CFC problem? What’s the worst byproduct of modern living? Garbage leaves a mark on our planet. That’s because much of our modern garbage never leaves the planet. In The World Without Us, science journalist Alan Weisman addresses the problem head-on. He explores the impact of waste on the environment and identifies the major culprits we need to tackle. Read more to learn what Weisman discovered in his investigation.
How does dopamine work? Does dopamine always provide a feeling of pleasure? In Dopamine Detox, Thibaut Meurisse explains the biological role of dopamine. Contrary to popular belief, dopamine doesn’t necessarily make you feel pleasure—rather, it pushes you to seek pleasurable experiences. Keep reading to learn how dopamine works and why it’s not necessarily a good thing.
Is carbon neutrality a realistic goal? What would it take to get there? As we look for solutions to climate change, the elimination of carbon emissions seems to be near the top of everyone’s list. However, this is not a practical solution, at least for now. That’s the view of former energy industry scientist Steven E. Koonin. Read on to learn why Koonin believes we must accept the reality of our reliance on fossil fuels.
When and how did human language begin? Why did language develop in the first place? In The Language Instinct, experimental psychologist Steven Pinker argues that language is an innate, biological ability in humans—not just an element of human culture that gets passed from person to person. He discusses the theorized origin of human language—the when, the how, and the why. Read more to learn about the possibilities of this fascinating subject.
How do human activities affect the environment? Which is more harmful—farms or cities? What’s the Great Pacific Garbage Patch? The human race has left a mark on our planet, sometimes through carelessness and sometimes by design. In The World Without Us, science journalist Alan Weisman outlines several ways that humanity impacts the environment: agriculture, cities, power, waste, and pollution. Keep reading to learn about the human ecological footprint.
Are you addicted to social media or your phone? What is a dopamine detox? Social media, television, and video games are all fun to have, but too much of them can steer us away from what’s important. Thibaut Meurisse’s book Dopamine Detox warns us that if we don’t get our dopamine levels under control, we’ll never get meaningful work done. Continue reading to get an idea of the dopamine detox and how it can help you.
Is the state of climate science worse than the state of the climate itself? How could it be made more useful? According to Steven Koonin, climate science is in big trouble. He argues that climate science is frequently misconstrued, and he attempts to diagnose the root of this problem and propose a remedy. Continue reading to learn Koonin’s suggestions for repairing climate science.
Is language innate, or do we learn it from our environment? Is grammar universal? What clues do certain medical conditions give us? Steven Pinker argues in favor of the innatist theory, arguing that language is an innate, biological ability in humans. He contends that, just like the chameleon’s ability to camouflage itself or the falcon’s high-speed flight, the ability to produce and interpret complex language is an evolved human superpower. Read more to learn why Pinker believes that language is not just an element of human culture that gets passed from person to person.
How should we deal with climate change and its impact? What’s actually realistic? Because of the distortion of climate science, Steven E. Koonin argues that many governments have endorsed impractical responses to climate change. In his book Unsettled, he proposes alternative responses to mitigate and adapt to climate change and its effects. Continue reading to learn Koonin’s practical climate mitigation and adaptation proposals.