The Moral Animal by Robert Wright: Book Overview & Takeaways

A split screen with a prehistoric man on the left and a 21st-century man on the right

Why do we fall in love, feel jealous, compete for status, or sacrifice for family? Robert Wright’s The Moral Animal offers a theory: These behaviors are hardwired into us by evolution. Published in 1994, this book connects biology, anthropology, and psychology in an attempt to explain everything from romantic attraction to moral judgment. Keep reading to see how understanding our evolutionary programming might help us make sense of our own motivations and better understand the people around us.

On the Edge: Quotes by Nate Silver About Gambling

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In On the Edge, statistician Nate Silver reveals a surprising truth about power in modern society: The people making the biggest impact—from tech entrepreneurs to hedge fund managers to effective altruists—think like professional gamblers. Drawing on his unique background as both a former poker player and a data journalist, Silver shows how the mathematical mindset of gambling shapes decision-making at the highest levels of business, technology, and philanthropy. As we navigate an increasingly uncertain world, the ability to think probabilistically and make calculated bets has become essential for anyone seeking to make an impact or build wealth. Below, we’ll look

Sapiens Discussion Questions, Sample Answers, & Activities

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We’ve put together discussion questions for Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari that you can use with a book club or a class at school. We include sample answers, book club activities that will help you get more out of what you’ve read, and recommendations for more reading if you like this book. Book Synopsis Sapiens traces the history of our species from the emergence of Homo sapiens in Africa—estimated at roughly 300,000 years ago to the present day. Harari identifies three major revolutions that shaped human history: Throughout the book, Harari explores how shared myths—including religions, nations, corporations, and money—have

Just Mercy: 23 Discussion Questions & Activities for Book Clubs

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We’ve put together discussion questions for Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson that you can use with a book club, a class at school, or a team at work. We include sample answers, book club activities that will help you get more out of what you’ve read, and recommendations for more reading if you like this book. Book Synopsis Just Mercy is Bryan Stevenson’s memoir about his career as a young lawyer defending those most desperate and in need—the poor, the wrongly condemned, and women and children trapped in the farthest reaches of the criminal justice system. The book centers on

The Message by Ta-Nehisi Coates: Book Overview & Takeaways

Ta-Nehisi Coates speaking at Oregon State University in 2017

Take a journey through the southern US, West Africa, and the Middle East with Ta-Nehisi Coates. The Message is more than a travelogue; it’s his exploration of how stories shape our understanding of race, power, and oppression. Coates believes that writing is more than just putting words on a page—it’s a way to challenge injustice and reclaim stolen narratives. Keep reading to explore what he discovered on his travels.

Superagency by Reid Hoffman & Greg Beato (Overview)

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What if artificial intelligence (AI) isn’t humanity’s greatest threat, but its greatest opportunity for empowerment? In Superagency, Reid Hoffman (co-founder of LinkedIn) and writer Greg Beato challenge the dominant anxieties around AI, arguing that it can dramatically amplify individual human capabilities while creating collective benefits for society.  They argue that the real risk isn’t AI becoming too powerful, but democratic societies withdrawing from AI development and ceding control to less benevolent actors. To learn more, continue reading our overview of Superagency.

Moral Ambition by Rutger Bregman: Book Overview & Takeaways

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Tired of feeling like your career doesn’t matter? You’re not alone. In Moral Ambition, Rutger Bregman explains that 25% of workers in wealthy countries believe their jobs are socially meaningless. At the same time, the world’s biggest problems, from climate change to global poverty, need talented people working on solutions. His answer is to restructure your career around creating a measurable impact on humanity’s greatest challenges. To understand Bregman’s critique of current approaches and his proposed alternative, we’ll examine his argument through four questions: What is moral ambition? Why does it matter? Why do both traditional activism and effective altruism

Entitled: How Male Privilege Hurts Women (Kate Manne)

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When women speak up, challenge authority, or refuse to comply with traditional expectations, they often face backlash ranging from dismissal to outright violence. This isn’t a coincidence, according to Kate Manne’s book Entitled: How Male Privilege Hurts Women. Keep reading for an overview of this provocative book and discover how invisible expectations impact everything from sexual consent to career advancement—and why recognizing them is the first step toward change.

Gad Saad’s The Parasitic Mind: Book Overview & Takeaways

Gad Saad speaking at the 2023 AmericaFest at the Phoenix Convention Center in Phoenix, Arizona, on December 18, 2023

Are dangerous ideologies spreading through our universities and institutions like infections? What happens when emotion overtakes logic in academic and public discourse? Gad Saad’s The Parasitic Mind: How Infectious Ideas Are Killing Common Sense presents a provocative diagnosis of society. Saad warns that certain progressive movements are undermining the core values that built Western civilization. His book examines how these ideas spread and what they mean for the future. Read more to discover Saad’s framework for understanding modern intellectual conflicts and his prescription for defending reasoned debate.

What Is the “Abundance Agenda”? Klein and Thompson Explain

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Are resources in America really scarce? How is bureaucracy holding America back? In Abundance, Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson argue that America can create a world of plentiful resources and improved living standards, but is being held back by manufactured scarcities and barriers. Their answer is to remove bureaucratic obstacles while reinvigorating scientific innovation. Here’s a look at what the “abundance agenda” is and why it represents a new direction for liberalism.